The small animal before him made Adrian burst out into giggles as it made tiny movements on the ground. His eyes brightened up as he was crouched down.
He extended his hand towards the kitten and stared at the animal with hopeful eyes, hoping to interact with it further. The blue eyes of the kitten fell on Adrian, and the cat appeared cautious. The white furry creature remained rooted to his position.
Adrian reached to touch the animal, but the kitten retreated. He attempted to do it again, but the kitten ran away this time. His eyes were filled with grievances as he raised his head to look at Odette.
He then whined, "The kitten won't come to me."
Dennis was there beside him, and the way Adrian acted made Dennis let out a scoff at his childish behavior. Odette stood opposite to the boys, and two kittens laid on the floor in front of her. They occasionally played with the yarn.
"Stand up, Adrian," Odette ordered.
Dennis didn't fail to notice how Odette's voice was considerably softer when it came to Adrian.
Adrian followed her words and stood up.
Then, as if it was a matter of huge concern, he voiced out, "Lady Odette, how do I make the kitten approach me? It doesn't seem to like me. That's really strange. Am I not adorable?"
Adrian's narcissism made her chuckle.
"You must be the opposite if the kitten is frightened," Odette teased.
Adrian scrunched up his nose at that, puffing up his cheeks.
Then, Odette wore a friendly smile on her face— one that showed she was planning something mischievous— and said, "Let's play a little game. Both of you are responsible for taking care of these kittens for a month, and whoever has their kitten dying before the timing ends will be punished.
There are no rules or restrictions. That's why, feel free to do whatever you want. Don't make this boring for me, alright?"
Odette's eyes then fell on Dennis, as if silently informing him of something, and Dennis got a clear understanding of Odette wanted.
Around three months had passed since the two of them had been brought to ducal household. Both of them showed significant amount of growth over this period of time in all aspects.
Adrian became more mature and understood situations better. He of course grew to become cheekier, and he had that innocence to him still. Although Adrian hated Dennis, Adrian never sought after the sneaky methods of the boy and faced him directly.
Foolish but appeasing in Odette's eyes.
Dennis, on the other hand, became increasingly vicious, and his cunning self made Odette feel satisfied. The boy wasn't reckless yet had his greed, and this is what she needed for this game to go successfully.
Everything was going in accordance to her plan except for those conflicting emotions she had at times those she fought to bury at the corner of her head. Along with those came those blurry memories, immense aches, and shaking resolve.
The two of them expressed their agreements.
The kitten before Dennis had ginger fur and hazel eyes. Bending down, he picked up the kitten directly instead of cautiously approaching it like Adrian. Although the kitten resisted in Dennis's hold slightly, Dennis managed to calm it down.
This made Adrian look at Dennis with envy and crestfallen expression.
A sigh left his mouth as his eyes fell on the white kitten, who was still keeping its distance from Adrian. He too wanted to embrace the animal.
He then fixed his pleading gaze on Odette and blinked his eyes, hoping his silent message asking for help would get conveyed to her.
Odette was amused and, shrugging her shoulders, said, "The kitten is yours now. Deal with it on your own."
"Lady Odette, please, help me this one time. Don't you like me the best. Please, please, please."
"Give it food," Odette responded before she could control her mouth.
Adrian grinned and nodded enthusiastically before a thought came to him. He contemplated on the matter for a while before voicing out his concern to Odette: "But I don't know what kittens like."
"Figure that out on your own," Odette threw out those words at him, seeing how the boy was a prime example being given an inch and taking a mile.
She then coldly added, "Look at how competent Dennis is compared to you. Learn something from him."
His expression fell, showing how wounded he was at those words.
"Lady Odette, you can't praise the bad guys and betray me in this manner!"
°°°
"Lady Odette!"
There is only one person who will so loudly and enthusiastically call for her in a cheerful manner. And this was the very person whose noisiness made her feel pleased.
Odette loosened her hold on the rose, letting the petals scattered on ground. She turned to face the energetic five year old who rushed towards her. In his hand was the white kitten who have grown to become friendly with him.
He then raised the kitten rather clumsily.
"See, Lady Odette, it allowed me to carry him. Isn't he so adorable? Whoa! Look at him!" Adrian sounded excited as those paws of the kitten moved.
"Why don't you name him?"
"A name?"
This made Adrian purse his lips into a thin line as he hugged the kitten, deeply thinking on the matter. Creases formed on his forehead as his eyes roamed over his surrounding. He tried hard to get an inspiration.
Failing to find a befitting name, Adrian stared down at the small creature and sighed before focusing his gaze on Odette.
"I can't think of anything, Lady Odette. He is so cute! He deserves the best name! What if I call the most adorable kitten in the world? No, that's too big."
"Call him weak. That suits him perfectly."
Her suggestion made Adrian frown and hold the kitten tighter. He stared at Odette with dissatisfaction.
"I can't call this adorable kitten weak. That's so mean! Aha! White! I can name him white. His fur is so cute!"
The kitten let out a soft purr at that, melting Adrian's heart and making him squeal.
"So, you like the name! I am glad you do, White! You are my White, my baby."
Adrian nuzzled against the kitten's fur, causing it to let out few more ours.
The interactions between the child and the kitten made Odette smile on satisfaction. This is what she needed. She wanted him to grow attached to the kitten to the point it would badly wound him on losing the kitten.
How broken will Adrian be?
Adrian stopped playing with the kitten and held the kitten towards Odette, voicing out, "Here, carry him. White wants you to do that."
"Do you speak kitten language now?" Odette teased.
"White is my baby now. How can I not understand what he wants? Now, hold him," Adrian proudly said, pushing the kitten towards Odette.
Unable to refuse, Odette conceded and carried the kitten in her arms, feeling a little awkward about it. She wasn't the one to gently embrace an animal, but it didn't feel bad.
For a second there, a genuine smile formed on her face before she removed it.
She wondered what was it so one found so special about such a weak and helpless creature that made them in awe. How was it that it brought contentment to one's heart?
"White is soft, isn't he? It feels good to hold him, right?"
How strange was it that Odette found this moment to be healing.
Adrian noticed the gentleness in Odette's eyes as they examined the kitten. There was a hint of confusion in them too as if she was trying to figure out something.
"Lady Odette, are you sad that you don't have your own White? Of course, my baby is so cute, and there can't be another White! But because I like you the best, I am willing to share White with you. Are you happy?"
Was she?
"You just have to pay with two slices of cake each time. Since this is the first time, it is for free. What do you think? It's a fair deal, isn't it? Look at how adorable my baby is. I wouldn't made this deal for others. This is only a special deal that Lady Odette can enjoy."
His slyness and articulate tone amused Odette.
She pointed out, "I bought him."
"But he is mine now. You said that," he pointed out possessively. "You can't eye what is mine."
Odette scoffed, passing off the kitten to Adrian, although there was a hint of loss in her chest.
"You can keep this little thing. I have no wish to own such a pathetic creature."
"Are you sulking again, Lady Odette? I am sorry. What about this? I will cut down the charge to one slice of cake. Are you happy?"
Odette was amused at his audacious behavior.