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Chapter 17
Kali moved instead of answering. By now, climbing onto a person’s body was a piece of cake.
She quickly climbed up and lay across Leonhardt’s fist, stomach down. Instantly, the strength in his hand drained away. She was now sprawled across the man’s palm.
“What’s this? Acting cute?”
“No. I don’t know how to act cute.”
“Then what is this? Huh? Doing something you normally wouldn’t.”
He chuckled and gently stroked Kali’s torso with his index and middle fingers. Clearly, he now considered her completely a pet.
For now, Kali let him do as he pleased.
“Kali. That’s why I don’t make anything precious. I never know when my madness might kill someone.”
Leonhardt smiled gently at her, but it was a crafted, false smile.
Looking up at him, she lightly patted the back of her hand on his. Leonhardt blinked.
“Is this understanding and empathy too?”
“No. This is a little different.”
“Then, what is it?”
“This time, it’s pity and compassion.”
There was nothing she could do for him after witnessing his mother’s death. She could only listen to his story and shed an emotion with him.
Even in pity and compassion, one should not see him as endlessly pitiable.
“I wanted to kill anyone who pitied me.”
“You mustn’t kill me. We have to lift the curse together.”
“Then I’ll spare you until we break the curse.”
His voice was playful, not frightening at all. Kali giggled and lay on her back, showing her belly.
“Isn’t it about time we set off again?”
“We have to. The North Wall will be in danger if we’re late.”
“But nothing’s broken through yet, right?”
“Not yet.”
He stood.
“But nothing lasts forever; we must always be careful.”
He put Kali back in his pocket and swiftly mounted his saddle, holding the reins.
“I won’t let them break through.”
“Your Highness has arrived!”
“Duke!”
The knights were struggling against the sheer number of monsters. No matter how many they cut down, there seemed to be no end.
And the monsters seemed to keep multiplying. If they weren’t slain with magic, they didn’t die. But few knights were skilled in magic.
So they waited for Leonhardt to arrive.
“So this is the best my knights can do?”
He appeared with a sneer, channeling magic into his sword. The sword was engulfed in flames.
A sword of fire born solely to slay monsters. Each monster struck was consumed in the blaze.
“Your Highness!”
Kali, inside his pocket, felt like a doll tossed in a washing machine, shaken violently.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Hey, Kali. Don’t puke.”
“Ugh… I’m about to—ugh… seriously, I feel like I’m going to vomit.”
The sounds of monsters dying outside mingled with the knights’ shouts. Even without seeing, she could imagine the scene.
She struggled to hold back vomit, knowing it would be entirely her loss if she did.
‘I am NOT bathing in my own vomit!’
I will get my revenge. I’ll get revenge on Leonhardt.
‘How dare he fight while having me in a pocket? Is he out of his mind?’
Cheering for Leonhardt could be heard outside. He was indeed a duke—his arrival boosted morale.
Thunk—
As his sword cut through a monster’s neck, inky black blood spurted. Suddenly, there was silence inside the pocket.
With one hand slaying monsters, he lightly tapped the pocket with the other.
“Kali. Did you vomit?”
“No! Almost, but… ugh… I really feel like I might!”
“Alright, alright. Hold on a little longer. I’ll indulge your whining later.”
Leonhardt’s laughter grated on her nerves. She mentally swore revenge for being brought along this way.
He flashed his golden eyes.
“Count to ten exactly.”
“Ten seconds, and… what will you do? Ugh…”
“You’ll get one wish granted.”
Her vision spun. She was genuinely on the verge of vomiting.
“10… 9…”
“Wait, you’re already counting? You should start when I say!”
“I… it’s my feelings… ugh…”
“Almost done.”
He moved wildly like a fish in water. No one could stop him until all the monsters were gone.
“7… 5…”
“Kali, your numbers are wrong. Can’t even count?”
“S-stupid…! 3, 2, 1… done!”
Thunk—
The sound of his sword embedding in a monster coincided with the end of her counting.
Leonhardt pulled Kali out of the pocket. Her eyes were glazed.
Like a limp squirrel in his palm, her body hung loose. Leonhardt, shoulders shaking with laughter, gently stroked her belly.
“Alright, Kali.”
He looked over his knights, who stared in shock.
“It’s over. Say what you want.”
Kali reacted, wriggling like a worm.
“Can I… vomit now…?”
She felt like she was dying.
She wasn’t thinking straight. She couldn’t even focus on what she wanted to say.
Leonhardt smiled faintly.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll gladly grant it.”
For the first time in a while, Spencer Castle—known as the Iron Fortress—was lively. Perhaps because its lord had returned.
Outside, it was noisy, but Kali’s bedroom was quiet.
Smaller than the Duke’s bed, it was still quite large for her.
“Ah… I just want to rest without thinking of anything…”
Leonhardt was busy, so Kali was alone. She had vomited everything out and was drained, finally able to rest. Alone, she felt at ease.
Rolling over, she reversed herself on the bed.
Memories of Leonhardt’s childhood story surfaced.
‘So he had such a tragic past in the South.’
A curse almost killed his mother, but she sacrificed herself for her son.
What must he have felt, witnessing that?
‘But I can understand the witch’s feelings a little.’
The man she loved sincerely turned out to be using her. And when she lost her use, he even tried to kill her out of fear—Arthur Spencer.
“Why am I a squirrel…?”
Ugh. My head hurts. It’s so complicated.
Kali got up. Alone was quiet and comfortable, but boredom remained.
She approached the edge of the bed, looking down. It wasn’t very high—she could probably jump.
‘I shouldn’t be reckless.’
Counting silently: one, two…
“…Three!”
She jumped down.
“Ahh!”
She landed poorly, rolling across the floor. Bouncing like a ball, she stopped at the wall.
“Haah…”
Relaxing, she rested against the wall, head on the floor. She closed her eyes, staring at the ceiling.
The floor was cold but pleasant. She wanted to feel it longer.
‘Not everyone can become the cursed bride.’
Leonhardt had asked his mother when he was young. The cursed bride was said to be chosen by the stars.
‘Stars? In the sky?’
It felt like breaking the curse wasn’t enough.
She wanted to ask someone, but there was no one. Even a book would have helped.
“Ah… I don’t know. I need some clue.”
For now, focus on lifting the curse. Something will come afterward.
Seeing that she’s still a squirrel means there’s a long way to go.
‘But…’
Leonhardt said he doesn’t make anything precious. So if he tries to make something precious, his heart will resist. He must never make anything precious.
Someday, his madness might take over and he could kill that person.
“The road ahead is long. Very long.”
Since she was a pet anyway, why not try teasing her master?
Just saying “I’ll cherish you” wouldn’t be enough. She should pour her heart into loving, cherishing, and eventually truly loving him.
‘Alright. Why not? Whatever. Let’s lift this curse and walk our own path.’
Kali resolved to move. She couldn’t just stay here.
She had never been able to act cute or flirtatious. She even found it annoying when other women did.
Now, having to do it herself was torture, but… so what? She was a squirrel now.
‘Wow. Being a squirrel actually helps sometimes.’
She decided to go outside and find Leonhardt.
Just then, the door swung open. She planned to confirm who it was and ask Leonhardt to guide her.
“What are you doing here?”
Perfect timing. For the first time, his presence felt welcome.
“I fell off.”
“Kali. Still can’t control your body? How foolish.”
“….”
Snap—
But anger is still anger. There’s nothing she can do; that’s just his personality.
Kali ran quickly, clinging to his leg.
“What are you doing?”
She climbed up his leg, wrapping her arms around him. He crossed his arms, watching her cling like that.
She climbed safely and quickly this time. She reached his arm, then changed direction, climbing onto his shoulder.
Smack—
She lightly slapped his right cheek with her small hand.
“Don’t ignore me.”
Of course, it barely registered. A little stuffed-animal punch like that!
“I never did.”
Clearly pleased with herself for climbing up, Leonhardt’s eyes softened. He reached to stroke her head.
But Kali wasn’t going to let him.
Just a minute ago, she had resolved to flirt—but that thought had vanished.
