I Don’t Care About the Story, I Want a Cat ～Transmigrated into an Otome Game～ - Chapter 29

The Relation Between Cats and Musical Instruments

While everyone was busy conversing, Rosalind glanced up at the wall to check the time on the clock hung up there. She put down her teacup and started gathering her books and stationery, and putting them into her bag.　

“I have to go now.”

“Oh, is it already that time? I’m sorry, Rosalind. If only I could play something I would have helped you…”

“It’s fine, Amy. Don’t worry about it.”

Rosalind patted Amy’s head in reassuration at the girl’s dejected look.

“Play what?” Edward asked in confusion.

“A musical instrument. It’s for the musical performance, Your Highness.”

Edward and Alexander immediately understood what Rosalind was talking about. They were both familiar with the academy’s music class where students learned a musical instrument of their choice from the instructor. Instead of an exam or a test, they received their grades by performing in a concert that was held once a month in the Chapel of the Academy, in front of a large number of people.

It was common for children from aristocratic families to learn to play an instrument when they were younger as part of their education. So the monthly performances of music would be quite exceptional, and parents would also come to attend making it a huge success every time. 

Jahar, who seemed interested in this, spoke up.

“Hmm, what instruments do you play?”

“I play the violin. I was going to perform with a student who plays the piano but she had to leave so now I’m without a partner.” 

People were free to choose their own style of performing, and it was common for students to form an ensemble with multiple people, or pair up with someone as an accompanist to your piece. Rosalind had gone with the latter by pairing up with a girl from the same class, however her partner had gone back to her country estate to attend the funeral of a family member. 

She had sent her a hastily written letter informing her that she won’t be able to come back anytime soon, so Rosalind would have to look for another partner. 

“It’s too late to learn a new piece now, and I don’t think I can find another partner at such short notice either. So I’m thinking of talking to my tutor to have my performance postponed to next month.” 

“I see. Amy, don’t you play anything?”

“I did learn when I was younger but I don’t play anymore.”

“Ah, it’s because of Tiger, right.”

Edward, who knew the reason for this, interjected into the conversation. Besides him, Alexander also nodded knowingly. 

“Who’s Tiger?”

“Tiger is my cat. He sticks to me like glue whenever I decide to practice music.”

Amy spoke as if this was an annoying thing but her tone showed that she didn’t mind it at all. Tiger always hindered her practices; if she wanted to play the piano he would jump onto the keys and start walking all over them, making a terrible sound come out. 

She moved on to the violin but the movements of the bow would fascinate him and he’d start jumping up, trying to catch it as if it were a toy. 

When she played the flute, he’d jump on her and start meowing along with her, begging Amy for a hug… and so on. 

Tiger would only act like this when Amy played a musical instrument. If her mother or someone else played an instrument, he’d sit quietly on a sofa or on Amy’s lap with his ears perked up. 

This was why Amy eventually gave up practicing musical instruments, and she went for the theory part of the musical class rather than the practical one. 

“I see. He must be a handful.” Jahar said with a sympathetic smile. 

“Well, he looks very cute so I don’t mind.” Amy replied with her hands clasped to her chest and her eyes crinkled in a smile as she recalled Tiger’s cute antics. 

“By the way,” Edward interrupted, “Can I ask what song you’re going to play?”

“Ah, yes…”

Rosalind quickly announced the name of the song she had decided on. It was a difficult musical piece, but it was well known in Rudusia. 

Edward’s eyes lit up as he turned to his childhood friend. 

“Alex can play that song very well.” He said.

“Ah, then wouldn’t it be perfect if he accompanied you as your partner?” Amy added. 

“I can’t ask that of him! I-it’s fine!”

Rosalind, surprised at the unexpected proposal, quickly declined the idea. 

It was one thing to talk with each other like they were doing now, and another to play with him as a duo in front of so many people. Alexander was not only a Duke’s eldest son, but was also extremely good looking. People might think of her as an opportunistic gold digger or worse, they might think she was in love with him or something. She would much rather play with Alex’s mother, the Duchess of Coverdale who she was well acquainted with thanks to Posha. 

Amy’s friend Rosalind didn’t only share her love for cats with Amy, but also had a very similar love life in that she didn’t have any. She had no fiance or lover. Rosalind loved books and her dream was to become a librarian. She didn’t want to get married, she wanted to stay single her whole life. 

However, recently her parents and the Lady she was staying with had started pushing various men at her to consider. 

Alex spoke up in a bored tone, breaking her from her thoughts. 

“Yeah. Besides, it’s too troublesom_”

“Alex, the music class is held at the same time as Sir Dion’s magic class. He should understand if you have to take an absence due to the performance, and you’ll still pass with minimum credit even if you don’t attend.”

Alexander’s demeanor did a complete 180 at Edward’s reminder and he quickly changed his tone.

“_ I mean, it’s no trouble at all! Miss Knolls, do you have the music score?”

“Ah, yes. Here you go.”

“Alright! The performance is at the end of the month, right. That means I have about 15 days, which should be enough time.”

“Eeeeh? A-are you really going to do it?”

“Of course. Ah, I’ll have to ask you to show Jahar around, Edward.”

“Sure.”

None of the students would let an opportunity to skip Sir Dion’s class go by. He was notorious for being strict on his students. So, of course, Alexander took up the offer to play with Rosalind since it would give him a valid reason to not attend Sir Dion’s lessons. He quickly took the offered score from Rosalind and flipped through it while humming happily under his breath. 

Rosalind, who was always calm and sensible, looked a bit flustered at the turn of events. It was a rare sight to see, thought Amy as she spoke up.  

“We should have just asked Alex from the start.” 

“You can now relax, Rosalind.” Leticia also chipped in. 

“Amy, and you too, Lettie… I can’t relax, I’m now worried about a completely different thing!”

Alexander, sensing her hesitance, quickly pulled Rosalind to her feet and dragged her away to the music teacher to report the change of partners before Rosalind could change her mind. 

Rosalind turned around to send a helpless look at her friends but they just waved back at her in farewell with smiles on their faces. 

“Well, we should get going as well.”

“Ah about that, Ed, it’s a bit sudden to ask but can I have Lettied show me around?”

“I have a class to attend.”

“I see……. Another time then, Lettie.”

Leticia quickly said her farewell to Jahar with a wave of her hand. The Prince grasped her hand and, pulling her to her feet, planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

“!?”

“This is a magic charm to protect you, Lettie.” He said cheekily.

Amy gasped at the display of affection and quickly brought her hands to her face to prevent any more sound from escaping. She peeked out from between her fingers to see Leticia blushing an impressive shade of scarlet. She was just admiring the intensity of the blush when a fork appeared in front of her, a piece of tart on it. Without even thinking, she leaned down and gobbled it up.

As she chewed, she watched Edward get up to follow Jahar who had climbed down the terrace steps into the garden below.

“Then, I’ll see you later, Amy. Miss Elphinstone, I’ll take good care of Jahar for you.”

“H-he’s not mine! You don’t have to say that to me!”

“Oh, let’s leave it at that then.”

The two ladies bowed as the Princes left. As soon as they were gone, Amy turned to her friend. 

“……. Lettie. I could hear that kiss from here.”

“W-wha-, Amy! How can you say that! Do you not know who fes that tart to you just now?” 

“Huh!?”

She hadn’t even noticed but both her hands had been covering her face so someone else must have been holding the fork. Someone had fed it to her but it wasn’t Jahar or Lettie so that meant…. 

Her face heated up as she realised who it was. 

Leticia and Amy left to go to their class, both of their faces steaming in embarrassment.