The Duke’s Companion

Early in the morning, Jonah came. She said with a respectful greeting, “Lady, the Lord asks if you have time right now.”

“Why?”

“I believe his goal is to go somewhere you couldn’t go the day before yesterday.”

I listened intently to their conversation. Now I can understand Jonah and Mamella’s conversation. That point touched my curiosity, but I was still unfamiliar.

It’s embarrassing to tell anyone, but when I understand people’s words, I sometimes have the illusion that I have become a human being.

‘I think it would be perfect if I could speak human words, but that’s a bit sad.’

Well wouldn’t it be cool to have a cat that could speak human language?

By the way, Mamella was particularly busy moving her pen today. What’s making her so busy? 

Mamella said as she scribbled down her handwriting on her paper without looking at Jonah.

“I don’t think I have time. I have too much homework today. It just so happened that I went to bed early last night.”

“Then can I tell him that?”

“Yes, please.”

“Yes, Miss. Then do your best. I’ll bring you some helpful tea later.”

After completing her work, Jonah left the room.

I climbed up to the desk and took a seat on the books Mamella had piled up.

Mamella was still flipping through the paper and repeatedly writing something down quickly with a pen.

‘You look very busy. I must not interfere.’

I lay down and took a nap. There was nothing more peaceful than a nap standing next to Mamella.

Two days later, Jonah came again at the same time. Then she uttered similar words that felt like deja vu.

“Lady, the Lord asks if you have time today.”

Mamella, who was playing and hunting with me, glanced at Jonah and answered cheerfully, “It’s okay for today. Let’s go to my brother right now.”

“Is it okay if I leave Aryl by herself?”

“These days, Aryl has become remarkably calm, so I think she’ll be fine for a while. I won’t leave her just in case.”

Mamella got up and handed me the ball. I looked at Mamella as she walked towards the door and rolled a ball of yarn to me.

‘Let’s not get into an accident today.’

Aryl played by rolling the ball with her front paws while keeping her body as safe as possible.

It was a time when I was having fun playing on my own with the skills of a solo play master. Suddenly, a voice was heard

I looked to the side in surprise. I heard Jonah’s screaming voice, “Oh, my, Miss! Are you okay?”

“No…”

The loud noise I heard a while ago was the sound of Mamella falling over. Throwing the ball away, I rushed to Mamella, who had fallen on the floor.

“Oh, my!”

I cried nervously while stroking Mamella’s hair. 

Fortunately, it’s not bleeding. Mamella you’ll be fine!

Mamella was laying on the floor not moving and said, “…Jonah, what caused me to fall?”

“I think you stepped on a toy.”

Mamella laughed in vain because it was ridiculous that she stepped on it and slipped.

“Somehow, my feet hurt so much.”

“Lady, can you get up?”

“The soles of my feet hurt a lot, but…”

Jonah helped Mamella up. But when I saw Mamella’s face, I was shocked. Jonah was astonished and covered her mouth.

Something red fell from Mamella’s face.

“Oh, miss, blood!”

“Blood?”

“Nosebleed!”

Jonah took a handkerchief out of her arms and blocked Mamella’s nose. The light pink handkerchief turned red. I was frozen in shock.

‘Oh, What should I do? Mamella, are you going to die now?’

I shed tears and cling to Mamella. I know it hurts a lot when you bleed. It’s not just a pain, it’s a pain to death.

Mamella patted my hair and comforted me from crying.

“It’s okay. I’m not hurt. It’s just that I fell and hit my face hard.”

“Lady, lie down for now. I’ll call the doctor.”

Mamella, laying on her bed, waved her hand.

“It’s just a fall. It’s a bit embarrassing to fall and have a nosebleed.”

I followed Mamella up to the bed. Jonah was seen rolling up the tissue and putting it in Mamella’s nose. Mamella, who covered both sides of her nose, looked very pitiful.

With eyes glistening, I pressed Mamella’s arm with my front paw.

“Oh, my.”

“Aryl, why do you look so sad? I’m not going to die.”

I dug into Mamella’s arms. She started patting my back.

Jonah changed Mamella’s nose tissue whenever it got wet. Maybe the nosebleed doesn’t stop easily, but the red wet tissue gradually piled up.

Jonah, who had been worried all along, said as if she could not take it anymore, “Miss, your nosebleed doesn’t look so good. I will call a doctor.”

“No, I don’t want you to call me a doctor. Just tell my brother that I need to rest.”

“Now? Miss, you are bleeding a lot, I need to be by your side…”

“I can change the tissue, so don’t worry about it.”

“…Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Jonah looked at Mamella anxiously and then left the room. I pulled my head out of Mamella’s arms and stared at her face. How hard she hit her nose and was swollen.

As my body dropped in frustration, Mamella poked my nose with a playful expression.

“Nosebleeds happen once in a while. It’s not a big deal.” Mamella said while putting tissue on her nose.

I glanced sadly at Mamella saying those words. How painful it was to have a nosebleed.

Aryl reached out to Mamella’s hand seemingly telling her to get well. She felt the salty taste in her hands, more salty than usual.

Then, there was a moment when my ears twitched reflexively. ‘What, I think I just heard something… ‘

I turned my head towards the door.

“Why are you stopping me? Get out of my way.”

“Well, hold on a second, please.”

A noise came from afar. The sound of two human footsteps. Judging by the stride and the gait, one of them was Jonah. But the other…

As the sound got closer and closer, Mamella’s complexion turned pale.

Mamella jumped up and she hastily lifted me. Her spine chilled as she realized what her actions meant.

Just then, Jonah’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Oh, my lady, the Lord is here.”

Mamella froze while holding me.