Eastern Magic

Under the dining table, a tiny cat head peeked out from behind a table leg, cautiously looking around. It was hard to tell whether it was shy or simply restless after arriving somewhere unfamiliar.

The kitten seemed to have noticed something. It trotted out of hiding, crossed the kitchen into the living room, and rushed toward Tom, who was dozing on the sofa. It seemed that only familiar scents could offer it a sliver of security.

"Where were you hiding just now?"

The poor kitten ultimately failed to escape the girl's clutches. Before it could reach Tom, it was scooped up from the carpet.

After a futile struggle, it was easily subdued by a brush. Its last traces of resistance were effortlessly bought off with dried small fish.

Tom opened his eyes and stared at the dried small fish Nia was using to tease the kitten. He climbed off the sofa and lazily stretched, intending to move closer to Nia and beg for some. Instead, Albert lifted him from the sofa and placed him in the large hamster wheel in the corner of the dining room, where he began his daily slimming exercise.

Nia's hand paused as she stroked the kitten's fur. Her gaze fell on Isobel beside Albert, and her lips moved almost imperceptibly. Then her eyes lowered again, and she reached out to stop the kitten from slipping away while continuing to groom it.

Beside them, Luke and Herb were discussing what they had seen in the colonies.

In truth, as long as they could afford it, most Britons were equally enthusiastic about traveling and taking holidays. Luke and Sansa were naturally no exception; this trip would merely last longer and take them farther away.

Albert led Isobel to an empty spot on one side of the sofa