After they got outside, Elina went over to Caro, who was waiting off to one side.

“Phew, Caro, you know what? I almost got found out! But the owner was a good person and didn’t expose me.” Elina patted her nervous little chest as she spoke.

“Haha, even if they had found out, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. Everyone likes you so much, they’d never bully you~” Caro giggled behind her hand.

“No way~ I don’t want people crowding around to watch me.” Elina rolled her eyes.

“All right, enough about that. Let’s eat. We’ll hurry up and finish, then go eat at the next place. After that, we should head back early. It’s better to get to bed early, after all. Staying up late is bad for a girl’s skin, so you should take care too, Elina. And these takoyaki taste really good.” Caro bit into a piping-hot takoyaki and spoke with satisfaction.

Elina nodded and quickly bit into one too. She regretted it the instant she did. She’d ordered the spicy flavor, and a burning pain immediately flooded her tongue.

“Aah~ It’s so spicy! My mouth feels awful, meow~ Caro, why doesn’t it taste spicy to you~? Wuwuwu...” Elina whimpered miserably.

Actually, I used to like spicy food quite a lot. Maybe cats have more sensitive taste buds, so I can’t handle it anymore. Then again, the chili peppers in this other world really are intense. From now on, I’d better stick to desserts and dried fish...

“Well, maybe it’s because I eat spicy food all the time at home. Anyway, you look like you’re suffering so much, Elina, so I’ll generously go buy you a glass of juice. Give me the money.” Caro held out her hand helplessly.

“Okay, thank you, Caro!” Elina happily handed over the three silver coins in her hand.

Three silver coins......

“Elina, you haven’t paid yet, have you, silly?” Caro asked, tilting her head.

“I-I’m not silly, meow~ I-It’s just that things were so urgent at the time, so... so that’s why. Yeah.” Elina’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. She bit her finger, her eyes darting about as she stammered out an explanation.

Caro covered her face with one hand. Since they were out in public, she couldn’t keep teasing this Little Kitty who was always making mistakes. Elina looked adorable when she got all riled up, but Caro should at least let the imperial princess save some face in front of everyone.

Honestly, how had Her Highness Alaya, brilliant beyond compare, and His Highness Ailante, a master strategist, ended up with such a silly little kitty~?

Elina saw the look of disdain on Caro’s face and immediately figured out what she was thinking. She clenched her little fists, stomped her foot in embarrassment and anger, and shouted, “I told you, I was just panicking! Don’t look at me like that! I’m really smart, meow!!!”

Being called stupid by a girl was the greatest humiliation a real man could suffer. If I still had my little Elina, I’d have dealt with you ages ago, Caro, you cat-infuriating menace!

“All right, all right. Elina’s the smartest person in the world. I’m off now, so wait here like a good girl and don’t wander off.” Caro gave Elina’s little head a perfunctory pat, trying to console her.

“Hmph. That’s more like it.” Elina turned away with a huff.

But after waiting a few minutes, Elina’s attention was caught by a tiny flying creature.

It was a bloodsucker, and the most disgusting source of noise in the stillness of night. With its “bzzzz” sound, it brought you nightmares of the deepest, most despairing kind.

Its name was—mosquito.

As everyone knows, cats......

love pouncing on mosquitoes.

.......