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Chapter 75
While Dain finished cleaning up the remaining enemies, the white lion underwent a medical examination.
Thanks to Maybel holding the white lion tightly, no more injuries had occurred.
After a while, the doctor returned with the test results.
Surprisingly, no pathogens were detected in the white lion.
“It seems it’s been caged for quite some time. Look here—it’s in excellent health.”
“I see. Then, what about the wound on its hind leg? Maybel said there had been a chain tied there.”
“Yes, it’s slightly thinner than the other leg, but otherwise perfectly fine.”
The hind leg that Maybel had insisted be examined closely was the one with the most blood and pus.
The doctor had checked it carefully several times, yet the results were always the same.
Not a single scratch remained on the white lion’s body.
“How is that even possible…?”
It had clearly been injured, yet in the blink of an eye, all traces were gone.
As Zigmunt rubbed his chin in thought, something occurred to him.
‘Come to think of it, Maybel mentioned seeing a brilliant light.’
Could it be…?
Zigmunt turned his gaze toward the carriage.
Through the open door, he saw Maybel and the white lion sleeping, holding each other closely.
Maybel’s hair swayed gently in the cool breeze, and the white lion flicked its tail as if in a good mood.
‘But the white lion’s ability isn’t supposed to be healing.’
The Empress’ white lion had the power of the “King of Beasts”—the ability to control animals within a certain area.
‘So if this white lion really is a beastman, it should have abilities similar to Her Majesty’s.’
But… has there ever been a beastman with healing powers?
At least, Zigmunt had never heard of one.
‘This matter will require further investigation.’
Just as Zigmunt was about to head toward the carriage, Dain widened his eyes and asked,
“Oh, Your Highness, are you okay?”
“About what?”
Zigmunt waved dismissively, joking about rabies.
Even though Dain knew he hadn’t been bitten and the white lion carried no disease, he teased Zigmunt anyway.
“My face turned red because I didn’t know it could be transmitted through saliva!”
“Ugh, don’t spray your spit around. Rabies is contagious.”
Zigmunt chuckled and continued teasing Dain vigorously.
Flustered, Dain tried to change the topic to something more important.
“Anyway, are you really okay?”
“About what?”
“What do you mean, ‘about what’?”
Dain pointed to the white lion, which was sleeping soundly next to Maybel.
“I mean your cat allergy.”
“…….”
“…….”
“……Ah.”
Right, Zigmunt had a severe cat allergy.
Every time he went to the Imperial Palace, he had to take medicine without fail.
He had been so preoccupied earlier that he had forgotten.
“Ahh-CHOO! Ahh-CH, Hhh-CH, Ehh-CH-HA!”
Once he realized it, sneezes came in a chaotic rush.
“ACHOO! Dain, medicine, hurry! Ahhh-CHOO!”
He tried covering his face with his sleeve, but that was a mistake.
‘Oh no…!’
He had just hugged Maybel, who had been holding the white lion!
As expected, his eyes turned red and swollen, and hives appeared on his skin.
Zigmunt quickly took off his coat and threw it away, but it was already too late.
“Dain, quick, ahhh… CHHOO!”
The hives itched all over his body.
Instead of fetching medicine, Dain started stripping Zigmunt’s clothes.
“W-what are you doing? Ahhh-CHH, KAAH, CHH!”
“Medicine is one thing, but first you need to get the white lion fur off his clothes! Take it off, quickly!”
And so, Zigmunt suddenly found himself half-naked in the middle of the forest.
At that moment, Maybel woke up amidst the commotion.
“Master…?”
Of all the times!
Zigmunt hastily crossed his arms in an X to cover himself, but he couldn’t hide the display of flesh.
“Uh…….”
Maybel stared blankly at Zigmunt and Dain.
Why was the head of the household half-naked outdoors, and why did it seem like his aide had stripped him?
“Ah…….”
Maybel rubbed her eyes again and again, then finally said,
“Hehe… it was just a weird dream…”
Seeing Maybel, who was either still asleep or fainted, Zigmunt thought:
Ah, I really hate cats.
That evening.
After Maybel had bathed and come out, her eyes went wide.
“Cat! Your fur…?!”
But her words were cut off.
“Meooow!”
The white lion roared and sank deeper under the bed.
It was understandable—its long gray fur, now messy but once thick, had been shaved completely!
“Ella, what happened to the cat’s body?!”
Surprised, Maybel turned to Ella.
Ella gave an awkward smile and answered,
“Well~ Sheila tried her best to clean it, but the fur was so tangled~”
No matter how much she washed, dirt kept coming out.
Moreover, the tangles were so stubborn that they couldn’t be undone.
Finally, Sheila had no choice but to shave it completely.
“But Kellic told me that an animal’s fur is its pride~”
So Ella added that the white lion seemed dejected because of its shaved fur.
Maybel looked at the lion’s bare rear sympathetically and carefully approached it.
“It’s okay, cat. Even without fur, you’re still cute!”
“Ack, awww-ugh.”
“That’s right. You’re a handsome guy, after all. You’re good-looking. So don’t worry and come out.”
Maybel crouched and stroked the white lion’s back under the bed.
Gradually, the lion peeked its face out.
Though its body was shaved, a little fur remained on its face, giving it a chibi-like look.
Maybel held back her laughter and gently patted its head.
“See? You’re still great!”
“Urrrung~?”
“Yes, really!”
When Maybel smiled and nodded brightly, the lion’s tail swished from side to side.
It even climbed onto Maybel’s thigh, showing that it was starting to feel better.
Ella watched them, amazed.
‘It really seems like they can communicate~ So cute~’
Seeing a cute girl and a cute young animal interacting so naturally, Ella’s face softened into a warm smile.
“Miss, by the way, what’s this white lion’s name~?”
“My name? Uh……”
She had said it wasn’t even a cat.
In the darkness, it had looked small and mewing, like a regular cat.
When Maybel looked closely, the lion twitched its ears as if asking why she was calling it that.
Its ears were round, not pointed like a cat’s.
So calling it “cat” now would be improper.
“What’s your name?”
“Uuuuurgh.”
“Hmm? You don’t have a name? What should I do?”
Maybel scratched the lion’s back and groaned thoughtfully.
Despite her serious expression, her hands moved busily, already showing signs of a caretaker.
Ella, giggling at how cute Maybel looked, quietly suggested,
“Then~ why don’t you give it a name, Miss~?”
“Me? Really?”
Maybel’s eyes went wide, her face slightly flushed.
“Can I name you?”
“Ack!”
“All right! Then… hmm… hmm…”
After a moment of thought, a perfect name came to Maybel’s mind.
“From today, your name is Winter!”
Winter.
A perfect fit for the white-furred, ice-blue-eyed lion.
“Neaaow~ Kyaa!”
Winter seemed to like the name too, wrinkling its nose and opening its mouth in a smiling expression.
It was so cute that Maybel hugged Winter tightly.
[Good.]
[I like this.]
[The name.]
[Winter.]
Letters appeared above Winter’s head.
“…Huh?”
Startled, Maybel blinked rapidly.
But the letters remained above Winter’s head.
“Eh, Ella! What… what is this?!”
Maybel pointed at Winter’s crown.
“Uh~? Is something stuck?”
Yet for some reason, Ella couldn’t see the letters above Winter’s head.
“Uh, uh, uh?!”
Maybel quickly looked back and forth between Ella and Winter.
Then, letters appeared again above Winter’s head.
[This. Only. Sees.]
[You.]
Maybel’s eyes widened in shock.
Seeing this, Winter purred joyfully.
[Maybel.]
[Only.]
[Maybel!]
