Chapter 31

When I couldn’t muster the courage to read Elmar Archibald’s *The End of a Long Journey*, Jeffrey said to me,

"You don’t have to read it if you don’t feel like it. Read it when you want to. You don’t have any obligation to decipher Elmar’s code. Don’t push yourself out of a sense of duty."

He didn’t press me deeply on why I needed courage or what I thought was written in it. The book still sits on my desk, untouched, as I lack the courage to read it.

One day, the maid, Bersa, brought news of some kittens. Someone in the neighborhood was looking for homes for the kittens born to their pet cat.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Mom, they’re so cute!"

"They are cute, aren’t they? There are five of them. You can have any one you like."

"Wow, I’m so conflicted! They’re all so cute! I can’t choose just one!"

"You can have two if you want."

"Really? Two is okay?"

"It’s better for the kittens to have a playmate. They’ll be happier, I’m sure."

The elderly woman from the neighborhood said, "You can have as many as you like, any of them."

"Then, I’ll take this one and this one!"

"Sure, let’s do that."

Nonna and I put the kittens in a basket and carried them home. Nonna named them Ash and Berry. She said it was because we got them in the capital of Ashberry, and it was a consistent naming style. Ash and Berry were almost weaned and could eat soft food on their own.

Nonna said, "I won’t show them to Elizabeth until they get used to me. Elizabeth is good with cats, so if they get attached to her, I’ll be jealous."

It seems she’s quite competitive with her. I thought she wouldn’t engage with that type of person, so it was surprising and interesting.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Mrs. Asher, what do you think?"

"Huh? I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, Lady Elizabeth. What did you say?"

"I was talking about Nonna’s pets, Ash and Berry. She hasn’t shown them to me once. Do you really have kittens? Could they be just pebbles she called pets again?"

"Lady Elizabeth, Nonna’s cats are real."

"Oh, really?"

"That’s right. We have the kittens, but I don’t want to show them to Elizabeth until they’re more attached to me."

"Are you being stingy! I will definitely see them eventually! And why is he here? I thought this was a ladies-only tea party."

She was referring to Lord Clark.

Since Nonna and Lady Elizabeth started attending tea parties frequently, Lord Clark has been escorting Nonna every time. He came to our tea party today when I told him about it.

"You can pretend I’m not here, Lady Elizabeth."

"That’s impossible when you’re right in front of me. And Lord Clark, every time Nonna attends a tea party, you stick to her like a guard dog. It’s obvious you’re trying to keep other young men away from her, even though you’re not engaged."

"Nonna and I are childhood friends. It’s fine."

"Right, Lord Clark and I are like brother and sister."

"..."

Lord Clark’s face seemed to twitch. He must have feelings for Nonna beyond just being childhood friends.

Still, I’d like to see him as a guard dog. The grown-up Lord Clark, who used to get kicked in the shins by Nonna, is now a guard dog for her. Ah, I’d like to see that.

The lively tea party ended in the evening, and Jeffrey returned from the Second Knights.

Jeffrey recently received the title of advisor to the Second Knights. He doesn’t go on missions, but he still practices swordsmanship and offers assistance when needed.

"The trading company I set up is managed by the state. I basically have no real work to do."

"If you’re free, would you like to start a trading company for my ointments and medicines?"

"Sure, that sounds good."

"I was joking. We can’t produce that much. Our family is financially secure now, but if you’re bored, maybe you should start a job."

"True. I’ll think about it. But for now, I’ll take it easy. I’ve worked hard for a long time."

"That’s true."

Then I told him about Lord Clark.

"I wonder if Clark has romantic feelings. Maybe he just sees her as a cute little sister?"

"But he was speechless when Nonna said they were like siblings."

"It’s not uncommon for noble engagements to be decided when they’re five or six years old, so age isn’t an issue."

"Nonna doesn’t seem to have those kinds of feelings yet."

"Especially since she’s so focused on Del Dorgar and the kittens."

"Hehehe."

Then Nonna came in.

"Mom, Ash and Berry have learned a trick. Watch this."

"What kind of trick?"

Nonna put Berry on the floor and sat a bit away. The two kittens competed to climb up Nonna’s body, pull something from the back of her collar, and bring it to her hand.

"Wow. What is that?"

"A saw blade. I got a broken one from a lead."

"That could hurt your skin if you hide it inside your collar!"

"I knew that, so I had Bersa sew a small pocket. She was confused when I asked why I needed a pocket here, though."

"Nonna, why a saw blade?"

"To cut through ropes and escape even if my hands and feet are tied!"

Jeffrey chuckled.

"Nonna, it’s not right to talk about being tied up as if it’s normal."

"You’re right, Nonna. I can do it more easily. Watch."

I took out a handkerchief and had Jeffrey tie my wrists behind my back. Then I brought my arms around to the front and undid the handkerchief with my teeth.

"Oh, I see. You don’t need to train the kittens for that."

"It’s a technique only people with flexible joints can use."

"True, but you can’t use your teeth if you’re gagged."

"Oh, right."

"See, Mom. The kittens are still useful."

Our family, all together, was talking about something strange. But I thought Nonna’s idea wasn’t bad.

Ash and Berry, who were so small, grew up so quickly. I was surprised at how fast cats grow.

"Can they sit on my shoulder?"

"Berry, try sitting on Mom’s shoulder."

Berry sniffed my body and then quickly ran back to Nonna. Ash did the same. Nonna looked happy.

"These kittens won’t sit on Dad or Lord Clark. Only me."

"Did you show them to Lord Clark?"

"Yeah, I took them to his mansion the other day. He said they were cute."

"Come to think of it, I’ve never had a pet."

"If you want a cat, Mom, I can ask the family for more?"

"Um, I’m good with these two. I might ask if I want one later."

"Hmm, I see."

At night, when I was alone in my room, my eyes were drawn to *The End of a Long Journey*. I still couldn’t bring myself to read it, but it was a burden to keep glaring at it.

"What should I do?"

My voice was absorbed by the room. It started raining at night.

I wondered how Orie was doing as I watched the rain. The girl I tried to rescue from a difficult situation.

According to the information Jeffrey got from the Second Knights, Orie was caught stealing her employer’s belongings and money in the Subart Kingdom and fled. Since there was no request for extradition, she would serve her sentence in Ashberry.

I decided to try to forget about Orie. But I knew I couldn’t. Another bitter memory was added to my heart, but that’s life, I thought as I opened the window and listened to the rain.

Looking at the dark, rain-soaked garden, I remembered my instructor’s words from my cadet days: "Life doesn’t go as planned."

"You’re right, Instructor."

It was a profound statement, one that only became clear after experiencing hardship.