Cutie cat

To be honest, despite her love for cute things, Rachel always chose the most practical among them, trying to carefully think everything through and weigh her options.

"How about these?" Madame Judith waved her hand toward the workers bringing in another batch of dresses.

"Oh, these are much better! Deliver them all to the manor. Don't forget to take the hats we looked at earlier. You know the address."

"As you command, Mistress," the woman bowed respectfully, a satisfied smile on her face.

"I told you, no need for formalities." Rachel waved her hand carelessly, clicking her tongue.

"Ah, right. From here to there." Unable to resist the temptation, the guild leader swept her hand along the wall where a row of cute dresses hung.

Their cuts and styles differed from each other, but each preserved the image of delicacy and refinement.

"You are so generous, Mistress," Judith smirked, anticipating the payment.

"No need. Besides, stop calling me by my title. After all, I came as a customer this time."

Judith, one of her trusted aides and main informants, only smiled slyly like a fox and nodded.

(Sometimes such respect is even scary…) Rachel thought involuntarily, grimacing and rolling her eyes.

"Madam, you said you needed to be at the manor by two… remember?" Annelise interrupted them calmly, glancing at the wall clock.

"Ah… right. How could I forget…"

Snorting in annoyance, Rachel crossed her arms and addressed Forton:

"Deliver everything today, following the carriage."

"As you command."

The day flew by quickly.

Documents. Work. A couple of completed orders. Food. More work.

Now reread that last line a few more times, because that's roughly how her next several days went.

The distant sound of an artificial mini waterfall. Sun rays piercing through the glass room, making the air pleasantly warm.

A large variety of trees and plants, a high transparent ceiling — all created a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

Rachel sat in the greenhouse, knees pulled up, stroking a large fluffy cat. Despite its threatening size, the creature resembled a plush toy more than anything. Now it lay peacefully on its back, paws up, purring softly as the girl rubbed its belly.

"Cutie…" Her face was relaxed, lips stretched into a wide smile.

"Oh, such cute paws… and those pads…" Gently squeezing the cat's paws, careful not to startle it, Rachel's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the animal.

"Those innocent eyes… and the adorable delicate tail…" She stared at the cat with big glowing eyes, frozen next to it like a statue, only blinking occasionally.

Her cat — Cappuccino — had white fur with a light ginger stain spread like coffee foam along its back, a few dark coffee-colored spots on its front paws and right ear, and round amber eyes.

It seemed this animal was completely unafraid of its owner and fully trusted her with its belly exposed.

Rachel von Roxberg — head of the Black Guild — and what would she love if not cats?

Yes. Why not? Not all villains must prefer creeping things like snakes or spiders.

Cats were the very delight for the eyes, leaving paw prints on her heart. And they were simply insanely cute.

"My sweet girl…" Talking to her beloved, the vampire scratched her behind the ear.

In response, the cat meowed contentedly and rolled onto her side.

In the distance, maids walked through the large room, and seeing them, Rachel waved a friendly hand.

(How I wish I could take you with me. And why do you hate traveling so much?) Remembering this, Rachel sadly lowered her gaze. Whether she was pretending or not, she didn't want to leave her beloved so far away.

Given her work, she should have gotten used to frequent business trips and separations, but every time the thought of parting from Cappuccino cast her into gloom.

Having admired the cat, Rachel finally stood up, sat down at the nearby table, took a book, and called the cat onto her lap.

Once the pet obediently jumped up, the guild leader began reading.

Then Rachel relaxed against the back of the wicker chair and turned the page of the naughty romance novel…

To laze around all day long, reading steamy love stories, quietly giggling and watching Cappuccino — that was her plan for the last day before heading to Berthium…

---

Flail Manor.

Ezekiel was intently reading a newspaper, his eyes slowly moving left to right, absorbing the contents.

He sat in the living room, on a dark brown sofa, crossing one leg over the other. Strange as it may seem, even such simple actions affected the aura around him. If he could turn objects into ice, the entire space would be filled with cold, and possibly snow would be falling.

"Ez… are you alright?" Jack finally dared to break the awful silence and started the conversation.

"What? Do I look unwell? If so, only because of your annoying chomping right by my ear." Piercing the brunette who had been eating an apple, he continued reading the article.

(Actually, yes. How many times are you reading that paper?) Jack asked himself, continuing to chew reluctantly.

"That vampire… I'll catch her at any cost."

"Ezekiel… it won't be easy. Even I, deputy of the Teoharis information guild, found nothing. Absolutely nothing! No one has ever seen this woman. No one!"

Trying in vain to reason with his partner, Jack frowned.

"I know. That's why I'm going to Berthium."

With that unexpected answer, he finally set the newspaper aside.

"C-cough… what?!" Haven hadn't expected that either and choked on his apple, staring at him with wide eyes.