Chapter 71

"By the way, Leon also used to love narrow spaces."

Ammon couldn't help but relax his cheeks, and Relaisia asked with a smile,

"Have you ever been stuck in a gap and couldn't get out?"

"Yes, once. I got stuck in the gap between the sofa and the wall and made pitiful sounds."

He vividly remembered how Leon would deliberately get stuck in places where he couldn't get out.

After that, the conversation about cats blossomed, and Ammon, his mother, and Relaisia had a great time together.

It seemed that Relaisia could tell Lily's mood from the movement of her tail.

When Relaisia said that she only pampered Lily when she wanted to play, because Lily would only get annoyed if forced to play when she wasn't in the mood, Ammon's mother laughed and said, "I understand."

"She's whimsical, self-centered, and sometimes clingy, but she's adorable for it."

"By the way, when Leon curls his tail towards his front paws, what does that mean?"

When Ammon voiced his question, Relaisia smiled and said, "I think it's best not to bother him at that time. It seems he's enjoying his alone time, so I don't interfere."

After that, they continued to chat happily over tea. Just before leaving, they called Leon and introduced him to Lily.

The two cats were wary of each other, but after Leon sniffed around, he gradually approached and rubbed against Lily once.

Although they didn't become any closer, it seemed that the first meeting was a success.

After that, Relaisia began to visit the Antoare household with Lily on Ammon's days off, and the two cats gradually grew closer.

Ammon's mother, feeling relieved, began to leave the care of Relaisia and Lily to Ammon alone after the third visit.

For Ammon, who loved cats, this was a blissful time.

Of course, they were never alone; a servant from the Volga household always waited in the corner of the room. Even with cats present, it was not appropriate to leave the unmarried Relaisia alone with a man.

Watching the two cats play and spending time with Relaisia was extremely comfortable for Ammon.

They began to talk about each other a little more, and when the cats would sometimes come over, they would pamper them. Even when the conversation paused, it didn't feel awkward.

Before he knew it, Ammon found himself looking forward to Relaisia's visits more than Lily's, and one day he mustered the courage to invite Relaisia to the salon in the capital, Midas.

"I've never been there before," he confessed honestly, and Relaisia smiled, "I see. I've visited a few times with friends, but I don't recall seeing many men there. Salons are places to chat and enjoy desserts, so it's probably natural."

"Do you like sweet things too?"

When Ammon asked, Relaisia replied, "Yes, but I don't like overly sweet things. So when I order, I choose items that are less sweet. Also, I like all kinds of fruit compote."

"Like fruit cooked in sugar water. I like that dessert too. The texture and flavor of the fruit remain, so even I, who usually prefer savory, can enjoy it."

"Then how about we go to Tierra's salon? They specialize in fruits, so I think it will suit your taste."

After discussing their preferences, Ammon decided to tell Relaisia something that had been on his mind.

"When we first met, I was so focused on Lily that I neglected you. I'm really sorry."

When Ammon bowed his head, Relaisia smiled and said, "No, no... You must really love cats, don't you? I don't mind. And... please don't be upset, but that day, I found a man cute for the first time. I thought you were out of reach and very popular with the young ladies, but when I felt close to you that day, I was truly happy."

Seeing Relaisia's cheeks flush with embarrassment, Ammon felt a warm feeling spread in his heart.

He also felt ashamed of his rashness in inviting a woman to a salon date without expressing his feelings first.

He knew that if they visited the salon together, it would become a topic of gossip among the nobles.

If he truly cared for her, he should have expressed his feelings before inviting her to the salon.

"Relaisia,"

Ammon took a deep breath to calm himself and faced Relaisia directly.

Noticing the change in his tone, Relaisia straightened up in surprise.

"I truly care for you. I may be a stiff and uninteresting person, but I can proudly say that I will cherish you for the rest of my life. Please accept my feelings."

Relaisia stared at Ammon in shock at the sudden proposal.

Her eyes moistened slightly, and as she opened her mouth to respond, Lily jumped onto her lap and proudly meowed at Ammon.

"Oh, Lily," Relaisia gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and her lips curved into a smile.

"To answer before me, what a troublesome child."

Then, looking up at Ammon, Relaisia answered firmly, "Yes."

"Ammon-sama, I have always admired you. Please let me stay by your side forever."

"Relaisia..."

The two looked at each other with a good feeling, but unfortunately, Lily was still sitting on Relaisia's lap.

Interrupting their moment, Lily yawned loudly and started grooming herself, completely oblivious to the mood.

After a while, Lily ran over to Leon, and the two of them, left alone, looked at each other awkwardly.

"Well... Leon and Lily seem to be getting along well. I'm looking forward to their kittens."

Trying to change the subject to hide the awkwardness, Ammon bravely brought up a new topic, but Relaisia, who he thought would immediately join in, remained silent.

Confused, Ammon looked down at Relaisia, who also looked unsure of how to respond.

"Um, Ammon-sama, Lily is a male..."

"Huh?"

Ammon was taken aback.

"But... Mother said she would find a mate for Leon..."

"Is that so? That's strange. Aunt should have known that Lily is a male..."

Ammon, standing next to a puzzled Relaisia, recalled his mother's words.

"I plan to invite a potential bride and have you see how she gets along with Leon."

A cold sweat ran down Ammon's back.

The subject of the potential bride was not Leon, but perhaps it was him...

That night, when Ammon visited his mother's room, she smiled.

"You invited Relaisia to the salon. I'm glad you liked her."

From her satisfied tone, it seemed that his mother had intended to introduce Relaisia as Ammon's potential bride from the beginning.

She was a well-known and suitable daughter from a related family, and she understood the role of the Antoare family, which lived by the sword.

Mother had judged that this girl would be a suitable bride for the Antoare family and had invited her to the house to observe how she and Ammon got along.

So, he had been manipulated by his mother all along... Ammon felt a sense of defeat, and his mother, noticing his dejection, said thoughtfully,

"Relaisia is a true cat lover, but I actually prefer dogs to cats."

"Prefer dogs to cats? But I heard that Mother brought a kitten when she married into the Antoare family..."

His mother shrugged lightly.

"The men of the Antoare family are all fond of cute things. But they can't admit to loving cats with their big, tough appearances. So, during our engagement, your father asked me to bring a cat as a bride. He has been secretly doting on the family cats for generations, using me as a cover."

"..."

Ammon had unexpectedly learned a secret about his father, whom he had always thought of as a man's man.

Thank you for reading. I also appreciate your comments and feedback on my activity reports. Although Ammon seemed to be uninvolved in romance, he has fallen in love and welcomed a beloved woman as his wife.

Today, the first volume of "The Pride of a Temporary Concubine" by Mr. Kan has been released. Thank you for your support.