章 479: Chapter 479: The Prelude to the Cat and Dog Rivalry
Chapter 479: The Prelude to the Cat and Dog Rivalry
Hastur had barely stepped out of the carriage when Susie, the golden retriever, came running out of Earl Hall's mansion. As she ran, she gave Hastur a knowing look.
Ah, caught reading forbidden books again?
Hastur instantly understood Susie's plea for help and gestured that she needn't worry. These "forbidden" books were merely those Audrey didn't allow Susie to read, not truly forbidden knowledge.
"Woof," Susie obediently changed direction, leading the way for Hastur.
Inside, Audrey stood with the Countess. Upon seeing Susie, she raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue the matter of Susie's secret reading in front of her mother.
After dinner, the Countess naturally suggested Audrey show Hastur around the garden. The Earl was absent from dinner that evening.
Once alone, Audrey pouted playfully, "Is Mr. Hastur hiding something from me?"
"If Susie likes it, I can only indulge her small requests," Hastur replied, unhesitatingly selling out Susie.
Hearing this, Susie stiffened, then dramatically flopped onto the ground, curling up in a show of dejection.
"See how Susie's act of playing the victim is impossible to refuse," Hastur remarked.
Susie felt another metaphorical dagger pierce her already wounded heart, letting out a pitiful whimper.
"Alright, I'm not angry with you," Audrey said, bending down to pet Susie reassuringly.
"Woof..." Susie whimpered, secretly giving Hastur a victorious look. Hastur responded with a peace sign.
"You really think I don't know you're just pretending?" Audrey lightly tapped Susie's head. "Trying to team up with Mr. Hastur to fool me, you deserve a scolding."
"Whimper..." Susie could only receive a helpless look from Hastur in response.
After this small interlude, Hastur and Audrey sat in the garden pavilion, chatting. They discussed recent events in Backlund, daily life, and occasionally touched on mystical knowledge.
Their conversation ended when the Earl returned. After discussing the situation in Loen and other Northern Continent countries with the Earl in his study, Hastur left around nine.
As Hastur departed, the Countess remarked softly, "You two don't quite look like a couple in love."
Audrey's cheeks flushed as she held her mother's arm, smiling gently, "This is just fine."
She preferred this calm, companionable interaction to the constant clinginess of infatuated couples.
Upon returning home, Hastur was greeted by a black cat, Aisala, leaping towards him on the second floor. He caught Aisala and lightly flicked its forehead.
"Did Sharon come back with you?" he asked.
"Meow..." Aisala looked up pitifully, feeling jealous that Sharon was the first thing Hastur mentioned.
"I see she must be back, judging by your expression," Hastur said, rubbing Aisala's head before letting it go play.
"Meow?" Aisala's eyes widened, suddenly feeling like the odd one out in this home.
"Aisala, I've grown accustomed to life without you," Hastur teased.
"Meow?" Aisala leaned in closer, catching the scent of the golden retriever on Hastur. It nearly bristled all over, realizing Hastur had spent considerable time with Susie recently.
This was unacceptable!
Aisala swiftly left Hastur's embrace, silently disappearing into the shadows along the wall.
Hastur went to Sharon's room, finding her standing by the window in a black court dress with a small soft hat, her pale golden hair falling gracefully. The room was unlit, with only moonlight filtering through the window.
Sharon, dressed in black, seemed to blend with the night – mysterious, solitary, and coldly beautiful.
Later that night, in Audrey's room at the Hall mansion, Susie caught a familiar scent. She moved to the windowsill, peering out into the night.
Under the crimson moonlight, a black cat perched atop a beech tree, observing her through the window. Its presence was like that of a night elf – small and elegant.
Susie recognized the cat by its distinctive blue eyes – it was Aisala, Hastur's companion, now grown from a kitten into an adult cat.
Susie wondered why Aisala had come so late at night instead of visiting with Hastur during the day. She waved her right front paw in welcome.
"Meow," Aisala softly called, beckoning Susie to come outside.
Susie shook her head, unwilling to leave the sleeping Audrey unprotected.
"Meow!" Aisala insisted more forcefully, careful not to wake Audrey.
This was a private matter between the cat and dog!
Aisala was determined not to let this golden retriever steal its master's affection. It had to side with Sharon, or risk losing its place in the household.
Aisala called out a few more times, but Susie remained at the window, unwilling to leave.
The meowing soon attracted the attention of patrolling guards. Seeing this, Aisala gracefully retreated, leaping elegantly from tree to tree.
Susie admired Aisala's agility, something she herself lacked as a dog who rarely climbed trees.
After Aisala disappeared into the night, Susie returned to her spot, dreaming of becoming a mighty spirit dragon soaring freely through the sky.
Meanwhile, the frustrated Aisala made its way home, criticizing the golden retriever's cowardice. It moved nimbly across rooftops, using the dark night as camouflage.
Nearing a street corner, Aisala spotted a group of yellow-robed figures moving about, seemingly engaged in devout worship.
Aisala observed briefly before continuing home, entering through a first-floor window and making its way to Hastur's bedroom, where it had its own small bed.
Finding Hastur's room empty, Aisala checked Sharon's room. Even before reaching the window, it detected both Sharon and Hastur's scents inside the unlit room.
Curious, Aisala crept closer, pressing its ear against the wall to listen.
"Can I stay here tonight?" Hastur's voice asked.
"No," Sharon replied.
"Shall we visit your teacher in the spirit world tomorrow?"
"No."
"Do you like Sharon?"
"..."
After this brief exchange, Aisala heard sounds of kissing that lasted a few minutes.
"Sharon, your Faceless path excels at controlling desires. Does that include controlling passion?" Hastur inquired.
"It's different," Sharon responded.
"How so? They're both primal human urges."
"..."
"I'm helping you overcome desire."
"That's unnecessary..."
"Sharon, are you avoiding this?"
Aisala's blue eyes widened in shock. It listened a while longer, but Sharon seemed to have retreated into a mirror, and no more sounds emerged.
Silently, Aisala made its way to the roof of the villa. Lying there under the starry sky, it let out a weary sigh.
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