Chapter 03
Hearing those words, Shane immediately understood what Neya was talking about.
So one of the Catsha ran away not long ago, huh.
If she had been close to that Catsha, it made sense that she looked this drained.
“……”
After some thought, Shane finally spoke.
“Well, if it’s a young Catsha, it might be dangerous for them to wander around alone, but—”
Before he could finish, Neya’s eyes welled up with tears. She looked like she might burst into crying at any moment, and Shane hurriedly continued.
“I’m just saying might! That’s not a definite conclusion.”
“Then…?”
“From what I hear, that child isn’t an ordinary Catsha. Even humans—if they’re mages—can stand on their own, and that child is a Catsha on top of that. So there shouldn’t be anything particularly dangerous. Try not to worry too much.”
“……!”
At once, Neya’s expression brightened. That single remark seemed to completely reassure her.
“I knew it! Hyu is really good at magic! And she’s super fast at running too!”
“Yes, yes.”
As if she had never been gloomy at all, Neya instantly regained her energy and began chatting away. Watching how easily her mood changed, Shane thought quietly to himself,
Of course, that only applies once she’s old enough to judge danger properly.
Shane subtly averted his gaze and looked out the window.
Honestly, how likely was it that such a young Catsha could survive alone? But he chose not to voice those thoughts.
The atmosphere in the mansion was already grim enough—there was no need to add one more person radiating dark feelings.
“……”
Thinking of the others living there, concern settled over Shane’s face.
It was an order, so he had no choice but to bring her along. Still, he couldn’t help worrying how long such a delicate child would be able to endure at that young lady’s side.
His mind was filled with nothing but unease.
The journey to their destination was longer and harsher than expected, and by the time they arrived at the mansion, quite a lot of time had passed.
“Neya.”
Shane gently tapped the sleeping Neya to wake her.
“……!”
She opened her eyes wide at once.
“We’re here?”
“Yes.”
The moment she heard that, Neya flung open the carriage door and jumped down without hesitation. Her impulsive action left Shane flustered instead.
Meanwhile, Neya ran ahead with a face full of anticipation.
A noble’s mansion!
There was only one reason she was so excited.
They say all nobles live in huge castles like princesses!
They wear pretty dresses and eat tons of delicious food. I hope I get adopted soon!
Young Catsha who dreamed of adoption often gathered together and shared hopeful fantasies like these.
It wasn’t entirely wrong. Most nobles who visited Catshops took Catsha in as companions for their young children. Very rarely, some were even adopted and lived as nobles themselves.
That was why Neya couldn’t help but be filled with expectation.
But then—
What… is this?
The moment she saw the mansion before her, Neya’s expression sank in disappointment.
“Neya. There aren’t many people around here, so it’s dangerous to wander off carelessly.”
Shane, who had followed behind, gave her a mild warning. But none of it reached Neya’s ears.
The mansion before her wasn’t anything like a princess’s castle. It was an old, two-story building that showed clear signs of age.
More than that, it stood in the middle of a completely empty forest, without a single person in sight. It didn’t look like a place where nobles would live at all.
“Is this… the duke’s residence?”
“Of course not.”
Shane immediately denied it. There was no way this common-looking house belonged to the Heartless Ducal House.
He took a key from his pocket and opened the door. Seeing this only deepened Neya’s disappointment.
Surely, a noble’s mansion should have been guarded by rows of knights. Even the Catshop had guards to protect the Catsha—but this place didn’t even have that level of security.
Neya did her best to hide her disappointment as she stepped inside.
Contrary to its shabby exterior, the interior was surprisingly well kept.
It wasn’t the dazzling mansion she had imagined, but the cozy, warm atmosphere made Neya’s expression brighten slightly.
After looking around with curious eyes, she asked Shane,
“Um… where are the people who help out here?”
“……?”
Shane replied awkwardly.
“The maids come a few times a week to take care of the house, but today isn’t a workday. I’m the only servant here.”
“Huh? Aren’t noble houses supposed to have maids and knights and stuff?”
“…….”
Only then did Shane realize it.
She really came here without knowing anything…
A sense of helplessness washed over him. He had assumed Alex had explained things to her to some extent, but Neya seemed to know nothing at all.
It would be troublesome if she started crying and insisting on going back once she heard the truth—but it would still be better to explain things properly before she met her.
With that in mind, Shane spoke.
“There’s one thing I need to make clear, Neya.”
“Yes?”
“This isn’t a noble mansion.”
“……?”
Neya’s eyes widened.
“Then I’m not being adopted into a ducal family?”
“It seems the details got distorted along the way. It’s true that you were adopted by the young lady of the ducal house—but she’s currently unable to stay at the ducal residence, so she’s living here instead.”
“Wh-why?”
Shane smiled faintly.
“She did something bad and got kicked out.”
“…….”
“I was planning to introduce you right away anyway. This way, please.”
He casually led the shocked Neya along.
They arrived at a room on the first floor. After knocking a couple of times, Shane opened the door.
“…….”
Seeing the state of the room, Shane let out a sigh. Since Neya was standing behind him, she couldn’t see inside yet and only looked confused by his reaction.
“I’m sorry, just a moment—”
Leaving those words behind, Shane entered the room alone.
The door hadn’t been fully closed, and it creaked open slightly. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Neya peeked inside through the gap.
Despite it being midday, the room was dark. All the curtains were drawn.
The first thing she noticed was the empty liquor bottles scattered across the floor.
As her gaze moved upward, she saw a woman slumped over the table.
“My lady.”
Shane tapped the woman on the shoulder.
Only then did the woman lift her head. Long golden hair spilled down.
She was a woman so beautiful that she felt completely out of place in the messy surroundings. Every time she blinked, her golden eyelashes fluttered softly.
Wow…
She looked disheveled, as if she had just woken up, but to Neya, she was the most beautiful person she had ever seen in her life.
Shane scolded her.
“Drinking on an empty stomach again? Are you trying to shorten your lifespan?”
“Shut up. If you’re just going to nag, get out…”
The woman spat the words in a hoarse voice. Shane, clearly used to it, didn’t seem bothered.
“……?”
Then the woman’s red eyes shifted toward Neya.
After a brief glance, she muttered,
“What’s that?”
Her tone showed not the slightest interest.
“I told you before. A gift from the duke.”
Shane pulled the curtains wide open, and sunlight instantly flooded the room.
The woman scoffed and ran a hand through her hair.
“Hah. They kicked me out because I might stain the family name, and now they send a gift?”
Ignoring her words, Shane began clearing away the scattered bottles.
“Be sure to send a thank-you letter. You’ll need to stay on their good side if you want to return to the main estate.”
“I’d rather rot and die here than crawl back into that place.”
She turned her gaze away the moment she finished speaking, showing not the slightest interest in Neya.
“Gift or not, make me something to sober up. My stomach’s a mess.”
“That’s something you should ask the maid to do.”
Having gathered the bottles, Shane headed back toward the door. Just before leaving the room, he added,
“At least say hello. You’ll be living together from now on.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
The woman sneered immediately.
“I’ll be right back, Neya.”
Shane said this while giving her a look, as if to say it was fine for her to go in.
After he left for the kitchen, Neya hesitated before finally stepping into the room.
“…….”
The woman rested her chin on her hand and stared at Neya with an utterly indifferent expression.
Neya fidgeted, nervously clutching and releasing the hem of her clothes. Then, gathering her courage, she met the woman’s gaze directly.
Her face flushed, she spoke a single word.
“Mom!”
