“Is your quick recovery because you’re a feline humanoid?”
At Leonard’s sharp question, Yellian momentarily didn’t know how to respond and just opened their mouth silently.
Originally not a feline humanoid, but somehow having possessed the body of one, Yellian had no way of knowing the traits of feline humanoids. They didn’t even know they were a feline humanoid, so how could they know about their recovery speed?
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
However, they couldn’t delay their answer forever. Yellian tried their best not to show their panic as they replied.
Leonard’s expression remained coldly hardened. Yellian swallowed dryly, wondering if their answer had irritated him.
“Why did you run away?”
But the next question took an entirely different direction. Somehow, it felt odd that Leonard, with his personality, hadn’t said anything about their attempt to escape. Yellian didn’t know how to respond and just moved their lips silently.
“I’ll ask one more time. And this is the last time. Why did you run away?”
“What do you mean by ‘last time’?”
Yellian nervously licked their dry lips and asked. Even before hearing the answer, was the ominous feeling just their imagination? Yellian waited for Leonard’s response, completely frozen.
“It means this is the last chance you’ll have to speak with your ankles still attached.”
“Then I’ll answer quickly. I-I had severe motion sickness. I felt like I was going to throw up.”
The answer spilled out without passing through their brain. Yellian didn’t have the capacity to judge how absurd their words were. Their only thought was to protect their ankles.
Seriously, why is this guy Leonard threatening my ankles like this? No wonder they call him the mad duke.
“……You jumped out of the carriage because you felt like throwing up? Are you saying I should believe that now?”
“I understand it’s hard to believe. But couldn’t you believe me……?”
Realizing how nonsensical their words were, Yellian saw only one option left. To look as pitiful and harmless as possible.
Yellian looked up at Leonard with sad, teary eyes.
“Really…… I’m at a loss for words.”
“I understand. You’re entitled to think that way. But it’s really true, isn’t it?”
“Fine, let’s say that’s the case in the carriage. But you also ran away when you saw me again in the forest.”
Leonard pressed sharply, hitting the nail on the head. Just when Yellian thought they’d overcome one hurdle, another appeared.
Yellian quickly racked their brain. Somewhere in their mind, it felt like a voice was shouting, ‘Brainstorm!’
“It’s, it’s the instinct of a feline humanoid.”
“What?”
“Showing my transformation is dangerous! Think about it, my lord. Didn’t you also say that being revealed as a feline humanoid is dangerous? Isn’t the most dangerous moment for a feline humanoid when someone sees them transforming? Since I felt like I was about to turn human, I instinctively headed to a place with no people.”
Once they started, the words flowed out as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
Yellian wondered if they were a natural con artist. The idea of being inherently deceitful didn’t sit well with them, but for escaping this crisis, it was actually better that way. Thinking this, Yellian smiled innocently, as if they knew nothing.
“You’re quite good at slipping out of things. Do you think I’ll believe that?”
“Of course…… it’s hard to believe, but I’d appreciate it if you did. To live together, trust in each other is necessary, after all.”
‘Wow, even I think I’d float with just my mouth if I fell into water.’
Yellian admired themselves for continuing to speak without even blinking. They wondered when they’d become someone so good with words. At the same time, a rationalization emerged in a corner of their mind that they’d do anything to survive.
Yes, the reason they were so good at talking now was to survive. To be precise, to protect their two ankles.
“So, can I assume you won’t try to run away in the future?”
“Of course!”
“Then I guess you don’t need one of your ankles.”
‘Srrrng’
“What?! How did the conversation turn to this?! Of course I need them!”
With a menacing sound, Leonard unsheathed his sword. As the silver blade was revealed about the width of a palm, Yellian gasped and clutched their ankles with both hands.
With the sudden movement, the coat they were wearing slipped off. Naturally, their peach-colored naked body was exposed.
“Ankles aren’t just for running away, you know. I use them for walking too, and anyway, they’re useful for all sorts of things! So please don’t cut them off. Please.”
Yellian sobbed, completely forgetting that their naked body was exposed. In fact, they didn’t even realize the coat had fallen off. Their only thought was to protect their ankles. They had no capacity to think of anything else.
“…….”
In contrast, Leonard felt his mind go blank at the sudden sight of Yellian’s body.
He hadn’t really intended to cut off Yellian’s ankles. He’d only planned to sever the tendons to limit their movement by more than half.
But seeing the unexpectedly exposed naked body, let alone swinging his sword, he didn’t even have the presence of mind to draw it fully from its sheath. Leonard’s sword-like gaze was too preoccupied with devouring Yellian’s naked body.
He couldn’t understand why that body was so captivating, enough to steal a person’s soul.
Feeling a considerable sense of self-loathing, Leonard quickly turned his head to the side. He felt that if he kept looking at Yellian’s body, he might do something reckless.
“Put your clothes on properly.”
“Ah……. You’re not going to cut off my ankles, right?”
Only then did Yellian realize that Leonard’s coat had slipped off, and they asked while adjusting it. Leonard thought Yellian lacked any sense of danger. Even in this situation, asking if he’d cut off their ankles seemed almost laughable.
Covering their naked body with just a single coat, they didn’t seem worried about what he might do. Leonard didn’t like that about Yellian. Because of that, he wanted to instill a sense of caution in them.
Leonard approached Yellian. Even though the carriage at the duke’s estate was spacious, it was still just a carriage.
As Leonard deliberately closed the distance, it didn’t take long for the two of them to be close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Yellian, clutching their clothes tightly, blinked their large eyes and quietly watched Leonard approach.
Leonard moved even closer to Yellian. With a slight tilt of his head, the distance became close enough that it wouldn’t be strange for their lips to touch.
“M-My lord……? Y-You’re too close…….”
Flustered, Yellian stammered. Every time their red lips moved, their breath brushed against Leonard’s lips. Moreover, the sweet scent of Yellian’s skin tickled his nose.
“…….”
Leonard’s body stiffened at that subtle stimulation. He had intended to instill caution in Yellian, but strangely, he was the one who didn’t know what to do.
An insane impulse to completely devour the lips from which their breath escaped surged within him. He wanted to greedily explore, lick, and bite those lips until they melted softly.
“M-My lord…….”
Truly a distance where they could savor each other’s breath. Leonard fell into a dilemma. If he backed off now, nothing would happen. And that would be the right thing to do.
Yellian was just an annoying feline humanoid, kept around only because they seemed useful. There was no other reason.
Vibrant, glossy skin, fluffy beige hair. Blue eyes with a mysterious hue. Unusually red and luscious lips. A naked body that kept drawing his gaze.
That was all. There was nothing special, and there shouldn’t be in the future. It had to be that way.
But why? The thought that nothing would happen didn’t sit well with him at all.
Yellian’s cheeks were flushed, perhaps from embarrassment. Their large eyes darted around, seemingly trying to find somewhere to look.
Watching Yellian, Leonard finally made a decision. He resolved to act in this deadlock situation.
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