CH 78

Shock, why was he shocked? She couldn’t read the emotions in Leone’s shaking eyes. All she could tell was that the emotions were too complicated for Leone to have.

“Trick, ha.”

“Huh. Leone.”

“You don’t have to laugh, it’s fine.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry.”

It was natural to think of it as an apology being handed over for this accident. However, somehow Trixie had the idea that Leone was handing her an apology for a different reason. 

And she couldn’t even guess why. Leone, who didn’t know how to feel, was shocked and apologizes…

“Leone. Why are you apologizing?”

Trixie opened her mouth. It was difficult for her to fathom Leone’s feelings for his apology, so it seemed better to ask him directly.

“Trixie. Now, I’m powerless.”

“No. Be confident! It’s fine.”

Was he sorry that he had no power? Trixie shook her head and raised her arm. It was a slender arm, but she gave it strength. Trixie grinned at the sight of her hard-earned biceps barely rising.

“Look, you have power.”

Leone didn’t answer. Each and every one of Trixie’s comforts came as a shock to him.

‘Trixie, I’m sick.’

Not even an idiot could tell that Trixie had no strength left. She hadn’t eaten well for the past four days, and her little body was even thinner than usual, and her face was pale. Even so, she laughed at Leone and told jokes with her funny behavior. As if she was trying to reassure him.

She examined Leone’s heart first, as if her own pain was nothing.

“… strength.”

“Huh. Look. It’s different… I don’t do it, but the curve of the arm is surprisingly considerable, right? I’m fine. So don’t worry.”

It was Trixie’s habit to say ‘it’s okay’ or ‘don’t worry’. Leone liked those words that came out of Trixie’s mouth. It was friendly, reassuring, and warm. It was like sunlight that caressed Leone’s sick world.

“Trixie, it’s not okay.”

Leone muttered like someone possessed by a ghost. Trixie frowned and shook her head.

“Eh? No. My body hurts a bit, but everything is fine. Just be patient, really everything is fine. Do not be sorry.”

Even though she was hurt by Leone, she endured the pain for him and soothed him. It would be nice to interpret it as blind affection, but it was not accepted as affection by Leone. It made it impossible for him to hurt Trixie at will. But it made Trixie unable to complain, unable to be relied upon. During the time he spent with her, he had to lean on her so that he could breathe. He could only see her when he smelled her scent and saw her smile. As a result, his obsession and dependence tended to grow stronger day by day. Leone thought that Trixie was very strong. The weak and stupid Leone needed a strong woman. The problem was that the whole time he was there, Trixie had to deal with herself as well as with Leone.

Leone knew that now. How could he be so stupid? The shock caused his heart to thump to the depths of Leone’s heart. Leone has always been the weakest member of his family. Even after he was brought in by humans, he spent many years chewing on his powerlessness. But even now. Even after getting to know Trixie, was that so?

Didn’t he think that instead of chewing on his helplessness, he wanted to be by her side, smelling the grass and seeing her smiling face? It’s been quite a while. So, now he knew. Humans couldn’t attack him recklessly. He didn’t know why exactly, but they were polite in front of him, and he’s afraid to stay still without threatening.

Leone’s strength, his size, were different from when he was younger. He was confident that if he went against the damn knight with his naked body, he would win. He single-handedly took down fifteen humans who had previously visited him during the night. He wasn’t powerless.

“Leone?”

Leone’s eyes twinkled as he stared at her without answering her. Trixie looked at Leone with a worried heart.

“…no.”

What made him helpless was Leone’s own stupidity. For this helplessness of his, he leaned on Trixie’s sweetness and toughness, which made him overbearing. Trixie was a weak and sick being as well.

“No, Trixie.”

One layer, the tinted glasses that were covering the eyes to see the world, came off. Trixie’s slender wrist caught Leone’s eye. The humans didn’t fear Trixie the way they feared Leone. 

Even so, she always tried to stand in his way and protect him without hesitation. In the best way Trixie knew.

Leone didn’t know much about humans, but Trixie did. How many obstacles were in front of Trixie who was trying to protect him? He couldn’t even guess. Was he really trying to protect Trixie? Like she protected him? Had he ever wondered what was the best way?

“What’s wrong, Leone? Why are you so surprised, huh?”

Trixie reached out to him with a weak, trembling hand. Leone held her hand, which had dried up after a few days.

“Sorry. Trixie.”

“Oh, Leone! What are you doing!”

It was a moment. Trixie’s startled voice echoed through the room. It was because Leone suddenly bit Trixie’s wrist. Leone quickly let go of her arm, with a calm expression in contrast to Trixie, who blushed and pointed at him.

“Go, suddenly you can’t use it! I’m not prey, Leone! What did you do? It’s dangerous.”

Embarrassed, Trixie got angry with the excuse of disciplining danger to hide her embarrassment. As if it was nothing, Leone pointed at her arm.

“No wounds.”

Come to think of it, she had to open her mouth, but it must have been that she only bit her lips slightly. Trixie’s arms didn’t show any teeth marks or turn red, and her skin was just as flawless. There was no pain.

“Then what is this?”

Leone lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes fell like a curtain and it cast a shadow.

“Affection.”

“Huh?”

“Affection… vow.”

Leone stuttered, coming up with the word that most closely matched his feelings. It was annoying that the limits of his verbal skills were evident. Now he felt the need to double the amount of study.

“No, all of a sudden…”

Trixie was taken aback, but Leone had no intention of explaining further. It was an expression of affection shared between his father and his mother. His mouth, a tool for her hunting and survival, bites and leaves no scars. It was an expression that he would not hurt her. 

The two of them were talking about each other’s snouts, but… Trixie didn’t feel like doing that. From the knowledge he heard from Benjamin from time to time, it was said that humans do not often have skinship even between lovers. It was obvious that human standards would be different. It was a bit disappointing at this point that Trixie was human. He wanted to hug her and carry her wherever he went.

“Sleep more. Trixie.”

In any case, the fact that Leone gave her the expression of his love for a companion whom he learned from her parents meant he would keep and love her all his life. It was his promise that he would run blindly towards her, for her, and only to her. It’s right to end at this level of being stupid and helpless. Wouldn’t it be too pathetic to put any more burden on this little and lovely being? Of course, he didn’t expect to get rid of the idea that he was stupid and helpless in a single moment. At least, he wanted to protect Trixie’s resting place.

“I just… Can you explain a bit more, Leone?”

On the other hand, Trixie, who has no way of knowing Leone’s intentions, gets angry while trying to deal with her beating heart. Why was he so selfish again?  A chill ran down her spine from how surprised she was by the sudden action of biting his wrist, the touch of his lips.

“I can’t speak well.”

Leone smiled. Trixie thought that the prince who spoke of his inadequacies with his own mouth seemed really arrogant. Even though it’s true that he couldn’t speak well. Anyway, she was used to giving up without asking anything more from a kid who wasn’t good at it. Trixie just closed her eyes.

“I think I should listen to Adler about everything.”

“Don’t worry. He will come.”

“Uh? Uh…”

Trixie felt strange because the reply sounded reliable, as if he knew everything and would solve it.

“Good night. Trixie. I will keep you safe.”

Leone murmured softly. Thanks to Leone’s refined voice, Trixie’s sleep ran far and wide.

Leone’s face hardened as he looked at Trixie, who closed her eyes, whether or not she was aware of her confusion. He was neither a boy nor an animal, but the face of a determined man.

* * *

“You need to get some more rest.”

“If I rest here more, won’t my legs degenerate?”

She let out a deep sigh. She heard a little bit of the story. The Emperor said that he had made a pact with Adler that she would not see Leone until he had calmed down.

“I’m in a position where I have to do as I’m told… All I can say is rest.”

Adler laughed awkwardly.

“Who makes it?”

Who told him to treat her like this? No way. Was it because she was the prince’s guest? The Emperor seemed to be quite picky, but was he incapable of dealing with his son? A week after waking up. Following Leone, she was moved to the temporary palace of the Emperor, and she sat down on a bed in the luxurious VIP room.

Was that all? From spilled food, scented candles and top-notch cushions, soft clothes that were changed every day, and water bags for warmth made with medicinal herbs. She hugged a water bag for warmth and steamed the bruised area, and when she warmed up a bit, the ladies-in-waiting even took out a huge feather fan. It was too much of a luxury for a commoner. And it was very burdensome. She could only enjoy playing nobles, but this felt like being a princess of an Empire, so…

“… Lord Leone.”

“Pardon?”

Not the emperor? Leone made them treat her like this? Adler too?

“Yes. Lord Leone’s order is to let Trixie rest unconditionally… So we did.”

Adler’s face was mixed with a strange emotion and confusion.

“Leon, by any chance, these days… order around?”

It reminded her of Leone, who had only briefly reflected on her face all week, morning and evening. He did feel strangely more manly, though.

Alternately, His Highness the Prince. What was he doing?