Chapter 2

I never thought I would meet a beastman in this world.

In my mind, another voice says, "That person is not a beastman but was cursed by the monster I killed." It was the memory of my former self whispering.

A curse? So what?

The fact that there is an incredibly charming man right in front of me doesn't change.

As I gaze at him, he gazes back at me.

Guided by his gaze, I take a step forward, and the people around us step back.

With a slight sound, I reach the person.

Even though I am tall, I only come up to his chest, and when I look up, I see a lion's face covered in a golden mane. Up close, I can see two old scars, diagonal and sharp, from his left jaw to his cheek. These scars make his lion's face look even more stern.

Though I can't see his expression, his gaze doesn't waver.

I pinch the ends of my dress, step one foot slightly back, bend the other knee, and bow slightly at the waist.

I perform the most beautiful curtsey of my life.

"Nice to meet you, I am Edith Aringham, the eldest daughter of the Aringham Viscount family."

I lift my face and smile warmly.

A low growl comes from the lion's throat.

Oh, not only does he look good, but he can even growl. How wonderful.

"... I am Rylee, the third son of the Winters Baron family. I have been granted the title of knight by His Majesty the King and currently hold the honorable position of Captain of the Second Prince's Guard."

The slightly hoarse bass voice might have frightened an ordinary noble daughter.

But to me, his deep voice suits his lion's face well.

"Oh, I knew you were a knight, but you are the one who leads the guard!"

My voice rises with excitement.

He is a lion beastman, with a hoarse deep voice, a large build, but polite in his speech, and has a rugged charm befitting a knight. He is from a baron's family and holds a knight's title. Being the guard of the Second Prince, the competition is lower than that of the King or the Crown Prince. Marrying the daughter of a viscount wouldn't create a significant status difference.

This is a perfect opportunity. It's like he's asking me to aim for him.

"Do you mind if I ask a rather impolite question? Are you engaged or do you have someone you are fond of, Mr. Winters?"

"Huh? ... No, I don't have anyone like that because of my circumstances..."

He answers, surprised by my forwardness.

This person is currently single. I feel even happier, and my smile deepens.

"Then, would you like to dance with me?"

As I extend my hand, the lion's sharp eyes blink.

How cute. His surprise is so adorable.

Generally, men ask women to dance, and while it's not against the rules for women to ask, it is quite rare.

A sense of confusion emanates from his large body.

Still, his large hand gently lifts mine from below.

I can see the golden fur growing through the gaps in his gloves.

He must have fur all over his body. Even from a distance, I can tell his mane is soft and fluffy. If his whole body is the same, it must feel wonderful to touch.

"If you don't mind..."

His voice is a bit tense, and I can't help but smile.

"Don't belittle yourself. I like you."

I might be considered a bit unladylike, but I pull our joined hands into the dance.

His large hand, with sharp claws, tentatively touches my waist. My heart races with excitement at the closeness. I feel so nervous, even though I was the one who asked him to dance, and I'm worried he might hear my heartbeat.

As we start moving to the light music, I quickly realize how skilled Mr. Winters is at dancing.

Despite our different heights and strides, our steps match. His sturdy build and large hands lead me confidently, and I feel safe following him. The strength of his pull as he spins me around is very pleasant.

"You are a very good dancer."

Since I have some spare time, I decide to chat.

"Actually, I practiced a bit. I haven't been in such a setting since I became this way. Miss Aringham, you are also a very good dancer. It's very easy to dance with you."

"Please call me Edith. I have only danced with my fiancé before. ... But our engagement was just broken, so he is now my ex-fiancé."

"Engagement broken?"

"He preferred my half-sister over me."

I shrug lightly, and the lion growls softly.

To others, it might sound frightening, but I am entranced.

The lion's mouth opens slightly, and he asks in a confused voice.

"Why did you speak to me?"

I can see anxiety, caution, and resignation in his lowered eyes.

Mr. Winters understands his appearance correctly.

In this world, he would be called a "monster," and no one would willingly approach someone like him, thinking he wouldn't be accepted.

So I smile and squeeze our joined hands.

"I have different tastes from others. I find people like you very appealing."

"... You like this lion's face and the ugly, furry body?"

I nod in response to his incredulous words.

"Yes, I am tall, so I prefer a tall, strong lion. I'm very curious about how soft and fluffy his mane is, and I want to touch the whiskers around his mouth."

"But I am cursed. This curse might transfer to you."

"Oh, then we would match perfectly."

If possible, I would like to become a lion or a cat.

As I continue, Mr. Winters stops dancing.

Did I say something wrong? I look up, and the lion opens his mouth wide and laughs out loud. The sound draws the attention of those around us, but they quickly turn away when they see his lion's face.

As I am pulled away from the dance floor, I feel uncomfortable because he is laughing so much.

"You are laughing too much."

We step out onto the terrace, and once out of sight, I place my hands on my hips and pretend to be angry, and Mr. Winters apologizes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect such a response."

I step closer to Mr. Winters, who had turned away.

He takes a step back, but I don't stop.

"Mr. Winters, will you marry me? I will never dislike you because of the curse. I won't cheat either. Because there is already the most charming man right in front of me."

As I press closer, Mr. Winters steps back, looking flustered.

If pressing doesn't work, I'll try pulling back.

"Or do you dislike plain women like me? Yes, I don't wear much makeup, my dress is plain, I am tall, and I lack charm, and I was just jilted. No one would want me, right?"

"No, I have a good nose, so I don't like too much makeup... but that's not the point."

"So you don't dislike me? Oh, how wonderful! If you don't dislike me, you can marry me, right? Fortunately, I am single now."

"But we just met, and marriage is..."

"The time it takes to get married varies. Some people don't even see their husbands before marriage, and it's not unusual to get engaged and married right after meeting!"

I look at him, waiting for a response, and hear a snort.

Then, a loud laugh echoes.

I realize I have cornered Mr. Winters at the edge of the terrace, and when I turn around, I see several figures standing at the entrance.

In the middle stands a slender, beautiful young man with long, silver hair that looks like melted moonlight, flowing over his shoulders, and eyes that shine like rubies. Two knights in the same attire as Mr. Winters stand on either side of him.

"Ha ha ha ha! Did you see that? The 'Hero Lion Rylee Winters' being flustered by a smaller, younger lady! It's too funny!"

The beautiful young man laughs, and the knights on either side remain silent.

I quickly step away from Mr. Winters and perform a curtsey.

Mr. Winters places his hand on his chest and bows.

The beautiful silver hair and deep red eyes are a sign of the royal family.

"Ah, no need for such formality. Lift your head."

I lift my head at the wave of his hand.

Mr. Winters whispers, "Prince Shawn, how long have you been here..."

"Since the lady spoke to you. It looked interesting, so I came to see."

He says it so casually that I can't even get angry.

The king in my memory is in his forties, and the crown prince is in his mid-twenties. The person in front of me looks a bit younger, so he must be the Second Prince, Shawn Ryle Masgrave.

In the dim light, his red eyes look at me.

"What's your name?"

"I am Edith Aringham, the eldest daughter of the Aringham Viscount."

"Hmm, why did you speak to Rylee? He looks scary, doesn't he? He's a bit of a stickler, but he's a great knight. Marrying him might give you a decent status. But he has a lion's face, claws, and fangs. He's a monster, right?"

He points at Mr. Winters with his thumb.

"... No, he's not..."

"Huh?"

"He's not a monster!"

I lift my head forcefully, and Prince Shawn's eyes widen in surprise.

I lean in, and the knights behind him react, but I ignore them and pull Mr. Winters' arm to make him bend down.

"Is it okay, Your Highness? Look closely. This dignified and strong lion's face. Isn't it handsome? The scar on his left cheek makes him even more attractive. But he also has cute features, like the whiskers around his mouth, the fluffy fur on his chin, the soft and fluffy mane, the round ears peeking out, and the large, round eyes. The contrast is perfect. His voice is deep and soothing, and he is gentlemanly despite his stern appearance. His large build is very comforting. And he even has a tail! Everything about him is perfect!"

"Perfect? What do you mean...?"

"Mr. Winters is my ideal man, curse and all! I would love to brush his mane every day if it's allowed!"

Prince Shawn looks between me and Mr. Winters, then covers his mouth and starts laughing.

He laughs so hard that he seems to be hyperventilating.

"Beard... ears, eyes are cute? Grooming the fur...!"

I still have more to say, but I feel satisfied.

"Really, my appearance isn't scary to you..."

Mr. Winters says in a daze, and I nod firmly.

"Of course not. It's incredibly charming!"

Even his wet, shiny nose is cute.

At this, Prince Shawn finally bursts out laughing, clutching his stomach. He looks so uncomfortable that one of the knights is rubbing his back, but the laughter doesn't stop.

It's a bit rude to laugh so much after asking someone a question.

But I won't complain to the royal family.

After laughing for a while, Prince Shawn calms down with a few deep breaths, though he still has a smile on his face.

"I see. I thought you were acting out of desperation after your engagement was broken, but it's just a case of love at first sight, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

As time passes, I calm down and nod at the prince with a composed face.

The knights behind him have mixed expressions, but I don't care.

I just answered the question honestly.

"Rylee, that's great. A lady who likes you this much is probably one in a million. If you let her go, you might be single for life. The royal family would like to see excellent bloodlines continue."

"That's true, but even if we agree, her parents might object."

"Hmm, then I'll call the Aringham Viscount tomorrow and persuade him. If she wants to marry you, and her father agrees, there should be no problem. It would be interesting to have someone like her as your wife."

The last part is a bit of a slip, Your Highness.

But if the prince approves of Mr. Winters and me getting married, my father and stepmother won't be able to object.

After all, it's a direct match from the royal family. They can't refuse and risk offending them.

When asked if I'm okay with it, I nod with a full smile.