Amelia hasn’t woken up yet.

Dawn rose hours ago but not a single person has come to wake her up.

Isn’t there something wrong about that?

What are her maids so busy with?

“Mew...Mew!”

Let’s wake her up.

This is our last day together so enjoy your kitty while you have it instead of sleeping.

“Ugh...kitty?”

She wiped her eyes, yawning sleepily before lowering herself off of the bed.

“Kitty, I just wanna stay in my room today.”

No ma’am! You’re a kid.

At least go out and play.

“Mew Mew! MEW!”

“Are you hungry kitty?” she said scooping me up, “I am too. Should we find something to eat?”

Food before a bath?

No way! You’ve got it wrong.

My mom was very strict. My siblings and I were always kept on a schedule: wake up, wash your face, brush your teeth, take a bath, and then have breakfast. If she knew I let a child do this she’d never let me hear the end of it.

I nibbled on her finger until she dropped me. I strode over to her bathroom glancing back at her.

“The bathroom?” she asked curiously, “Do you want to take a bath together kitty?”

Not together, but YOU do need to bathe before eating.

“Mew.”

“We’ll need to run it first.” she said, trying to reach the tub’s faucet, “Mmm~ I don’t think I can reach it.”

Hmmm. She is very small.

Maybe there’s something I could use.

I looked around the room searching for something she could step on to lift herself. In the corner I noticed a small wooden stool. I pranced over to it meowing to make her follow me.

“Mew!”

That’s perfect. It’s just the right height for her to reach the faucet.

“Oh!” she said grabbing it, “The maids used to sit on this while I take a bath. I can use it to turn the water on! You're a smart kitty!”

She drug the stool over to the tub taking care not to fall over as it was almost the size of her.

“Hot or warm? Hmmm I like warm kitty.”

Okay, bath water is going. What’s soap look like here?

I cased around the tub hoping there would be soap but there wasn’t any.

She has to have soap! A little girl should smell fresh and nice.

“Um kitty?” She asked, watching me, “Are you looking for the bubbles?”

Bubbles?

Ah, maybe that’s what she calls it.

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“Mew.”

“Under the sink.” she beamed, “Look there! I love bubbles.”

She smiled cheerfully as I grabbed a bottle from under the sink. It was purple and resembled one of those sample sized bottles I’d get from department stores back in my world. It smelled like fresh lilacs. It’s a smell I remember distinctly because it’s my favorite flower.

“Thanks kitty!” she said, grabbing me, “Now let's bathe together!”

No.

Please no.

Maybe it’s because I’m a cat now, but I don’t want that water touching me.

Splash!

Ugh...why does it feel so weird?!

As a human I loved taking baths. They relaxed me, especially after a long day. Soaps add a destressing element to them that you can’t find anywhere else. Right now, this bath feels terrible. My fur feels heavy and gross.

“Raaaar!”

“Stay still kitty!” she said, wrestling me under the water, “I have to wash you too so we smell good together.”

I’m fine with smelling like crap. Please stop!

“All done!” she cheered. I let myself float atop the water in defeat while she pulled herself out. She grabbed a towel and pulled me into it, drying me off.

“Okay time for breakfast!”

No! You can’t just go out in your pajamas with other people around. You need to change!

I hopped down out of the towel and ran over to her wardrobe. I scratched at it hoping she’d follow.

“That’s my wardrobe.” she giggled, “Kitty, do you want to see my dresses?”

No. I want you to put one on so you don’t walk out in just anything.

She opened it and a baby blue dress immediately popped out to me. It had delicate lace on the trim,along the neckline, and sleeves.

It’s a Victorian masterpiece!

Amelia put this on!

I placed my paw on it meowing at her. She took it out and after staring at it for some time she decided to put it on.

“This would be cute to wear today.” she smiled, “I can play in the garden with it because it’s light.”

She began to dress herself, mumbling trying to remember how to do it from watching the maids. Finally, she stopped when she couldn’t lace the corset.

“Ah!” she groaned “I can’t reach it.”

Hmmm...maybe I can if I jump from the bed and bite down on the ends of the two strings. I got a running start and launched myself onto the bed and then at her.

“Kitty!”

I grabbed the string with my mouth and pulled down on them as I fell, closing it. She yelped in surprise before bursting into laughter.

“Kitty, did you do that to help me?” she said after getting dressed, “I was so surprised!”

Honestly kid, me too. I thought of it on the fly but really didn’t know if it’d work out.

I was preparing to hit the floor.

She twirled around in the mirror tying her hair back into a bow.

“I got dressed all on my own!” she cheered, “It’s all thanks to you kitty. Mother and father gave me a perfect gift.”

Ah, well I can’t take all the credit...but you’re welcome.

“Let’s go get breakfast!”

She cradled me in her arms while we made our way through the mansion halls and into the dining room. The maids looked at her in shock as they were serving her mother and father. They looked at Amelia before the duke glared at one of the maids.

“Sick?” he growled, “Does she look sick?”

“I-I’m sorry sir.” she pleaded, “I’m just a kitchen maid. We don’t oversee Lady Amelia’s well-being. I only said what her personal maid told us.”

“Now that you mention her,” he continued “where is she that my daughter is walking the halls alone?”

Silence fell over the room. The maids mumbled under nervous glances.

Bang!

He slammed his fist onto the table. Amelia jumped, frightened at the sudden outburst. She trembled watching as the duke beat the maid who spoke up.

The maid’s name is Chassis. She was one of the maids that took care of me until I met Amelia.

She’s a sweet girl and always went out of her way to make sure I was okay. From what I’ve deduced, she’s the type that prefers animals over people.

“I’m sorry kitty.” Amelia whispered covering my eyes, “Father has a little temper. He’s not here all the time, but when he is, the maids always get in trouble.”

“Call Maria here immediately.” he boomed, “I warned her that I would not overlook this another time. I’m sick of her disobedience.”

Yep.

Definitely leaving tonight.

I understand he’s upset about the neglect, but to beat the innocent maids is a bit much.

Staying here with someone like him is not an option. People who beat others will have no problem doing it to animals. I don’t want to stick around to see what he’ll do.

“Amelia!” he yelled, “You are the lady of this house outside of your mother. You also need to speak up! Stop being so docile and maybe they won't run over you!”

The hell?

She’s a child! You should be home more as her father, making sure she’s okay.

It’s not her responsibility to ensure her own safety!

And what about her mother? Are you turning a blind eye to the fact that she ignores the neglect? Yell at her!

“Hisssss!”

“No kitty!” Amelia said mushing my face, “Quiet kitty. Quiet!”

He took me from her arms dangling me by my neck.

“What a rude cat.” he said “How dare you hiss at the one who brought you here?”

I’ll hiss all I want! You’re being ridiculous!

“Hissssss!”

“Insolent thing!” his grip tightened and my body began to flail about. Amelia tugged at him with tears in her eyes.

“Father!” she begged, “Kitty doesn’t know any better. Please don’t hurt her! I’ll teach her I promise. I promise!”

I looked over at the screaming child. Her face was a mess with tears as she tugged at him as hard as her little hands could. Her mother still sat silent, eating her food.

Ah, I hate the sound of her crying. I don’t want to die now nor with the sound of a screaming child in my ears.

I still have to survive until tonight.

“Dear,” her mother chimed in, “it’s hardly possible to enjoy my breakfast with this nuisance. Just let the thing go. It’s Amelia’s anyway. Let her deal with it.”

“...fine.” he scoffed, “My wife is the reason you’re going unscathed, kitty. Don’t hiss at me again.”

He let go of me and I fell onto the floor hitting it hard. I felt dizzy as Amelia scooped me up into her arms.

“Are you okay kitty?” she cried, “Kitty?”

I couldn’t respond because I was trying to center my blurred vision. She turned to her father and yelled at him as hard as she could.

“Why’d you hurt kitty?” she yelled, “Kitty helped me wake up, take a bath, and I got dressed all by myself because of her. Kitty just wanted to protect me because you scared her! You're awful, father!”

OOP…

Now that’s one way to chastise the duke.

I guess the little miss has some kahunas.

“I want to eat in my room.” she stated, “I don’t want kitty to get hurt by you again.”

I don’t know if I should cheer or stay quiet.

The one time I yelled at my father, I almost ended up in the grave early.

“Fine.” the duke retorted, “Eat in your room for the day then.”

“Fine!” she said, stomping out, “It tastes better when I eat it there anyway!”

Ha...this family is exhausting.