CH 28

“Isn’t everyone proud? The moment you think you’ve lost, of course your pride will be hurt.”

Benjamin answered politely.

Well, was the education progress too fast? But she thought it might be a little early to sit in a chair because Leone doesn’t like people very much so it might hurt his pride to follow people’s way.

“Mr. Benjamin is quick-witted. I thought I knew that child’s heart well, but since you say it’s his pride, it feels a little different.”

“Trixie. I think you know Leone best.”

“Thank you, but… I think Mr. Benjamin knows better.”

At her words, Benjamin shook his head.

“I am using a shortcut.”

“Yes?”

“If Leone wants to become a human, he must not stay in the simple dichotomy of dislike or like. There is already enough confusion in Leone’s mind. I’m trying to touch it and make he thinks.”

To be aware of the chaos in Leone’s mind already. She was amazed. Of course, if anyone saw someone acting like Leone, they would think there must be a story. However, isn’t it difficult to notice the confusion in the heart beyond the story?

Leone was confused and had never had a seizure since Benjamin came, and Adler has been silent about Leone’s story. So Benjamin had no way to know about Leone’s situation. So, for a week, Benjamin observed Leone, who was quite calm, and found out that there was something in his heart. That’s why he was a true expert.

“But, sir. Wouldn’t that method stimulate Leone’s trauma?”

In the end, it sounds like he was stimulating Leone’s hardest part, but that didn’t look good.

“Trauma? I don’t even know if Leone has a trauma. Trixie, I am not talking about the past.”

“But. It means he had a complicated mind right now. Does that come from the past, isn’t it a trauma…”

“Nope. Leone’s feelings have nothing to do with the past… wait. That’s a bit like what I’m describing. You will find out later.”

What kind of nonsense was that Leone’ confused heart had nothing to do with his past? She tried to ask more, but Benjamin turned away, as if he had no intention of explaining.

“Anyway, I can’t be kind to Leone. It has to add to the confusion.”

It was not wrong.

“Of course, it won’t be violent.”

“Yes, please. I will go see Leone.”

“I think now is the time to leave him alone. So he can organize his thoughts. Aren’t humans thinking animals?”

“Well.”

She pondered for a while.

Benjamin was right, but…

“Since the teacher says he won’t be friendly, I must take care of the kindness.”

She also felt the need to be strict with Leone. Because she was still educating him on separation anxiety. So she understood Benjamin’s words to some extent. But her heart had weakened. Benjamin’s assertiveness was something Leone had never experienced. Sufficient compensation was also necessary to soothe the defiance psychology.

And… If she acted too harshly, Leone would be very lonely. After all, he was a man who has endured alone for a long time. She didn’t like to leave him alone.

“… You might think so.”

“I wonder why Leone is in a bad mood. I will follow him.”

“Please.”

Benjamin nodded blankly and picked up the notebook he had laid beside him.

She followed Leone and left the mansion. He lay face down on the grass in the other side of the yard with his eyes closed.

“Leone.”

She approached cautiously.

“Leone. Are you fine?”

“… yes.”

“Were you asked to do too many things? Sorry to startle you.”

She stroked the child’s head and whispered.

“… Trixie.”

Leone held her hand with his eyes closed. His big hand wrapped around her wrist all at once.

“Uh, yes.”

“It’s fine.”

Oddly enough, the sweetest thing he knew how to say, “It’s okay,” sounded like it was pushing her away. Until he let go of her wrist…

Was that sense of distance an illusion?

Leone closed his eyes and answered lazily, just like usual. The sunlight broke and streamed over his head.

“… yes.”

Leone opened his eyes at the reply he gave a beat late. The purple eyes that always reminded her of the dawn sky were like the sun burning red today.

“Trixie, sir.”

“Yes?”

“Great.”

She was confused for a moment whether it was a question or a sign of liking, but it was easy to see that Leone would not like Benjamin.

“Is it good? Mr. Benjamin?”

Leone nodded his head at her question.

“He’s a bit peculiar, but I think he’s a good person because he seems to be working hard to teach Leone.”

“… great.”

“If you say whether you like it or not, it is close to liking it. What about Leone?”

“… Trixie, fine.”

“Haha. I like you too.”

She stroked Leone’s cheek. Although she never thought it was strange that his face didn’t show emotion, she wanted to see his smiling face again.

As usual, expressionless, Leone closed his eyes again. A strange anger could be felt across his face.Did he feel right, or…

There was no way to know. Leone had closed his eyes for a long time. As if trying to calm his mind.

* * *

“Oh, that’s fun. So good. It’s really nice to sit. The world is comfortable when you sit down.”

Trixie sat with her back to Leone. So, she couldn’t see the anger in Leone’s eyes.

Did you say teacher? He is a man who came in suddenly.

It bothered me that he suddenly intervened in Leone and Trixie’s daily life, but now they sit on the sofa and make eye contact and talk happily.

A fire broke out in his heart.

Confused by Trixie’s sudden action, Benjamin looked back at Leone and smiled badly.

That human.

It has been stimulating him since before…

‘If you do this, Trixie will hate it.’

Even now, it was the same. Leone wanted to bite Benjamin’s neck. But…

Benjamin said Trixie hated him when he acted like that.

He wasn’t quite sure what that meant. However, the meaning of ‘Trixie hates’ was clearly conveyed, and when he looked into Benjamin’s eyes, Ihe could see what the story was about.

He was not an irritating person.

His mind was confused.

Leone remembered how scared Trixie looked when he dealt with the dark humans who sneaked in at night. She was afraid of Leone’s way. It was hard for him to understand Trixie’s fears, but he couldn’t let her hate him.

Like this, it’s nothing.

Trixie’s eyes filled with anticipation forced Leone to sit down on the sofa.

“Leone! Oh my Gosh!”

Trixie was delighted. Were Benjamin’s words really true?

Trixie would hate it if Leone killed Benjamin, and would love it if Leone sat quietly on the couch. It was a very simple truth accepted in any world. The truth was that if it fits their standards, they like it, and if it’s wrong, they hate it.

In the current situation, he had to meet human standards.

‘Leone. If you become human, Trixie will love it.’

Benjamin had been whispering to Leone incessantly for the past week.

If you want to please Trixie, if you want Trixie to think you’re cool…

It was funny. Trixie was already an inseparable person from him. It’s okay if he didn’t do that. If Trixie leaves, he’ll follow her everywhere. Besides, it’s the human way. It was disgusting. But on the other hand, it keeps shaking myhis heart.

Really?

It may not be enough to chase after them. Trixie looked amused as they chatted. Since Trixie was human too, would he enjoy talking to humans?

“Trixie, sir.”

“Yes?”

“Great.”

“Is it good? Mr. Benjamin?”

A small thorn sprouted in Leone’s heart. Trixie couln’t fully understand his words. Previously, that hadn’t been a problem, but that changed the moment Benjamin said ‘she hates him’.

Trixie could come to hate Leone. Like that night, she might show a look of fear for him. But Leone won’t know what the reason was.He may have guessed what she was feeling when she saw that sight, but he would never know what ‘thought’ she was thinking.

There was a solid wall between the two.

“He’s a bit peculiar, but I think he’s a good person because he seems to be working hard to teach Leone.”

Judging by the expression and tone, it seemed to mean that she liked Benjamin.

Leone asked in surprise.

“… great.”

“If you say whether you like it or not, it is close to liking it. What about Leone?”

“… Trixie, fine.”

“Haha. I like you too.”

He knew that they couldn’t fully communicate, so why did he feel like he had realized it all over again? Leone felt the urge to make eye contact with Trixie, as Benjamin did.

He also wanted to rub her skin, as did his brothers.

Leone suddenly had the idea that he didn’t know who he was.

It was up to Leone to break down the wall. 

Her hand touched his cheek. Her small rough hands brushed his cheeks. Leone closed his eyes. In the man’s heart, a warm wind swayed like a woman’s smile. At the same time, a rough wave that would not subside came crashing in.

Leone Atarta’s heart began to fluctuate. It was a precursor to change.