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Lord Felix’s instructions were very detailed and easy to understand. And the horse was adorable! When I went up to it, it shook its head happily, neighed, and nuzzled against me as if asking me to pet it. It idly chewed air as it basked in my attention.
Just like a cat!
Thanks to the horse and Lord Felix, I quickly mastered the basics of horseback riding.
“You have a good sense for it,” Lord Felix said. “You probably didn’t even need my guidance.”
“Why, that’s not true! I only learned so quickly because you taught me well! Besides, even if I was a natural, I’d still be a beginner, so just having you here would’ve been very helpful nonetheless!” I said with a smile, happy for the praise and the fact that his teaching had been more thorough than I’d expected.
“Is that so...?” Lord Felix averted his gaze again as if I’d said something strange.
But I was satisfied with how I conveyed my thoughts...
Upon closer inspection, his ears were slightly flushed. Perhaps he was just embarrassed? Despite being known as a cursed, unsociable, and emotionless marquess, he had an unexpectedly cute side.
“You’re saying that just having me here was helpful?” he murmured before suddenly grimacing and covering his mouth like he’d unintentionally uttered the words.
I found it strange that he was acting as if I’d said something I shouldn’t have. Wasn’t it the obvious truth?
“Of course! I’m glad you’re here, Lord Felix. Thank you!”
Not only was he helpful, but I also felt more reassured having him watch me than if I’d been practicing alone. I also enjoyed talking to him, and the horse seemed happy to be alongside its beloved master too!
For some reason, even though I was thanking him, Lord Felix’s expression grew gloomier by the second.
“Lucille... What would you do if you felt worthless like Alice did?” he asked.
Hmm, well, that’s a sudden change of subject.
I wanted to provide a serious answer for his serious question, but it was difficult for me to imagine myself in that situation. I already knew my own worth because my owners had spoiled me like crazy and taught me that all I had to do was exist to be considered cute. Even though at the time it had been because I was a cat, I still felt it was true now.
“What would I do, you ask? Hmm... Let’s say, for example, that there’s an adorable kitty cat right here with us.”
“What?”
Drat. I thought the metaphor would work since Lady Alice said he loves small animals, but I guess it was too sudden. I’ve already started, though, so I’ll just have to commit. I can’t think of a better comparison, anyway.
“There’s an adorable kitty cat right here with us,” I insisted.
“A-All right...”
“Close your eyes and imagine it in front of you, okay? It’s very, very cute. In fact, it’s like an angel, with glossy white fur and sky-blue eyes.”
“That’s awfully specific.”
“I figured a description would make it easier to visualize.”
Naturally, the hypothetical cat was modeled after my past feline self.
“Can you see it?” I asked. “Now, what do you think when you look at that cat?”
“It’s...cute, I guess?”
“Heh heh! I know, right?!”
“Huh?”
Uh-oh, I couldn’t help but gloat since it was basically indirect praise for Lilybell.
I regained my composure and looked at Lord Felix, whose eyes were closed as instructed.
“Lord Felix, you think that kitty cat is adorable, and you love it to bits! Now, when you look at it, do you think, ‘What is this cat’s worth?’”
“No, I don’t. If it were a horse, I might ponder how fast it could run, but I don’t look for practical value in cats.”
“Exactly. Cats are marvelous just because they’re cute! There are people who dislike cats, of course, but those who do like cats can’t help but adore them simply because they’re charming.”
“I suppose.”
Lord Felix’s expression relaxed a bit. He must’ve been imagining an adorable white cat.
I gently took his hands in mine. His fingers twitched for a second, but this time, he didn’t rebuke the gesture. His hands were clad in those familiar black gloves, but I didn’t see the tear from the other day. Perhaps he owned many of the same pair.
If he liked them so much, I wondered, if one were to give him gloves as a gift, would he be happier to receive another of the same kind rather than something different? Normally, one wouldn’t gift someone an identical copy of something they already had. However, established customs came second to whether or not the recipient would be happy with the gift.
I’ll remember this so that if I ever get to be friends with Elvira, I can advise her on what to give Lord Felix.
“I think it’s the same with people,” I continued. “If you care about someone, you aren’t going to think about what their worth is. They have value to you just by existing.”
After all, my owners never expected anything of me, but they still loved me very much!
Lord Felix opened his eyes in surprise and stared at me. He seemed quite serious, so I chose to meet his gaze. Looking at him like this, I realized how beautiful his golden eyes were.
I bet you could put the brightest stars in the sky next to him, and his eyes would still outshine them.
Upon closer inspection, his starlike eyes were shimmering. It made me wonder if the rumors were wrong. Maybe he wasn’t a misanthrope—he just distanced himself from others because he was afraid of being disliked for his curse.
As if to punctuate my thoughts, Lord Felix murmured, “Do you think I have value too?”
“Of course!”
“Even though I’m cursed?”
The emotion in his eyes shifted—to anxiety, perhaps. But what was I supposed to say? I didn’t understand why he felt this way, especially after I already explained my opinion.
“Like I said, you have value just by existing,” I replied. “Whether you’re cursed or not, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re here, does it? If anything, your work is more valuable than the typical person’s, because you’re always valiantly protecting your territory despite having to endure a curse!”
A gasp escaped Lord Felix, and he froze, as if he’d never expected to hear those words.
Of course, there were some people in the world who would never love you unless you had some kind of value. My father in this life was a prime example. But there was nothing you could do about people like them. Encountering them was like getting into an unfortunate accident—it wasn’t the fault of the unloved victim.
Besides, Lord Felix would eventually be fine. He would soon meet his fated heroine, Elvira. I couldn’t tell him that, though, so I decided to change the subject.
“Okay! Thinking about it more isn’t going to get us anywhere, so that’s enough of that! Lord Felix, let’s race!”
Lord Felix’s lips tightened into a line. His gaze downcast, he blinked slowly a few times before raising his head again. Then he smiled, his expression brighter than before.
“You think you can win against your instructor?” he asked.
“Heh heh! I won’t know unless I try!”
After that, we continued the lesson, going out a bit farther on horseback. Though Lord Felix seemed to be enjoying himself, there were times he appeared to be deep in thought.
I didn’t know what was on his mind, but the way I saw it, everyone had their own perspective, so I hoped his would come to broaden in a way that helped him the most.