I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 263

Chapter 132.1

“Madam…?”

I came to my senses from my reverie at the sound of someone calling me and looked at the butler. It seemed that I had drifted off into my own thoughts in the Duchess’s office while reviewing the financial report of another Blois estate in the capital.

I smiled at the butler, trying to make it look natural, and opened my mouth.

“It would be great if you could continue as you have been. I’m counting on you.”

The butler, who had been tense in anticipation of my approval, brightened.

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

“All right, you may go.”

After dismissing the butler, I leaned back in my chair and let out a sigh.

‘I can’t concentrate.’

After completing my obligatory duties as a duchess, I needed to examine the invitation that had been addressed to me. As soon as I showed up in the salon, it seemed like news of Dimitri and I arriving in the capital had spread since invitations had been piling up since morning.

“I need to reply to these quickly… Ha.”

There was so much to do, but I just couldn’t focus. It was because of Dimitri.

‘Dimitri… Blue…’

My face flushed again.

“Bad person… What a bad person… Huukeukk.”

How can you pretend to be a cat so shamelessly and nonchalantly while watching all of my foolish behavior?

“Did he have fun watching… That bad person…”

I slumped in my chair, shedding imaginary tears.

Well, up to that point, I could have tolerated it a hundred times over. After locking myself in my room for a thousand days and kicking the blanket until it turned to dust, I felt like I could brush it off and say, ‘Well, people can do that! It’s not like I committed a crime!’

But what was driving me even crazier right now was…

‘I saw it…’

That was right. It was difficult enough to realize the connection between Dimitri and Blue, but witnessing his inner aspect, which I shouldn’t have seen, was also a huge mental blow. It was such a tremendous shock to me since I had never seen the raw part of an adult man in my life.

It was so different from Coco’s I had unwillingly encountered before…

‘Uuuggh…’

I shook my head to clear my thoughts, desperately trying to forget the scene. However, the harder I tried, the more vividly the image of the problem entrenched itself in my mind.

I couldn’t control my thoughts. Like sitting in a carriage pulled by a stubborn horse that refused to listen, I was dragged along by them helplessly.

‘He had a thin waist. His abs were perfect, too. And, above all, below…’

Ziiiiik.

The paper I was holding tore. It was because I was gripping it too tightly.

Startled, I dropped the paper onto the desk.

‘Oh, don’t think about it, please…’

I grabbed my hair in frustration and shook my head.

It was right after I realized how good his arms felt and how addictive his gentle touch was. Perhaps that was why all sorts of imaginations were now fluttering around my mind even more vigorously.

It was when I was pounding my forehead on the desk—

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the knock, I was startled as if I had committed a crime and hastily adjusted my posture.

“It’s Hyle. May I come in?”

“Oh, Viscount Villefranc. P-please, come in.”

I greeted him with the most indifferent expression I could muster.

‘Act natural, act natural.’

“What’s the matter?”

Viscount Villefranc handed me an invitation card.

“It’s an invitation to a party from the imperial palace. It’s tonight, and the Duke asked me to ask if you would be attending.”

It seemed that news of our arrival in the capital had reached the Emperor as well.

I nodded. I needed to see Renée.

“Tell him that I’ll attend.”

“Yes, of course.”

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

“How did she look?”

Dimitri urgently asked Hyle, who had entered the office. He ordered him to visit her under the pretense of some trivial reason to see how she was feeling.

Hyle narrowed her eyes slightly and asked his master.

“Did you really have a fight?”

Dimitri adjusted his posture and gave Hyle a piercing glare with authoritative eyes.

“Who told you to answer a question with another question?”

“I’m sorry.”

Hyle, who was unaware of the situation, delivered the words like a bolt from the blue to Dimitri.

“She didn’t look very happy. I’ve never seen Madam Rowaine so sullen.”

“….”

He cautiously offered advice, seeing Dimitri’s expression grow more serious.

“I’ve heard somewhere that if you’ve made a mistake, the most effective way is to go and talk to them face to face as soon as possible. Delaying only worsens the situation.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. There’s no time to waste. The longer you wait, the deeper Madam Rowaine’s emotions may become, even at this moment.”

“….”

Dimitri sighed. His expression was filled with anguish.

“Just go ahead and admit you were wrong.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Quick admission! Quick forgiveness! Don’t you understand?”

After a few moments, Dimitri left his study and headed towards Rowaine’s.

For a brief moment, as the study door opened and closed, the figure of Hyle screaming as he was swallowed headfirst by Shedim was seen momentarily through the door before disappearing.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

After Hyle left, I was left to contend with the morning scene that kept popping into my mind.

Just then, there was another knock on the door.

“It’s me, Rowaine.”

It was Dimitri.

“Uuuaakk!”