The Thief's Outing

 Sir Fritigern loves his Nekoline ward like she was his own daughter. He's warned her several times not to explore the old haunted castle without him, so when she disobeys him, he treats her just like he would a daughter.

In the Red Cheeks universe, there are four main* sentient races: humans, elves, orcs, and Nekoline, a catlike people. The Nekoline were historically oppressed, but have by now largely integrated; however some prejudice still remains, and many are poorer and forced into less than desirable jobs. Thief was an orphan taken in by a kindly human knight.

*there are also demons, spirits, and others, but they are largely isolated; expect them as antagonists for the most part