IWML 01

Chapter 01

“Hahaha!”

Inside a rundown country mansion, a laugh filled with bitter mockery echoed through the air.

“That’s right—now I’m a villainess even my own family has turned their backs on.”

Azure spoke with a twisted smile. It was a sneer aimed at herself.

Azure Heartless. Once a peerless beauty admired by all, the very flower of high society.

But that flower had withered long ago.

Of the dazzling wealth and honor that once surrounded her, nothing remained now.

All that was left were the dilapidated country estate, clothes so shabby they could hardly be compared to her former finery, and empty liquor bottles rolling across the floor day after day.

Only a few years ago, she had indulged in every luxury imaginable. As the only daughter of Duke Heartless and the Crown Prince’s fiancée, she had enjoyed immense privilege and wealth.

To Azure, all of that had been hers by right from the moment she was born. Her life began to fall apart after her conflict with the Lopez ducal daughter.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? A ducal lady driven mad over a man, committing every disgrace imaginable, only to be exiled to some backwater like this.”

In the end, even her fiancé was stolen away by the Lopez ducal daughter—her childhood friend.

Azure was branded a villainess in the blink of an eye. Everyone turned their backs on her; everyone pointed fingers. She would never again set foot in high society, destined to live out the rest of her life in this countryside and die here.

“….”

As she watched Azure lament her fate, Neya thought to herself,

‘She’s just… so, so…’

Pitiful!

How could anyone be this miserable? To young Neya’s eyes, Azure was nothing but heartbreaking.

To Neya, she had been a mother lacking in nothing—beautiful beyond measure, kind beyond compare, and… someone who could really hold her liquor!

Neya wanted Azure to be happy. More than those people ever did.

And so, planting both hands on her hips, Neya declared boldly,

“Don’t worry, Mom. There are plenty of men in the world!”

Neya made up her mind.

For this pitiful villainess—her own mother—

She would find her a new love!

“….”

Naturally, the reaction of those around them was icy cold.

“So cute!”

“Hey, you’ll wake her up. Be quiet!”

The staff gathered in one place, bickering softly.

At the center of it all, a cat lay curled up asleep on a woman’s lap.

Its pure white fur looked impossibly fluffy, and its small body suggested it was still very young.

Truly, it was the kind of cuteness that made anyone clutch their heart.

“She’s really adorable. Should I just take her home with me?”

“Don’t even think about it. You know how expensive Catshas are.”

“Tch, she should’ve been born a noble.”

One of the staff members grumbled. So even raising a good companion animal required status!

At that, the others chimed in with nods and comments of agreement.

“Shh!”

Amid the chatter, the staff member whose lap the cat was sleeping on urgently raised a finger. The room instantly fell silent.

But perhaps already awakened, the cat snapped its eyes open.

After blinking a few times, the white cat stretched long and wide, then yawned.

The moment it hopped down from the woman’s lap—

Poof!

White smoke enveloped its body.

When it landed on the floor, the cat had already transformed into a human.

It was a small child who looked no older than seven.

Her soft white hair was tied low into two pigtails, and her blue eyes sparkled as clearly as gemstones. Just like when she was a cat, the child overflowed with charm.

“How can she be this—no matter how many times I see her…”

One of the staff murmured. Everyone in the room watched her with flushed cheeks.

Catsha, Neya.

Born and raised here, she was the most doted-on of all the Catshas by the staff.

Naturally, it was obvious what kind of personality she had grown into.

Crossing her arms, Neya spoke proudly,

“Sisters! I’m hungry!”

She looked extremely confident.

And the moment she said it, the surrounding staff scrambled in a clatter, turning and rushing toward the door one by one.

“Wait! I already bought something tasty for you, Neya!”

“Hey, today’s my turn!”

“I’ll bring toys too!”

“Bring lots of them~!”

Neya waved cheerfully, clearly used to the scene.

The room was empty in an instant.

“Heave-ho.”

While waiting for them, Neya plopped down onto a chair.

Not much time had passed, but waiting was always boring. To kill time, Neya slowly looked around the room. The building, as grand as a noble’s mansion, was clean and spacious.

This was a shop that managed and sold Catshas—beastfolk who were cats.

The Catsha race could take human form and possessed comparable intelligence, but high-ranking nobles still shunned them. As a result, they were treated more like animals than humans.

‘I wonder what kind of snacks the sisters will bring!’

Having grown up entirely in the cat shop, Neya knew nothing of such worldly matters.

The older sisters treated her well, fed her proper meals and plenty of snacks, gave her a comfortable place to sleep, and lots of things to play with. To Neya, the seven years she had spent growing up in the cat shop had been thoroughly satisfying.

“Neya.”

As she waited, one of the staff members entered the room.

“The boss wants to see you.”

“Dad?”

“Yeah. I’ll take you—come on.”

Neya’s face lit up. She hopped down from the chair and tightly grasped the staff member’s hand.

“Dad!”

As soon as the door was opened, Neya dashed into the room.

Seeing her, Alex—who had been reviewing documents—smiled.

With a gentle expression, Alex held out both arms.

“Come here, Neya.”

Without hesitation, Neya leapt into his embrace. He caught her smoothly and settled her onto his lap.

Alex was Neya’s favorite person in the world.

He was the owner of the cat shop and a noble from a fairly well-known family. With his neat appearance and kind attitude toward all Catshas, the young ones called him “Dad” and followed him fondly. Neya was no exception.

Cupping Neya’s cheeks, Alex spoke in a voice full of concern.

“Are you eating your snacks properly? My goodness, your cheeks look so sunken.”

“That’s not true! I eat really well~! The sisters keep giving me delicious things!”

“I’m glad you’re being loved. After all, it’s only natural—you deserve to be treated like something precious.”

At his words, Neya burst into giggles. Hearing such affection was simply part of her everyday life.

“So why did you call me today? I’ve got lots of new clothes, you know!”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t call you to give you a present today. But I do have even better news.”

Better news than a present? Neya’s eyes sparkled.

“Neya, your adoptive family has been decided.”

“…!”

Neya’s expression grew even brighter.

Among the Catshas here, adoption was seen as something very good. The staff had instilled them with rosy fantasies about having a family.

“It’s a ducal household, no less.”

“A ducal household…!”

Counting on her fingers, Neya looked up at Alex with shining eyes.

“That’s the highest rank after the imperial family!”

“As expected of you, Neya. You’re smart.”

Smiling, Alex gently stroked her hair.

“I’m sure you’ll be loved there too. Who wouldn’t love a child like you?”

“Hehe.”

“If every child were like you, this dad wouldn’t have any worries.”

“The other kids are nice too. They listen to you, Dad!”

“That’s true. All except one.”

Alex’s once-gentle voice suddenly turned cold.

Neya knew exactly who he meant.

“…Did Hyu cause trouble again?”

Hyu—Neya’s childhood friend who had grown up here with her, and a rare Catsha who possessed magical power.

Even though he wore a bracelet meant to suppress his magic, Hyu could still cast spells with it on, giving the staff constant headaches.

Whenever he had the chance, Hyu used magic—despite knowing full well that it put him at odds with Alex, the shop’s owner. He always seemed to do things deliberately, just to provoke him.

Seeing Neya look up at him with worry, Alex returned to his usual smile.

“It’s not something our pretty Neya needs to worry about. Your adoption date isn’t far off, so just live as you always have until then.”

“…Okay.”

Neya nodded weakly.

After her talk with Alex, Neya headed down a sparsely populated corridor.

Carefully avoiding the staff’s notice, she tiptoed her way to her destination.

She stopped in front of a solitary confinement room—a place where Catshas who caused trouble were isolated as punishment.

Most of the Catshas in the shop were well-behaved, so punishment was rare.

Except for one.

“Hyu!”

Neya knocked lightly on the glass window.

Inside the room was a black-haired boy—Hyu, her childhood friend.