Chapter 242
Edith
Curiosity. That's all it was at first.
The Duchess' panther. The one the rumors whispered about. The little Longear clinging to her skirts.
So I came to see for myself.
And what do I find?
…Cute.
Far cuter than I expected, honestly. Her ears twitch when she startles, her eyes dart away when I look too long. There's an innocence to her that doesn't fit this academy—a softness that should have been crushed by now.
She tries to hide it with her posture, with those stiff little shoulders, but it's obvious.
Even sitting stiffly in her chair, I can see the outline of her chest beneath the uniform. Slender waist, curves that twitchy little tail doesn't hide nearly well enough.
Tempting in its own way.
But still… nothing special. Not by noble standards. Not compared to the others I've seen clawing their way into power. She'd never stand out in a ballroom, never draw eyes in a court.
So why?
Why her?
