Chapter 43

I apologize for the delay in posting due to moving.

Now that I have written enough, I will resume posting.

"Wait just a moment!! Why does it turn out like this?! I came here to torment you?!"

Femina shouted.

She stopped her steps heading towards the entrance and approached Cordelia.

(If she had just gone home, it would have been better... But, of course, things don’t go that smoothly.)

Femina came to this mansion to torment Cordelia... or so it seemed.

In a sense, it was as if she had thrown down a challenge.

However, Cordelia did not want to have a bad relationship with Femina.

(...Femina didn’t seem to really hate me...)

So, Cordelia tried to flatter Femina and divert the conversation to make things ambiguous.

It worked to some extent, but it seemed she couldn’t fool her completely.

"I told you I came to torment you, didn’t I?!"

"Yes, I heard that."

"Then why did you welcome me so warmly?!"

"Because Femina is important to me."

"...What do you mean? Are you trying to flatter me because I’m royalty?"

"Because you are the sister of Prince Leonhardt. Since Prince Leonhardt cherishes Femina, you are also important to me."

In the case of royalty and nobility, it was common for siblings to be on bad terms or distant.

That’s why the good relationship between Leonhardt and Femina, who were half-siblings, was precious.

She didn’t want to ruin their relationship because of her.

"What’s that supposed to mean...? You had a fight with your full sister, didn’t you? So why are you suddenly concerned about someone else’s sibling relationship?"

"Because my relationship with my sister didn’t go well. I don’t want Femina and the others to end up hating each other like my sister and I. I believe that having a loved one in the family is a rare and precious thing."

"...I see. You’ve had a tough time too, haven’t you?"

Femina lowered her head.

She has several half-siblings besides Leonhardt.

It seems she has had some troubles and struggles with sibling relationships.

"...I’ll go home for today. Be grateful."

Femina, who had become somber, seemed to have no intention of staying any longer.

She said this and hurriedly left.

(...At least, it seems to have worked for today...)

Femina still doesn’t seem to have given up on her harassment.

A 10-year-old princess jealous of her brother being taken away.

But she is also a princess, and she couldn’t just ignore her.

(I should meet Prince Leonhardt and discuss this...)

However, Leonhardt is very busy preparing for his coronation.

She didn’t want to trouble him unnecessarily.

How can she resolve the issue with Femina without burdening him too much? Cordelia sat on the long chair in her room, stroking Nini, deep in thought.

"Meow!!"

"Nini?"

Nini, who was on her lap, jumped off as if she had been startled.

She ran quickly to the window facing the garden, her white tail standing up and puffing out.

(What’s wrong...?)

Nini is a gentle cat.

It was unusual for her to show such alertness.

As Cordelia cautiously observed outside the window,

"...Your Highness?"

The golden lion cub, Leonhardt, appeared.

He was gently tapping the window frame with his paw.

Cordelia stood up and hurried to the window.

"I’m opening it now. Please come in."

"Roar!!"

The lion cub jumped in energetically.

His body rubbed against Cordelia’s dress, and he glowed faintly.

In the next moment, Leonhardt, dressed in his Gestcall, stood there.

"Your Highness, welcome. I thought you had official duties today—oh!"

Cordelia’s body was pulled strongly.

She found herself firmly embraced by Leonhardt.

Her face pressed against his chest, and she felt his breath on her hair.

The warmth and touch made her flail her arms and legs.

"Y-Your Highness?! What are you doing?!"

"...Let me stay like this a little longer."

"But..."

"I haven’t seen you for over ten days."

His low, raspy voice tickled Cordelia’s ear.

His breath and voice made the spots they touched feel hot.

Cordelia blushed and looked up at Leonhardt.

"...I also really wanted to see you, Your Highness."

"Cordelia..."

The arm around her back tightened.

He held her firmly yet gently, enclosing her in his embrace.

Leonhardt’s emerald eyes were melting, yet at the same time, they seemed to hold a fierce light.

"You’re saying such nice things... I might not be able to hold back if this continues."

"Your Highness..."

What couldn’t he hold back?

The question and the heat made her head spin.

As Leonhardt’s eyes, reflecting Cordelia’s image, narrowed—

"Meow!!"

Nini’s cry brought Cordelia back to her senses.

Nini, with her fur standing on end, was glaring at Leonhardt.

It seemed she thought Cordelia was being restrained and attacked by Leonhardt.

"...I seem to have startled her."

With a chuckle, Leonhardt’s body pulled away.

Cordelia felt relieved but also a bit lonely.

She squatted down to Nini.

"Nini, it’s okay. Your Highness isn’t a bad person."

"Meow meow meow..."

Nini seemed to calm down a bit at Cordelia’s voice.

However, she didn’t completely let down her guard and kept an eye on Leonhardt’s movements.

(What’s wrong...?)

Nini is generally a friendly cat.

She dislikes Priscilla and those who resemble her due to past mistreatment, but she doesn’t reject others.

(Is there something that bothers Your Highness?)

She observed Leonhardt quietly.

He stood tall and straight in his deep blue Gestcall.

His golden hair shone, and he had a straight nose and well-shaped eyebrows.

Their eyes met, and he smiled gently.

(Your Highness is as beautiful as ever today...)

She almost got lost in his gaze and quickly averted her eyes.

She had never stared at someone’s face so intently before.

As she calmed her heartbeat, Leonhardt looked at Nini.

"I’m sorry. The cat’s behavior is entirely my fault."

Leonhardt chuckled.

"Cats and dogs are much more sensitive than humans, right?"

"...Is Nini afraid of you?"

"Sometimes, this happens. Not as much as Hailroot, who reverts to a snake, but I also get an excessive reaction from dogs and cats."

Now that he mentioned it, it made sense.

There are beastmen, but no species can freely change between human and animal forms.

To Nini, Leonhardt must be an unknown and suspicious presence.