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Chapter 35
“Now I’m curious about you.
What do you look like in your human form? I want to meet you soon.”
That line kept echoing in her ears for days.
He used to ask if she couldn’t just stay as a squirrel forever—and now he was saying he wanted to know her real form, to see her as a human.
Kali clutched her head and rolled from side to side.
“Uuugh… ugh…”
Why? Why did his words bother her so much?
If a man I thought had no interest in me suddenly says he wants to know me…
She abruptly sat up.
A teasing, mischievous man whose sincerity was always a mystery—yet he’d said something like that.
No. Maybe he wasn’t serious this time either.
She lowered her hands.
He probably just wants to see me because, like my mother, I have red hair.
As soon as that thought came, her racing heart settled. Rita and her mother had known each other, and they were of the same race.
Maybe he only wanted to see a trace of her mother.
With that, Kali let out a sigh. There was no reason to think so deeply about it.
“Hey, Kali.”
A finger poked her cheek, snapping her back to reality. She looked up into a pair of golden eyes resting on a chin propped by a hand.
Oh no—she’d gotten so lost in thought she’d forgotten she was sitting in Leonhart’s office.
“What are you doing all alone? Interesting. Keep it up—you look like you’re performing.”
“…It’s not a performance, okay? It’s nothing.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Why do you want to know? I’m not telling.”
“Tell me.”
“Why?”
This time his right index finger poked her stomach—poke, poke. She squirmed and slapped his hand, but he didn’t stop.
Instead, he lightly scratched her belly with his fingernail.
“I told you,” Leonhart said with a lazy smile. Sunlight streamed behind him, making his gaze look almost seductive.
“I’m curious about you.”
His eyes were charming, even a little wicked. Kali flinched.
“That includes what’s on your mind.”
“What… are you bored or something?”
“No. As you can see, I’m buried in work.”
He rested a hand on the pile of papers beside him. Kali eyed the stack and sat up.
“Then do your work.”
“Kali, are you ignoring me?”
“I’m not.”
“Then tell me—what are you thinking right now?”
His gentle hand brushed her hair, gliding from her forehead down to her neck.
She was used to that touch now.
If he suddenly stopped, how would she feel?
No. What am I thinking? Why would I miss it?
Kali shook her head quickly.
“Get back to work. Your aide might glare at me later.”
“Ains? If he ever did, I’d have his head.”
He said it with a pleasant smile, but it sounded disturbingly real.
Before she knew it, Leonhart was kneading her with both hands. She gave up telling him to stop—he never listened anyway.
Kali lay her cheek on the desk, resigned. Fine, do what you want.
“Kali, still not going to tell me what you’re thinking?”
Her brow twitched. He kept asking.
I’m trying not to think nonsense here…
Then an idea struck her: if she said something unexpected, maybe he’d be startled and stop asking.
To make him drop it, she spoke.
“I’m thinking about the man in front of me.”
That should fluster him, right?
It was a line he’d normally use—she’d just turned it back on the fox-like Leonhart.
Maybe she even tilted her head, Well?—but instead of surprise, his eyes curved in a graceful smile.
“Really? That makes me happy.”
Oh. That was genuine. A rare sincerity.
Kali was the one who felt thrown. That wasn’t the reaction she wanted. She swallowed hard.
“What kind of thoughts? Tell me more.”
“Ah, uh… well…”
“Hmm? Go on. I want to hear.”
He casually slid the paperwork aside. Her eyes followed the documents; his gaze followed hers just as intently.
She couldn’t take it back now. Eyes darting, she cautiously looked up.
“J-just….”
With nothing else to say, the thought she’d had earlier slipped out.
“You only want to see me as a person because I look like your mother, right?”
The moment the words left her mouth she froze and covered her lips.
He paused, clearly not expecting that.
The smile vanished from his face. Kali realized she’d made a mistake and quickly shook her head.
“Ah—sorry. Forget I said that.”
“…”
“Then… I’ll go.”
She knew she’d crossed a line. She needed to reflect—poking at someone’s wound was wrong.
Feeling guilty, she thought of slipping away. Finally, a chance to escape Leonhart’s relentless questioning.
Honestly, I can be awful. Maybe I’m not that nice a person after all.
Maybe she was selfish, just like Leonhart.
Kali edged toward the desk’s rim, preparing to jump down. It was higher than a bed, but doable.
Alright. One, two…
…Three.
She leapt boldly.
But she didn’t get far—a tail had been caught. Struggling, she slowly turned her head to meet a pair of amused eyes.
“Kali.”
His voice calling her name was oddly cool.
“You say something like that and then try to run?”
“Uh… no, I…”
“My squirrel has a bad habit of running away. That’s a problem.”
He scooped her up and tucked her into the pocket of his shirt. Pressed against his chest, she clung to the pocket’s edge and peeked out.
“Um… Leon. I’m sorry. I spoke thoughtlessly…”
“It’s fine, really. You can talk about my mother.”
“But…”
“I’d rather not think about that day, but I did like her.”
“…”
“Still, I didn’t expect you to interpret my words that way.”
Leonhart picked up a document and skimmed it quickly, signing with a swift stroke before grabbing the next.
Kali tried to read over his hand, but couldn’t make sense of any of it.
He didn’t bother to hide it from her.
“How could I not think that? Hmph. You said your mother had red hair too…”
“I can’t say the thought never crossed my mind.”
He let out a small laugh, his hand still moving.
“But really, Kali—I’m curious about you.”
“Why…?”
“Because I don’t know anything about you. I want to.”
“…”
“For someone who’s always kept everyone else at a distance… that’s saying something.”
So consider it an honor, he added with a teasing lilt.
He slipped a hand into the pocket, fingertips brushing her. Kali felt her heart pounding wildly again.
Why? Why was he so interested in her—Leonhart Spencer, who never cared about anyone?
“That’s….”
She squeezed her eyes shut, grateful to be hidden in his pocket.
“Is it just simple curiosity? Or…”
“Or?”
“Do you really just… want to know me as a person?”
“The latter.”
“Then… one more question. The reason you want to know me… is it because you like me?”
“Hmm.”
Silence settled, broken only by the soft scratch of his pen.
Kali regretted asking. She couldn’t open her eyes, suddenly shy, curling into a small ball.
She was ready to say forget it.
“Maybe…”
Leonhart’s low voice came at last.
“…maybe it is.”
Wait—that wasn’t what she expected.
Caught off guard by his answer, Kali was the one left speechless.
“Why? Does it sound like a lie?”
His quiet whisper made her body stiffen.
“What can I do, Kali? This time, too…”
He drew her out of the pocket, smiling gently, eyes softened.
“I mean it.”
“Good day, Lady Kali.”
Kendrick had come to the grand duke’s residence again, his face as bright as the first time they met.
Leonhart’s brow furrowed. Judging from his expression, Kendrick had shown up unannounced again.
Fearless as ever, Kendrick laughed heartily and threw an arm over Leonhart’s shoulder.
“No need for such a warm welcome. Ha ha!”
“Kendrick.”
“I came to see a friend—why the look? Ha! And of course, to greet Lady Kali as well…”
“Get out.”
“Ha ha! Thanks for the warm reception. Lady Kali, how have you been?”
“Ah, yes… I’ve been well. And you, Kendrick?”
Perched atop Leonhart’s head, Kali reached out her tiny hand.
Kendrick gladly clasped it and gave a gentle shake.
Kali lightly bobbed her hand up and down.
“Leon, don’t be so harsh. He’s your friend.”
Kendrick released her hand and patted Leonhart’s head this time.
Leonhart opened his mouth as if to retort, then simply sighed.
“Why are you here?”
“Did I interrupt your sweet time together? My apologies!”
“N-no, it’s nothing like that…”
“As expected, Lady Kali, you’re ever so kind. Ha ha!”
“Oh—there’s a gondola at the grand duke’s estate. Would you like to ride it while you’re visiting?”
“Kali, why are you so happy to see Kendrick?”
