Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Translator/editor: ruby

Lart let out a shaky breath.

Looking at the face of the boy stepping on his neck, a shiver ran through his whole body.

Just now, that cat in Belinda’s arms jumped at me. And he turned into a human and now he’s stepping on my neck…

He knew from the glittering spirit stone on his forehead – a Shinsu leopard. A beast in human form.

He didn’t know why the leopard was there, or why he was there with Belinda… But knowing that wouldn’t help him anyways.

The fear was choking his whole body.

He wanted to close his eyes and escape. Run away screaming.

But he couldn’t do anything.

Aymon lowered even farther onto the prince. As his facial expression so clearly indicated, he was serious.

“How dare a human being threaten what’s mine……?”

“Huk…”

No, he did want to answer, but he couldn’t since he was being held down by the neck. He wanted to shake his head, but, again, he couldn’t move his neck. A pained groan escaped his slightly open mouth.

Aymon pressed down even harder, not taking his feet off until the prince was out of breath.

Killing a fragile human being was very simple. There was nothing to hesitate about.

What worried him was all the nagging he’d get from his elders for killing a member of the royal family. Also…

 

Also, if I kill this little boy, Belinda and I will no longer…….

Aymon looked down at him, holding his neck and rolling around on the ground/

Belinda was still clinging onto the tree with an astonished face.

“You.”

“Hahah…”

Instead of answering, the prince moaned in pain.

Aymon knocked him back down onto the grass.

“You humans are very weak. You know that, right?”

“Uh…… Yes, yes.”

“If you’re hit by an arrow, you’ll obviously die.”

Lart looked back at him with a terrified gaze.

Are there thorns in the air? Why is it so hard to breathe?

“But you fired an arrow at Belinda.”

“I-I didn’t know.. … I didn’t know Princess Belinda was there.….”

He was trying his hardest to deny it, but they both knew it wasn’t true.

A faint smile appeared on Aymon’s face.

“You didn’t know…… Sure. You might not have known. Maybe.”

“…….”

“Well, here’s what I don’t know. How much strength do I need to waste for you to die?”

Thump. Aymon’s feet were straining.

Prince Lart took another sharp breath. He felt like all his ribs might break.

“Will this be enough to kill you?”

“Cough…….”

“Or this much?”

Whenever Aymon increased the pressure on his chest, his eyes blurred with pain. Maybe his bones were already broken.

Before they knew it, Mazetto twirled around their heads, chirping.

“Kill him! Kill him!”

Lart, in terror, did not hear it, and Aymon pretended not to hear it either.

Lart’s intense breathing caught in his throat.

A damp liquid flowed down between his trembling legs. It was embarrassing, but he didn’t even have time to feel ashamed about it.

He grabbed Aymon’s ankles and shook his head desperately.

“No, no! No…! Save me. I was wrong. I, I, uh……! Save me…”

The royal child, more arrogant than anyone else, was now clinging desperately onto Aymon with tears and snot all over his face.

But there was an even more arrogant beast above him. Aymon laughed. His smile seemed to hide a lot of cruelty.

He whispered in a small voice, so Belinda couldn’t hear.

“Belinda is my human.”

“Hahah…”

“You see what I mean? You’re a smart, great member of the royal family.”

“Yes……! Yes!”

Prince Lart replied obediently, nodding his head wildly. He was desperate to get out of this threatening situation somehow.

Mazetto, sat on Belinda’s shoulder, was twittering excitedly.

“Bite him, Aymon! He killed a pigeon, too!”

Only then did Belinda come to her senses. She hurriedly stepped in, afraid that a cruel incident would soon unfold if she didn’t.

“Aymon.”

She grabbed his collar with trembling hands.

Aymon slowly turned to face her. He skimmed over Belinda’s scared, confused face.

She couldn’t speak. The sight of Aymon stepping on Lart made her think too much off the innkeeper that would beat her.

Unknowingly, her hands trembled and her mouth was closed so tight, it felt like her jaw would break.

“Are you scared? Should I stop?”

Aymon asked tenderly.

She shook her head, and softly grabbed Aymon’s shoulders, whispering in a thin voice.

“No, it’s not that…….”

“Mhmm.”

“Just in case……… pick a spot where the wound wouldn’t show…….”

She didn’t want him to be killed – he was her half-brother after all – but still, it would be okay to punish him a little bit for almost shooting her, right?

“…….”

Aymon almost laughed, but managed to hold it back.

I know the situation is scaring you, but are you really asking me to bite him somewhere it wouldn’t be seen? This girl is really clueless.

Aymon thought a little about what to do with the prince.

Belinda told me to not be gentle, so I think I shouldn’t be. It’s not like I’m some sort of domestic cat, but this still feels weird…

He shook his head and stepped away from the prince.

He knew that Belinda was still afraid, even if she pretended to be fine. Aymon was well aware of when it was time to end his act.

Lart crouched on the ground holding his chest, coughing.

Mazetto chirped lamentably.

“Hng. Why don’t you kill him?”

Belinda hushed him and smoothed down his wings with her fingertips, which were still trembling.

Aymon sighed, once again sensing her fear.

A little leopard appeared on the grass. Aymon slowly approached Lart, now in his animal form.

He whispered in his ear.

「Just so you know, if you try to retaliate against Breedee for what happened today, that will be the day your life ends.」

“……yes.”

Prince Lart nodded with his eyes bathed in tears.

「Don’t talk about today, either. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? For someone of the royal family.」

“Yes…….”

「Good. You’re smart.」

Aymon pricked his ears, satisfied

He didn’t want to be nagged by his elders because of the boy. Elder Aysha’s lectures had always been long and boring.

He strode towards Belinda, who was still frozen in shock.

When she felt him rubbing up against her shoes, she looked down.

「The archery competition is over already. Let’s go to your palace and have some snacks.」

Aymon said, wagging his tail.

“All right.”

「Pick me up, Breedee.」

He rubbed against Belinda’s legs, acting cute, perhaps to threaten the prince just a bit more.

Don’t be afraid of me. I’m your cute little beast.

Belinda crouched down to pick him up.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

She stretched out her arms and the expectant Aymon jumped right into them.

A warm, soft creature that I can hold in my arms. A cute and scary little friend who scolded Larte for me… Aymon.

Leaving behind Lart, who still hadn’t stopped panting, they turned around to return to the guest palace.

No one would care about the mixed-descent princess, even if she had not made any effort at all to hide. Her father wouldn’t have cared either.

“Why didn’t you kill him, Aymon?”

He swiped at the bird with his front paw as a response, and it flew away before he could catch it.

Belinda stared in the direction of the palace, still some distance away, and lifted up Aymon by his torso.

Dangling in the air, he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Aymon.”

「Hm?」

“You threatening the prince was really cool.”

He rubbed his nose with his front paw to hide his embarrassment.

「 Next time I step on someone I’ll be even cooler. I can do it.」

He promised better acts of violence against Prince Lart.

「I’ve done this a lot in animal form, but it’s my first time doing it as a human.….」

He murmured awkwardly.

Belinda smiled brightly and nodded.

“But aren’t you going to get into trouble if you act like this?”

「Trouble? What trouble?」

“He’s from the royal family. What if he wants to get back at you?”

Aymon could see the worry in her eyes. He slightly licked the back of her hand.

Surprised, Belinda accidentally dropped him. The texture of his tongue was unfamiliar.

He landed lightly on his feet and looked up at her.

「Breedee. I’m strong.」

“Yes. I know. But…….”

「Don’t worry. I don’t care what rank a person is. I’ll step on the Emperor if you want.」

“That emperor is my father, though!”

「True. Shall we exclude the Emperor, then?」

Belinda put off answering and smiled lightly.

「Anyway, what I’m saying is…… You just need to be next to me. Hugging and petting me.」

“…….”

Belinda choked up.

I keep getting emotional.

She tried to hold back her tears. She just made a joke about the emperor, but the way Aymon could comfort her without saying a word made her emotional again.

A friend who is always nervous but kind. Great and noble, but just a cute leopard for me. My dear friend, Amon.

Belinda slowly knelt down and made eye contact with him. She reached out her hand, and Aymon rubbed up against it.

「So, Breedee. Take care of me now.」

“……yes.”

She blinked over and over again. She felt like crying, but tried to hold back her tears – she didn’t want Aymon to see her crying.

She stroked his head gently.

Satisfied, Aymon closed his eyes.

After some time, he looked up at her. His eyes glittered beautifully in the sunlight.

Belinda smiled.

Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t know why she was crying.\n