Chapter 43

Translator/editor: ruby

His front paws pressed down onto the floor, crushing the grass under him. Finally, he pulled away from Belinda with a groan.

Belinda felt very sad to see him already moving away.

He doesn’t even curl up in my arms anymore like he used to.

The cold night wind replaced the heat of his body.

Aymon, with his thoughts drifting, turned to look up at the moon. Belinda stared at him, his eyelashes sparkling in the moonlight, and sighed.

Beautiful even when he was young, the animal shone even more grown-up. The simple sight of the leopard standing still was as elegant and stunning as an artfully crafted masterpiece.

Could a leopard really be that handsome?

After some time, Aymon turned his jewel-like eyes to Belinda.

「I’m going to sleep with you today.」

Belinda stepped back, startled by the sudden remark.

“Oh? Hm? Huh?”

She knew he wasn’t referring to that, but his directness was still surprising. Her whole face flushed.

It’s all because of me. Because I looked at Aymon in an obscene way. It’s clear I’d feel like that since I like him.

Aymon seemed very surprised by her flushed face and stuttering. He stumbled back and hit the floor with a thud.

「No! It’s not that!」

“Oh… Oh?”

「You’re misunderstanding! That’s not what I meant, I would never… I mean, not never! Anyways, not now!」

He himself didn’t seem to know what he was saying. Aymon’s words were hasty and as messy as a scrambled puzzle. White dust flew up into the air with every bewildered swing of his tail.

Belinda was the first to come to her senses. She blinked and belatedly laughed, dumbfounded. Even for his standard, Aymon’s embarrassment due to his single slip was quite strange.

Belinda shook her head and shrugged, smiling.

“Aymon, calm down. I didn’t misunderstand anything. I know you would never say that.”

She spoke in a soothing voice, but Aymon still seemed to have a lot on his mind.

「Do you really need to make it that definite?」

“Anyways, didn’t you say you wanted to sleep here?”

Belinda asked, still smiling.

He nodded slowly. After the silent affirmation, Belinda waved him back so he could go in through the door. After some hesitation, Aymon started approaching, seeming to have made up his mind.

Without a sound, the large animal walked across the path and entered the room like a shadow. Belinda, lying on the bed, waved at him. Aymon walked on after the harmless gesture and curled up next to the bed.

Belinda stared at the ball of fur, smiling. Looking at Aymon lying down like that gave her butterflies.

She passed her fingers through his soft fur, as she always used to do.

“By the way, you didn’t get hurt during the duel, did you?”

She was worried that it was already too late to ask since a few days had passed. Aymon said that he’d left the duel behind and came running to her, but the smell of blood on him was clear. He did say it wasn’t his blood, but still.

「I didn’t get a single scratch.」

Aymon snapped.

“Didn’t you get in trouble? You said you couldn’t finish the duel because you were looking for us…”

「Trouble?」

Aymon asked back in an amused voice and rubbed his cheek on Belinda’s calf.

「Breedee, not even the elders can hold anything against me now.」

Belinda curled up her toes. The soft fur was pleasant but itchy. Every time Aymon moved, her pajamas slightly slid up her leg. His breath lingered on her, giving her a chill.

She eventually pushed him away with her foot. Just as much as he clung to her, her heart fluttered. It was a strange feeling.

Aymon gently leaned onto her feet.

「Breedee, I’m the chief now.」

“….”

「There’s no animal stronger than me now. I can do whatever I want.」

He purred, seemingly in a good mood, and rubbed his cheek against her skin. Belinda gulped, filled with an inexplicable tension, and pushed away from the “Great Shinsu Chief” again.

“Stop, it tickles.”

He hugged her legs and rubbed them with his paws as if she were a stuffed toy. It didn’t help with all the turmoil she was already feeling.

You don’t even know how I feel….!

She was starting to resent him.

She was already flustered when he said he would sleep there, so how could she handle this?

Now that I like you, my heart flutters even when you’re acting like an animal. You don’t even know how I feel. What a foolish leopard.

Being pushed away didn’t deter Aymon.

Belinda put her hand on her chest. How much would she have to wrap up her heart and hide it deep inside from Aymon? Would she be able to hold out with Aymon acting like this?

His attitude was still the same. The only thing that changed was his image. He wasn’t a baby leopard anymore.

However, as she accepted his new self, her feelings evolved, deeper and stranger than before.

Belinda sighed and pulled up her blanket. For some reason, it felt like tough days were to come.

In the meantime, Aymon’s rough tongue slowly passed over her calf. An unfamiliar sensation ran down her spine.

Tossing around, Belinda ended up kicking him.

Whether Aymon was in a good mood or a mysterious one like now, it was no secret. Belinda wasn’t used to this feeling.

“You perv cat!”

Even when she kicked him, Aymon responded with a happy purr.

***

Looking at the trees outside the carriage’s window, Phillip moved his arm.

How many years had it been since he last saw the empire? Although there was nothing new to welcome him, it was refreshing.

“Has it changed a lot, Duke?”

“Yes, it has.”

“The roads leading into the capital have been renovated, and the central clock tower was rebuilt.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Phillip Rodson nodded roughly, still staring outside. He wasn’t listening much to the friendly attempts at conversation.

Phillip, an old friend of Prince Lart and Princess Adelai, had returned to the empire just a few days ago after he graduated from his academy.

Even for vacations, he hadn’t been back so he could focus on his studies. After all those years, returning was more freeing than one of happiness.

Phillip, with his chin propped on the windowsill, quietly scanned through the capital. His glowing blue eyes looked languid.

Looking at the trees brushing by the carriage, someone came to his mind.

Belinda.

That gaze, staring down at him proudly. How would she, never having been malicious, fit into the palace? He had high expectations.

Phillip drummed on the windowsill with his graceful fingers.

It would be a lie to say that he thought of her throughout his whole time at the academy, but sometimes, that beautiful face would still cross his mind.

He silently smiled as he looked at the palace’s spire, reaching up beyond the clouds.

“Is there something nice on your mind, sir?”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a nice thing, but it’s definitely interesting.”

He folded his arms, leaning back into the seat.

He was going to visit Belinda soon.

***

Spring was already starting. A refreshing gust of wind blew a flurry of pink petals outside the window.

“Belinda!”

Someone was knocking on the palace’s door with no regard to manners.

Belinda didn’t need to ask who it was. It had to be Lart. She could visualize the servant’s nervous squirming next to him, not daring to stop the prince.

“Come in, Lart.”

She answered, brushing petals off her shoulder. Lart hurried inside as soon as she let him in.

Well, it’s still better than just charging in without permission.

Belinda thought, trying to see the bright side.

“You came?”

Belinda’s messy hair fell onto her shoulders.

Lart’s escort, standing behind the open door, stared at her blankly before catching himself and disappearing outside. It had been ten years since he last met the princess, who had blossomed into a vivid beauty from the skinny, rough girl she once was. She was a true masterpiece.

However, his stepsister’s beauty didn’t seem to affect Lart. He put down the envelope he’d been holding and plopped onto a chair.

“Lucy’s not here yet?”

“No. Look at the time.”

It was still early in the morning. Unlike a typical noble, who could party all night, Belinda usually woke up early. Still, knowing Lart, he probably wouldn’t have cared if she was asleep either.

Lart snapped at the maid to bring them tea. Once she was gone, he leaned over the table.

“Does Lucy know about my feelings?”

“Feelings? What feelings?”

Belinda asked, even though she knew everything as if to poke fun at him.

Prince Lart flushed.

“You know…”

“What would I know?”

“Well, the…wanting to be with someone…. Um…that kind of feelings.”

“I’m not Lucy. I don’t know.”

Belinda leaned back against the chair with a relaxed smile. Lart patted the table with his palm.

“But you should have a sense. The kind you get why rolling around in a back alley!”

When the maid came with the tea, he quickly went back to pretending to be elegant. It was useless anyway since everyone knew what he was like.

“Go.”

Belinda spoke lightly.

“Huh?”

“Leave.”

“What?”

Lart didn’t seem to understand the neat order.

“You’re saying I rolled around in a back alley just like that, thinking I’d want to hear it. Well, I don’t, brother.”

Lart’s eyes widened.

“…No…. It’s a habit….”

“Then you can also leave like a habit. Bye.”

Belinda grinned.\n