Vince ate his heart out that night as if it were his last meal.
He didn't even realize he was eating too much because he still felt lightweight after finishing a few plates.
Was it because he was a demon? Maybe it was.
Even though he hadn't awakened yet, he was not human. His body must have been built differently, which explained his enhanced eyesight.
While he could see details clearly in the light, he was blind in the dark. He assumed that would improve once he got out from this dormant state.
Before Raine left the dining hall that night, she had given him a book. She said he would find everything he needed to know about their world in it and that he must read it diligently if he wanted to survive.
When he returned to his bedroom, Vince found the cat still sleeping on his bed.
But since Fiona was taking up only a small part on one side, he didn't bother waking her and just sat on the other side, with the book in his hand.
The book was old and had a brown leather cover. There was no writing on the cover, and it even had a latch lock.
Vince started reading from the first page, determined to learn the necessary information about this world. He couldn't continue acting like a fool, especially when the people around him were capable of killing him like an ant.
Ignorance of the law was no excuse.
That may have been a legal principle from his world, but he was sure it applied here too.
As the night deepened, Vince lost track of time, engrossed in the pages.
When he woke up the next day, the book was on his face. When he removed it, his gaze met a pair of red eyes peering down at him.
"Good morning, Master Vince."
"W-why are you looking at me like that?"
"???"
"You're looking at me like you're going to eat me alive!"
The cat rolled her eyes and moved out of his sight. She sat low on the pillow next to him, eyeing him sharply.
"You are overreacting. I can eat demon flesh, yes, but you don't look appetizing to me, Master Vince. So, you are safe."
Vince's eyes widened.
"You eat demon flesh?!"
"I can, but that doesn't mean I want to. Some of my kind do that, but not me, because I have high standards."
"Well, that's good! You shouldn't look at me like that next time… it's uncomfortable."
"What can I do? I'm very hungry. You had a nice dinner last night, didn't you?" Her eyes squinted darkly with murderous intent. "You selfish brat. Why didn't you wake me up? We are in the house of a royal, there must have been a lot of meat! Such a wasted opportunity!"
"My bad. I thought you needed your sleep, so I didn't wake you up."
Vince got out of bed and went to the mirror in the corner. He brushed his hair with his fingers.
"You can come down with me for breakfast. I'll just wash up."
When they went downstairs, the dining hall was filled with a new set of appetizing food. The butler stood at the entrance of the dining hall and offered Vince a slight bow.
"Lady Raine won't be joining you for today's breakfast, Lord Vince. She left early, as she has been summoned by the city chief. However, she said she would be back soon."
Vince nodded and sat at the dining table. It was a shame he wouldn't be having breakfast with the beautiful lady.
Seeing the cat jump onto the seat next to Vince, Tony said,
"Pardon me, Lord Vince. I can have your pet servant eat at a separate table. The dining table is only for-"
"That is fine, Tony."
Vince turned to the dining hall's entrance when he heard Raine's voice. She was back already?
"If Vince wants to dine with his pet servant, that is not a problem."
Fiona flew and perched on the back of the chair, offering a little curtsy to Raine.
"It's a pleasure to be in your presence, Lady Raine."
"Ohh," Raine chuckled softly, looking at the cat with mirthful eyes. "I see that you have such a well-mannered pet servant, Vince."
"I am Fiona," the cat introduced herself proudly. "I hail from the noble clan of demon cats, my lady."
"Mm, it's good that you are serving my Vince. You seem smart and sharp for a pet servant. I am impressed. Just eat at the table, eating on the chair would be uncomfortable."
Fiona smiled, revealing her sharp fangs, which looked capable of cutting through any kind of meat. Raine smiled too.
Watching the two strange creatures interact in front of him made Vince's eyebrows twitch in apprehension. He thought the two would make perfect friends.
Raine walked toward Vince and stopped behind him. He straightened his back when her soft hands touched his stiff shoulders.
"Eat as much as you can, Vince darling. We will be leaving the manor soon."
"Where are we going?"
She leaned down to whisper in his ear, sending goosebumps all over his skin, "You will know soon enough. Just as I promised, we will start your training today."
When Raine distanced herself from him, Vince sighed in relief.
Just as she said, he ate as much as he could because he had a feeling that this 'training' wouldn't be easy.
Half an hour later, he was in Raine's carriage. But this time, it wasn't just Raine and him. Fiona was with them too.
The sassy cat was munching on strawberries across from him, living her best life as if she had just won a lottery ticket.
The carriage landed somewhere secluded. At first, Vince thought they were just on top of a rocky plateau, but when he heard the continuous rush of water, he realized that ahead of them was a waterfall atop a cliff.
"Why are we here?"
Instead of answering, Raine walked toward the edge of the cliff and gestured for Vince to step forward.
Vince looked a little wary, wondering what was on Raine's mind. But still, he moved forward.
He cautiously stopped a foot away from Raine, who was standing too close to the edge of the cliff.
He looked down and swallowed hard when he noticed how violent the rushing water was and how high the cliff stood.
The wind blew their hair, and Raine smiled, showing no sign of fear even though one misstep could send her tumbling down the high cliff.
"Do you know how to swim, Vince?"