Chapter 22 – A Sudden Return
It’s the story about an early morning days after we reunited with the cats.
A horse carriage stopped in front of the Stuart mansion.
The one who got off the carriage with his soul crawling out of his body is the father’s younger brother Arban who was supposed to be in the royal capital.
He is an intellectual in the clan who is scholarly by nature.
His blonde hair and purple eyes that is the characteristic of the Stuarts are oozing with undisguised tiredness.
Instructed by the gardener Imoko who was working first thing in the morning, the disciple Jack hurried to wake Leonard up.
Jack was newly hired just a month ago. He called out Leonard with a loud voice that doesn’t suit a noble’s mansion, making the whole family wake up to welcome Arban.
“Uncle Arban-!” (Oji-sama = uncle in a very respectful way)
Awakened by Jack’s voice, Emma leaves her room in pajamas and rushes to see her uncle that has just arrived at the front door. The late George and William rub their sleepy eyes and are surprised to see their uncle after they left their room.
Arban has a different kind of sweet smile from Father, and his smile becomes sweeter as soon as he saw Emma and lifted her.
“I’m home, my cute little sweetie. You have become more beautiful than a goddess during the time I haven’t see you. George and William look fine as well.”
Men in the Stuart family are all sweet to Emma, but her uncle Arban is extraordinarily sweet.
Every time he talks to Emma, it’s like sugar overflows from his mouth that it’s worrying. He doesn’t like children. He is only an adoring uncle, or rather, a niece-con who prioritized holding Emma up over his tiredness after a long trip.
The father, Leonard, also hurriedly came out wearing a gown over his pajamas. He is surprised at his younger brother’s sudden return.
Anyhow, it takes 15 days by horse carriage from the royal capital to Palace territory and a month for a round trip. It’s not at a distance where you can come easily.
“Long time no see. Big Brother Leonard. I will talk about the details later… By the way… cats? Aren’t they too huge?”
Needless to say, Emma has been sleeping together with Koumei every night since then.
The other cats are sleeping in others’ rooms one by one.
Because Jack shouted, the vigilant cats also came out of the room.
“Uncle! I will introduce you, the calico cat Shokatsu Koumei, nicknamed Koumei-san.”
“Meow”
The cat introduced by Emma gives a greeting.
“And Koumei-san‘s daughter Ryuubi, Ryuu-chan, and Ryuu-chan‘s sons, the black cat Kan’u and the white cat Chouhi… Kan-chan Chou-chan.”
(Kan’u = Guan Yu, Chouhi = Zhang Fei. Both are Chinese war heroes alongside Liu Bei (Ryuubi))
” ” “Meow” ” “
The cats who are further introduced give a greeting.
“Nice to meet you… huh? Can cats greet people?”
‘Well, it’s fine since Emma looks happy,’ Arban thinks. The Stuart’s blood is definitely also flowing in Arban. He doesn’t think much. It’s supposed to be something a smart person is shocked about.
Anyway… because of one word from the mother Melsa, who came after changing her clothes, the dusty Arban bathed, Emma and the others got dressed, had breakfast earlier than usual, and moved from the dining room to the living room to hear Arban’s story while drinking tea.
Author’s note: I finally wrote all the cats’ names. Though the names are predictable
