Although she didn’t like it and tried to stop it… there was no other choice now.

While sighing deeply inwardly, Jessie smiled and said, “You should be able to handle it easily since you’re a young lady. Don’t worry too much.”

Irene’s face brightened as she heard Jessie’s first words of encouragement.

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Even if he cooks delicious food, Carlos is not the type to call and praise Gilbert happily. Since there has never been an incident involving foreign substances in the food or its taste deteriorating, there was no reason to meet Carlos.

“…”

Yeah. There hasn’t been a single instance until now, so why is he suddenly calling?

Gilbert, with cold sweat forming, glanced at Carlos standing in front of the window with a sidelong glance. Considering Carlos’s personality, he wouldn’t call to compliment.

There must be a problem… What could it be? Could it be that there was something wrong with the food he ate yesterday? If that were the case, he would have called right away yesterday…

“Gilbert.”

At the indifferent tone with no rise or fall, Gilbert flinched and shrunk his shoulders. His head drooped involuntarily, like ripe rice.

I’m done for now.

“I want to eat the chocolate cheesecake we had yesterday. Is it possible?”

“……What?”

Although he thought that, when a completely unexpected question flew at him, Gilbert looked at Carlos in great confusion.

Carlos, clenching his fist, asked again.

“Can’t you do it?”

“I-It would be an honor! It’s possible.”

Making a chocolate cheesecake is not a difficult task. Even if it were a difficult task, he had to do it unconditionally if Carlos wanted it.

“Then, can you have it ready by afternoon snack time?”

…Does Carlos have a separate snack time?

As far as Gilbert remembered, there was none. In the first place, Carlos didn’t like sweet desserts like cakes.

And now that he thought about it, the only one with a snack time was Irene. Moreover, Irene was the one who ate chocolate cheesecake with Carlos yesterday.

Does that mean… he’s asking for it for Irene?

“Understood.”

When he heard rumors that Irene was Carlos’s lover, he thought it might be a groundless rumor or a disguise. However, looking at it now, it didn’t seem to be the case.

Well, then I should prepare it wholeheartedly.

It was the first time his master, who had never been interested in women, showed interest in a woman.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

After bowing deeply, a determined expression appeared on Gilbert’s face as he turned away.

People around said that Irene would be able to take care of Yomi well enough. Irene also said she would try, but she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

No matter how gentle Yomi’s personality was said to be, it was still a maus. She couldn’t treat it as cute and innocent as a pet like a cat.

So, without relaxing, she cautiously observed Yomi. Despite her tense behavior, Yomi behaved well without causing any incidents.

Thanks to that, the tightly wound tension gradually loosened.

“Yawn.”

Perhaps because of that, drowsiness poured in little by little. Irene yawned, feeling heavier and heavier, and rubbed her eyes.

Whether she thought Yomi was splashing water on her face, Yomi licked her cheek.
As Irene happened to be sitting, her eye level was just right.

“It tickles.”

Irene burst into a clear laughter while hugging Yomi.

Although some tension had eased, she still sat quietly, seeming like she might fall asleep.

“When Jesse comes back, let’s go for a walk, Yomi.”

Jesse had briefly left to fetch water for Irene.

Although Irene tried to go herself, she couldn’t take Yomi indoors, so Jesse had to move.

It’s about time for him to come back; should I get up?

At the moment Irene stood up, brushing off the grass on her buttocks.

Rustle .

The bushes behind her back shook slightly.

Irene thought it was just the wind and didn’t pay much attention, but

Kaang !

Yomi reacted sensitively, lifting its front paw.

“Just a moment…!”

Rather than Irene, who hastily tried to stop Yomi, a hand reached out first.

“Boldly touching Yomi’s subject.”

Irene, who was flustered, looked at the handsome man who suddenly appeared from the bushes and grabbed Yomi’s front paw.

The man, whose eyes met hers, smiled brightly.

“A beautiful lady.”

“…”

“Since I don’t feel its energy, it seems it’s not a familiar. Is it human?”

Kking .

Irene, who belatedly came to her senses at Yomi’s whimper, said urgently.

“Please let Yomi go.”

Although she thought he might resist, the handsome man released Yomi’s front paw more smoothly than expected.

Yomi, as if scared to death, flattened its ears and hid behind Irene.

“Ho-oh.”

The man’s eyes watching them changed. He smiled with a meaningful look in his eyes as he alternated between Irene and Yomi.

“It seems Yomi is not the owner. But even so, for Yomi to follow you so well, it’s quite a special existence… Perhaps, are you that woman?”

It was a series of words that Irene couldn’t understand.

Moreover, since it was the first time seeing the person, Irene was on high alert against the handsome man.

Then the man chuckled cheerfully.

“Cute.”

Even though it was clearly a cheerful laughter, it looked chilling in Irene’s eyes.

Especially those violet eyes that contained herself were creepy. They were about the size of chicken fat on his arm.

But wait a minute.

Those violet eyes looked familiar.

Ah, they’re exactly like Carlos’s eyes.

In that case, is this man Carlos’s brother?

But he looks nothing like Carlos…

“Right? Are you that woman?”

“!”

Half-doubting, Irene was startled when the handsome man grabbed her arm.

“Let…!”

Peck !

Before Irene could finish her words, something sharp flew and sharply struck the man’s side.