“Yellian.”
“Yes?”
“I have something to say.”
“……What is it?”
Yellian swallowed dryly. Leonard looked so serious that the fact he had just eaten until his stomach was about to burst felt like a past life memory.
Yet Leonard couldn’t easily continue speaking. He hesitated for a long time, just moving his lips without a sound. Yellian grew fearful, wondering what on earth Leonard was trying to say to cause such a delay.
“What’s going on……. I’m starting to get scared.”
As Yellian spoke carefully while swallowing dryly, Leonard let out a deep sigh. If one could measure the weight of a sigh, it would surely be heavy. Yellian anxiously awaited his next words.
“Promise me one thing. No matter what I say, I want you to know that I will never give up on you.”
Leonard spoke in a grave voice. Yellian couldn’t respond immediately and took a moment to calm his confused mind.
What on earth is he trying to say? That he’ll never give up on me? What does that even mean?
“Am I going to die?”
That was the first thought that came to mind. It felt as if Leonard had learned first that Yellian had an incurable illness and was suffering because of it. Of course, the likelihood of that was absurdly low.
“…….”
“Leonard……?”
Yellian expected a scolding for saying something so ominous. No, he hoped for it. But Leonard, as if struck by shock, said nothing.
Because of that, Yellian grew even more anxious. Though he had said it himself, if it were true, it wouldn’t be easy to accept.
“Is it true……?”
At the cautious question, Leonard rubbed his face dryly. Seeing that, Yellian had no choice but to acknowledge that his words were correct.
Yellian hesitated, unsure of what to say. Leonard, too, only sighed repeatedly without speaking. The space was filled only with sighs.
“Why……? I’m this healthy, I’m completely fine…….”
After a long silence, the first word Yellian managed was ‘Why?’ It was hard to simply accept the current situation. He had never been sick, nor did he seem to have any particular health issues. So why was he supposedly dying?
“I don’t know for sure. Nothing is confirmed yet. And even if it is confirmed, I’ll find a way no matter what it takes.”
After being unable to speak for a while, Leonard spoke at length without even taking a breath, as if he had steeled his resolve. His voice trembled at the end, but his expression was firm. It showed a determination not to crumble no matter what situation arose.
So Yellian felt a strange sense of relief. Because Leonard said he wouldn’t give up on him, because he said he’d find a way no matter what.
“……Okay. I believe you, Leonard.”
So there was no need for long words. Yellian replied briefly, nodding his head. His small head bobbed up and down.
Leonard’s expression, as he quietly watched Yellian, looked more confused than ever before.
“Is that all? Yellian, don’t you have anything else to say…….”
“There’s no need, is there? I trust Leonard. I don’t want to turn this into some melodramatic scene with unnecessary words.”
Leonard felt like crying. It was an emotion he hadn’t felt even when the veterinarian told him that Yellian’s lifespan might be shortening. But now, his chest felt tight, and his eyes stung.
In truth, though he had told Yellian he would find a way, he wasn’t confident.
Since feline humanoids like Yellian were so rare, finding someone who knew what to do in a situation like this was a challenge in itself.
Even if he scoured the entire empire to find a solution, there was no guarantee it would work for Yellian. So he couldn’t even fully trust himself. Yet Yellian trusted him.
For the first time, Leonard understood how heavy and yet how happy the weight of trust could be. He forcibly swallowed the tears threatening to spill and clenched his jaw.
“So what should I do?”
Yellian asked cheerfully. His voice was bright. That made Leonard’s heart ache even more.
Would it have hurt less if Yellian had cried bitterly? No, he didn’t know. Even now, his heart felt like it was being torn to shreds.
“A guest is coming tomorrow. There’s nothing specific for you to do, Yellian.”
“Got it. Then can I sleep?”
“Sure.”
Having politely asked for permission, Yellian trotted toward the bed. With agile movements, he jumped onto the bed and curled up on the pillow.
Leonard, quietly watching Yellian, soon closed his eyes. The small body was trembling slightly. Despite pretending to be fine, pretending not to care, Yellian was clearly afraid.
A powerless night, where nothing could be assured, grew deeper.
* * *
“Leonard, Leonard. What should I do?”
“Just stay still.”
“Yep.”
A guest was scheduled to arrive at the duke’s estate early in the morning. Yellian, with a face still half-asleep, instinctively sought out Leonard and rubbed his face against his leg.
Leonard lifted Yellian into his arms, carefully wiping away the sleep from his eyes and cleaning his grubby face. He wondered how, despite only sleeping, Yellian had managed to look so disheveled overnight.
“I’ll say it again, Yellian, there’s nothing for you to do. So there’s nothing to worry about or pay attention to.”
“Yep.”
“It’s not good for anyone to find out you’re a feline humanoid, so keep your mouth shut.”
“Yep.”
“……Please, just stay quiet.”
“I got it, okay?”
“Hah……. I’ll say it again, keep your mouth shut and stay quiet…….”
“Why don’t you trust me?! I trust Leonard completely! This is unfair!”
As Leonard repeated his warnings like a drill sergeant, Yellian finally exploded like a shaken soda can.
Shouldn’t there be trust between people…… no, between a person and a feline humanoid? Especially since they weren’t strangers but lovers.
Yellian genuinely felt wronged, but for Leonard, while he might trust Yellian in other matters, when it came to staying quiet, his trust was rock bottom.
Nevertheless, today he couldn’t hide Yellian or sneak him away, so all he could do was keep warning him.
Even after that, Leonard cautioned Yellian several more times, until Yellian couldn’t take it anymore and bit down hard on Leonard’s shin. It was precisely on the fifth warning.
As a result, two tiny holes, barely noticeable unless looked at closely, appeared side by side on the shin area of Leonard’s pants.
Normally, he would have changed clothes, but since the appointed time was already near, Leonard decided to just wear the pants with the holes.
After all, the holes weren’t noticeable enough to be seen by others, and even if they were, no one would dare criticize the attire of Duke Abrams unless they valued their life little.
Soon, a commotion arose outside. Yellian, out of nervousness, instinctively hid behind Leonard’s leg. Leonard, too, uncharacteristically froze in tension.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
The announcement of Emperor Abigail’s arrival rang out powerfully from the door. Leonard stared at the entrance with a stiff expression.
Soon, the door opened, and Abigail appeared. Unlike usual, he also looked visibly tense with a rigid expression. Leonard skillfully paid his respects to him.
Normally, since Abigail and Leonard were close, there was no need for formal greetings when no one was watching, but now there were many eyes on them. Moreover…….
‘He’s here for Yellian.’
Thinking that, Leonard sincerely bowed to Abigail with heartfelt respect.
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