Cat With Principles

Despite Neville's efforts to heal her internal injuries, Aradia could still feel intense pain throughout her body. Although the bruise on her wrist had lessened from Neville's treatment, it was still present and made it difficult for her to fully use her hand.

For the first time, since her injury, she felt a sense of hopelessness as she asked her companion, "Fluffy, tell me the truth. Am I going to die?

Neville snorted like a human as his blue eyes looked at Aradia with disdain, "Wasn't you just very certain that you won't die?"

"That's just based on your previous words," she said dejectedly. "But you're just a cat with an overinflated ego. I can't believe I gave any weight to what you said."

Neville looked like she ruffled his fur and was looking mad as he growled dangerously, "How dare you insult my noble self? Are you doubting me? Don't forget I've saved your life plenty of times. Otherwise, you'd have long died. It's like there are bold words written on your face that invites trouble to you."

Aradia didn't argue against his statements, even if she wanted to. She also believed that it was her destiny. No matter how secure the path appeared, she still found herself in trouble one way or another. It was as if she attracted trouble wherever she went.

"Will you answer me seriously?" Aradia chose to change the topic. "Am I really dying?" She took a pause, looking depressed, "I don't want to die prematurely. I still haven't discovered anything about my parents. Also, how devastated would Sylvan be if I were gone? I couldn't bear the thought of him suffering because of me."

Neville sneered as his fluffy tail lazily swayed. He appeared like a haughty noble who deemed everything around him beneath his status. "Is that why you always conceal your injuries from him?" He observed her sorrowful expression and continued, "If you care for him so deeply, why do you deceive him so often? He has no knowledge of what you do or why you were brought to the Duke's mansion. He doesn't even know where you came from before arriving at the mansion."

Aradia found herself in a difficult position, but she still defended her actions, "Isn't it because I'm trying to safeguard him? What's the point of sharing information that serves no purpose? If anything, he might find himself in trouble if I shared those things with him."

"He is unaware of the true you and claims to love you," Neville spoke crudely. "My former master used to say that love is never founded on deceit. You should be cautious before the castle of love you've built on falsehoods collapses in front of you. Ultimately, your love is nothing but a deceitful illusion at present. Do you believe it will endure the onslaught of truth and disclosures?"

"Can you please refrain from disparaging our love?" Aradia implored.

Neville could only resign in front of her once again. Mentioning her love for Sylvan Rosewood was like touching a sore spot for her. It never ended well.

"I know you don't wanna hear it."

"Then don't say it."

Neville ignored her interruption and went on, "But I'll still say it. Do I need to remind you why you chose to keep this love a clandestine affair? It's because it can never see the light of the day." Before she could dispute his words, he changed the topic and said, "As for your question, no, you're not dying."

Aradia almost couldn't keep up with his arbitrary self. But since he finally got back on the original topic, she asked, "Then why is it hurting so much even after you helped me heal?"

"You're not healed completely," replied Neville. "But don't worry, in about another day or two, the pain will go away on its own."

"Are you sure?" she wanted to confirm it with him.

Neville nodded his head. This cat was lofty but Aradia knew he never lied. He found it beneath him to deceive her. If he didn't want her to know something, he'd just not talk about it entirely. But if he decided to speak then he'd only speak the truth. It was his code of conduct. Yes, Neville was a cat with principles.

How ironic!

"Positive." He looked at her pale face and added, "In the meantime, I'll help you alleviate some of the pain. That's the best I can do with my current capabilities"

"Thank you," Aradia said to him, sincerely.

Neville suddenly avoided her eyes when he saw her expressing her gratitude so sincerely. "What about the Blue Flake? Did you get it or did you lose it to the person who hurt you?"

"I have it," replied Aradia. "I also have to express my gratitude for that. If I hadn't used the technique you taught me, I wouldn't have been able to escape. I've never felt this overpowered before in my life. Even without a speck of energy in my body, I could win against most people. But he wasn't an easy opponent."

Neville could see that although she really hated that guy, she still appreciated his skills. After all, she sincerely looked up to people who were capable.

If Aradia hadn't used Neville's skills of confining people, she wouldn't be able to hold down Rhys back then.

"That just reminded me, your concealing screen failed miserably. You set up the protective spell around the Blue Flake and you assured me that no one will be able to find it. Then how did he manage to find it?"

For a moment, even Neville was taken aback, "There is no way my spell failed."

"But it did, I'm telling you. Do you think I'm lying? He was there even before me!"

"How is that possible?" Neville mumbled to himself.

"Huh! It seems Fluffy isn't as capable as he claims to be," said Aradia in derision.

Neville didn't take her sarcastic words to heart for a moment and even retorted, "If my incantation was useless, why did no one find the Blue Flake in the past ten years? It isn't a day or two that we spent cultivating that plant. How come it only failed just this time around?"

Even Aradia had no answer for that. It was true that they spent years cultivating that flower. And no one had ever been able to find it before this. Even if the concealment screen failed then why only this time?