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Chapter 18
She bit his finger just as it was.
“Do more. You’re good at being cute.”
His gaze deepened. The languid look in his eyes emphasized his decadent aura even more.
Crunch, crunch-
Driven by defiance, she bit harder. The more she bit, the more the corner of his lips curled upward.
“No! I won’t!”
She spat out her fingers, and Leonhardt brushed her body with the back of his hand.
“You must have been lonely being alone, huh?”
“Not at all. I really like being alone.”
“I was lonely, though.”
“So what?”
I didn’t ask. I wasn’t curious!
She rested on his shoulder in a relaxed posture. Now, this position was permanent.
As if waiting for this, Leonhardt left the bedroom.
“Can you eat dinner?”
“I threw up earlier, so I’m fine. Ah! By the way… You said you’d grant me one wish, right? Please grant it.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Kali, I already granted one earlier.”
“When?”
“When it was over, I told you to tell me what you wanted.”
“When did I…?”
As she denied it, a memory flashed through her mind.
“It’s over now. Tell me what you want.”
“Can I… throw up now…?”
Kali jerked her head up and shifted her body to a sitting position. At the same time, her round ears wiggled.
She blinked. No way. Did she really just waste the perfect opportunity on throwing up?
“No… I don’t remember. I don’t remember!”
“You just made a face like you remembered.”
“Squirrels’ expressions always look like this.”
“Kali. Don’t lie. I hate lies more than anything in this world.”
“Oh no…”
Kali fell into despair, her shoulders, tail, and ears drooping. Meanwhile, Leonhardt’s eyes curved with joy.
Tonight, dinner would be held at the banquet hall. It seemed that Leonhardt had prepared it extravagantly to celebrate being back at the castle after a long time.
“If you act cute, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“I won’t act cute. Why would I?”
“Because I want to see it?”
“Tch. Then I won’t do it anymore.”
“Are you rebelling?”
“Yes, yes.”
She grabbed a strand of his sleek, black hair, thinking to be mischievous. She tugged it. As expected, he didn’t even raise an eyebrow.
“What was it that you wanted?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. I hadn’t decided yet. If I thought of something, I’d save it for later and use it.”
“Ah. If you’d told me now, I would’ve granted it.”
“I have it. I’ll tell you!”
“Too late now.”
Leonhardt was fully toying with her. He cast the bait of his heart, then let it go.
He was a master at teasing. And with that mischievous expression, she felt like she was about to combust.
“But I’ll still grant it. I might change my mind after hearing it.”
“When I become human, let me slap you once on the cheek.”
“Ohho…”
As expected, even her desires were unique. How audacious!
Yet, strangely, he didn’t mind. If anyone else had said that, he would’ve punished them immediately.
Kali was different. Perhaps because she looked like a squirrel, she truly felt like a pet speaking.
“Denied.”
“Why!”
“Because it would hurt.”
“It wouldn’t hurt. My hand is a woman’s.”
“Nonsense. Women’s hands are sharper. So, denied.”
“That’s too cruel. Psychological torture.”
Leonhardt reached out and stroked Kali’s back and tail. It had become a habit.
“If you behave prettily, I’ll think about it.”
“That’s just acting cute from earlier. What’s the difference? Tch.”
At her continued grumbling, Leonhardt finally laughed out loud.
“My little brave lion.”
His mother always called Leonhardt her “brave little lion.” Her voice was so tender it could make one’s chest ache.
That day, her voice was just as usual. Leonhardt truly loved his mother. Every day, he climbed countless stairs for her.
The moment the door opened, he ran into her arms, which were stretched out for him.
“Mother. The sunflowers are so beautiful today.”
Young Leonhardt pulled out a sunflower he had hidden behind his back.
He always watched his mother gaze at the vast garden. Every day, he brought her a new flower.
Every time, she smiled like a young girl. Even with a mask, he could tell. She was truly happy.
“My dear. I am always grateful.”
Then, a cursed voice echoed in Leonhardt’s mind.
– Kill. Kill them.
He covered his ears against the horrifying voice.
– Kill. Kill. Kill!
No. No. I won’t. I will never follow your will. Never!
Flap—
Then, an ominous sound. He raised his head and saw his mother standing precariously by the window.
“My dear… this mother…”
Her tear-stained face never lost its smile until the end.
“I love you.”
And in an instant, she was gone.
He rushed to the place, and there…
“Haa… haa…”
Leonhardt jolted awake, sweat running over his body. He panted heavily, closing his eyes tightly.
He slammed the bed with a clenched fist.
“Damn it…”
The nightmare never ended and periodically tormented him.
His heart raced, and his mind replayed his mother’s last moments.
She had sacrificed herself so that her son wouldn’t become a murderer.
His heart pounded violently. At the same time, his dormant blood stirred.
– Kill.
The cursed voice echoed again.
Who should I kill? There’s no one I want to kill. Go away.
– You must kill.
Only one person flashed in his mind. The cursed blood sought only one target.
– Go. Kill them.
A small, white fluff. Not even a human, just a fragile little animal.
Leonhardt got up from the bed. Kali was sleeping in the next room. He moved toward her like someone possessed.
He opened the bedroom door where Kali slept. Creak—a chilling sound. On the big bed, there was a small figure.
Kali. My little squirrel.
Leonhardt reached out to the white squirrel.
Warmth spread through his palm. His previously dilated pupils returned to normal. He could feel Kali’s tiny heart beating.
Ah. You’re alive. You’re still alive.
He let Kali go and instead climbed onto the bed to lie beside her.
He watched her sleep quietly, his arm around her, and extended a finger. When he poked her, she twitched slightly but didn’t wake.
The cursed voice was gone.
“Kali.”
Were you really the one to calm my madness?
He wasn’t entirely sure yet. But the small warmth she gave was enough to soothe him.
If that was true…
“…Your golden eyes shone.”
If that’s true…
“…You can never leave my side.”
I won’t let you go.
Outside, birds chirped.
Ah, it must be morning. He thought naturally.
The harsh morning sun that always blazed into his eyes didn’t shine. He opened his eyes slowly, sensing something strange.
Where am I…
He remembered the curtains were still lemon-colored, but now the curtains he saw were gray blackout curtains.
Thanks to that, the sunlight was fully blocked. It had been a long time since his eyes didn’t hurt in the morning.
“Phew…”
For some reason, he felt refreshed. He stretched and twisted his body.
Ah. This is the castle, not the mansion.
It was slightly chilly.
He tried to cover himself with the handkerchief he had tossed aside, thinking it was his blanket, but something felt off.
It wasn’t because he slept in the castle. He sensed something behind his back.
Should I turn around? This is strange.
Clutching the handkerchief tightly, he slowly turned.
Thunk-
He dropped it at the sight of a man in front of him.
“…Huh?”
He must not have fully woken up.
Kali rubbed her eyes and blinked. Then she looked up again.
The man was still right there.
Not believing it, Kali rubbed her eyes again and then looked up once more.
“……”
Still in disbelief, she inched closer to Leonhardt’s face.
This isn’t a dream, right?
It’s real, isn’t it?
She reached out and gently placed her palm on his forehead. The sensation was vivid.
It was real. The man in front of her was real.
“Oh my…”
Surprised, Kali sat down on her hips. Then, curiosity got the better of her, and she moved closer to him.
Leonhardt, keeping his mouth closed, was incredibly handsome. No celebrity or actor she’d ever thought handsome compared to him.
This man was the most beautiful. At times, beautiful, at others, alluringly sexy.
If I had been human from the start, I might have fallen for this man.
Just looking at his face was entertaining. Time flew by in an instant.
Then, his red lips opened.
“Kali. You’re noisy.”
“I didn’t say anything?”
“Your eyes are noisy.”
He reached out with his eyes closed, exactly where Kali was. Then he pulled her into his arms.
Before she knew it, Kali was trapped in Leonhardt’s hands. Fortunately, he didn’t grip tightly.
“Wh-what are you doing here? Don’t we have separate rooms?”
“It’s my choice.”
He lifted her onto his chest, still lying under the blanket.
Startled, Kali turned and laid face down on the blanket.
To be precise, it was the blanket covering Leonhardt’s upper body.
He wasn’t wearing anything.
“Wh-why are you… not wearing anything?!”
