The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 60
After they teleported, he glanced at Violette. She did not look particularly sick, unlike Quince who suffers from teleportation sickness.
“Stay close to me.”
“Nyaa!”
“……”
Violette completely thought she was a cat.
Usually, one would be able to resist the illusion if they were told that they were under one. However, Hydrangea did not expect that she had no resistance at all.
It couldn’t be helped. Everyone has weaknesses after all.
Even his adjutant Quince, who is one of the best in the Magic Division at water-related magic, gets teleportation sickness.
Even Hydrangea has a weakness in magic.
And that is Flight magic. Rather, he is afraid of heights, so he only uses teleportation to get around.
Some mages like to ride brooms or carpets to move around just like in fairy tales, but Hydrangea thought that it was ridiculous.
He returned his attention to Violette. She had taken an interest in her surroundings and was looking around his office.
“Violette, go sit quietly on the chair over there.”
“Nya”
Violette responded like a cat which he reluctantly found cute.
Hydrangea found her cute and adorable because she meowed while she was human.
It’s not that I find Violette cute. It’s the cattitude that’s cute.
Quince arrived while he was having these thoughts.
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
“Good morning.”
Quince sluggishly strode into the room appearing as if he either lacked sleep or woke up fatigued.
If he acted like this during office hours, Hydrangea would have scolded him, but since there was still time before they officially started the work day, he let it slide.
“Ah, is that your familiar?!”
Yesterday, he told Quince that he would be bringing his familiar to the office. Being a perceptive man, he immediately noticed the cat sitting nearby.
Quince seemed completely unaware of the illusion and approached Violette with a smile.
“Uwaah, what a cute, fluffy cat!”
Hydrangea yelled just as Quince reached out to pet Violette.
“Don’t touch her!!”
“Heh?”
He slammed his hands on the desk as he stood up and strode with huge steps to go between Quince and Violette. Hydrangea appeared to have lost his composure when he looked down and glared in Quince’s direction.
“Ah, ugh… A-apologies. Your Grace, c-could you please tone down the force of your magic eyes?”
“!”
Before he knew it, he had concentrated magic in his eyes as he stared Quince down.
The skill wasn’t exactly called “magic eyes”, but since nobody else could replicate it, Quince had come to call it as such.
A magic-infused glare could stop the target’s movements and place them in a tense state.
It was the first time that Hydrangea had used it unconsciously.
After dispelling the magic in his eyes, Quince fell to his knees.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s your precious cat after all. There’s no way I’d be allowed to just touch it.”
“I wouldn’t go that far…”
However, he did not like the thought of Quince touching Violette. After all, even if she looked like a cat, it was Violette herself whom he was going to touch.
After that, they began the morning assembly with an awkward atmosphere.
Hydrangea released a sigh after Quince left.
When he checked on Violette, he saw her dozing off while using her arms as a pillow as she rested her head on top of the armrest.
I wonder if the illusion changed not just her outside appearance but her thinking into a cat as well?
But she looks really happy in her sleep.
I taught her magic till late last night, so the length of her sleep might have been affected.
I must be careful from now on.
At noon, Verbena came and brought them lunch from the Laudense estate.
“So the Madam is still a cat.”
“Yes.”
“My, my, she looks so comfortable in her sleep.”
To Verbena, Violette appeared to be a cat curled up in its sleep.
“But still, ufufufu.”
“What?”
“It was kind of you to lend her your jacket.”
“Well, if she caught a cold, you’d blame it on me after all.”
“Indeed.”
Hydrangea steered the conversation to the fact that he had made great progress with work thanks to Violette being asleep.
“If she were awake, I’d hear no end of her chatter, so it’s great that she’s in cat form today.”
“Now, now, there you go again saying things you don’t really mean.”
“……”
When he glared at her, Verbena cheekily stuck out her tongue and bowed. Then, she reminded him to take care of his wife and left.
“Oi, Violette.”
“!”
Violette woke up when he called her name. She yawned as she stretched her back and tears appeared by the corner of her eyes.
Violette emitted a captivating atmosphere as she woke up. Hydrangea felt like it was something he shouldn’t see, so he stealthily looked away while he spoke to her.
“Verbena brought us lunch.”
The basket contained bread and grilled meat skewers, while the two canisters seemed to contain soup and tea. Violette’s portion also contained small, bite-sized sandwiches.
Violette happily approached when Hydrangea beckoned to her.
I should at least dispel the illusion during lunch. With that thought in mind, he removed his gloves and turned his chair towards Violette.
When he was about to release the seal on the illusion, something unexpected happened.
Violette sat on Hydrangea’s lap.
His nostrils were hit by her fragrant, floral scent and all thought processes stopped.
“Wha!?”
Even if he asked her what she was up to, Violette could only meow back at him.
Violette’s fluffy blonde curls brushed against Hydrangea’s cheek.
They were as soft as a cat’s fur.
He couldn’t resist the temptation and gently touched them.
Violette did not complain and remained seated on his lap.
She isn’t even a cat right now, but why do I want to touch her so much?
Is it because of her scent? Hydrangea tried to think of a reason but couldn’t come up with any.
He placed his arm around her waist to hold her close and stroked her hair without reservation.
While he was doing so, Violette’s fingers intertwined against the hand he was using to touch her. Her skin was silky smooth.
Even though it was not a paw, the feel of her skin against his made him want to touch her forever. When he squeezed her hand, she squeezed it back.
He felt warmth spread inside his chest.
Suddenly, Hydrangea came to his senses and exclaimed,
“Your curse didn’t activate!?”
