Chapter 102: The Origin of a White Knight’s Dislike for Cats

Wade hated cats.

It wasn’t merely because of the detestable creature currently clinging to his wife.

In truth, to trace the origin, one would have to go back to his younger days—perhaps when he was around seven years old?

In those chaotic times, especially within the confines of the slums, such occurrences were commonplace throughout Wade’s earliest memories.

Back then, simply getting enough to eat was a struggle; aspiring to a meal that seemed ‘impressive’ was even more so.

Yet, one particular day, he managed to acquire two steaming buns: one filled with meat, the other with vegetables.

These were purchased with the seven-year-old Wade’s very first earnings. His job at the time was simple: he assisted in carrying items and scoured the nearby slum bookstalls for old, out-of-print books for wealthy families.

Though illiterate, he was clever enough to match the characters and deliver the books to the old man.

The meager wages were enough for a child living in the slums. He could afford the luxury of buying two buns on his way home—one meat, one vegetable—clutching them like precious treasures.

It was then, in an alley, that Wade encountered cats. A whole pack of stray cats, as they often gathered in groups, their territories seemingly defined by some unknown logic.

Normally, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But this time, Wade held two buns in his hands, and he had already taken a bite of the meat bun. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, drawing the cats closer.

What happened next, of course, needed no elaborate explanation.

The leading black cat charged, only to be blocked by Wade’s raised elbow. But he couldn’t fend off the sheer numbers, and a calico cat, hissing fiercely, scratched Wade’s arm.

The sudden pain made him instinctively loosen his grip. The meat bun, only just bitten, tumbled to the ground. While he was distracted, the vegetable bun was snatched away by another cat.

Wade had initially thought that even if the bun fell, he could just dust it off or wash it by the ditch. He never anticipated that the cats would swarm, devouring both buns in a flurry of swift movements until only crumbs remained.

Furious, Wade ripped off his jacket and began to lash out at the wild cats. Inevitably, his exposed arms and legs were scratched, his clothes ripped by their claws. The buns were gone, and the cats had fled.

****

Our Lord White Knight—or rather, the young Lord White Knight—had never felt such profound injustice in his life. He looked at his disheveled self, the ruined buns, and his bleeding hand, and burst into a fit of heartbroken wails. One might say he cried a veritable slum.

Curious adults approached, asking what was wrong. He sobbed, snot and tears streaming down his face, recounting the entire cat incident. The adults, naturally fond of teasing children, chuckled at the sight of the usually ‘little adult’ crying so profusely.

They jested with Wade while disinfecting his wounds, their actions genuinely heartwarming, though he felt a bit embarrassed.

He was just about to recover when a passing child, noticing his scratched hands and legs, remarked:

“I remember getting scratched by a cat can kill you, right? Something like rabies—or ‘mad cat disease’.”

After that comment, Wade cried even harder.

Wade still remembered those terrifying three months of ‘incubation period.’ He truly believed his life was over. Yet, it also sparked a fierce determination within him. Every day, besides eating and sleeping, he would seek out those obnoxious cats in the alley for a fight. Many of his foundational combat skills, one could say, were honed through countless brawls with cats.

Now an adult, Wade no longer harbored such intense hatred or fear of cats. He appeared capable of interacting with them like any normal person, but—he simply couldn’t bring himself to like them.

Watching Lamia interact with the cat, Wade felt it even more strongly: cats truly were the most detestable animals.

Insidious, cunning… in short… abominable!

Wade considered himself a person with a normal moral compass and a righteous heart, yet when it came to cats, he simply couldn’t find it in himself to like them!

“Ahem—”

Wade’s cough was deliberate.

The cat glanced at the man behind it, and Lamia’s gaze followed.

“Meow—!”

Upon seeing Wade’s arrival, the cat abandoned its fish, stopped licking the canned food’s gravy, and with a leap, attempted to jump into Lamia’s arms for refuge.

“Meow—!”

But in the next second, Wade was faster.

Lamia didn’t even see how Wade took such a large stride and reached out to lift the cat by the scruff of its neck. It seemed that for this cat, Lord White Knight had truly exerted himself.

“Still playing with this cat, are we?”

Wade gripped the cat by the scruff of its neck, then adjusted his hold, cradling it firmly in his arms, pinning it down tightly.

The cat naturally felt the powerful strength emanating from Wade. It initially tried to struggle, but Wade’s grip was simply too formidable. It bristled, yet couldn’t even lift its head.

“Yes, I had nothing particular to do today, so I came here. The weather is lovely.”

“…Indeed, the weather is very good.”

It was good that Lamia was willing to come out, stroll around, and breathe fresh air, having her own subjective thoughts.

But… could it not be because of this cat…

It was truly annoying…

[He’s really holding it tight.]

Lamia’s voice echoed in his mind once more.

[Why is he holding this cat down so forcefully?]

‘…Ah, I’ve been found out.’

‘Were my actions that obvious? I didn’t even let the cat make a sound.’

[Could it be—]

[Hoo-hoo—White Knight, are you envious of my time with this cat?]

‘…’

‘No—no, I’m absolutely not jealous of this cat. How could I be? It’s just a cat. I simply dislike it.’

‘How could a person envy a cat? Envy what? That it can be with Lamia anytime? That Lamia actively seeks it out? That it can… simply burrow into Lamia’s arms without reason?’

“Honey.”

“What?”

“I’ve named this cat Honey.”

“…Honey? Why…?”

“Because it’s golden.”

Lamia said, rising from the grass. She giggled, poking the golden patches on the calico cat, then raised her hand to lightly twist a strand of Wade’s short sideburns.

“Just like you. You’re golden too.”

With that, she withdrew her fingers, gently rubbing her own lips.

“The apple pie last time was also golden, with honey—it was sweet.”

[And your kisses are sweet too~]

This thought, likely just an inner musing, was perfectly and clearly heard by Wade.

“—!”

Wade’s lips instantly pressed together, a reaction born of both nervousness and shyness. He tried his best to keep his face from flushing too deeply in front of Lamia, but his ears were already a vivid, undeniable red.

“…”

Zelin, who had intended to greet them from a distance, watched Lamia’s actions and Wade’s reaction. He sighed, took the small hands of the children beside him, and turned to leave.

“…Let’s not disturb their flirting. Can’t they avoid doing this in front of the children?”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Heemin’s One-Sided Love

AdultBoys LoveDrama

Read Now →
Not interested