Chapter 200: Chapter 201: Well-Behaved Cats Like the Kitchen Stove! (6)

Prison.The basement of the ‘Palace of Domination’, where Duke Nebula resided, housed a prison.Yes, a prison.A damp room crawling with squeaking rats.Cecily and Melody were confined to the same cell, with Melody crying loudly.

“Cecily, I’m so sorry. This is all because of me…! You should have just whipped me…!”

Melody felt terribly guilty about Cecily’s predicament.But Cecily couldn’t bring herself to whip her friend.Even if it meant imprisonment.

While Melody thought this squalid prison was unfit for Cecily, surprisingly, Cecily found some enjoyment in their confinement.It was because of the abundance of rats.Squeak— Squeak—

“Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak. There are so many mice.”

Cecily’s eyes followed the mice scurrying across the prison floor.It was her dormant hunter’s instinct to track any moving creature with her eyes or body.

Pop—!Finally, Cecily pounced on a mouse that let its guard down. Catching it off guard, Cecily held the plump mouse in her hand, giggling.

“…Why grab the mouse? You’re not planning to eat it, are you? Mice don’t taste good!”

Melody couldn’t fathom why Cecily suddenly caught the mouse. However, Cecily shook her head and released the mouse again.

“We can use these mice to escape from here. Mice are smarter than you might think.”

Cecily was formulating a plan to break out of this prison. If they remained locked up here, they might have to endure that ‘punishment ceremony’.

Tap—Cecily clung to the iron bars.A knight in golden armor sat alone, guarding the corridor of the underground prison, with keys dangling from his waist.Probably the keys to the cells.

“If Naru were here, we could pick the lock even without the keys.”

Cecily missed Naru in her absence. What was Naru doing now?━Narunaru, Happy Naru. Happy Happy Happy Naru.Somehow, it felt like Naru’s singing voice was echoing in her head. Come to think of it, even without Naru, Cecily might be able to escape this prison with her own abilities.That’s why she had caught the mouse.

“Hmm-. Ah-.”

Cecily cleared her throat softly.Then she began to gently sing.

“Ditch, dirch, ditch water. Small ditch water.”

Melody thought this was a very strange song. The mice seemed to agree, as all the rodents in the prison flocked to Cecily’s cell.The colorful mice crowding around Cecily’s skirt looked like an island floating in the sea.

Cecily addressed the mice.

“Go and steal the key from that guard!”

Squeak— Squeak—!

The mice, hearing Cecily’s command, rushed out of the prison cell and pounced on the golden armored guard.The guard, who had been sitting and reading a book, shouted in great surprise.

“Did I just hear a Squeak? A rat!?”

Squeak— Squeak—!

Now countless rats would go and steal the key from the guard.Cecily thought so and chuckled, but an unexpected event occurred.

“You think I’ll fall for the rat trick again?”

The guard took something out of his pocket.It looked like a five-leaf clover, but it gave off a sharp smell.Melody, who had lived in the forest as a Child of Drake, was the first to recognize it.

“That’s a rat repellent herb!”

A rat repellent herb.It was a herb that rats absolutely despised.It was unclear why the guard had this rat repellent herb, but the rats were disgusted and all scurried away.

“…No way! The rats betrayed me, Cecily! These disloyal rat bastards!”

Cecily was greatly disappointed.The guard who approached Cecily’s cell snorted.

“You’re not the first to try to control rats with a song, little girl.”

“……!”

Cecily’s fury was palpable, but she found herself powerless to act further.As the guard’s footsteps faded into the distance, Cecily wracked her brain for another escape plan.Suddenly, a laugh echoed through the air.It was a hearty chuckle that sounded like “Hohoho-“.

“Trying to escape with rats? Now that’s an interesting idea. But it won’t be easy. The guards here are well-prepared for such tricks.”

A voice came from the adjacent cell.Cecily called out to her unseen neighbor.

“Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”

“I was simply bored. After being locked up in this room for over a decade, anything becomes entertaining. So, what brought you to this prison? Do tell. We have all the time in the world.”

“Cecily did nothing wrong! It’s all because of Melody!”

Still dejected from her failed escape attempt, Cecily wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Melody, however, eagerly spilled the details on Cecily’s behalf.After listening for a while, the person in the next room let out an amused laugh.

“Duke Nebula is the pinnacle of nobility. To challenge her status as a noble… You’re quite an interesting character. But she’s not all bad. I might be able to help you escape.”

The offer of help caught Cecily’s attention.Her finely-tuned instincts for navigating high society told her this was no lie.

“There’s a condition, though. Share more intriguing stories with me. For instance, what’s the latest fashion trend in the Ordor Kingdom’s social circles?”

“This autumn, white fox fur is all the rage.”

“Fox fur? I used to have plenty myself. Not the market-bought kind, mind you, but the ones my husband hunted and brought home. Do you enjoy hunting, little miss?”

“Hmph, I, Cecily von Regdoll, am a master huntress! And my mother? She’s such an exceptional hunter that she even hunted the Demon King!”

“The Demon King, you say?”

Chatter— Chatter—Cecily enthusiastically recounted the tale of the Demon King’s reappearance and subsequent defeat.The woman in the neighboring cell listened intently, exclaiming “Is that so!” with great amazement when Cecily finished.After a moment, she spoke as if she had come to a decision.

“That was a really interesting story. To even travel from the future to 6 years prior. What an imaginative lie befitting a child.”

“It’s not a lie!”

“Whether true or not, it was entertaining, so I’ll keep my promise to help you escape. There’s a gap between these walls. I’ll pass you a key made of bone so make your escape while I create a distraction. I can buy you about five seconds.”

Tap— Tap—

A soft sound indicated someone rising and dusting themselves off.Soon after, the woman in the adjacent cell began banging on the iron bars and shouting loudly.

“Fuck! You bastards! You idiots! You sons of bitches!”

The air was soon filled with loud and vulgar swearing.The swearing grew so chaotic that Cecily wanted to cover her ears. The guard, who had been engrossed in his book, closed it with a thud and approached the neighboring cell.

“Ma’am, what’s the problem now? You know better than anyone that vulgar swearing is forbidden in this Steg Maia. Do you want to go to the punishment room again?”

“You dog—!”

The situation was chaotic and bewildering in many ways.Cecily then discovered a small key beneath the wall connecting to the next cell.It indeed appeared to be carved from bone.When she inserted it into the lock and turned, there was a satisfying click.

“Melody! Let’s go!”

—Cecily Style! Cat Steps!

Cecily successfully slipped out while their neighbor created the commotion.Melody, having grown up in the forest, was equally adept at moving silently.

“We need to get out of here!”

Cecily realized coming to this place had been a grave error. She resolved to escape this bizarre world, and Melody nodded in agreement.Just then, something caught Melody’s eyes.A poster was stuck to the prison wall.『Duke Nebula’s 25th Wedding!』『Noble’s Time, Top Floor of the Tower of Domination!』The poster also featured a portrait.It was a face Melody would never forget.

“…Dad!”

# # #

This place was known as the “Tower of Domination”.Today, a grand banquet was to be held here for Duke Nebula to welcome her 25th husband.Additionally, there would be a punishment ceremony for those who had broken Nebula’s rules.Cariote, too, was on her way to attend this banquet.

She was in the women’s lounge.It was the Duke’s decree that men and women should remain separate until the party commenced.

A space exclusively for women.Cariote felt incredibly out of place, perhaps due to her constricting corset or the overwhelming scent of powder.

“I received a proposal from the Baron—““Oh my, akakak!”“Did he present you with a diamond ring? Tell us!”

Every woman in this lounge was of noble birth.These noblewomen also seemed to revel in discussions about jewelry, accessories, and handsome men.These topics were far outside Cariote’s comfort zone, leaving her sitting uncomfortably until someone addressed her directly.

“You introduced yourself as Garcia from the Regdoll family, didn’t you? Why are you so quiet?”

Was her silence drawing suspicion?Cariote was caught off guard by the women’s inquiry.

“You don’t quite carry yourself like a noble.”“I’ve heard rumors of commoners masquerading as nobles in ‘Steg Maia’ lately.”“…Perhaps.”

If this keeps up, they’ll realize I’m an uninvited guest!Cariote’s mind raced in panic.What constituted as noble speech?What topics should she broach?Suddenly, she recalled the fashion magazines from the boutique ‘Conti’ that Cecily adored. Weren’t they filled with noble gossip and trends?

“I… I was pondering about scarves.”

“…Scarves? What kind of scarves?”

“Why, scarves crafted from the white fox fur of Corvus, of course. When one thinks of scarves, foxes come to mind, and what fox is more exquisite than the Corvus white fox? Imagine that lustrous white fur draped elegantly…”

The women visualized the glossy white fox scarf as Cariote described it. They all agreed it would look incredibly stylish when worn.Emboldened, Cariote continued.

“To capture a white fox without marring its fur requires immense patience. One must crouch in the snow, lying in wait for their prey. Days upon days of waiting, only to spring quickly into action at the den’s entrance.”

The women shivered as if they themselves had become hunters, almost feeling the chill of waiting for foxes in the snow.Then, one of them chimed in.

“Count Barbeto is quite the skilled hunter himself. He hunted numerous rabbits at the hunting grounds recently. Don’t you find a man proficient in hunting utterly dashing?”

“It exudes such a masculine aura. I couldn’t agree more!”

’The topic shifted to men so abruptly.’

Cariote struggled to keep pace with their rapidly changing conversation.But to her relief, at least the suspicion directed at her had dissipated.

’How much longer must I endure this? What are Judas and Cecily up to?’

Her worry was evident.

Just then, a group of women sporting elaborate hairstyles flocked to Cariote.

“Miss Garcia, don’t you think this marten scarf is fetching, even if it’s not one of a fox? Do you suppose men would find it appealing?”“What kind of scarves do men prefer?”“And what about dresses? Surely you must know, Miss Garcia?”

Men’s preferences in scarves and dresses?Cariote was far from an expert on such matters.The only men she truly knew were her long-deceased father and Judas.

’Clothes that Judas likes…’

After a moment’s contemplation, Cariote responded earnestly.

“I believe they might prefer women who are undressed rather than dressed…”

“Oh my, what did you just say?”“Akakak!”

The women erupted in shocked exclamations.Cariote’s answer had been far too candid.For a moment, Cariote felt a twinge of regret, but the women’s faces flushed as they playfully slapped each other’s backs or burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the scandalous remark.

’Is this truly what social gatherings for marriageable women are like… Had I participated in noble soirées under my mother’s guidance, would I have become such a person?’

It was a scene she could scarcely imagine.Soon, the women turned their attention back to Cariote.

“So, Miss Garcia, what kind of men catch your fancy? What traits do you find most appealing? Do tell!”

“Well, I… I’m rather fond of the way veins show on the back of their hands…?”

“Akakak!”

The women’s reactions grew more boisterous with each of Cariote’s responses.Yet, they hung on her every word, captivated.It was only natural for a newcomer to receive such rapt attention from the regulars.

“Also… I’m pleasantly surprised when someone who usually seems indifferent or mischievous shows unexpected thoroughness. Or when a person I assumed to be rude turns out to be more polite than anticipated…”

“Ah, I see what you mean. Like the male lead in a romance novel? Miss Garcia, you’re quite the romantic at heart!”

“Romantic…?”

Cariote felt the term ill-suited her.But these women paid no mind to Cariote’s reaction, engrossed in their own chatter.

“Come to think of it, the gentleman who entered the tower with Miss Garcia was quite tall, wasn’t he? He carried himself with such confidence. Are you two acquainted?”

“To be honest, he struck me as more of a villain than a gentleman. You know, like those rogues in romance novels. The type who mistreats women and acts on every whim of theirs.”

“Oh, I know exactly what you mean! But there’s a certain allure in a man like that being kind only to me. If he’s handsome, you can’t help but be drawn in.”

Cariote was about to inform the Akakak-ing women that the man was her husband, but she held her tongue.Even Cariote herself wasn’t certain how to define her relationship with Judas at present.They weren’t married, and they had only held hands, yet they had a daughter.Moreover, they were destined to conceive that daughter in the future.

‘For now… perhaps it’s something akin to being engaged?’

Ding— Dong—The bell chimed.It signaled that everyone should now proceed to the banquet hall.Cariote followed the ladies to the grand room.Gentlemen and knights in splendid attire were already waiting for the women.Cariote easily spotted Judas among the crowd.Clad in a black suit, he stood out like a drop of ink misplaced in the colorful banquet hall, a solitary dark figure.

“There you are. It must have been quite an ordeal among the ladies.”

The man casually extended his gloved hand and grasped Cariote’s palm.Judas began to speak about the impending start of the event and the punishment ceremony, but Cariote found it hard to focus on his words.As elegant string instruments began to weave gentle melodies throughout the hall, Cariote became acutely aware of her rapidly beating heart.This unfamiliar sensation, distinct from the pounding caused by fear or terror, left Cariote flushed and at a loss for words.