Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

The kitten was all warm and cozy, its paws pawing at his clothes as it settled into a comfortable position, purring softly.

"The little thing knows how to enjoy life."

Lance glanced down and saw that the kitten had already squinted its eyes, looking completely at ease.

Continue walking home.

When I pushed open the villa door, the lights were on in the living room.

Cielsa sat on the sofa reading a book, her long, silver-gray hair draped over her shoulders, clearly indicating she hadn't slept.

Hearing the door open, she jumped up.

Upon seeing Lance, she was like a lamp that had been lit; her eyebrows and eyes immediately curved into a smile, and she threw her book on the sofa and ran over.

Then she saw the black thing in Lance's arms.

"Lord Lance, that is..."

"I found her on the way. She's quite cute and wants to come home with me."

Lance lifted the kitten out of his arms and held it up in the air for Cecilia to see. "I thought it was well-behaved, so I brought it home."

The kitten was held by the scruff of its neck, its four legs dangling in the air, its eyes wide open, and it made a dissatisfied "meow" sound.

Sissa paused for two seconds, then burst out laughing.

"You went out to raid a cult stronghold and somehow ended up picking up a cat along the way?"

"What, is it not okay?" Lance put the kitten down. The kitten shook its fur after landing and then began to look around at its new environment.

The kitten circled the living room twice, sniffing here and there, before finally running to Lance's feet and rubbing against her leg.

Meow~

Cielsa looked down at the little black cat. The kitten raised its head, its green eyes were watery, and its mouth opened and closed, making a sweet and coquettish sound.

"It seems to like you." Celsa crouched down and reached out to touch the kitten's head.

But the kitten only wanted to cuddle with Lance and didn't want to pay any attention to Cielsa.

It turned its head, facing its rear end toward Cielsa's fingers, and flicked its tail defiantly.

Cielsa's fingers froze in mid-air, and the smile on her face vanished.

"Pfft." Lance couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Sissa looked up, her eyes filled with resentment: "My lord, it despises me."

"That's normal." Lance bent down and scooped the kitten up. The kitten immediately snuggled into his arms, nuzzling him around. "I found it, of course it's close to me."

Cielsa stood up, brushed off imaginary dust from her hands, and muttered, "That wretched little cat..."

"Alright, go get something to eat." Lance picked up the kitten again and looked at it. "This little thing is starving; it kept meowing on the way here."

"And what about you?"

"I'm hungry too." Lance put the kitten down, and the kitten started sniffing around again after landing.

Sissa stood up: "I'll go heat up the food. You go upstairs and take a shower first."

"OK."

Although Lance can use [magical tricks] directly and doesn't need to take a bath to clean himself, he really enjoys the feeling of soaking in hot water.

After taking a shower and going downstairs, Cielsa had already set out the meal.

On the table were hot stewed meat, toasted bread, vegetables, sausages, and a bowl of milk.

Lance had just taken a sip from the bowl when Cielsa said, "Um... actually, the milk is for the cat."

"I know," Lance put down the bowl, "I'm just letting the cat taste it first."

"How am I supposed to finish it? If I do, what will the cat drink?"

Lance placed the bowl in front of the kitten.

The kitten lay on the edge of the bowl, buried its head in it, and drank happily, slurping away.

With a ring of white beard around its mouth, it finished drinking, raised its head, licked its paws, and began to wash its face.

Lance sat down at the table, picked up a slice of bread, and took a bite.

"This cat drinks pretty fast."

"Mmm, I'm hungry." Cielsa sat opposite him, holding her cup in both hands. "I just cut some meat for it, and it ate it really fast."

After washing its face, the kitten jumped onto the sofa, found a comfortable position to curl up in, squinted its eyes into slits, and swished its tail back and forth.

Lance chewed on his bread, watching the cat.

Let's give this cat a name.

Sissa blinked: "What's your name?"

"Charcoal? Coal briquettes? Late-night snack?"

"Late-night snack?" Cielsa laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Then let's call it... Little Black."

The kitten rolled over on the sofa, revealing its white belly, its four paws curled up, sleeping soundly without any guard.

Cielsa looked at it, a smile in her eyes: "Little Black... what a common name."

"Celsa, what did you say?"

"I must say, you've really come up with a great name!"

"Then it's settled."

Lance finished his meal and leaned back in his chair.

"Ha—time to sleep..."

Lance yawned. "I haven't slept half the night, I'm sleepy."

"Then you should go to sleep." Cielsa pushed him upstairs.

Cielsa hoped to successfully interact with Xiao Hei; if not, neither she nor Xiao Hei would sleep tonight!

Lance went upstairs, pushed open the bedroom door, and collapsed onto the bed.

The blankets were soft, the pillows were soft, everything was soft.

He closed his eyes.

Lance didn't know how long he had slept, but he vaguely felt someone push the door open and come in.

I walked quietly to the bedside and stopped.

Then a corner of the blanket was lifted, and a warm body slipped in and pressed against his back.

"Why aren't you asleep?"

Cielsa's muffled voice came from behind him: "I can't sleep."

"Um?"

I miss you.

Lance rolled over to face her.

Cielsa's face was flushed, her eyes were bright, and her eyelashes fluttered.

"What are you thinking about me for?"

Sissa didn't say anything, she just buried her face in his chest.

Lance reached out and hugged her.

"That's perfect," he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "I can't sleep either."

"Didn't you say you were sleepy?"

"That was just now." Lance's lips brushed against her earlobe. "I'm not sleepy now."

Cielsa's ears turned red, and she shrank back, but didn't move away.

Xiao Hei had somehow gotten upstairs, crouched by the door, looked at the two people on the bed, and tilted his head.

"Meow?"

Nobody paid any attention to it.

The kitten yawned, buried its head in its paws, and went to sleep.

……

When I woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.

Lance opened his eyes; Cielsa was still curled up in his arms, fast asleep.

Her long, silver-gray hair was spread out on the pillow, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she was dreaming about something.

The kitten had jumped onto the bed at some point and was nestled at Cielsa's feet, looking like it had fallen fast asleep.

Lance didn't move; he just lay there.

Voices could be heard from afar outside the window.

Cielsa stirred and groggily opened her eyes.

"Lord Lance..."

"Um?"

"What time is it?"

"I don't know." Lance glanced out the window. "It's probably noon."

Cielsa propped herself up to sit up, her long hair loose. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"kind of."

"Then I'll go cook." Cielsa threw back the covers and got out of bed. As soon as her feet touched the ground, the kitten woke up, looked up at her, and meowed.