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Chapter 27
Kali started to answer but stopped.
Maybe if she pretended to be asleep, he’d just go away? She had no desire to deal with a loud voice this early in the morning.
“Kali, are you awake?”
Flinch—
So Kendrick’s target wasn’t Leonhardt but Kali.
Startled, her mouth moved on its own.
“Ah, not yet.”
A muffled laugh came from outside.
“I can hear everything already.”
“….”
Great. Should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
Grumbling inwardly, Kali glanced toward Leonhardt. He still had his eyes closed and hadn’t stirred.
Maybe he really was asleep. Just in case, she waved a hand in front of his face.
Is he truly still out?
Kendrick’s voice floated in again from outside.
“How about a little morning walk? I’m bored.”
Why should I join your morning stroll…
“I can tell you stories about Leonhardt, too.”
That last offer was tempting. She had no idea what he might say, but she was curious.
Living together had made her wonder what kind of person Leonhardt really was.
The Leonhardt in the novel and the real one were different.
In the book, he was a man driven mad and to death after being betrayed in love. That was all Kali knew of him.
But the man she’d met felt different—enough to spark her curiosity.
“Then…”
Kali moved to the edge of the bed to open the door.
“Just a moment…”
Right, she’d better head out.
She jumped down. Getting off the bed was child’s play now, and her landing was perfect.
All that remained was opening the door.
She reached up for the high doorknob and leapt. Her body thumped softly against the door.
Squirming upward, she climbed like a tiny rock climber—she was getting good at this.
From outside, Kendrick kept calling.
“Shh! Keep quiet!”
Leonhardt might wake up at this rate. She didn’t want to disturb someone sleeping so soundly.
A few moments later, dangling from the knob, Kali panted for breath.
After steadying herself, she stood atop it, feeling as if she’d conquered a mountain peak.
She pressed down with all her might. Click. The door creaked open.
To avoid falling, she clung tightly to the knob, sprawled against it.
“Kali?”
“I’m here.”
“Where?”
Seeing no one at the open doorway, Kendrick poked his head in, looking around.
Then he spotted the squirrel dangling inside.
“Haha. You could have just asked me to open it.”
“Shh! Let’s talk outside. What if Leon wakes up?”
“Ah, good point. If Leonhardt wakes, we’re done for.”
It was only supposed to be a morning stroll, yet it felt like some clandestine meeting.
Is it really okay to follow him?
Still clinging to the knob, Kali finally stepped into Kendrick’s hand. He began to move—
“Kendrick. Where do you think you’re taking the Grand Duchess?”
The voice from behind nearly stopped her heart. Kali clutched her chest and turned.
Kendrick, too, seemed frozen. Like a rusty robot, he slowly creaked his head around.
“Uh… Leonhardt…? You’re awake, I see. Ha…ha!”
“…Hand her over.”
“Ha, hahaha!”
“Now.”
“R-right.”
Kendrick tried to resist, but those piercing eyes defeated him.
That glint was like a blade.
He obediently placed Kali onto Leonhardt’s palm.
Squashed between them like an object, Kali frowned.
I’m a person, you know. Treat me like one.
How depressing. If only she could hurry and return to human form.
What a cursed spell.
As she silently fumed, she suddenly felt a heavy gaze and slowly looked up.
Those cool, deep eyes made her hold her breath.
“Kali. You must have a lot of questions about me.”
“….”
“Ask. I’ll tell you anything.”
“Um… Leonhardt, I—”
“Oh, and as for the uninvited guest over there, I’d prefer if he left. Now.”
Leonhardt was never a morning person. He was always irritable at this hour.
He’d only improved a little since sharing a bed with Kali.
“Haha. Then I’ll see you at luncheon.”
“You plan to linger till then? Just leave.”
“Leonhardt, you’re… rather harsh.”
“You tried to steal the Grand Duchess away. Be thankful I don’t take your head off.”
Bang.
Leonhardt shut the door firmly, clearly finished talking.
Kendrick said something outside, but Leonhardt didn’t budge.
Returning to the bed, he sat down and set Kali on his palm, leveling his gaze with hers.
“Kali.”
He was smiling, but his eyes were not. That alone made her tense, her breathing shallow.
“Breathe.”
He seemed angry, though she didn’t know why. She merely stayed silent, eyes darting.
“How dare you think of being alone with another man?”
His sharpened voice carried an emotion she couldn’t quite name. Kali blinked.
“From now on, never be alone with a man.”
“….”
“Understand?”
“Um, Leon…”
Listening quietly, Kali’s mind struggled to keep up.
Was Leonhardt… jealous?
Am I imagining this?
No—those feelings were unmistakably jealousy.
“Do you… see me as a woman?”
“What?”
He answered instantly, as if the question made no sense.
“Kali, you are a woman. What else would you be—a man?”
“….”
“Why that shocked face?”
His long fingers flicked her forehead, making her plop down in a heap.
Dazed, she stared into his golden eyes.
“You always treat me like a squirrel… I wasn’t sure you even knew my real gender.”
“You wound me.”
Looking exasperated, Leonhardt ran a hand through his hair.
For a brief second, Kali’s heart skipped.
Even in the dark room behind heavy curtains, his figure stood out clearly.
“Still, Kali is my squirrel.”
But his next words stopped her heart again.
Of course.
Why did that make her feel disappointed?
Had she hoped he’d grown attached?
Did she want him to see her as a woman despite her squirrel form?
Ridiculous. What nonsense.
Kali shook her head sharply. Useless thoughts should be forgotten quickly.
It’s just because I’m getting used to him, that’s all.
He gently stroked her head.
That touch had become so familiar—strangely tender.
“Kali. Why so down?”
“It’s nothing.”
“That’s not like you. You shine brightest when you’re cheerful.”
The way he said it so casually—he really was a sly fox.
Feeling oddly self-conscious, Kali lifted her head abruptly.
“You’re usually loud and brash. That’s the real you.”
There it was. He wouldn’t only say sweet things.
Feeling unsettled, she turned her back and lay down.
“I’m going back to sleep.”
“Kendrick must have woken you. Sleep more.”
“I’m skipping breakfast today.”
“That’s unusual—for such a little glutton.”
Hmph! Kali turned her head away and curled up tightly.
Leonhardt only chuckled quietly.
Ugh. I give up. I’m not letting this bother me anymore.
Kali eventually drifted back to deep sleep.
Leonhardt left her and prepared for breakfast, heading to the dining room.
Without her perched on his shoulder or resting in his hand, he felt oddly empty.
He brushed his shoulder absently before entering the first-floor dining room.
Kendrick was already seated inside.
“Where’s Kali?”
“….”
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. She gave me permission to use her name.”
“If you pull a stunt like that again, not even you will get away with it.”
The icy warning made Kendrick shiver.
He knew Leonhardt meant every word. He reflexively touched his own neck.
“H-ha! Haha… Fine. Next time I’ll be sure to send word first.”
“Get permission before you come.”
“Sure, sure. You’re awfully prickly for someone we’re both close to.”
“….”
“What’s this—are you jealous? Like, ‘Only I can have her attention’?”
Leonhardt couldn’t answer. Instead, his brow furrowed.
Seeing that, Kendrick lowered the arm propping his chin and leaned forward, intrigued.
Now this was interesting.
“Judging by your silence, I’m right!”
Lost in thought, Leonhardt finally spoke.
“…No.”
He returned to his usual pleasant expression, hiding his feelings completely.
“Kendrick. Think about it. You raise Lin and Ron, right?”
“Uh… yeah?”
Lin and Ron were Kendrick’s black and white puppies.
“When you look at those dogs, what comes to mind?”
“They’re cute. Adorable. So precious I could die.”
“And what if Lin or Ron wagged their tails at someone else the way they do for you?”
“Oh… yikes. That’d be awful. Unthinkable.”
“Exactly. I feel the same.”
Leaning comfortably against his chair, Leonhardt’s eyes curved in a faint smile as he speared some food with his fork.
“And if someone took your dogs out without asking?”
“I’d be furious, of course! How dare they without my permission…!”
“And if that person took them for a walk?”
“Well… hmm…”
Kendrick began to sense something off.
“I mean, I’d appreciate the help sometimes, but…”
“Wouldn’t you also feel like you never want to be apart from them, even for a moment?”
“Well…”
“Because naturally, their place is by your side.”
Kendrick now clearly felt this conversation veering into strange territory.
He wanted to say he’d never felt that possessive.
“Wouldn’t you want only yourself to see their cute, precious faces? Hmm?”
“That…”
“And you wouldn’t want anyone calling their names carelessly, right?”
“….”
“So, Kendrick, don’t call Kali’s name again.”
Kendrick’s mouth filled with words, but none came out.
His lips merely moved.
“R-right.”
It was all he could manage.
Leonhardt, that’s not affection for a pet…
But he couldn’t say what he wanted.
Leonhardt’s face was far too confident.
