"Well... alright, three hundred gold coins?"

Abel, torn between laughter and sighs, pulled three hundred gold coins from the pouch and handed them to Shea.

He wasn’t short on cash anyway. Three hundred gold was fair for a nanny.

"Deal."

Shea had wanted to ask for more—like a lion opening wide—but it was just a thought.

If Abel changed his mind, she might lose even this three hundred. Total loss.

"Besides, Shea, your efforts last night were wasted. Rico rescued your friend Nina. Nellie told me too."

Abel rubbed Shea’s head, satisfied. He only dared touch her hair, though. Those fluffy cat ears? Too risky—he feared a bite.

Still, they must feel amazing.

Maybe sneak a touch?

Hadn’t someone said: "Beastmen never bow as slaves... unless room and board are covered"?

Shea was beastkin, after all.

"What are you staring at?" Shea growled, fierce but oddly cute in her current state.

"Not staring. You’ve been bedridden all day. Eat something—I cooked noodles." Abel brought the bowl over, teasing.

"Need me to feed you?"

"No way." Shea rolled her eyes, took the bowl, and gently blew on the noodles. She had a cat’s tongue—heat-sensitive.

But when she tasted them, surprise hit her. The fresh noodles were warm, not scalding.

"Why warm?"

"Nellie said you hate heat. I added ice cubes to cool them."

"..." Shea’s chopsticks froze mid-air. Honestly, the noodles were bland—under-salted, scrambled egg, minced meat—but that one line showed Abel cared.

But seriously.

"Why believe everything Teacher Nelly says? Got a crush? She’s pretty. Silver hair—your type, right?"

Shea didn’t realize her words dripped with jealousy.

"..."

"Hey! Stop zoning out! Teacher Nelly’s married! You’re not scheming to steal her?!"

A total scoundrel beside her—Shea was shocked.

"I’m not like that..." Abel mumbled, head down, avoiding her gaze.

"Ah~ah~, silver-hair fetishist. You adore her silver locks, don’t you?"

"..." Abel looked away awkwardly, silent.

"Just as I thought!"

"I didn’t say anything!" Abel protested weakly.

"Obvious! You pervert! Lecher!"

Facing Shea’s "slander," Abel gave up, flashing a thumbs-up.

"What’s wrong with men liking beauty?"

"Whoa—no shame! Don’t you like Rico? Fickle much?"

Shea decided Abel’s silver-hair obsession was hopeless.

"Ahem! Drop this. Rest well, Shea. Nellie’s furious about your reckless stunt. She’ll train you hard once you recover."

Abel dodged the weird topic. Honestly, he found Shea more likable now.

That damn white cat—Rico—was truly scummy.

Why Abel changed subject? Shea didn’t care.

Teacher Nelly meant business. That woman kept her word.

Shea already pictured herself crushed under Nelly’s training back at school.

"Gulp... Fake sickness for a month?"

"Unlikely. Nellie checked you—you’ll heal by next week."

"Darn it!" Shea ate resentfully, turning grief into appetite.

Full, she handed Abel the bowl. As he washed it, she limped to the balcony, gazing at the crescent moon.

Deep night.

If she transformed into Rico here, how would Abel react?

Anger or surprise?

Anger, probably.

No one liked betrayal.

Like her sister’s betrayal years ago.

She still couldn’t forgive her.

Knock knock knock...

Gentle knocks at the door—Abel, done with dishes.

Shea snapped back. "Door’s unlocked. You closed it, right?"

"Just being polite," Abel said, pushing in helplessly.

He dreaded another "lucky pervert" moment like the bathroom incident.

That milk-pale skin haunted him.

Shea rivaled Rico in looks—the only flaw? She was a black cat.

"Thinking rude things again?" Shea glared, turning to bed.

"Ouch!"

Two steps in, her injured knee caught the balcony threshold. She stumbled, grabbing blindly at leather.

The lifeline saved her from crashing down.

But before she could stand—snap!—the leather strap broke.

Abel’s pants dropped with it.

Shea rose, clutching his belt.

Poor belt—already "abused" by Rico. Now, Shea’s pull finished it off.

"..."

Abel’s hands hovered awkwardly. He’d meant to steady her shoulders. Unnecessary now.

"..."

Shea froze. Kneeling, those blinding white briefs filled her view.

"Pervert!" she shrieked.

"I should say that!" Abel yelped, desperately holding up his pants.