"I'm Miss Lilith, I don't want to..."
Thump.
Susie flopped onto the floor, wagging her tail vigorously with a goofy grin.
Lilith acted immediately, sitting obediently with her jewel-like eyes wide open and mewing softly, "Meow~"
Audrey: "..."
I mustn't be fooled by their disguises!
Audrey frowned. "Don't try acting cute with me. You two went too far this time! Especially..."
She looked at Susie. "You, Susie! You've led Lilith astray!"
"???"
Shock, bewilderment, and astonishment appeared on Susie's goofy face. I was only helping out. How could I possibly lead Lilith astray?
Seeing this, Lilith immediately stepped forward and raised her right foreleg, taking a stance that shielded Susie behind her. A cat should take responsibility for her own actions! If you've got a problem, come at Miss Lilith!
Audrey pressed a hand to her forehead, helpless.
Just then, delight suddenly lit up Lilith's eyes. She shot away with a whoosh. "Meow~~"
Audrey hurriedly turned around, and smiled when she saw who had arrived. "You're back, Edward."
"Yes."
To return to the Emerald as quickly as possible, Edward had first entered the Leather Pouch and returned to the ship through the Vanishing Cabinet. He had used Portus on a stone to set its destination to the Emerald's current location, then immediately returned to Bansy, picked up the Leather Pouch, and used the Portkey to return.
Since the whole process had taken only a few dozen seconds, the Emerald had sailed only a few hundred meters by the time he returned. One Apparition brought him back into the cabin.
Edward caught Lilith as she leaped up and rubbed her head, saying sternly, "Didn't I tell you not to use Instigation on ordinary people without good reason?"
She raised her little paw pads, trying to gesture "just a little," and whispered