CH 98

Leone had a long conversation with the attendant. But he whispered to the attendant, so she couldn’t hear him. The story ended after a while. The attendant quickly left the room with a busy pace. It was the first time he had ever had such a long conversation with a stranger. The class was a one-sided way of listening and asking questions, and when he had a proper conversation, it was only her and Adler. How could he not be so shy? It felt strange that he had become a perfectly social person beyond being fluent in words.

“Trixie.”

“Uh, yes.”

“Come on.”

He reached out to her and she stared at him blankly, and then naturally approached him. She realized it only after approaching. It’s like a guardian calling a puppy. Feeling a bit rebellious, she stood in front of him as she was called, but she did not hold Leone’s hand. It was the least of her pride.

“Can’t you hold my hand?”

Leone gently closed his eyes and smiled at her. Her pride, pride… Did this mean that the person that love loses? She finally held Leone’s hand. How could she not fall for that laugh?

“Mmm.”

Male’s beauty was really scary. In the end, despite holding Leone’s hand, she couldn’t see his face. It felt like electricity was rising from his fingertips.

“Trixie. You do not feel good?”

“Uh? Why?”

“You don’t see me. Or whatever-”

She was trying to spread rumors around the neighborhood saying she liked him, or what? Realizing the error in her actions, she immediately raised her head. Leone was looking at her with an innocent face.

“I saw you.”

He smiled happily. Unlike her, she became a little bit bitter at the clean affection that was spotless. As expected, she was the only one who had trouble seeing eye to eye.

“What did you do, Leo?”

Fortunately, she calmed down and asked a normal question. To begin with, it’s absurd to be bitter that Leone didn’t feel the same way as her. To Leone, she was family. It’s fine if she was crazy on her own, trying to dye a child… 

“I want to get some rest. I asked for something.”

“How-“

Knock, knock.

Before she could continue her question, a knock sounded. Leone replied to come in, and the door opened wide.

“Uh…?”

Originally, far more people than those following Leone moved around busily. In an instant, the sofa and low table in the drawing room were removed. And armchairs and firewood, a tea table at the right height, a variety of refreshments, blankets, fragrant flowers in pretty vases, and a bunch of books… All sorts of things rushed into the parlor. Everything was placed neatly in front of the fireplace. A soft rug was laid on the floor, and a fire was lit in the fireplace. The parlor, which had a clean and elegant feel, was instantly transformed into a comfortable space where you can sit languidly in front of a warm fire and eat sweet snacks. The attendants who made this magical change vacated the room as soon as they finished their work. Leone smiled contentedly and took my hand that was still holding it.

“Leone. What is all this?”

“When it’s hot, go to a cool place, when it’s cold – to a warm place, stretch comfortably, and eat something delicious – they say you’ll rest well.”

“Who said that?”

That was really right. She didn’t really want to rest, she was thinking of helping and taking care of Leone next to her when she rested… The scenery in front of her was enough to melt away those thoughts. Leone didn’t even keep guiding his hand, but his foot moved spontaneously toward the armchair.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

From the conversation with the Emperor to the feeling of riding a rollercoaster whenever sh was with Leone. Unknowingly, the accumulated fatigue pressed her deeply into the armchair. Leon also sat down in the armchair next to her. She sat down in an armchair and stretched out.

“Haha. I hope you get some rest.”

The tea table was placed exactly within arm’s reach of an armchair. Thanks to this, the finest dessert made by the imperial patissier melted into her mouth in an instant.

“Oh, this is what I ate last time. It was delicious.”

It was her job to follow Leone around, so she always ate with him. As expected of the imperial palace, the menu was splendid, and in between, there were so many dishes that suited her taste. Among them, she especially liked the dessert very much. She didn’t know she liked sweet things like this. When a dessert she liked came out, she would eat it with the momentum that would fit on her plate.

“It’s delicious- I’m glad. I asked for it separately.”

“Oh, Leone liked this too! I didn’t know.”

“…yeah, I like what you like.”

It was the first thing she learned that Leone and she had similar tastes. She eagerly ate refreshments and enjoyed the warm heat of the fireplace.

“Trixie.”

“Yes, Leone.”

“Haha. Buried everything.”

“Ah, okay? Stop because it’s so delicious.”

“Good mood?”

“Huh! Of course. I’m enjoying the full luxury. When I think of the past, it is unimaginable. I wonder if this is happiness.”

Sometimes there were moments when she compared the gloomy days with the present. But she didn’t get dragged into melancholy. Of course, there were still many hard and scary things in many ways, but the world didn’t feel as dark and hellish as it did back then. This was all…

“Thanks to you, Leone.”

She honestly expressed her gratitude.

“Meeting you changed my life a lot. Thank you.”

It was not a story limited to a comfortable life. Because Leone was the only one she got in this world. That sense of stability and joy was a grateful gift that could not be exchanged for anything.

Leone was silent for a moment.

“So you must be happy too.”

She was sincere when she told the Emperor that she always wanted Leone to be happy. Leone had been through a hard time for so long, so she hoped he would always be happy without worry, anxiety, or depression. The only unfortunate thing was that the meat in the meal was overcooked and she hoped it was a little tasteless.

“I think what His Majesty did, it must have hurt you really badly.”

Leone’s face hardened slightly. It was a very direct statement. She still wanted to tell him. Not because she wanted Leone to forgive the Emperor, but because he wanted to be a little more comfortable. She told everything she could to the Emperor. She didn’t know if the Emperor would change or not, but what would happen. Even if it changes, Leone’s wounds would not all be healed. So she wanted to do what she could for Leone.

“Leone. How would you feel if your wolf family were mixed with humans?”

“They will be caught—I would think. Humans enjoy hunting.”

“Even His Majesty the Emperor… … Could it be that?”

She knew that what she said could hurt Leone more, so she took her rhyme as carefully as possible. Fortunately, Leone was not hurt, but only looked at her with his curious eyes.

“Leone knows, but in fact, animals and humans don’t know each other very well. Living together in this world… It’s just a relationship of preying on each other. So, I think His Majesty the Emperor thought that the Wolf could not have accepted you as a family member and saved you from dying. The worlds you and His Majesty live in are so different, and this happened because of that difference.”

It was an expression that could be misunderstood, so the words gradually slowed down. It took quite a bit of effort to carefully choose each word and open it carefully.

“Of course. I know that asking for understanding when you’ve lost a family member is a very cruel and mean request. It’s nonsense.”

“Trixie?”

“Hmm. Leone, I… so what I want to say is.”

How should she say it? It was a hundred or a thousand times more difficult than persuading the Emperor. Did he notice her confusion? Leone held her hand tightly. There was no shaking in the power delivered by the big, warm, slightly dry hands.

“Trixie, tell me. To you, is there a reason?”

In his gaze, in his face facing her, there was trust and affection. And she was really grateful for that.

“I am… I hate it when Leone loses his temper and suffers whenever he sees the Emperor. It’s not all about forgiveness and understanding. I just want you to be able to let go of the pain, even just a little bit.”

Leone looked at her quietly. Was he lost in thought? The expression was erased from his face. But it wasn’t a confused face.

“Trixie. Even if it was you, would it have been?”

“Huh?”

“My family. I thought, were you trying to save him?”

“Ah…”

She pondered.

“Hmm… well. Actually, if it were me, I think I would have run away because I was scared. Because you’re not human, I think you must have been afraid.”

“Afraid…”

“At first, we were afraid of each other too. Remember?”

“Actually… yes.”

A faint smile appeared on Leone’s lips.

“Trixie. Do you know why I decided to learn to speak?”

“What?”

That’s what she was curious about too.

“It was because Trixie and I were so different. Because we couldn’t communicate.”

“Ah… that’s right. It did.”

“You were afraid of me. I was also wary of you.”

“Huh.”

“I can neither forgive nor understand. But I think I know a little bit about the difference.”

Those were Leone’s words. A little bit, out of anger. It sounded like a bit of a softening of the heart. She was glad the words came through well. His body tension was released.

“Thank you for accepting me that way.”

“Because of what you said. You, for me… You gave me so much courage.”

“…huh.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm. It’s embarrassing. It’s not a big deal.”

“You, just do it for me. I want to do it too.”

“Haha. It’s all about the age difference.”

When she calmed down with a joke, Leone laughed.

“Yes, you. You are my master, is that so? It’s hard to follow.”

“Uhm. It’s a bit different from that…”

“Trixie. I said I wanted you to be happy.”

“Huh? Huh. I always think the same.”

“I am already happy. And, I want you to be happy too.”

“Well, I’m happy too.”

“Because you came to me, my life has changed.”

“Are you following what I said earlier?”

“Trixie.”

He got up from sitting in the armchair. His hand came towards her.

‘What, what is it?’

Leone’s large hand touched her mouth. His hand moved slowly, moving on her lips from the corner of her mouth. Startled, her body jumped up. Her heart felt like it was about to burst.

“It’s all in your mouth.”

“…Y-You can just say it.”

“Work hard, I’ll follow you.”

“What?”

“So that I can do everything for you.”

She thought he had already done too much. She swallowed her words. It was something that didn’t need to be added.