Hai domo minna-san……I am currently being intimidated by an old butler-san desu….. *cries*

Now, how did this happen? Well, it goes like this. 

As expected, her highness came around during feeding time at lunch. After all the cats were done eating and left, I gently lifted up Nyaia-chan and started walking to the Duke’s Mansion. (I caught a Nyaia!)      (Referencing Kumoko and Alaba…..from “Kumo desu ga, nani ka?)

“Meowwww….” Her highness looked up at me from my arms and meowed questioningly at me. Inner me - So cuteeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

“Your highness, Nyaia-chan, I’m bringing you back home to Duke Cash… Uh, no. I meant, bring you back home to the Duke that lords over the South district.” I answered her, regardless if she understood it or not. I can’t speak cat despite how much I want to, which is really unfortunate, but I think Nyaia gets it what I mean.

“Nyaaaa…” Nyaia seems to meow understandingly somehow, and just enjoyed the “ride” back home. 

After walking for a few hours, I finally reached the inner of the East district. I searched for the largest and most lavish looking mansion. 

The Duke’s home was really quite easy to find because it was the best out of all the other houses in the district. 

I gulped nervously, the tall walls and gates were quite intimidating to the short me. I mean, I’m a normal height for a child my age, but I still had to stand on my tippy-toes to reach the black bell next to the gate. 

I guessed it was a magic bell because there was no ringing sound like the commoner houses. A few moments later, a stern-faced old man- ahem, “butler” came to the gate and asked me what I wanted. 

“A-ANNO! I heard t-that the Duke had lost his cat...And I think I found it so….” I was sweating bullets inside, my voice grew smaller and smaller as I spoke. 

The butler appraised me from head to toe before finally opening the gate and telling me to follow him. 

Inner me- YOSHA! He got what I meant, but human interaction still sucks! Speaking sucks! (C/V   “YES!!”   or “YEAH!!!”  kinda like a cry of victory.) 

Virtual tears were flowing down my face when I suddenly thought of having to speak to more people…..I regret…...Is it too late to go back?...... *T-T*

The butler-san told me to wait in the guest room and served me some tea before leaving to get the Duke. 

Uwaaaaaaa, the teacup looks super pricey!! It’s gotta at least cost a gold coin…. I should be careful in case of breaking it…. 

Ah right. Our kingdom’s currency goes by bronze coins or “copper” we call it, silver coins as “silver”, gold coins as “gold”, and finally the most valuable one-  Magic beast cores. They have a lot of uses besides just being currency. You can use it to power a magic weapon, nobles use water cores to have running water, you can also eat them like hard candies with no taste to get stronger apparently, is what I heard. 

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Though, it’s way too expensive for commoners to have. It’s because you have to harvest magic beast cores by killing magic beasts, but it’s really dangerous because some of them have some intelligence and they can use magic. 

There are a few elements of magic. There’s fire, water- 

Ah. I’ll talk about that later, the final boss just came. 

The butler walks back in with a slightly fat looking middle-aged guy with a mustache and blond hair. Only those of royal or noble blood have blonde, black, brown, or reddish hair. Those who aren’t, have hair colours like white, blue, orange, purple, green etc. 

Never mind that, the man looks pretty friendly, but with humans, you never know. 

The butler introduced me to the duke, saying “ This is the Duke of the South district. Duke Carschlmane.” After he finished saying that, he bowed and left to stand at the side. 

The duke nodded at the butler and turned back to me, saying. “Hello there boy, my butler says you found my baby?”

There are so many things wrong with that sentence just now I’m not even going to tell him to fix it…..I’ll just retort in my mind….

First of all….I’M NOT A BOY!!!! I just have short white hair, and I’m only wearing shorts because it’s convenient to move around in!

Second of all….It would’ve been hard to understand what you meant by “baby” if it wasn’t me!!

Third…..y’know what...I’m not gonna even bother… ai- my head hurts...

“U-um….yes...y-your dukedom… I have found your cat...I think.” I sounded as unsure on the outside as I was inside. Ahhhhh my palms are sweaty. Speaking is so hard when it’s not with papa and mama or my precious cats….

I held Nyaia up and put her on the table. The duke immediately looked overjoyed and crooned disgustingly. “ Tia!! My baby!! I’ve found you at last! I’m glad you're unharmed baby, but why did you wander off? Do you know how worried father was??”

I saw her highness secretly do an eye roll so human-like I almost snorted out loud. 

The duke was elated and spoke loudly “ Thanks, boy!! My baby's like my child, I’m so glad you found her!! I'd like to give you a reward for bringing Tia back to me, what do you want?” 

Uwa.....his speaking suddenly went all floppy and informal.....  Say, ojii-san, are you really a noble?  (C/V  "uncle" )

The butler immediately spoke up, looking really concerned “Sir! There is a possibility that the young lad stole your cat and returned it for a reward!”

He speedily turned his head to glare at me. 

Which brings me to this current situation…...I swear I’m innocent…

I was annoyed and scared at the same time, unable to retort. 

“Now, now, simmer down Eilus. I’m quite sure he didn’t do that. Otherwise, my baby, Tia wouldn't have followed him so obediently without scratching him or being frantic the moment she came back to me.” 

Nyaia, or Tia, also meowed loudly as if agreeing and went over to my feet and rubbed against me. 

“See? I was right.” The duke laughed triumphantly at the speechless butler. I’m starting to feel sorry for butler Eilus-kun for having to serve such a care-free master…….

“Now, what is your wish, boy?” The duke asked again.

I knew that it would be impossible to ask him to turn me into a cat. 

“U-um, then would it be possible for me to attend the prestigious “Magic and Combat Academy” ?” I timidly asked. 

The duke looked surprised for a moment before bursting into laughter again. Seriously, are you all dukes this weird and laugh-happy? He probably thought I was gonna ask for gold or something. Kukuku, I’m not that dumb. 

“Haha, I wasn’t expecting that at all. What an interesting boy, very well. Your wish will be granted. Go to the Academy in three months and tell the register that Duke Carschlmane sent you. They will know what to do.” 

I bowed my head low in gratitude.

But seriously, should I tell him that I’m actually a girl?........ He’s probably gonna register me as a boy…..ahhhhhhh, I hate speaking, so whatever. I’ll just deal with it. Being mistaken for a boy is fine I guess.