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“You’re such a skilled gardener, Grandpa Randy!” I exclaimed.
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked around at the garden abundant in beautiful flowers. Since they were so well cared for, I’d asked him if I could grow a few vegetables—just enough to snack on! At first, he’d looked extremely reluctant and even a tiny bit angry, making me wonder if he hated his greens. But now, seeing him savor a tomato with a grin, I realized that wasn’t the case.
As I looked at his smiling face, I recalled a snippet of our initial conversation.
“You take such good care of this garden, Mr. Randolph. Any vegetable grown here is bound to be delicious!”
“You know nothing, rich girl! I’m telling you it’s futile! Do you not understand me?!”
“Grrr! I know for a fact that tomatoes grown here would taste amazing, though. Fine, you’ll just have to try it before you decide!”
“What in the world are you talking...about...?”
“There! Try this tomato! Even if you hate vegetables, I bet you’ll love this!”
“This can’t be... Vegetable plants can’t grow here... And how did it produce fruit instantly? What kind of joke is this?” He took a bite. “It... It’s good.”
“Heh heh! Told you so!”
Thinking back, it felt like I’d forced him to let me have my way. But hey, in the end, either because he’d been impressed by my foresight or he’d awakened to the wonder of tomatoes, he suddenly opened up and let me call him “Grandpa Randy,” so it all worked out.
I still whipped up a tomato with magic whenever I had a craving, but I also had a normal vegetable garden I tended to. Thanks to Grandpa Randy, the soil was very healthy, so even magic-accelerated growth yielded surprisingly delicious produce. But they surely could never compare to vegetables grown naturally with love and care.
Actually, this spell that could instantly bring tomato plants to fruition was a combination of Great Witch Alys’s time-manipulating dark magic, Saint Clarissa’s healing-and-growth-promoting holy magic, and a secret technique invented by Chef Matthew that only worked on food ingredients.
But still, I can’t believe we’re calling each other by nicknames. Am I allowed to say we’re best friends now?! Tee hee!
No one had called me by a nickname my entire life as Lucille. Thinking back to my Lilybell days, though, those who had called me an affectionate name had loved me very much! I was incredibly lucky to make a human friend so quickly after my cat companions.
“Can’t believe my lord’s keeping you all the way out here by yourself, though,” Grandpa Randy muttered as he sat next to me. “What could he possibly hate so much about you?”
I could tell by the genuine dissatisfaction in his frown that he was sincerely worried about me, and it warmed my heart. My current living conditions didn’t bother me at all, but it was still nice to know that someone cared about me.
“It’s fine,” I said. “You can’t blame someone for not liking another person.”
“But you’re such a sweet girl, Lucy. My immature lord spat in your face even though he’s never even had a real conversation with you. He needs to grow up.”
“Heh heh! You were wary of me at first too, though!”
“Ha ha ha! Don’t say that.”
It really didn’t matter at all if Lord Leeuwenhoek hated me. That was how I truly felt.
“Mreooow.”
“Meeew!”
“Purrrr...”
Michelle, Mars, and Jack, who had been lounging with us, suddenly nuzzled against me as if to say, “Don’t forget, you have us!”
The way I saw it, despite the fact that cats were so adorable, there were still people in this world who preferred dogs. Just as it wouldn’t be strange for someone to love me unconditionally, it also wouldn’t be strange for someone to hate me for no reason. And since it wasn’t my fault, there was no need to worry about it.
Everyone has their own tastes, after all!
Even Prince Bernard had ignored my immense efforts and doted on Lady Mina, who was his type. It had infuriated me at the time, but since my Lilybell sensibilities had merged with my current self, I’d begun to think, “Well, it is what it is.” Just because Prince Bernard hadn’t loved me, that didn’t mean I was worthless. It only meant my charm hadn’t appealed to him.
Plus, Felix Leeuwenhoek already had a fated heroine. Sure, the marquess was a delectable feast for the eyes, but that was all. I already had at least one person who adored me: Grandpa Randy. Why ignore his affection just to gloomily ruminate over someone who hated me?
“I still can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Grandpa Randy murmured. “The stray cats ’round here are especially wary and never approach people. First time I saw you covered in them, I thought I was hallucinating.”
“Did you say something, Grandpa Randy?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about it. All right, back to work!”
“Okay!”
And so, I enjoyed my life of freedom, tending to the garden with Grandpa Randy and playing with the cats.
However, the next day, I awoke early in the morning to a bit of commotion.
“What’s going on?” I wondered.
Hearing the cats growling, I peeked outside from the balcony and saw them intimidating a maid as if to chase her away.
“Ahhh! I-I’m not suspicious, I swear!” she exclaimed.
“Oh? If it isn’t Sarah,” I remarked to myself. “What could she be doing here?”
It was the servant who had brought me to this detached house upon my arrival in Leeuwenhoek. I hadn’t seen her once since that day.
“Grrr! Mreow!”
“Hissss!”
“Eek! Stop!” Sarah shrieked.
“Seriously, what is she doing?” I mused.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed another woman was standing near her. She had bright red hair, and judging by her resplendent gown, I assumed she was a noble lady of some sort. She seemed to be very upset.
“What is with these cats?!” she yelled. “When did this place become a shelter?! Hmph, I see how it is! The thieving cat who swiped my Felix is surrounding herself with her own kind because humans won’t give her the time of day! How annoying! Sarah, hurry up and make them go away!”
Who could this person be? She even said “my Felix.”
Though rumors said most feared Felix Leeuwenhoek, it seemed I wasn’t the only noble lady enamored by his charm.
Tee hee, I totally understand! He’s simply wonderful, unsociable as he may be.
That aside, it looked like the woman was trying to get into my house. Was she looking for me by any chance?
My first order of business was to stop the commotion. I stepped outside to address my feline friends. “Meow! You know you shouldn’t be mean to our guests! Calm down, okay? We can play later!”
The cats stopped their hissing and paw swiping, huffed, and walked away.
Sarah and the redhead swung shocked expressions toward me.
It was true that shouting wasn’t very ladylike of me, but I’d only raised my voice to ensure that everyone could hear me over the chorus of angry yowls! Besides, between helping Grandpa Randy with the gardening and lying outside in the sun, I didn’t think my improper behavior was anything new. However, as these two weren’t accustomed to seeing me like this, it must’ve been difficult for them to process.
“Wh-What did...y-you just...” the red-haired woman stammered. It looked like she was restraining herself from saying more.
There was no helping what had already happened, so instead of defending myself, I pretended not to hear her.
After regaining my composure, I let them into the reception room. For some reason, Sarah’s face had gone pale while the redhead seemed very unhappy, her lips pressed together in a tight frown.
The mood wasn’t particularly pleasant, so it felt appropriate for me—the calmest person in the room at the moment—to begin the conversation.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said. “My name is Lucille Gustelanola.”
The noble lady did not return my greeting. Instead, she addressed the maid standing beside her. “Sarah! This is my Felix’s fiancée? This must be some kind of joke!”
Hmm, we’ve only just met, but it seems like she already hates me.
She turned her head away, refusing to make eye contact. Judging by her appearance, I estimated she was a little younger than me.
Since our conversation didn’t appear to be going anywhere, I gave up and directed a question to the maid. “Sarah, would you be able to tell me who this lady is?”
“Huh?!” Startled, Sarah looked to the redhead. Seeing that there was no reaction from the woman whatsoever, she glanced back at me and said, “Th-This is Lady Alice, the daughter of Count Rohans. Her family’s territory neighbors this one.”
“Felix’s fated wife!” Lady Alice quickly added.
“Ooh,” I remarked.
“Wh-What’s with that hollow response?! Are you making fun of me?! You may be his fiancée, but it’s not like he loves you!”
Apparently, I should’ve thought before opening my mouth. My mistake.
I tried to adopt a more serious expression, but it was too late. Lady Alice’s face was growing redder and angrier by the second.
No, I wasn’t making fun of you... I was just a bit surprised because I know that Felix Leeuwenhoek’s fated heroine is Elvira. It’s so frustrating that I can’t explain that!
“I’m very sorry,” Sarah whispered to me from a distance, her face still white. “It’s not what you think. I tried to stop her, but...”
Her desperation was starting to creep me out.
Hmm, what to do? It’s probably safe to assume that Lady Alice barged in here because she’s angry that a villain like me got engaged to her beloved Felix Leeuwenhoek, right? But I’m not close enough to him to get her to back down, and either way, Elvira’s going to show up in a year, so Lady Alice is guaranteed to end up with a broken heart.