âLucy, who am I supposed to complain to if a Shinsu steals my jewels?â
Belinda asked, absentmindedly.
ââŚâŚ.â
Lucy didnât have an answer, but Belinda wasnât expecting one. They continued to stare out the window at the beautiful red sun setting across the field.
***
It had been a week since Aymon ran off with the bracelet. He didnât come every day, but usually showed up at least twice a week or so â however, they hadnât seen a single sign of him.
Belinda spent her days hanging around the window just in case he did appear.
Why did he do that? What did he do with the bracelet? Is he not coming back because he feels sorry for stealing it?
Itâs okay. I care a lot more about him than the bracelet.
âWhy did you steal my braceletâŚ.?â
She muttered to herself, not going unheard by Mazetto, who screamed from among the rose bushes.
âDesire! Greed! Avarice!â
Belinda nodded a bit to shrug him off. That couldnât be it.
As the sun rose on the field, rays catching on the leaves, Aymon was still nowhere to be seen.
It seemed like another day would pass before that cute furball showed himself.
Â
âIâm leaving, Princess.â
âMe too!â
Belinda said goodbye to them and drew the curtains.
That night, with no one to accompany her but the moonlight filtering into the room, she felt lonely. The distinct cricket-chirping from the field kept her awake.
âHe wonât come tomorrow either, will heâŚ. Come to think of it, where does he even liveâŚ.â
She muttered in a sleepy voice. The chirping gradually quieted down, and her firm grip on the bedsheet relaxed. Belinda fell asleep, breathing softly.
How long could she have slept? Her chest was stuffy and she could barely breathe, tossing and turning.
She opened her eyes slowly. There was a ball of fur sitting on her chest.
âAymon?â
When could he have come?
The little animal was loafed, sleeping on her. His black fur shined beautifully in the moonlight.
She reached up to stroke his cheek. Aymon just burrowed himself further into her arms and fell back asleep. Knowing that it was Belinda, there was no sign of his instinctive tension.
Thereâd been times when Aymon came during the night to sleep, but he always curled up at the far end of the bed or the rug. Why would he get so close after disappearing for so long?
Belinda just laughed quietly â she wasnât about to complain.
Iâve really missed you, and here you are, as if you understood my feelings.
Or maybe you actually do.
Either oneâs fine.
Belinda brushed her hair out of her eyes. She didnât ever want to get up.
Suddenly, she felt something soft touch her lips. Warm and fluffy.
Belinda opened her eyes. It was Aymon.
ăGet up.ă
ââŚ.Huh?â
He patted her lips again. It was a strange feeling.
âOh, thatâs niceâŚ. So soft.â
It was easy for him to put her in a good mood like this.
Sheâd assumed that seeing Aymon last night was just a dream, but apparently not. She couldnât believe heâd wake her up this earlyâŚ.
Aymon relaxed his front paws, letting go of her hands, and rolled onto the bed before she sat up.
Belinda ordered the maid to prepare hot water.
ăWhere are you going?ă
âTo wash up.â
Aymon leaped onto the table. He looked just like a pet cat waiting for its owner.
Belinda came into the room, brushing back her neatly combed hair. Aymon was still sitting on the table, looking out the window.
âAymon, whyâd you come so suddenly yesterday?â
ăJust because.ă
Belinda sat down and took a cup of tea from the maid. As soon as she disappeared, Aymon approached Belinda and dropped something on her lap.
âWhat is this?â
ăJust take a look.ă
He didnât seem keen on giving explanations today.
Belinda picked it up. Small and sparkly.
It was a ring.
The golden-colored diamond shone brilliantly in the sunlight. It was gracefully set with smaller diamonds.
âAre you giving this to me?â
ăWhat⌠just take it.ă
Aymon blurted out, rubbing his face. He was saying it as if heâd just picked it up on his way. A little shy and awkward. Belinda put it on, smiling. It was a little loose, probably because it wasnât meant to be worn by a child.
âWhereâd you get this? You didnât steal it, did you?â
ăDo you really think Iâd do something like that?ă
He answered, raising his head proudly.
You already did. You stole my bracelet.
She didnât say it out loud so she wouldnât offend him.
Belinda fiddled around with the ring.
Maybe he lost the bracelet? And he felt guilty, thatâs why he didnât come? And he even brought this instead?
That had to be it. Apparently, even Aymon could feel guilt.
âThank you. Itâs a little big and I donât want to lose it, so Iâll have to make it into a necklace.â
Belinda carefully put the ring away into her jewelry box.
ăDo you want a necklace?ă
âWhat? No. Itâs okay. I have something I can use.â
Where would Aymon get the money to buy her a necklace?
Belinda was curious, but stayed silent.
Aymonâs house was filled to the brim with gold and silver treasures offered to the Shinsu, but she didnât know that.
She was planning to put the ring on a necklace the emperor gave her.
Her father had been acting rather strange recently. Heâd suddenly have the whole palace refurbished or give her gifts.
Although he was never friendly with her in public, he had definitely changed.
It all started when they met in the gardens that day.
He can do whatever he feels like.
Belinda quickly brushed off the thought.
Nothing had changed for her â she still just wanted to eat well, sleep well, and stick to the palace.
She wouldâve liked to ignore everything else, but that wasnât possible.
She stared down blankly, lost in the thoughts of her father. Aymon laid his head on the back of her hand.
ăDonât meet him again.ă
âHuh?â
She snapped back into reality and looked at Aymon. He avoided her gaze.
ăThat human man.ă
âWhat?â
ăI gave you a gift too, so now donât think of even opening his letters.ă
She was too confused to reply.
Aymon softly shoved her with his paw.
ăWhy arenât you answering? Itâs me or him.ă
Belinda laughed.
What is this cute little beast talking about?
He must have hated strangers coming onto his territory since he was an animal. Especially since he was such a sensitive animal.
Belinda picked him up.
So cute. So cute. My Aymon. âItâs me or itâs him.â Heâs the cutest thing in the world.
As usual, Aymon relaxed his body and gave up. However, he didnât stop talking.
ăTell him not to come near you. Youâre a princess. You can do that.ă
âThe Duke has more power than I do.â
ăI can make up for that.ă
âHow?â
ăYou can just say Iâm backing you and will destroy everything if he doesnât obey.ă
Belinda laughed again. How could something be this cute? This pretty?
At first, she thought his personality was completely different from his appearance, but seeing him like this, they were exactly the same.
âDonât worry. Heâs not coming. He left.â
âHeâs gone?â
âYes. He traveled far away to study. Donât worry, he wonât be back for a long time.â
He twitched slightly, as if he was holding back laughter. He just rubbed against Belindaâs arm, very satisfied.
âAnd how could I compare him to you?â
ăThat means you choose me, right?ă
âOf course. Donât say such nonsense.â
Aymon nodded.
If he considers this his territory⌠Iâm willing to work with that.