In the early morning, I'm curled up on Sophia's bed, watching her scribble something in a silver-covered notebook at her writing desk.
It had been a few days since I was summoned into this world, and I was slowly adjusting to life here, of course, as a cat.
At first, I worried about how long it would take me to adapt to this new world, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. Most of my time was spent sleeping on the bed, waking up only to eat until I was full.
Occasionally, I struck up a conversation with Sophia, asking vague questions about this world and herself. I make sure to keep my questions ambiguous to avoid sounding ignorant; I had an image to maintain, after all.
From her answers, I learned that we were in the Maurya Empire, one of the three great nations in this world. Sophia's family, the Kovalevskas, were high-ranking nobles within the empire.
'I definitely hit the jackpot by being summoned here.'
Beyond some basic details about the culture, I hadn't pried too much. During our conversation, however, I noticed Sophia's reluctance whenever her family, especially her father, came up.
I wasn't particularly interested in delving into her personal problems. Her issues would likely become mine if I got too involved, so I left it at that.
I also noticed Sophia rarely left her room. When she did, it was brief; almost as if she was avoiding something.
'Is she a shut-in?'
While it might be concerning to have a socially awkward person as my master, I didn't mind for now. Being fed and pampered while contributing absolutely nothing to society felt like a dream job.
'I'm really glad I chose to be a cat.'
In my old world, I always envied their carefree lifestyle. Experiencing it firsthand had solidified my plans. In this world, I'm a full-breed cat.
Still, I believe in the principle of reciprocity. In return for her care, I made sure Sophia received something from me: relentless cuddles. At first, it felt odd, given that I was mentally an adult. But over time, I got used to it. In fact, I found it quite enjoyable.
The sensation of being cuddled... wait. Let's not go there.
Stretching, I got up and walked over to Sophia, who was staring out the window, deep in thought.
In my old world, this was the time I'd start my morning chores. Here, my only 'chore' is to eat until I am full.
Sophia noticed me and picked me up, burying her face on my fur.
"Um... Sir Seraphix," she began, her voice hesitant.
"Speak."
"You see, I... I want to have breakfast in the dining room today. My father will be there, too. Sir Seraphix, my father doesn't like me. Ah, but it's not his fault! It's mine. But things are different now... I have you, Sir Seraphix. But... I still can't face him alone. S-so... will you accompany me?"
Her body trembled slightly against my fur as she spoke, especially when she mentioned her father.
'It must have taken a lot for her to bring this up.'
I didn't know the details of what had happened between them, but since she claimed it was her fault, I doubted it was a case of outright abuse.
But more importantly...
"Am I also going to eat there?"
"Yes! Of course. I could share my portion with you."
"Then let's go."
***
In the early morning, Naphael Kovalevska sat at the grand dining table of the Kovalevska Estate. He was a man of many titles, but his most prestigious was the Grand Magus.
Naphael's appearance was firm. His sharp eyes and angular features gave him a commanding presence, further emphasized by his dark red eyes and hair, complemented by a neatly trimmed mustache. Unlike many magus, who often appeared frail due to their focus on intellectual pursuits, Naphael boasted a robust physique, a testament to his disciplined lifestyle.
To his left sat a beautiful woman, Valeslina Kovalevska, his wife. Her delicate features were framed by light purple hair tied in a simple bun, and her soft purple eyes carried a serene charm. She dined with quiet grace, a stark contrast to the heaviness that lingered over the table.
Despite the grandeur, the dining table hosted only the two of them, with an empty chair always set to Naphael's right; a quiet reminder of his absent daughter. It had been years since she last joined them, and the sight of that unoccupied chair stirred a deep, unshakable regret in his heart.
As Naphael ate, he turned to his wife, initiating a conversation.
"Have you heard anything new from Sophia?"
Valeslina flashed a soft, teasing smile. "I'm not your reporter. Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Naphael sighed, his expression weary. He had often turned to his wife for news of their daughter, since she still kept in contact with her. Though he always got the information, his wife's responses now came with a hint of nagging, which he found increasingly irksome.
"Dear, she's growing up fast," Valeslina continued. "If you don't resolve things now, you'll regret it."
"I know, but–"
"There it is again. Always with the 'but.'" she interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "How about starting with action for once?"
Naphael fell silent.
In their arguments, he often found himself on the defensive, and though it irritated him, as a man who valued truth, he couldn't deny her point.
He had no response.
"Tonight," Valeslina pressed. "Go to her. Just wish her a good night. How hard could that be? You do know her winter holiday is almost over, don't you?"
Naphael sank into thought.
He knew she was right. The path forward was clear, yet something held him back from taking that first step.
As he continued to reflect, a sigh broke the silence.
"Fine... I'll go with you," Valeslina offered. "How about it?"
The suggestion eased the weight on Naphael's chest.
"I guess that'll work. Thank you."
Valeslina smiled. "Yes, you should thank me more."
Naphael and Valeslina continued their conversation. The discussion shifted to more pressing concerns: the deteriorating state of the Maurya Empire, the unsettling movements among the noble families, and the growing presence of 'rats', threading their way through the Empire's ranks.
But their conversation was cut short.
With a loud creak, the grand doors to the dining room burst open, startling them both.
In noble households, especially of their rank, only the head butler or head maid had the privilege of interrupting a noble during breakfast. Even then, protocol required a knock, followed by a formal announcement of their business from outside the room.
The unexpected intrusion set Naphael on high alert.
In an instant, he dropped into a battle stance. An intricately patterned barrier materialized around Valeslina, while a sphere of crackling black plasma formed above him.
He was ready to strike, but as his gaze shifted to the figure who had entered, his body froze.
It was a teenage girl, her face strikingly similar to Valeslina's, though her sharp eyes mirrored his.
Then, it hit him.
'Sophia?'
A sudden, small cough from his wife snapped him back to reality. He glanced beside him, realizing the black plasma was still hovering above. With a swift motion, he deactivated it, the crackling plasma dissipating into the air.
His eyes shifted to the girl, his daughter, as she stood at the threshold of the dining room.
***
Sophia stood frozen, Seraphix clutched to her chest. Though she didn't fully understand what was happening, she had clearly seen the spell being cast in her direction. Even after it was dispelled, the tense atmosphere in the room remained palpable.
'Am I... not welcome here?'
As she hesitated, ready to go back to her room, her mother suddenly rushed toward her and pulled her in a tight embrace.
"Sophia, my dear. We're so sorry. It's a misunderstanding. We were just surprised, right, Naphael?"
"...Yes," Naphael responded quietly.
In her mother's arms, Sophia felt a wave of emotion threatening to break through, but she fought to hold it back.
She didn't want them to see her cry.
"I-it's alright, mother. I understand. I just... wanted to eat at the dining room today."
Valeslina's expression was filled with shock, but then it brightened. "Wait, you do? That's wonderful!"
She then gently guided Sophia to a chair beside Naphael, then moved to her own seat across from them. As she sat, the tension in the room began to ease, though the weight of the previous incident still lingered.
***
I'm now seated on the dining table, contentedly munching on a plate of food placed beside Sophia's.
After she sat down, the woman who had guided her, presumably her mother, called for the maids. Each one approached with precision, arranging food on Sophia's table and setting additional dishes around her.
As they worked, I noticed their expressions shift to surprise, glancing repeatedly in my direction. I could tell they weren't used to seeing a cat seated on the dining table.
Frankly, I half-expected to be unceremoniously tossed out of the room. But to my surprise, at Sophia's mother's order, they brought me my own plate, complete with food specially prepared for me.
I have to admit, the experience is delightful.
However, my initial impression of this dining room is far from positive, mostly due to the man sitting at its head, likely Sophia's father.
I can't pretend to understand the full circumstances, but the fact that he nearly attacked Sophia earlier is something I can't ignore. The memory still fuels my simmering anger, and despite my blissful meal, I can't help but let out an occasional cat-grunt as I chew the meat.
That said, I'm not reckless.
Even if I were to unleash every ounce of my feline fury, I know it wouldn't end well for me.
The reason?
One glance at his status window was enough to tell me this man is no ordinary opponent.
---
Naphael Kovalevska
Level: 126
Mana Capacity: 1,025,001
Occupation: The Grand Magus; Member of Celestial Order; Head of the Kovalevska Family, Maurya Empire.
Strength: 58
Intelligence: 494
Agility: 29
Dexterity: 25
Vitality: 24
---
Throughout my journey to this room, I made a point to examine the status windows of everyone I passed, including the maids, butlers, guards, and other workers.
From my observation, I noticed one glaring warning: Sophia's status window was unusually low. While I haven't checked others her age for comparison, the lowest levels I've seen among adults here are around 80, which I assume is the standard for a normal human in this world.
Given that, her level stood out as particularly odd.
In contrast, what stood out just as sharply, but on the opposite end, was her father's mana capacity.
Compared to everyone else I've encountered, his mana was overwhelmingly high, almost monstrous. Most individuals I observed had a mana capacity ranging from 100 to 1,000, yet his far exceeded that scale.
As I ate, I glanced around the table.
While the initial atmosphere had been tense, the scene had shifted into something resembling a typical family breakfast. The mood felt lighter than I had anticipated.
'So, it doesn't seem to be a case of outright abuse.'
Letting out a loud cat-grunt, I pushed aside the lingering irritation and turned my focus back to the meal in front of me.
***
Valeslina watched Sophia, seated across from her, quietly staring down at her plate. She seemed too nervous to meet her gaze, or Naphael's.
Still, the fact that Sophia had willingly stepped into the dining room at all was a moment worth celebrating.
As Valeslina studied her daughter's figure, a regret settled in her chest.
Sophia had grown into a beautiful woman, more beautiful than she could have ever imagined, surpassing even herself. Yet, this realization came with an ache; her daughter was no longer the little girl she once knew.
'So many years have passed without me even noticing, as always,' she thought, her heart heavy.
Her eyes shifted to the left, where a black cat was noisily enjoying its meal.
By noble standards, allowing a pet to dine at the table, especially one this noisy, was completely unacceptable. However, after only a brief moment of deliberation, she decided to let the cat stay.
Her reasons were simple. First, she didn't want to ruin the fragile atmosphere by removing the cat, which seemed to have emboldened Sophia to come to the table in the first place. Second, and perhaps the most compelling reason of all...
'This cat's cuteness is too overwhelming. I absolutely must find a way to pet it later.'
She then glanced at Naphael, seated to her right. He was staring down at his food, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Sophia.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
'Why is it they only resemble each other in the most useless ways?'
The table remained steeped in an awkward silence, save for the occasional cat grunt breaking the stillness.
'Really? None of you can speak? How has a cat managed to contribute more sound to this atmosphere than the two of you?'
Eventually, she couldn't endure the awkwardness any longer.
'I suppose I'll have to intervene again.'
She cleared her throat softly, drawing the attention of everyone at the table; even the cat, which stared at her with surprising intensity. For a fleeting moment, her confidence wavered under its adorable gaze.
'Get yourself together. You're the anchor of this family.'