“So, when will it transform into a human?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because it’s still a cub, there’s no sign of it turning into a human yet.”
At Abigail’s question, Leonard furrowed his brow as if irritated. His sharp gaze was directed at Yellian.
Feeling a chill down its spine under his stare, Yellian instinctively hid behind Abigail.
No matter how much Leonard was known as a ruthless mad duke, he was still a duke, and Abigail was the Emperor. Of course, according to the original story, Leonard would eventually realize his love for Abigail and turn him into a puppet Emperor, but it seemed that Leonard hadn’t yet come to terms with his feelings.
Therefore, since Abigail, as the Emperor, held a higher status than Leonard, hiding behind him seemed like a way to ensure safety.
“Hahaha, look at this guy, Leonard. It’s hiding behind me because you’re glaring at it with such scary eyes. Hey, little one, wanna come to my place?”
“Is that okay?”
At Abigail’s gentle question, Yellian’s eyes sparkled. Earlier, it had spoken informally because Abigail was being so annoying, but it knew well enough to use polite language with the Emperor. So, Yellian asked respectfully.
This was a golden opportunity to escape from the crazy Leonard. However, Yellian didn’t realize that the words it had just spoken had greatly irritated Leonard.
“Leonard, what do you think? I feel like I could take better care of this little one than you.”
“It’s not ‘little one,’ it’s Yellian. And Yellian is mine. Stop talking nonsense about taking it away. And Yellian, if you don’t want to die, don’t say anything stupid.”
“Yessir.”
At Leonard’s deeply lowered voice, Yellian quickly responded while gauging his mood.
From Leonard’s perspective, Yellian must be nothing but a nuisance, so it couldn’t understand why he insisted on keeping it and not letting it go. After all, it was just a cub of a feline humanoid with no particular value.
Meanwhile, Leonard was fuming with frustration. He couldn’t fathom why this insolent feline humanoid cub, who flinched just from his gaze, would hide behind Abigail, someone it had only met today.
And what was that? ‘Is that okay?’ Did it even know what kind of place that ‘home’ was to ask if it was okay to go there? Leonard couldn’t understand it.
Abigail’s home was the imperial palace. The perception of cats in the palace wasn’t favorable. If it went there, it would likely have to live under constant scrutiny, yet Yellian, oblivious to this, was eager to follow someone it barely knew, which made Leonard extremely displeased.
Of course, even if Yellian truly went with Abigail, it shouldn’t have affected Leonard’s mood. Losing a feline humanoid might be annoying, but that was it-it wasn’t something worth getting this angry over.
Leonard couldn’t figure out why he was so upset over this wet, goblin-like feline humanoid cub, which only made him more frustrated.
“I’m tired. Leave. I won’t see you out.”
At Leonard’s rude attitude, showing no courtesy even to the Emperor, Abigail narrowed his eyes.
In truth, from his perspective, it wasn’t surprising that Leonard didn’t treat him as the Emperor. However, it was unlike Leonard to act so openly childish, which was surprising. And the fact that the reason was none other than this small feline humanoid was even more shocking.
“Alright. I’ll head back now. See you next time, Yellian.”
“Yes! Goodbye!”
Standing on its hind legs with its front paws placed on its belly, Yellian politely bowed, prompting Abigail to let out a hearty laugh. He wanted nothing more than to hug and kiss the little feline humanoid, but he refrained, knowing it would likely provoke Leonard’s wrath.
Anderson followed behind Leonard, who took the lead. He glanced at Yellian quietly, and when their eyes met, he gave a slight smile. That smile was so beautiful it was almost mesmerizing.
Leaving the entranced Yellian behind, Leonard, Anderson, and their escort knight exited the parlor, and silence settled over the room.
Yellian stretched its body long and toddled on its short legs toward the sunny window. But it didn’t get far before Leonard’s grip caught it, leaving it dangling in the air.
“W-What is it!”
“……Ugly thing.”
“Huh?”
There’s a limit to picking a fight-grabbing a feline humanoid who was just walking quietly and insulting its appearance by calling it ugly? From Yellian’s perspective, it was absurd.
Moreover, Yellian knew how cute it looked. With soft, beige fur mixed with cream tones, ash-blue eyes, an ‘S’-shaped mouth, and perky ears-every part of it was utterly adorable. It was embarrassing to say so itself, but what could it do when it was this cute and lovable!
I’m this cute! I’m this lovable! I’m this charming!
And to call someone like me ‘ugly thing’? It was unthinkable. Yellian glared at Leonard with eyes full of dissatisfaction. In response, Leonard tilted his chin up slightly, looking down at Yellian with an arrogant expression.
“Insolent, too.”
“Why are you suddenly acting like this! What did I do!”
Feeling wronged, Yellian squeaked and demanded an explanation. At that, Leonard glared at Yellian with sharp eyes, as if he could devour it.
“You don’t know why I’m asking?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know!”
“Fine, I’ll bury you.”
“No, sir. Please spare me.”
……This despicable Leonard. Why is he so good at rhyming in situations like this?
Yellian swallowed the words it couldn’t say and begged for its life. No matter how wronged or frustrated it felt, it was far better than being buried alive.
“Were you really planning to go with Abigail?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Yellian widened its eyes and asked back. While Yellian struggled to figure out why Leonard was asking this, Abigail-no, Leonard-spoke again in a heavy, oppressive tone.
“I’ll ask again. Were you really planning to go with Abigail?”
“……If I say yes, will my life be shortened?”
Sensing something ominous, Yellian cautiously asked. It was an instinctive feeling of danger to its life. Sure enough, Leonard replied curtly with a hardened expression.
“Obviously.”
“……Then, no……? I was planning to be buried at Duke Abrams’ estate.”
“Is that true?”
“Of course. But is that really important…….?”
At his question, Yellian lied through its teeth to save its life. While it answered to survive, it couldn’t understand why Leonard cared whether it went with Abigail or not, so it cautiously asked.
“Of course it is…….”
“Of course?”
“I’m the one who feeds you, shelters you, and cleans you, so isn’t it rude to just up and leave for someone else’s house?”
At Leonard’s words, Yellian stared at him with its mouth agape. There was no way Leonard was the type to care about manners, but it seemed humans were indeed lenient with themselves and harsh with others.
“Am I wrong?”
“Oh, no, not at all. My lord’s words are always right.”
Even at Leonard’s hypocritical words-where his actions were romance and others’ were affairs-Yellian nodded along and agreed to save its life. The sight of the tiny kitten bobbing its small head was quite cute, but Leonard didn’t show it.
“So, can you put me down now, my lord?”
At the polite request, Leonard finally set Yellian down. Yellian stood firmly on all fours and shook its body with a shiver.
Leonard quietly looked down at Yellian. Meanwhile, unanswerable questions swirled in his mind.
Why did it bother him so much that this feline humanoid cub hid behind Abigail to avoid him?
It wasn’t just displeasure from Yellian’s lack of manners-there was something indescribable about the feeling. Honestly, it was a sensation he had never felt before.
It was unpleasant, but not just unpleasant-it kept making him compare himself to Abigail. It almost felt like he was jealous of Abigail…….
Of course, even the feeling of jealousy was quite foreign to Leonard. Lost in deepening thoughts, Leonard eventually shook his head to cut them off.
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