Chapter 40: Dancing in the Castle Hall!

“…”

Facing Carola’s question, Phyllis chose silence.

At this moment, she really did not know how to answer Carola.

“I understand.”

Carola nodded.

Phyllis’s silence was an answer in itself.

The castle doors slowly creaked open.

Carola carried Phyllis in her arms as they stepped into the hall.

The hall was unlit.

Moonlight poured through the high stained-glass windows, fragmented by the patterns on the glass into magnificent spots of light of various sizes.

They scattered across the polished, mirror-like black marble floor.

Snap—

Carola snapped her fingers.

Ghostly blue flames flickered to life, illuminating the hall.

Phyllis shifted her feet slightly in Carola’s arms, feeling a bit restless.

“What are we doing here? Meow~”

“Dancing.”

Carola set Phyllis down and walked toward one side of the hall.

An Ancient Gramophone sat there.

It was a brass machine covered in intricate carvings, appearing to have at least several hundred years of history.

Carola skillfully pulled out a record, gently turned the crank, and lowered the needle.

A soothing melody flowed out, the sound quality carrying the characteristic scratchiness of an old record, as if time itself were singing.

“Dancing? Meow?”

Phyllis blinked her blue eyes. In her past life, she had been a boy.

Forget about classical dance; she had even frequently skipped the midday exercises after the second period in school.

“She was a Cat Girl now, so she was flexible enough, but…”

“I don’t know how to dance!”

“I will teach you.”

Carola approached and reached out to Phyllis, her posture as elegant as if she were performing a sacred ritual.

Carola’s palm was turned upward, waiting for Phyllis’s response.

Phyllis hesitated for a few seconds before finally placing her hand in Carola’s.

‘It’s only dancing…’

Carola’s grip on Phyllis was steady.

Her other hand gently rested against the side of Phyllis’s waist, her fingertips sending a faint sensation through the fabric of her clothes.

“Follow my rhythm,” Carola’s voice sounded exceptionally soft amidst the music.

“Left, right, step back… yes, just like that.”

Phyllis moved her feet clumsily, nearly stepping on Carola’s toes several times.

However, Carola was unexpectedly patient.

She managed to lightly avoid every stumble, seamlessly adjusting Phyllis’s posture without leaving a trace.

“Relax,” Carola said. “Aren’t you a Catkin? The Catkin race is supposed to be very nimble.”

“I… I just don’t know the steps!”

Phyllis was having trouble letting go.

“Follow me.”

Carola suddenly led Phyllis into a spin.

“Meow!”

Phyllis let out a startled cry as Carola whirled her around.

Her black hair and the hem of her skirt cast hazy shadows under the lamplight.

One turn, two turns.

The world was spinning, the moonlight was flowing, and the music echoed in her ears.

Phyllis suddenly realized she had actually caught the rhythm.

Her body seemed to have instinctively memorized the dance steps.

She began to move naturally under Carola’s guidance.

Was it a benefit of her increased Agility Attribute?

“You learn quickly!”

There was a hint of praise in Carola’s voice.

“Much faster than I imagined.”

“Of course! I’m very smart! Meow~”

Phyllis couldn’t help but perk up her tail, nearly losing her balance as a result.

With a gentle tug, Carola pulled her back into her embrace.

“Meow~”

The two were very close now—close enough that Phyllis could feel Carola’s breath brushing against her cheek.

This wasn’t the first time Phyllis had looked Carola in the eye at such a distance.

However, this time felt different from all the others.

Her breathing was heavy right now.

‘Is it because of the dancing?’

That might be part of it.

But Phyllis felt that just staring at each other like this didn’t quite fit the atmosphere.

“Should she… give her a kiss?”

A strange thought surfaced in Phyllis’s mind.

Phyllis lowered her head, and as if possessed, she leaned in to kiss Carola.

“Hmm… this sensation… wait!”

Because of her shyness, Phyllis had closed her eyes when she went for the kiss.

Sensing that something was wrong, she quickly snapped her eyes open.

“Uh… er…”

Phyllis saw Carola looking at her with a peculiar expression.

“How embarrassing!”

She had actually kissed Carola’s forehead!

“What are you thinking about?”

Carola looked at Phyllis, her gaze falling upon the girl’s lips.

“I was thinking…”

Phyllis averted her eyes, feeling too embarrassed to look at Carola.

Carola’s finger gently tilted Phyllis’s chin up, forcing her to turn back and face her.

“So, what were you thinking?”

Carola asked the question once more.

“…Nothing, meow~”

As Phyllis spoke, the cat ears atop her head twitched honestly.

She would never admit it, even if it killed her.

In that fleeting moment, her heart had fluttered for Carola.

Phyllis had never been in a relationship in her previous life, so she didn’t know what it felt like for a heart to be moved.

Earlier, in the Library, she had heard the Ghos Jarvis say that when one’s heart is truly moved, they will understand it intuitively.

J”ust now, when Phyllis faced Carola again…”

She suddenly seemed to understand.

This was what it felt like to have one’s heart moved.

It was an indescribable sensation.

Phyllis couldn’t put it into words; she just knew that this feeling was love.

After these days of intimate company, combined with this reunion after a long absence and the romantic atmosphere today…

How could anyone not be moved?

Even if the beginning of this encounter had been a bit twisted.

“No, it was very twisted!”

“You lying little kitty!”

Carola clearly didn’t believe a word Phyllis said.

“I’m not… Meow —”

Before Phyllis could finish, Carola had already leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was exceptionally domineering!

Phyllis’s eyes widened, and her mind went blank.

For a moment, she even forgot to breathe.

Carola pulled back slightly, her red eyes reflecting Phyllis’s dazed face.

“…Breathe!”

“Eh? Mmph!”

Phyllis was kissed by Carola once again.

This time, Carola deepened the kiss.

Furthermore, Carola reached out a hand to the back of Phyllis’s neck, gently stroking her soft, short hair and the base of her cat ears.

“Meow… mmgh…”

Involuntary whimpers escaped Phyllis’s throat.

The music from the gramophone had ended at some point.

The needle spun idly over the empty groove, creating a scratchy, static noise.

It wasn’t until a much deeper connection had been made that Carola finally released Phyllis.

“You… why did you…”

Phyllis panted heavily, her cheeks so hot they felt as if they were on fire.

Carola had actually just…

“Wasn’t that exactly what you were thinking?”

Carola tilted her head slightly.

“I heard it.”

“How could you possibly hear it! I didn’t say it out loud! Meow~”

Phyllis protested.

“You’ve admitted it now.”

Carola used her finger to wipe the moisture from the corner of Phyllis’s lip, then placed it in her own mouth to taste it.

“A pleasant flavor~”

Carola remarked.

Phyllis’s face turned beet red, but she couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

How did she let Carola play her like this!

While Phyllis was still drowning in shyness, Carola stepped past her and walked toward the entrance of the hall.

Clack—

The heavy doors were opened once again.

“Phyllis, you should return to the Catkin tribe!”

Carola turned her head and spoke to the still-stunned Phyllis.

The End.