chapter 7
I kept my eyes quietly fixed on my soup and continued eating timidly.
For a while, Lord Jackal didn’t eat at all—he just stared at me. That went on until Lady Karis casually said something.
“Instead of demanding things with your eyes, try asking with words like the children. You’re scaring Kitty.”
“……”
Hmm… I have no idea what that means.
Since Lord Jackal finally looked away, I resumed eating. Soon, the salmon steak I had enjoyed yesterday was served. The rich buttery aroma and the glossy, thick slice of salmon stimulated all my senses.
I observed how the others ate theirs.
A knife. So you’re supposed to use a knife. I stared at Theo skillfully handling his.
“Kitty, give it to me. I’ll cut it into small pieces.”
“Yeah. Leave things like that to him until you get used to it. What if you hurt your hands?”
Theo cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces for me, and Deon chopped the grilled vegetables into smaller portions.
“Since we cut it for you, you have to finish it.”
“Yes! I’ll eat it all!”
I looked at them with sparkling eyes to thank them. It must have worked—both looked pleased.
Thanks to them, I was able to finish my meal comfortably. When I cleaned my plate, Theo and Deon smiled brightly.
“Enjoy your dessert too, Kitty.”
“You seemed to like pudding, so we asked for that.”
“Um… I think my pudding is a bit too big. Did Lord Jackal’s get placed in front of me by mistake?”
I stared at the pudding in front of me—it was three times bigger than everyone else’s.
“No, it’s in the right place.”
“Enjoy it, soft paws.”
After the meal, desserts including cake and warm tea were set out. The tea set, rimmed with gold, reflected the light beautifully through the glass.
But even more noticeable were the golden eyes watching me.
‘This atmosphere… they’re definitely going to discuss what to do with me.’
But I already knew my answer.
“Kitty, how was the meal?” Lady Karis asked.
I smiled brightly.
“It was really delicious. Thank you for your kindness.”
“I’m glad. All the food in the Gridwolf estate comes from here. If you’re ever hungry or want something to eat, come here anytime and ask.”
Jerian used food to control the cats. It was a petty method—but food is a serious matter for anyone, so it worked.
But just now, Lady Karis had given me access to the mansion’s kitchen.
‘It must be because I look like a wolf.’
I felt so proud my ears almost popped out.
“Kitty,” she continued gently, “everyone in Gridwolf would like you to become a temporary member of our family. We want you to live safely until you become an adult. Can you tell us honestly what you think?”
Everyone?
I glanced at Lord Jackal, who was quietly sipping tea like a statue.
‘He looks so indifferent… does he really want me as family?’
Maybe Theo and Deon begged him… but I calmly gathered my thoughts.
If this had been yesterday, I wouldn’t have even been able to say what I truly felt. But after Lady Karis held me all night, I didn’t want to lie to her.
“I would be very happy if you took care of me. But…”
Theo and Deon, who had been smiling brightly just moments ago, suddenly looked devastated.
“I can’t. I can’t promise to forget my original family. And if I can’t do that, you might be disappointed. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Hearing my trembling voice, Lady Karis gave a bittersweet smile.
“No, Kitty. Once someone is your family, you can never forget them—no matter what. You shouldn’t try to, and you can’t.”
“Ah…”
“I know that better than anyone. So don’t worry. Family always stays in your heart.”
Her gentle words washed away the heaviness in my chest. My vision blurred with tears.
“Oh dear, such a crybaby. Come here.”
Deon lifted me up and sat me on his lap. I glanced at Theo, wondering if this was okay, but he was already busy pulling out a handkerchief to wipe my tears.
Sniffling, I asked,
“R-really… can I have two families until I grow up?”
“Of course. Your family would want you to be safe and happy too. Right?”
I nodded firmly. My mom, dad, and older brother would definitely want me to be happy. They always hugged me and told me they loved me.
“Kitty, does that mean you’ll be my little sister?” Theo asked.
I was about to nod—but hesitated.
“But… living in luxury alone feels sad. My mom is buried in frozen ground… sniff…”
“You buried her yourself?” Deon asked.
I nodded. He let out a quiet sigh and hugged me tightly. The Gridwolf couple also came closer, their expressions filled with sympathy.
After a while, when I stopped crying, Lady Karis spoke again.
“Kitty, once a proper funeral is held, all animals go to a happy place.”
“But… I couldn’t hold one. My pockets were empty… And what kind of place is that?”
“It’s a little late, but we’ll help you hold one. Don’t worry. That happy place is a warm, comforting heaven.”
“Heaven?”
When I asked, Theo and Deon nodded as if it were obvious.
“Yes. Your family is probably living even more comfortably than you there. In a warm place, wishing for your happiness.”
“So you don’t have to feel guilty, soft paws.”
I looked up at Lord Jackal—someone who didn’t seem like he could ever lie.
“Lord Jackal! Is heaven really a place where everything you need exists, like a paradise?”
He didn’t ignore me this time. He gave a small nod.
“Whew… that’s such a relief! If it’s that kind of place… do pieces of salmon float down the streams, already cut and ready to eat?”
‘That would be amazing!’ I added excitedly—and my cat ears suddenly popped out.
“‘Pieces of salmon…?’” Lord Jackal muttered, frowning slightly. But when he saw me, he gave an unusually long answer.
“Yes. I’m sure it’s a place like that.”
A place where Mom, Dad, and my brother could all live together happily… that really was wonderful.
‘Maybe my baby siblings have been born there too…’
They must be adorable.
I smiled brightly. Theo and Deon stared at me with dazed expressions, letting out soft groans.
“I’m really happy that everyone in Gridwolf has been so kind to me.”
“I’m happy if my little sister is happy, Kitty.”
“Soft paws… as my little sister…”
Everyone looked happy, which made me even happier.
But then—I suddenly remembered something important.
“Um… but what would we even hold the funeral for? My dad and brother passed away long ago while on a mission in the north…”
Lord Jackal reacted immediately.
“They died on a mission?”
His face turned serious. I answered honestly.
“Yes. Both of them… in bear territory…”
“Their names.”
“My dad and brother were both named Icarus…”
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if catching onto something. Worried he might discover I was a cat, I quickly changed the subject.
“And my mom—”
But I couldn’t finish.
My mother, who died because of Jerian, was buried in cat territory. I had dug through frozen ground with broken nails to bury her, so I remembered the location—but I had been exiled and couldn’t return there.
‘And digging her up again… that feels wrong.’
That would definitely trouble my heart. Besides, my mom had one folded ear—she didn’t look like a wolf at all.
‘Well, I could just say Dad was a wolf. Beastfolk can form families in human form anyway…’
Still, I didn’t want to dig her up.
Right now, she was probably in heaven, catching delicious salmon drifting down the streams.
And she had babies in her belly… she should eat plenty.
I was struggling to find the right words when Lady Karis gently stroked my head.
“Kitty, don’t worry. The most important things in a funeral are flowers, candles, and the wish for their happiness.”
“Is that really enough?”
“Yes. But if you draw a picture of your family and place it in a frame, it will make it even more meaningful. You can do that if you’d like.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.”
If I drew them, they’d be able to see from heaven that I was holding a funeral with my new temporary family.
And I wanted to capture their faces while I could still remember them clearly.
“Then let’s go to my room, soft paws,” Theo said.
“There are lots of art supplies there. Even crayons with 200 colors,” Deon added.
They both jumped out of their chairs and reached out their hands to me. I bowed politely to the Gridwolf couple, then took their hands and climbed down.
Since I’m still small and my feet don’t reach the floor… that must be why they’re helping me. Cute.
As I was about to leave, Lady Karis spoke gently,
“Kitty, bring it when you’re finished. We’ll prepare the candles and flowers. You should finish before sunset.”
“Thank you, Lady Karis!”
I smiled brightly, and Theo and Deon pulled me along. As I followed them, I heard Lady Karis telling someone to send snacks upstairs.
Snacks! I love snacks!
Still in high spirits, I skipped lightly into Theo’s room. Like the other rooms in the mansion, the door was enormous.
The handle was different from mine—here, to grab it, you had to put your hand into a wolf’s carved mouth.
‘…Those fangs are scary.’
It felt like the wolf might suddenly snap its jaws shut and bite my hand.
I glanced nervously at Theo and Deon.
