Chapter 20: A Little Mirror for You!

The atmosphere grew even more awkward.

Within that strained silence, Felice hurriedly finished her meal and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Carola reached over and used the napkin to gently clean the spot Felice had missed at the corner of her lips.

Felice observed Carola’s movements, quietly assessing her behavior.

Could it be because her Charm had increased?

Was the system’s bonus truly that overwhelming?

“By the way, are there any mirrors in the castle? Meow?”

Felice asked.

“The mirrors cannot reflect my image, so none were placed in the castle. But if you need one...”

Carola tapped her spatial bracelet, and a small mirror appeared in her hand.

Its cover was adorned with a decorative bat spreading its wings wide, with two tiny rubies embedded where its eyes would be.

“You may have this.”

Carola handed the mirror to her.

“Why are you suddenly being so kind to me...”

Felice accepted it and asked in a casual tone.

“Jarvis already told you about me, did he not? Otherwise, you would not have taken the initiative to let me drink your blood...”

Carola rested one hand against the table and regarded her steadily.

“He did. He said your current extreme personality is due to awakening the Primordial Blood, and that my blood seems to help stabilize you...”

Felice had no intention of concealing it. There was nothing confidential about the matter.

Trying to hide it would only create unnecessary suspicion.

“It is effective,” Carola acknowledged. “That is also the primary reason my attitude toward you has changed.”

‘Perhaps it is not only because of that?’

Holding the exquisitely crafted bat-shaped mirror, Felice lightly traced the ruby-set decoration with her fingertips.

Then she slowly opened it.

Beneath the light, a delicate face appeared in the reflection.

It was her own.

‘Is that... really me?’

It felt as though she were seeing herself for the very first time.

Her short black hair remained fluffy and soft, and the cat ear atop her head twitched faintly. Her blue eyes looked clearer and more luminous than she remembered.

What startled her most was the subtle transformation in her features.

Her brows seemed gentler, the bridge of her nose more refined, and even the curve of her lips carried a faintly alluring shape.

Had she become more beautiful?

No. It was not simply “more beautiful.”

As she continued staring at her reflection, Felice noticed another crucial difference.

It was her presence.

Before, as someone newly reincarnated and still adapting to her body, her gaze always carried a trace of deliberately forced playfulness.

Now, the catgirl in the mirror exuded an effortless charm—a languid elegance unique to her race, intertwined with a youthful innocence that quietly enticed.

‘Is this... the result of twenty-five points of Charm?’

Felice made a silly face at the mirror. The girl in the reflection mirrored her perfectly, yet even with that expression, those blue eyes remained bright and irresistibly adorable.

‘This is practically unfair!’

She nearly found herself captivated by her own image.

“You have changed quite a bit recently as well.”

Carola’s face suddenly appeared in the mirror.

“You said mirrors cannot reflect you!”

Felice exclaimed as Carola stepped up beside her.

“Why do you think I brought that mirror?” Carola replied with mild resignation. “It is a special magic artifact. It can reflect my image.”

“So it is a magic artifact! That is unbelievably extravagant—using something so precious as a mirror!”

Felice snapped the mirror shut in astonishment.

Magic artifacts were not easily crafted. Even among the catfolk, only a few existed. At auction, a single piece could easily sell for over a thousand gold coins.

And Carola was using one as a mirror.

“That is far too valuable. Take it back!”

Felice tried to return it.

If it had been an ordinary mirror, she would have accepted it without hesitation.

But a special magic artifact—

She could not receive something like that so casually.

There was no such thing as a free lunch, and gifts often carried hidden costs.

“I said it is a gift. And I have another.”

Carola stepped away, refusing to take it back.

“But—”

“I command you. Keep it.”

Carola closed Felice’s fingers firmly around the mirror, ensuring she held onto it.

“Now that you are awake and have eaten, would you like to go out for a walk?”

Carola proposed the idea after confirming Felice had accepted the gift.

“Go out?” Felice’s eyes sparkled. “You mean... leave the castle? Of course I would!”

“I want to take you to the forest near the castle. You have been indoors for several days.”

“When do we leave?”

Felice stretched eagerly.

“Right now. Go change.”

“Okay!”

Felice skipped back to her room to change.

Going out at night might seem unusual, but to her, simply being allowed outside was enough.

After being confined in the castle for days, she had begun to feel suffocated.

She did not even need to choose her outfit. A puppet attendant had already prepared appropriate clothing in advance.

“Hm hm hm~”

She finished changing quickly.

Taking out the small mirror Carola had given her, she examined herself once more.

In the reflection, she wore a lake-blue fitted dress, the hem falling to mid-thigh.

Below, black stockings wrapped neatly around her legs.

The fabric was delicate, shimmering faintly beneath the light like night brushing softly against skin. It clung smoothly from knee to ankle like a second layer, offering both comfort and a subtle embrace.

She glanced down at her feet. With the thick paw pads unique to her race, boots felt unnecessary. The sensation was light and liberating.

As for her short hair, it remained tidy and free.

...

“Ah... the scent of freedom!”

Felice stood at the castle entrance and inhaled deeply several times.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Carola had changed into a simple red hunting outfit.

Her legs were wrapped in ivory stockings, finely textured and faintly lustrous beneath the light, accentuating their long and elegant lines.

She wore deep red boots that reached her calves, the transition between fabric and leather understated yet refined.

Her white hair, usually left loose, was now neatly tied up, giving her a sharp and radiant appearance.

“Let us go. It is still some distance to the forest.”

Carola extended her hand, covered in a thin white glove.

Felice placed her hand into it without hesitation.

The glove felt soft with a subtle texture. Felice could not resist gently brushing her fingertips against it.

They stepped beyond the castle gates. A wide road stretched outward, leading toward the forest.

Beneath the moonlight, they walked hand in hand toward the distant trees.

They did not rush.

Felice found the quiet walk unexpectedly enjoyable.

The night was serene.

As they continued along the path, fallen leaves began to scatter beneath their steps.

The forest was near.

By the time Felice felt a trace of fatigue, they had finally reached the edge of the dark forest she had long observed from the castle.