Chapter 859: Lance's Big Gray Cat
Chapter 859: Lance's Big Gray Cat
Afternoon.
Saint Kreith Monastery Residential Area, Professor Landry's Mansion.
"Ah, if we're leaving Brillada, I suddenly feel a bit reluctant."
Lance yawned slightly, sitting at the dining table and reading the newspaper.
After visiting Violet earlier in the morning, he and Huberian had returned to their home in the monastery.
"When we were in Brillada, I didn't feel it, but now that we're preparing to leave, it does feel like it's come too soon."
Huberian agreed, having finished her meal early but still sitting at the table chatting with Sigrid, not ready to leave.
They couldn't predict if they would ever return to Brillada, and it might be their last chance to see it.
"Life is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. When you left Helrom on the Southern Continent, didn't you feel the same way?"
Sigrid leaned on the dining table, turning her head to look at Lance and Huberian as she asked.
"To be honest, I miss the Milford family and Mirelle."
Huberian sighed.
During her time on the Northern Continent, she had taken care of the Milford Earl's family and her stepsister Mirelle, who had accompanied her from the Milford Territory to Helrom. Huberian felt nostalgic, as if she had another home on the Northern Continent.
"There's always a chance. I, as the Bishop, can take you back to Helrom anytime."
Sigrid proudly patted Huberian's shoulder.
The southern coast of the Northern Continent, the Protos Empire, was like her stronghold. Initially planning to vacation in the Southern Continent, it now seemed that she might extend her stay and even make it her new home.
It was already 1 p.m., and their family's mealtime was almost over. The three of them sat at the dining table chatting, waiting for Tata, who was still eating.
In the spacious and bright first-floor dining room, the afternoon sun shone peacefully through the shadows of leaves on the window, illuminating every corner.
Occasional gentle breezes blew through the courtyard outside, carrying the faint, sleep-inducing fragrance from the garden.
Inside the dining room, a long dining table was covered with a thin linen tablecloth, adorned with a few embroidered flowers. Silver cutlery and tall glasses were arranged neatly, and the dishes had already been served from the kitchen.
One dish that remained in abundance was a large plate of golden, crispy fried chicken wings, evenly coated with a secret sauce that was sweet, spicy, and fragrant. Freshly cut wedges of lime adorned the plate, adding a touch of freshness to the dish.
"Brillada has such great ingredients. We won't be able to find the special produce supplied to Saint Kreith Monastery once we return to Iceteria."
However, Tata's current favorite was a bowl of tomato beef stew. The bright red surface floated with a few green basil leaves, and the rich tomato juice combined perfectly with the aromas of pepper, carrot, onion, and potato. Tata scooped small spoonfuls into her mouth, and with each swallow, she wore a contented expression.
Then she turned her fork to the thinly sliced grilled lamb chops. Cooked to perfection, the lamb meat was a delicate pink, and the texture was clearly visible. The lamb chops were drizzled with a thick green pepper sauce, blending the spicy pepper with the tender lamb. Surrounding the lamb were a few small tomatoes that had been roasted to a sweet and delicious state, also a favorite of Tata's.
"Meow, would you like some dessert?"
After a while, Cat Boss brought out the final dish, a refreshing Elsaja Sanctuary salad. Fresh lettuce was topped with crispy bread crumbs, Elsaja Sanctuary cheese crumbs, and tender grilled chicken strips, drizzled with a sweet and sour yogurt sauce.
"Sure."
Talia nodded and requested.
"Meow, okay."
Cat Boss floated towards the kitchen.
Suddenly, Talia realized that several pairs of eyes were watching her.
She turned her head and noticed that Lance, Huberian, and Sigrid had stopped chatting and were all watching her eat.
"Why are you all staring at me?"
Talia paused, fork in hand, and asked the trio.
"Watching you eat so deliciously makes me hungry again."
Sigrid hesitantly replied.
Lance and Huberian nodded in agreement.
"Should we order more?"
Talia tentatively asked Sigrid.
Lance and Huberian were definitely full.
Having someone to eat with made the food taste even better.
"Then let's eat!"
Sigrid walked to the nearby cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a set of cutlery, intending to have a small bite.
"And that's the last of it, meow."
Cat Boss quickly brought out the freshly baked garlic bread. Its golden-brown crust exuded a tempting aroma of garlic and butter. Sigrid took it, broke off a piece, and found the inside soft and fluffy. She popped it into her mouth.
"Delicious."
Sigrid said with satisfaction.
Watching Tata eat was the best appetizer.
Their final dessert was a Tiramisu, a square cake made of ladyfingers, coffee, cheese, and cocoa powder, emitting a rich coffee aroma. The top was sprinkled with a thick layer of cocoa powder.
But Sigrid knew that Talia loved this dessert, so she didn't take it for herself and instead passed it to Tata.
"Cat Boss, did you know? I heard from the Army Gods that the Kreitni Empire is planning to build a Divine Beast statue for you."
Huberian waved, signaling Cat Boss to float over, and then hugged it.
Brillada's black cat had become a symbol of good luck.
Also known as the Stormjail Beast.
According to rumors, capturing the Divine Beast would bring good fortune.
"Meow?"
Cat Boss, having been highly regarded by the Kreitni Empire, was now a bit afraid.
It could only perform simple life activities and cast complex wind magic.
Every day, just hearing about the appearance of Loren, the Mule Emperor, Cat Boss was afraid that he would be captured by the Empire.
"Don't worry, Cat Boss, if someone sees you and wants to touch you, just transform into an underage Cat Person, and no one will dare covet you."
Lance offered a suggestion.
Currently, black cats in the Kreithni Empire might be popular, but Cat People are different; they are protected by the law in every way.
"I always feel like transforming into a Cat Person is more dangerous, meow..."
In Cat Boss's memory, he had transformed into a Cat Person once and was captured on the spot.
"It's okay, Cat Boss, stay with me, and I'll take you on the run like the wind."
Huberian spoke confidently, lifting Cat Boss and placing him on her head.
"Antanas and Sinora are waiting for me outside the school. We agreed to meet at 1:30, and I'm going to find them now."
She stood up and bid farewell to the three of them.
Cat Boss had been busy in the kitchen all morning, and he also wanted to go out for some fresh air, so he asked Huberian to take him along.
"Huberian, come home early."
Talia was chewing on a bun and speaking to Huberian.
"I know, Antanas, Sinora, and I won't go too far; we're just playing around in the city."
Huberian, with Cat Boss on her head, waved and ran out the door.
"Don't worry, Tata, eat in peace. Huberian is no longer the young girl you were tasked to protect when she first arrived at your home."
Lance spoke to Talia.
When Huberian was first brought to Tata's home and Tata was entrusted with her protection, Huberian was indeed in a dangerous situation and was very vulnerable. But now, even without the protection of Antanas and Sinora, Huberian had become considerably strong and safe.
"That's true."
Talia thought for a moment and acknowledged.
"Tata, when I go out, you should say the same to me."
Sigrid looked at Talia and suggested coquettishly.
"Uh, okay."
Talia had originally wanted to say that Sigrid's outing should be absolutely safe, but in the spirit of fairness, she decided to treat Huberian and Sigrid equally.
"By the way, isn't Pranay with Antanas and the others?"
Lance remembered that during breakfast, Pranay was still chatting with the Ice Maiden Migaya Ifatiya and the others.
Pranay probably didn't go to the Westen Free Memorial Palace either.
"He was called by Abigail to the Opera House."
Talia spoke while eating.
Pranay had initially gone to look for Tolledo, but due to his vast knowledge and understanding of demon culture and history, he was kept by Abigail at the Brillada Opera House.
The background of 'Holy War Romance' was the Northern Continent a hundred years before the Holy War, and Pranay was probably the most knowledgeable of the demons from that era, even clearer than the original author, Tolledo. As a result, he was treated as a historical advisor by Abigail.
However, for some reason, Pranay seemed to show a troubled expression when he saw the script.
"They are historical figures themselves."
Sigrid shrugged, believing that Pranay and Tolledo didn't need to study history to write a story with a historical background. They had spanned the entire era, and Pranay was a demon scholar.
"..."
Talia paused with her fork.
She seemed to have been hurt.
"No, no, I didn't mean it that way, Tata."
Sigrid quickly waved her hands but didn't know how to explain.
Lies don't hurt; the truth is a sharp blade.
"A home with Tata is like having a treasure."
Lance comforted her from the side.
"..."
Talia was even more stunned.
At first glance, it seemed like Lance was complimenting her.
But upon reflection, this guy was definitely saying something he shouldn't!
"Lance, you're punished to do the dishes."
Talia immediately sent Lance to the kitchen, handing him the empty plate to take to the kitchen.
"Sigrid, I'll take my leave first."
Lance accepted the plate as if conceding defeat and headed for the kitchen.
He and Talia were playing a word game, and if he was guessed, he would lose. Washing dishes was still better than being pinned to the ground.
"Oh, I'm full too. Let's rest for a while, and then we'll head to the monastery's affiliated hospital this afternoon. I just need to change my clothes and I'll be ready to go."
Sigrid handed her plate and fork to Lance and said.
According to their plan for the day, she would go out with Lance in the afternoon, while Tata would stay home to prepare dinner.
"Wait, are you wearing Huberian's clothes?"
Lance's gaze rested on the casual outfit Sigrid was wearing, and he suddenly spoke up.
He had a feeling that the outfit Sigrid was wearing today looked familiar, and now that he thought about it, it seemed like something Huberian had worn before.
"Oh, it seems so, I must have grabbed the wrong one by mistake."
Sigrid looked down at her clothes and realized.
They shared the same wardrobe, with their clothes on opposite sides. Sigrid hadn't brought much luggage to Brillada, and after the weather turned cold, she hadn't had time to buy many new clothes. So, this morning, she opened the wardrobe and grabbed a piece that was just the right thickness and put it on.
"Why don't you wear Tata's clothes?"
Lance recalled that Sigrid had worn Huberian's clothes before in the past few days, but she hadn't worn Tata's.
"The size is a bit off."
Sigrid replied after some thought.
Tata's clothes were a bit small for her, and unless they were of a looser fit, they didn't fit well.
"You two are still chatting here, Lance, I've already sent you off."
Talia reminded him.
Lance immediately picked up the plate and left.
"Then I'll go change now and put on something a little more formal.
Sigrid spoke to the two of them and headed towards the stairs to the second floor.
Her casual appearance was a bit too casual for a visit to the High Priestess; it would be more appropriate for a casual stroll outside.
Sigrid was already surprised to hear that Lance had a Wolf Warrior brother, and now she was even more astonished to learn that there was an eighth-tier Wolf Sage on the Southern Continent.
...
In the kitchen on the first floor of the mansion, connected to the foyer, Lance was quietly washing dishes.
It didn't require much cleaning; a quick scrub in the sink and a rinse in the mage dishwasher would suffice.
Before long, the kitchen door opened.
Talia returned to the kitchen with the last of the plates and utensils.
"You do chores without a hint of resentment," Talia commented.
She stood next to Lance and helped him clean up, taking the washed plates from the sink and placing them one by one into the dishwasher.
"I'm not Lan Fu, and compared to you, what I'm doing here is nothing," Lance replied.
Lan Fu was only a first-tier, and with her limited mana, helping with card creation was already a big help. It would be unreasonable to expect her to do everything.
"Do you want to get punished again?"
Talia now suspected that Lance was hinting at something with every word he said.
"It's like this, Tata. Violet was full of praise for your culinary skills today, and she said she was very grateful to you."
Lance, aware that another punishment might be literal, quickly got to the point.
"Oh, I see," Talia responded.
She was pleased to hear such positive feedback from others.
"Then I asked if there was anything I could do to help her, and she told me that she couldn't stop thinking about the big gray cat she saw before and wanted to hold it."
Lance continued, sounding a bit conflicted, as he wasn't sure what to do.
"You must be joking!" Talia exclaimed, taken aback by Lance's words.
"Can't you tell when I'm lying?" Lance asked, placing his finger on his lips in a shushing gesture.
He didn't want to be evasive, and there was no need for it.
However, Talia had always been resistant to the idea of transforming into a cat, and Lance had promised her that he wouldn't tell anyone else about it.
Lance was a man of his word, and he would keep Talia's secret.
"Well..." Talia realized she had spoken too loudly and might be overheard outside the kitchen, and Lance was indeed telling the truth.
Recalling the time she spent with Lance, he couldn't speak the truth, nor could he lie, but he had to talk to her every day. Over time, Talia found herself subconsciously doubting her own lie-detecting talent.
She was completely bewildered by Lance.
"I didn't promise Violet anything. I only said I'd try to ask the gray cat's opinion, so whether or not to fulfill Violet's wish is up to you."
Lance closed the dishwasher door and spoke to Talia.
"This..." Talia pursed her lips.
She really wanted Violet to know why she wanted to repay her, but now that she was simply cooking, Violet felt grateful to the chef instead.
However, Talia couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
After much hesitation, Talia finally took out the Cat Transformation Spell card and looked at it.
To be honest, transforming into a cat wasn't that bad. Being held and fed treats by Lance was a comfortable and unforgettable experience, and she thought she would never do it again in this life.
Since Violet truly had such high expectations, Talia decided to repay her kindness by transforming into a cat.
Talia bit her lip, feeling a bit possessed by the idea.
"Just this once, the last time," she said.
Talia's pride as a princess wouldn't allow her to transform into a cat again.
She took a deep breath and triggered the semi-transparent natural magic card with a cat paw pattern engraved on it.
Immediately, her body was enveloped in a silvery glow, and her figure gradually shrank in size as the spell on the card took effect.
A moment later, the silver light dissipated, leaving only a gray cat on the floor.
"Lance, pick me up, meow," Talia lifted her paw in her fluffy form and ordered Lance.
"Then I'll take you out with me later, and you shouldn't talk anymore," Lance crouched down and picked up the gray cat.
If Sigrid asked, she would say that Talia was taking a nap, as Talia didn't have any plans to go out in the afternoon anyway.
"Meow, meow," the gray cat initially struggled a bit, seemingly untrusting of its loss of balance, but it soon calmed down once Lance held it securely, quietly resting in his arms.
She felt Lance's touch once again, unrestrained, even though this body didn't feel like hers. Lance's warmth was conveyed to her without reservation, and she had to remind herself that it was the second time, so she shouldn't panic.
"You're so heavy, haha," Lance said, holding the gray cat.
"Die, die, meow!" Talia, in her cat form, immediately became restless, raising her paw to scratch Lance, making it difficult for him to hold her.
"Calm down, calm down!" Lance struggled to keep the gray cat still, preventing it from causing trouble.
As the two of them played in the kitchen, the door opened.
"What are you doing?" Sigrid asked in confusion, holding the doorknob, thinking Lance was fighting with the dishes, but instead, she saw Lance playing with a large gray cat.
At the sight of the gray cat, Sigrid's sleepy eyes instantly became alert.
(End of Chapter)
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