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Chapter 9
Earlier, Levi had hurried off with great enthusiasm, only to return bearing unfortunate news. The Grand Duke was still asleep and would have to be visited later.
Two hours had passed since then.
Surely he should be awake by now?
The sun was already high in the sky. Just what had that man been doing last night to still be sleeping at this hour?
“Umm… His Grace the Grand Duke isn’t very good at waking up in the morning.”
“It’s not morning anymore.”
“For him, it still is.”
Apparently, the mighty Grand Duke had no distinction between day and night. He must have lived a terribly irregular life.
With no other choice, Kali let out a sigh and flopped onto her back.
I need to get his cooperation soon.
She recalled what had happened on the night of their wedding.
He had teased her quite a bit, but the atmosphere hadn’t been bad.
It also didn’t seem like he hated her that much.
At this rate, we can definitely become friends.
He had called her nothing more than a wife in name, but she didn’t care.
She had no desire to become his real wife anyway. She didn’t want that.
All she wanted was to become his friend.
Surely even that man could at least do something as simple as being friends.
Though… he would have to genuinely think of her as one.
“Ah…! Greetings, Your Grace.”
Speak of the devil.
Leonhardt appeared.
As polite as ever, Levi bowed respectfully.
Startled by Leonhardt’s sudden appearance, Kali accidentally let go.
Ah! I’m falling…!
She pitched forward through the air.
“Waaah!”
“My Lady…!”
Bouncing off Levi’s head, Kali plummeted straight toward the floor.
I’m going to hit it!
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the pain.
But no matter how much time passed, she never felt herself hit the ground.
“Looks like you really wanted to kiss the floor.”
At the teasing voice, she immediately lifted her head.
Kali had landed safely in Leonhardt’s palm.
“Ah… um… thank you. I mean… thanks. I’m grateful.”
“So? I’m basically your lifesaver.”
“That’s why I said thank you…”
“Kali. You owe me one.”
“You calculating…”
How annoying.
Why did it have to be him who saved her?
She smacked his palm with all her might.
Naturally, it didn’t affect him in the slightest.
It was frustrating.
Still, she had almost smashed into the floor, so she truly was grateful.
He raised his hand until she was level with his face.
Bathed in sunlight, Kali stared into his beautifully gleaming golden eyes.
“Don’t forget. You owe me one.”
“Ugh! Fine, I get it. Is there something you want?”
“I’ll collect it later.”
“Do it now! Right now! Hurry!”
She plopped down on his palm and pounded it with both fists.
But he simply postponed it.
She had almost forgotten.
This arrogant, self-centered man was incredibly calculating.
Everything he did was deliberate.
“Ah, perfect timing. Your Grace, I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Not here.”
“What exactly is it that you want to say? Hmm? Instead of somewhere open like this… you want a private, enclosed space?”
His eyes curved into a beautiful smile.
For some reason, that only made him more irritating.
He was so handsome…
…that she wanted to punch him.
Narrowing her eyes, Kali shook her head.
“Anywhere is fine.”
“If it’s something pointless, it’ll just be a waste of my time.”
“It’s not pointless.”
She answered firmly.
“I guarantee it’ll be something that’ll completely wake you up.”
Kali spoke proudly, as though telling him to look forward to it.
He’ll definitely like it.
At last.
She finally had a chance to talk to him.
I wonder how he’ll react?
It was impossible to predict Leonhardt’s reaction.
Still, she was certain of one thing.
He wouldn’t refuse.
Sitting in his palm as he carried her along, Kali secretly glanced up at him.
“Your eyes are noisy, Kali.”
“W-What did I do?”
“You were staring at me, weren’t you? Your eyes are loud.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything at all. You’re awfully self-conscious.”
“I know. I’m my own biggest fan.”
He merely shrugged as though it were nothing.
That only irritated her more.
Ugh… He never lets me win!
Not only was he physically strong…
He was impossibly quick with words too.
“Um… Your Grace.”
“What.”
“I didn’t interrupt your walk, did I?”
“You did.”
His calm reply made Kali flinch.
Maybe she should have waited until after his walk before asking to talk.
She had done things in the wrong order.
She should’ve first asked why he was in the garden and only brought up the conversation afterward.
She hadn’t really had anything meaningful to ask…
But she still felt guilty for interrupting his stroll.
“You should’ve said something sooner…”
“I’ll listen to your mysterious little proposal first. Then I’ll continue my walk.”
“…I don’t even know where to begin correcting you.”
Kali turned to face him directly.
Earlier, she’d been facing the same direction as him.
Now they were face to face.
He lowered his gaze briefly.
Still grinning, he raised his left hand and gently poked her forehead.
“What’s there to correct? Getting awfully cheeky.”
“It’s not some mysterious proposal! Well… it’s a proposal, but not that kind!”
“You’re noisy.”
This time, he pinched her cheeks between his thumb and forefinger.
Her tiny lips puffed out like a chipmunk’s before bouncing back.
“What kind of proposal could someone like you possibly have?”
“Hmph. If you keep underestimating me, you’ll regret it.”
“So you’re arrogant too.”
Looking utterly incredulous, he grabbed her by the tail.
The first time they’d met, he’d merely lifted her gently between two fingers.
Now…
He completely wrapped his hand around it.
Leonhardt himself didn’t even realize that the way he handled Kali had subtly changed.
“What could possibly be inside that tiny little head of yours?”
“It has everything it’s supposed to! Now let go already.”
“What if I don’t?”
Faced with his shameless confidence, Kali simply glared at him.
Smiling, he began swinging her from side to side.
Kali frowned deeply.
Stretching out all four limbs, she counted silently.
You think I’m just going to take this? You bully.
Quit picking on me already.
He kept swinging her.
One…
Two…
“What if I don’t…”
Just as she was close enough to reach his face—
…Three.
“Then I don’t have a choice! Hahaha!”
She launched herself onto Leonhardt’s face with a loud smack and clung there stubbornly.
Laughing to herself, she enjoyed her tiny revenge.
Leonhardt stopped walking.
Grabbing her body, he tried to peel her off.
She clung on with all her strength.
“Kali. Aren’t you quite the little entertainer?”
“I’m not entertaining you! So stop bothering me. Hmph.”
Mess with a tiny squirrel…
…and you’ll regret it.
After a moment, she finally relaxed.
As if he’d been waiting for it, Leonhardt grabbed her again and continued walking.
She had expected him to place her back in his palm.
Instead, she dangled uncomfortably from his grip.
“Umm…”
The smile on his face somehow seemed frightening.
When he smiled like that, there was no telling what he was plotting.
Did I just tug on a sleeping lion’s whiskers?
Kali cautiously watched his expression.
“Interesting.”
The moment they stepped inside the mansion, he muttered in a strangely ominous voice.
Kali shivered.
“Very interesting.”
“…What is?”
“You’re the first one who’s ever pushed me this far.”
She had definitely heard that line somewhere before.
This is like those clichés… ‘You’re the first woman who’s ever slapped me.’
Apparently, she had accidentally awakened something deep inside Leonhardt.
Kali quietly turned her head forward.
“Could you let me go now?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then… where are we going?”
“To hear your mysterious proposal.”
“It’s not mysterious at all.”
Her round ears twitched.
Looking down at them, Leonhardt raised his left hand.
He gently rubbed one of her ears between his thumb and forefinger.
“Hey, don’t touch me.”
“You’re like a pet.”
“Have you ever even owned a pet?”
“No.”
“You haven’t? Then how can you say that?”
Their meaningless conversation continued even as they climbed the stairs.
From the second floor…
…to the third.
“Maybe I’ll try raising one.”
“Want me to recommend one?”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked back at him.
Back in Korea, Kali had once raised a dog.
Well…
It had actually belonged to the grandmother who raised her.
The old dog had already been elderly when Kali first met it.
Not long afterward, it crossed the rainbow bridge.
Even though they had only spent two years together, she had cried so much that day.
“A recommendation? No. I’ve already decided.”
“Huh…? What kind of animal?”
As Leonhardt headed toward his office on the third floor, the corners of his lips curled upward.
“It’s right in front of me.”
“Where?”
She looked around.
The hallway was empty.
Only servants going about their work could be seen.
“There’s nothing here.”
She turned back to look up at Leonhardt.
He simply continued smiling without saying a word.
Something felt strange.
Her brows furrowed…
Then, as realization slowly dawned, her expression went blank.
Click.
Leonhardt opened the office door.
“…Ugh… D-Don’t make creepy jokes like that.”
“Why? You don’t like it? I’ll treasure you. I’ll spoil you.”
Why was he smiling so suggestively while saying that?
Kali shuddered.
She definitely didn’t like the sound of that.
No way! Absolutely not!
The office door closed behind them.
Leonhardt placed Kali down on the sofa in the center of the room.
Then he sat beside her.
“Why don’t you sit over there? The sofa’s big enough.”
“I’ll sit wherever I want.”
With his left hand, he slowly stroked her from head to tail before smiling lazily.
“So.
What’s this proposal of yours?”
“…Ah. Right.”
She had completely forgotten her original purpose because of all the nonsense.
Kali slipped free from his hand.
Surprisingly, he let her go without resistance.
She hopped across to the table opposite the sofa and faced Leonhardt.
“Your Grace.”
She looked straight at him.
“How about cooperating with me?”
“No…”
She corrected herself.
“Let’s work together.”
