I Don’t Care About the Story, I Want a Cat ～Transmigrated into an Otome Game～ - Chapter 4

Fated Encounter

It had been about two months since Amy fainted. Amy and her mother, Countess Isabel, went to visit the Duke of Coverdale. 

Aristocrats in this world tended to focus on some sort of charity in order to maintain a good public image. The type of charity work they engaged in would mostly be inherited from the patriarch of the family, but there were also many among the nobility who chose to support a charity of their own liking.

One of them was the former princess and current wife of Duke Coverdale. She was famous in society for her love of cats, and spent her time rescuing and caring for street cats and abandoned cats. She had also started an education program to raise awareness about breeding animals.

The Duchess was very welcoming towards like-minded people. She readily sent out an invitation after Isabel told her that her daughter Amy was interested in adopting a cat.

Amy and her mother were led to a room which looked like it had been made specifically for cats. The floor was covered with a low pile carpet that won’t be snagged in claws. There was a wooden cat tower that looked good for climbing and playing, placed on said floor. Even the ceiling was utilised with a cat walk installed along the walls, and bay windows on the corners from where cats could gaze at the scenery outside.

The room had a small, comfortable looking hammock which had become bent from the weight of a few small animals. There were also a number of scratch posts placed around the room. 

The room had been thoroughly cleaned with magic, and there was not a trace of smell or fur anywhere. When they asked about it they found out that a magician was employed full-time to keep the place maintained. Amy felt very impressed, and at the same time she felt even more enthusiastic about learning magic.

There were a bunch of cushions placed around the room, and Amy could occasionally see a furry back or a tail peeking from behind them. It looked like she had stepped into a cat cafe.　

It was the first time Amy was going to meet a Duchess of such high social standing. She wanted to give off a good first impression, but it was hard to keep check of her rising excitement. 

There were so many different kinds of cats, of various breeds and colours, that it would be hard to pick between them. Among them, there was a pack of kittens who had been abandoned in a park with their umbilical cords still attached to them. Amy’s heart constricted in pain when she heard this.

She didn’t know though if someone had intentionally thrown them away, or if something had happened to their mother. She knew it was impossible to rescue every single abandoned kitten. However, she was glad that at least these cats had been saved.

The Duchess’s round face softened in satisfaction when she saw Amy looking at the cats with sparkling eyes. She always thought ‘girls these days are too skinny’, so the plump Amy was received favourably in her eyes. She felt a sense of companionship with the little girl.

The Duchess gently asked Amy, “I heard you learned how to look after cats from a book, but each cat has a different personality… what kind of cat do you prefer?”

“Umm, it’s difficult to say. Every cat is cute in its own way.”

Amy looked around the room at the cats. There was a brown striped cat with a torn ear, and a fluffy round one with small legs. There was one with white fur only on the paws which made it look like it was wearing socks. All of them were cute. 

A chubby cat had been trying to jump up on the curtains since earlier, but it would fall down every single time. Across from them, a cat with a small mustache pattern on its fur was eating some snacks. Each and every one of them had their own unique charm and cuteness, there was no way she could compare them.

But if she had to pick one… 

“I’d prefer if the cat chose me, rather than choosing a cat myself…” 

After all, the cat, who had already gotten used to this place, would not only have to leave it, but it’ll also be separated from it’s buddies. The least Amy could do was to allow it to choose to leave with her by itself.

The Duchess’ face lit up at Amy’s request. 

“It’s not good if I’m the only one satisfied.” Amy said.

“Yes, that’s right! There are so many people who don’t understand this, and yet you get this even at your young age!”

The two cat lovers fell into an easy conversation. They ignored the sofa and sat down on the cushions on the floor instead, with a cat on their laps. They talked about cats for a while, before moving on to discussions of how to make a cat become familiar to oneself… 

A cat suddenly emerged from behind one of the cushions placed in the corner of the room. She looked at Amy curiously before suddenly moving to the window.

“Ah.”

“That’s the oldest cat here.”

The Duchess had turned around to see where Amy was looking and, after spotting the cat, introduced it to the girl.

The cat had a black coat streaked with lines of golden-brown stripes. It had fairly large ears, pointed sharp like a triangle with tufts of long fur growing around those ears. It’s thick, long fur seemed to be very soft; Amy could tell that even from this distance.

It’s tail was as big as its body; it was long and fluffy. However, the most surprising thing was the size of the cat.

“So big…” 

“It’s already fully grown. It won’t get bigger than this.”

It was the size of a small tiger, rather than a cat. If the ten year old Amy lifted it up, its hind legs would still touch the floor. If she was any younger, she might not even be able to lift it.

“It looks like a maine coon.” Her mother whispered in her ear.

Amy strongly agreed. She had really wanted a long-furred breed like a maine coon in her past life. She never thought she’d meet a similar cat in this world.

“Come here, Tiger.”

The cat’s ears twitched when the Duchess called it, but it kept staring out of the window. It was staring out of the windows as if angels were flying outside, but just as Amy thought that, the cat finally turned its face towards them.

The cat had plenty of hair around the neck, making its body look even bigger, with a lovely curve to its small mouth making it look like it was straight out of a painting. its eyes were a golden colour, similar to Amy’s. 

The Duchess called out to it two more times before it leisurely started walking towards them. It’s plump paws were unbearably cute, making a pitter patter sound as the cat sauntered across the floor.

It walked in a roundabout way, taking a detour around some cushions, as if measuring the distance. Amy felt like she could understand its feelings. There were unfamiliar people in its territory. It was only natural that it would be cautious. It must have been on alert ever since Amy and her mother entered the room. What a clever cat, she thought, impressed. 

“He’s a five year old male cat. He’s a spoiled child. Even though he’s this size, he feels shy around strangers. It’s been two years since he came here; he couldn’t find anyone to look after him.”

“Oh, I see… where did he come from…?” Isabel asked.

The Duchess closed her eyes and patted Tiger’s back, who had now finally reached them. She smiled nostalgically as she replied, “His owner, who had looked after him since birth, suddenly died. Unfortunately, no one came forward to take him and look after him.”

“But he’s so cute.”

“I’m glad you think so, Amy. But look, he’s almost the same size as you. There are lots of people who’d look after large dogs, but it’s not the same with cats. Many people are shocked when they see him, though it can’t be helped.” 

Amy wasn’t tall compared to children of the same age. If Tiger’s tail was included in his length, he may surpass Amy in size. Thinking of that made her excited. 

Tiger made a small purring sound as the Duchess petted him. Contrary to the size of his body, he had a sweet little meow, like the ringing of a bell. Amy thought her ears would melt at his little meow.

“Ah! So cuuuute…”

“Do you want to try petting him?”

“Is it alright to do so?”

“Of course. Come here, quietly and slowly.” The Duchess beckoned to her.

Amy moved slowly to her side, so as not to startle Tiger, and sat down beside him. She sat patiently until he turned to her, after being satisfied with the Duchess’ petting. 

Now that she was closer, she could see the cat better. His fur looked even more soft up close; it looked like cotton candy.

Tiger gazed at her intently. Amy felt like she was being sucked into his golden eyes.

“We have a young lady as a guest today, Tiger. Can you get along with her?”

“Hello, Tiger. My name is Amy.”

Wondering if it was okay to pet him, Amy extended her hand out to him and let him sniff it. After she was sure that he didn’t shy away, she extended her hand further and gently touched his fuzzy little forehead, right between his ears. She stroked his head a few times.

“Oh, he seems to like you… how rare.”

“He’s so soft. Tiger, you have a lovely coat of fur. You are lovely.”

The Duchess was surprised that the usually shy cat was letting her touch him so easily, but she seemed to be pleased at the praise. Tiger also didn’t seem unhappy as he slowly blinked his golden eyes.

Tiger’s fur was soft and smooth under Amy’s hands, just like silk. Amy couldn’t hold back her smile as she stroked him.

Mesmerised, she moved her hand to stroke him under his small chin. His fur was more densely packed under his neck, it was thick but supple. Amy’s tiny hand sank into the plush sea of fur until it came up to her wrists, but even then her fingers didn’t reach his skin. 

Maybe he had gotten used to her, or he liked being stroked, but Tiger suddenly climbed into her lap and rubbed his body lovingly against her.

“U-uwaaa, he’s too cute…!”

“Wow, that’s amazing, Amy. He doesn’t even let me pick him up.” The Duchess was truly surprised this time.

Tiger mewled in a tiny voice as he begged for more pets. Amy started petting him with both hands. The cat also looked like he was acting spoiled with all his might. Their close contact looked like they were hugging each other. 

It was actually largely because of the magic she had been learning in order to keep a cat, particularly healing magic that she had put a lot of effort into. The healing magic that had been lying dormant in Amy, was starting to manifest itself. 

The power of this rare magic was still weak. It had no effect on humans, and Amy herself was not aware of it. However, animals that were more sensitive to magic could pick up on it… Tiger himself could feel a sense of security, and a pleasant warmth seeping through Amy’s hands. 

Amy was so entranced in petting the cat that, when Tiger suddenly pushed her down and climbed on top of her, she stayed in her dreamy state under his soft fur until the Duchess quickly rescued her. 

Tiger had never been so affectionate with anyone else before. The Duchess readily agreed to let Amy adopt him. She’d had a good impression of Amy since the beginning. 

Unfortunately, however, the Countess had never planned to take on such a large cat, so they didn’t have the necessary arrangements to look after it. They decided to postpone the adoption until their house was ready to take on Tiger. And so Amy left the Duke’s house in tears, promising to come see Tiger during the time it would take to make the preparations.