The Black Cat flicked its tail and moved nimbly to the bedside.
It lifted its head, platinum-gold pupils reflecting the silent face of the girl on the bed.
“Meow～”
The familiar, calm call of a cat echoed in the room.
The girl on the bed, her eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
Then, with a gentle leap, the Black Cat landed on the bed, appearing within the girl’s view.
Sensing the familiar presence, Shirleyviel’s long lashes fluttered again, and she slowly, painstakingly, opened her eyes a tiny crack.
Her withered red eyes shifted emptily, struggling to focus on the black figure on the bed.
Within those hollow eyes, it seemed as if an extremely faint starlight flickered for an instant.
At that perfect moment, the Black Cat let out another “meow,” and then, as if not noticing that Shirleyviel had awakened, began to act just as it did when they first met.
It stretched out its pink tongue, slowly and methodically licking its front paw—one stroke, then another—its movements graceful and intent, as if this was the most important thing in the world.
Only after grooming every bit of its fur did the Black Cat finally turn its gaze toward the weakened girl.
And then the Black Cat noticed Shirleyviel staring at it with withered eyes; the Black Cat could even sense a faint grievance within those parched eyes.
The Black Cat ignored that faintly resentful look, and with a leap, landed on the small table beside the bed.
There, Madam Anna had already prepared, according to the healer’s instructions, a small bowl of lukewarm meat porridge and a cup of dark, herb-scented tonic.
The Black Cat first approached the porridge bowl, lowered its head, and pretended to lap at it, then turned to the cup, mimicking the act of drinking water.
Shirleyviel’s gaze naturally followed the Black Cat to the two bowls of ‘food.’
Watching the Black Cat ‘enjoy its meal,’ Shirleyviel finally remembered a basic human instinct.
When a faint “grrrgle” sound was heard, Ian knew the time had come.
Ian then quickly dashed out of the room, and under Shirleyviel’s anxious gaze, the Black Cat perched atop Anna’s head as Anna entered the room.
What happened next was simple: Shirleyviel’s appetite was awakened, combined with Old Anna’s many years of experience caring for her.
An hour later, Shirleyviel finally finished the meat porridge and tonic.
After eating, Shirleyviel’s complexion improved a little, but only just.
Old Anna quietly and gently cleared the bowls and spoons, her gaze toward the Black Cat full of gratitude. When she left, she carefully closed the door most of the way, leaving just enough peace and quiet behind.
The Black Cat leapt back onto the bed, curled up comfortably at Shirleyviel’s side.
It didn’t close its eyes immediately. Instead, it lifted its head toward the girl and let out a long, slow, and clear yawn—its pink mouth and sharp little teeth flashing for a moment.
Afterward, its entire body relaxed, lying down with its chin resting atop its crossed front paws. Its eyelids drooped bit by bit, and a steady, drawn-out purring sound began to resonate from its throat, a rhythm with a calming lilt.
After finishing this “demonstration,” its platinum eyes, peeking from half-closed lids, silently observed Shirleyviel.
The girl’s gaze never left it.
She watched the Black Cat yawn, watched it settle down, and listened to the steady rhythm of its purring.
Shirleyviel’s lashes trembled. The extended wakefulness and the meal had drained the sliver of energy she’d just regained.
Sleepiness, like a rising tide, crept in with the soothing rhythm crafted by the Black Cat.
Imitating the cat’s posture, she slowly tilted her head, letting her cheek sink more deeply into the soft pillow.
Her other hand, left outside the blanket, unconsciously curled its fingers, as if trying to mimic the Black Cat’s crossed paws. In the end, it only formed a loose, empty fist.
Then, those withered red eyes slowly, ever so slowly, closed completely.
Her breathing grew long and even. Though still shallow, it no longer carried the alarming, intermittent breaks from before.
The Black Cat’s purring gradually softened, finally blending with the girl’s breathing, merging into the warm, tranquil golden glow of the room’s night.
***
When Shirleyviel opened her eyes again, it was already midday.
She felt a long-lost heaviness, her body still weak, but that soul-draining fatigue had eased just a little.
Then Shirleyviel saw that familiar patch of black.
The Black Cat was still curled beside her pillow, nestled against her snow-white hair.
The Black Cat seemed to be napping too, its body rising and falling gently with each breath. Sunlight shone on its glossy fur, casting a halo of faint gold.
Seeing that the Black Cat remained, Shirleyviel felt a peace deeper than ever before.
She didn’t move—just gazed quietly.
***
The days that followed settled into a steady rhythm, guided by the Black Cat’s intentional prompting and Old Anna’s careful care.
Each day, at set times, the Black Cat would nuzzle Shirleyviel’s hand with its head or groom itself and stretch by her pillow.
Then, it would lead her gaze to the doorway.
Anna would appear right on cue, bringing carefully prepared, easy-to-digest broths and tonics.
The Black Cat would always “demonstrate” by approaching the food first, and Shirleyviel would follow its example, eating at a slow but steadily improving pace.
After the meal, the Black Cat sometimes hopped onto the windowsill, quietly watching the swaying shadows of trees or the birds flying past.
Shirleyviel’s gaze would drift after it to the world outside the window. Most of the time, her eyes remained empty, but occasionally, her gaze would linger a moment longer on a spinning, drifting leaf.
More often, the Black Cat simply kept her company, quietly beside her—lying or sitting—its warmth and steady purring creating a small, perceptible, stable world.
In that world, there were no unsettling stares, no noisy sounds—only a cat, a girl, and silent companionship.
Shirleyviel’s body, under these daily routines of set meals and sleep, began to recover, ever so slowly.
A faint blush began to return to her paper-pale face.
A week slipped quietly by.
The mansion remained strictly and distantly guarded by the White Maple Wolf Knights; no one disturbed them.
Shirleyviel still hadn’t spoken a single word, but there was a faint sparkle in her eyes.
The Black Cat’s platinum pupils, morning and night, quietly mirrored the subtle changes in the girl.
Finally, on the tenth day, under Ian’s careful guidance, Shirleyviel followed him out of the room.
Back in the world again, she was like a newborn child—curious about everything beyond the door.
All those long-unseen things, familiar and yet strange, came rushing into her world—but this time, they brought no noise or confusion.
Everything was just right. The Black Cat sat quietly beneath the shade of a tree, waiting for her; the maids hung freshly washed clothes to dry; there was breeze, sunlight, butterflies, and the scent of flowers…
In this moment, light fully entered the eyes of the beautiful white-haired girl. Her red pupils shone like newly-born gems, dazzling and alive.
【Ding, Shirleyviel Connalt: Correction Rate 20% (Stable)】