As I was about to open the door and step inside, I heard Chloe’s voice coming from outside.
Curious about what was going on, I strained to listen.
“Yeah, that’s it. Good job. Now let’s jump!”
Next, I heard the sound of a kitten mewing.
My heart raced even before I opened the door.
Just imagining Chloe playing with a kitten made my heart flutter—no, it made it race quite a bit.
It might seem trivial, but when delicious things come together, they become even more delightful.
When cute things meet cute things, it creates a scene that’s dozens of times cuter and more heartwarming.
I gently opened the door, trying not to let Chloe notice me.
Once I entered the room, I wouldn’t be able to take this scene in.
As I expected, Chloe was in her pajamas, playing with a kitten.
In one hand, she held a toy that looked like someone made it for a hunting game, and the kitten was eagerly chasing after it.
“Good, good, that’s right. Well done.”
Deliberately allowing the kitten to catch the toy, Chloe gently tickled its chin and petted its head.
She looked very pleased, as if she were studying something.
“So, kittens make these sounds when you scratch their chins...”
Is she studying this because I said I wanted to try cat play?
I was so impressed that I wanted to praise her right then and there.
I felt like I had seen enough and could slowly step inside.
“Chloe, I’m back.”
Upon seeing me, Chloe quickly hugged the kitten.
It seemed she instinctively wanted to hide it, but it was all too obvious.
As cute as it was, it was good to see.
“When I said I wanted to raise a kitten last time, you said no, but now you’re already so close. What happened?”
Even if Chloe expressed a desire to raise a kitten, I wouldn’t oppose it.
During busy times, she could just leave it to the other servants, and given her past emotional wounds, cuddling a kitten might help her heal.
“She still struggles to talk to men, except for me and Sebastian.”
That said, she also doesn’t easily approach women either.
According to the head maid, unless it’s a close maid, she only shares the necessary work-related conversations.
For now, I just wanted to tease her a little.
Her reactions were just too cute.
“Is that why you wanted to act cute like a kitten to get my attention instead? But when I thought about it, I realized I didn’t know how the kitten would react.”
Usually, when guys play cat play, they hope for just one thing.
If a girl wears only cat ears and acts cute, that’s more than enough.
But I’m a guy who knows how to read the room.
I decided to listen to Chloe’s efforts until the end.
“Well, after thinking it over, I figured I could observe kittens directly. So I started watching the cats that occasionally came into the mansion and even went out with Kris to feed and pet the strays.”
Chloe likely wouldn’t have told Kris she was observing cats to get better at “cat play.”
However, she might have realized that something about this was connected to “me.”
No, she probably figured that out, which is why she told me to expect something right after finishing work today.
“Then, I found a kitten that had lost its parents and visited it whenever I had the time to feed it. Coincidentally, the head butler mentioned that they needed cats to catch mice in the mansion, so he told me to take good care of it. He also said he raises cats at home, so he shared some toys that cats like.”
“I never thought Sebastian would raise cats.”
That’s how the relationship between a subordinate and a superior works.
If you try to know too much about personal matters, the relationship often deteriorates, so it’s best to maintain appropriate boundaries.
“Just attend the wedding or funeral in person, and it’s enough to give a generous amount of condolence or celebratory money.”
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Taking care of an employee’s birthday or other events with bonuses and time off is also good.
“So, I asked what I should do if you said no to raising one.”
“You can raise it as much as you want.”
If it helps heal Chloe’s heart, I wouldn’t mind even if it were a crocodile.
No, as long as it’s a clean crow, I could probably accept that.
Chloe smiled brightly and hugged the kitten.
She seemed to control her strength to make sure the kitten wouldn’t get hurt, showing how much she cherished it.
“You can name it, and take responsibility for raising it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Then Chloe knocked on the door and entrusted the kitten to the servant outside.
“Please take care of our Nero for a moment.”
Nero—translated into Korean, it means “black.”
If we have a child someday, I shouldn’t let Chloe name it.
Once the servant took the kitten and left, Chloe lay down on the bed.
She then lightly clenched her fists and waved her hands.
It was as if she had truly become a cat.
From her small movements, it was evident just how well she had observed the kittens.
“Meow...”
After making a cat sound, she blushed as red as a ripe apple.
Then she momentarily turned her gaze away from me.
However, as I climbed onto the bed, she tightly clenched her fists as if she had made a big decision.
What was she about to do?
“I’m going to receive all the love I’ve missed out on from you today. Meow.”
Then she gently placed her upper body on my legs.
I felt her weight, but it wasn’t heavy; it felt comfortable.
Chloe began acting cute like a kitten exposing her belly to her owner.
“Please treat me like the kitten you’re raising, and shower me with affection, meow.”
I didn’t dislike this situation, but it was truly a dilemma.
It felt like being starved for days and then coming to a five-star hotel buffet.
I hesitated over what to eat, unsure of how to touch her.
As if she could read my mind, Chloe slightly lifted her chin, wanting to be touched.
When I gently tickled her chin like a cat, she purred.
“Meow, meow.”
After making a few cat sounds, Chloe began rubbing her face against my hand.
She wore a satisfied expression, as if she had everything she wanted.
“Do you like it that much?”
“I’m happy to feel loved by you, meow...”
I slowly began to lower my hand according to my desires.
From her collarbone down to her belly.
Usually, she’d have a look that said she didn’t want me to touch her belly because she was slightly embarrassed by it.
“That’s what makes it cute.”
It’s like how guys find girls with small chests cute when they’re self-conscious about it.
Her belly felt slightly soft and warm.
The sensation was very different from her chest and butt, and it felt good to touch a part that seemed off-limits.
After a few strokes, I found myself unconsciously petting her continuously.
Chloe grabbed my hand and moved it away.
Then she tightly wrapped her arms around me and whispered.
“My lord, when a kitten exposes its belly, it means it wants to play. I didn’t know at first, but I learned that from playing with Nero, meow.”
Men are incredibly simple creatures.
Even if a girl can’t cook for them, if she works hard to make them a meal, it tastes better than anything made by a top chef.
Even if she clumsily does something, it feels like she’s given everything.
I’m the same way.
“Given how much you’ve studied kittens...”
Then she pulled my hand toward her chest.
“Please play with me until I’m exhausted, meow.”
The next day, I called in sick and was summoned by the Emperor, who wanted to hear a detailed story about this in three days.