I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 119

Chapter 60.1

“It used to happen all the time in the cages. It seemed that they put medicine on our rice. We wouldn’t even recognize our parents and siblings, and we’d just do it.”

“Inbreeding…Does that mean that also happens?”

With a small sigh, I checked again. I hoped that the phrase ‘I didn’t even recognize my parents and siblings’ was just a radical idiomatic expression.

However, Coco nodded in affirmation this time.

“Everyone did it when they came into heat.”

I couldn’t help but be astonished by Coco’s following words.

It was said that shapeshifters who couldn’t be sold at their prime were used for breeding until they died, regardless of whether they were parents, children, or siblings.

Female shapeshifters were forced to give birth repeatedly and used for breeding until their bodies were broken or they died in childbirth, while male shapeshifters were either killed before reaching adulthood or sold off in large quantities at bargain prices.

“Cat shapeshifters aren’t as popular with the buyers, so their numbers are small, and situations like that don’t happen as often. But the dog shapeshifters…”

Coco let out a deep sigh as if he was tired of the thought and shook his head.

“Were the other shapeshifters aware of that? The ones who were with you, Coco?”

“The slave traders didn’t want us to know such detail.”

Surely, that must have been the case, as it would be difficult for customers to discover that the shapeshifters they purchased at a high price were actually born through inbreeding.

“Come to think of it, I believe I was classified as an object to be ‘disposed of’ soon since I hadn’t been sold for so long. Besides, being a useless male only made us even more unaware of what was happening outside.”

…So, how did he know all that?

Noticing my question, Coco spoke meaningfully.

“If you open your eyes and ears wide and memorize every trivial word well, the puzzle of truth will come together one day.”

‘Well. Coco is always up to date with information, even here.’

The information Coco revealed was always amazingly accurate and detailed. If he had used that ability even when he was at the slave trader, it would’ve been possible to grasp the true nature of the slave traders.

Coco asked belatedly.

“But why are you asking this? Did the slave traders give you a hard time again after the last time?”

“Well, I thought that was over then, though things got a little complicated.”

At my words, his pupils shook slightly. Coco hurriedly clung to my arm and opened his mouth.

“Don’t tell anyone. Even the slave traders didn’t know that I knew this, and I was going to take it to the grave. I’m only telling you this because it’s Angel. It’s a secret, okay?”

I was puzzled by Coco, who emphasized that it was a secret. Come to think of it, from the beginning, didn’t he try to avoid talking about his time at the slave trader? Still, for what reason?

I asked cautiously.

“You don’t want other people to know this secret?”

His eyes darkened.

Soon, the sky-blue eyes gazed up at me pitifully as if saying yes. Coco, who had been silent for a while, suddenly grabbed my hand with both hands.

“It’s fine if it’s angel… Only the angel is okay. Noth the others.”

As he said so, his hands were trembling.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

Leaving Coco at the annex, I crossed the back garden and returned to the main building. The image of Coco’s uneasy gaze, after telling me the secret about the slave traders, lingered in my mind.

‘…That was unexpected.’

The fact that the slave traders in Blois were mass-producing shapeshifters through inbreeding was the same as in the original story. I had planned to use that information to teach the Count of Bilbao a lesson. However, if Coco didn’t want the slave traders exposed, I couldn’t proceed with the plan. I didn’t want to disregard his concerns, which clearly had deeper reasons.

‘If I knew why, I might have been able to persuade him… but he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.’

It was when I entered the main building through the back door, thinking about how to convince Coco…

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Wh-what happened!”

“Come on, miss…!”

I could see employees huddled around the front door, scurrying around. Nevertheless, I couldn’t see what was there because it was obscured by squatting people.

Feeling ominous, I hurriedly ran toward them.

Lucy, the maid who happened to spot me, approached me hurriedly.

“Madam, Sasha suddenly collapsed!”

I thought I had misheard her words.

I was told that Sasha had disappeared after chasing the bees… I couldn’t believe it. But from the look on Lucy’s face, it seemed I hadn’t misunderstood.

At that moment, it felt like all the blood drained from my body.

“Did she fall? Did she fall from somewhere?”

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