I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 229

Chapter 115.1

As I came to the shelter to avoid Dimitri, I found Avila and Esca.

“Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

Avila, who took care of the dog shapeshifters, reported while watching Esca, who took care of the cat shapeshifters.

“Except for some minor quarrels over establishing a hierarchy among the dog shapeshifters, there were no major issues.”

“I heard there was a loud noise last night from the west wing where the cat shapeshifters are staying. Is everything okay, Esca?”

I looked at Esca, who always wore a calm expression.

Fortunately, Esca had volunteered to stay at the shelter voluntarily until it stabilized, but his role turned out to be much more significant than expected. Although we had assigned many people to help him, in reality, he was managing a vast number of cat shapeshifters brought in from the entire region almost on his own.

Esca, with his long silver hair flowing down in one piece and neatly groomed as usual, spoke politely.

“It’s because they are a sensitive and fearful species, so everyone is nervous about the changed environment.”

I sighed and nodded, knowing full well how cats were.

“I suppose so. Do you want me to bring in more people to help if needed?”

To my surprise, Esca shook his head.

“They are people who hate change, so it will be more difficult if new people are introduced.”

That was correct, too, since cats strongly hate change.

Avila, who had been listening to our conversation, tilted her head.

“How did you think to come here when you hate change so much?”

“It’s because they were cornered. Since negative rumors about cat shifters spread, and each region was determined to drive them out, they had nowhere else to go. There are limits to living in hiding for so long.”

“But they could have returned to nature. Most other cat shapeshifters live in the wild, avoiding humans, so why did they still stay in human society despite being mistreated?”

The response came from an unexpected place.

“Nature is uncomfortable, isn’t it?”

A cat shapeshifter appeared silently at the entrance of my office.

“Why go back to nature when we know that human civilization, with all its comforts and benefits, exists? Besides, there are philanthropists who provide food and protection like this.”

As soon as I saw her, I thought…

‘Lady Cat…!’

Dressed in tough, elastic black leather that revealed her body, she looked like a female character wearing a cat costume from a comic or movie. Her hair, pinned up in a single high bun with no strands left loose, was speckled with three different colors.

“It’s prohibited to carry weapons here.”

As I stared at the dagger attached to her thigh, she crossed her arms and spoke confidently.

“I have no intention of fighting here like other idiots, so let me off. It’s a precious item.”

She then gracefully walked over and stood in front of me, narrowing her eyes.

“I heard this isn’t a prison. There’s no need to take away all my belongings, right?”

“Not everything, just the weapons, will be stored for you.”

“But this is all I have?”

“Group living requires rules. You must have heard when you came here, but if you don’t plan on following the rules, it might be best for you to leave voluntarily.”

I stared straight at her without looking away.

We stared at each other for a while, engaging in an invisible battle. As I glared at her sternly out of a sense of responsibility to keep the shelter running properly, I was actually worried on the inside.

‘If she keeps pushing me, I’ll have no choice but to drive her away. What should I do?’

But unexpectedly, she lowered her eyes first and raised her hand in a gesture of surrender.

“Even though I know it’s not your scent, my legs are trembling. Alright, alright. I don’t want to get kicked out.”

I looked at her, a little dumbfounded, as she set the weapon down in front of me. Seeing that, she looked at me as if asking if I didn’t know and explained.

“You didn’t know that you’re carrying pheromones of such a strong alpha all over your body?”

“Pheromones…?”

“The man you’re sleeping with must be…”

Before she could finish her words, Avila became furious and covered her mouth.

“Who are you saying such vulgar words to?”

She quickly apologized as if indicating that she had no intention of fighting.

“Well, I’m sorry. It’s my first time meeting an actual noble.”

“Your attitude right now…!”

“Thank you, Avila, but it’s okay now.”

I stopped Avila.

Teaching human etiquette to shapeshifters who had lived hidden in the shadows of alleys was a goal that had to be approached gradually. Although the language was inappropriate, I had a sense of what the cat shapeshifter before me was talking about.