Chapter 105 - Detestable Cat

When Aleister saw the blood patches on his chest, he carried Esme in his arms without a moment's delay and turned around to leave.

''Brother-in-law, my sister…''

''She is tired and needs some rest. Meanwhile, you need to sleep early as well lest you end up becoming a weakling,'' Aleister glanced at him from above his shoulder, ''Wake up early and go to train with the Chief of the royal guards,'' With that said, he left.

Arlan's face which dimmed at the first sentence quickly lit up at his consequent words. ''He is good-looking, neither old nor has filthy intentions like those influential men in the village who eyed  sister. He is powerful, cares about sister, cares about me…'' he paused for a moment before continuing, ''I was not wrong about it. He is the best man for sister,'' he nodded in appreciation but another wave of dizziness hit him.

Arlan winced before climbing on the bed. He would really end up as a weakling at this rate.

…

''How do you feel? I told you to stop, didn't I?'' Aleister kicked the door with his foot and entered the room, his gaze stuck to the woman in his arms whose face was pale as a sheet.

''Stop nagging,'' Esme glanced at the bloodstains on his shirt, ''I will wash it for you.''

''It is a wonder how I stop myself from strangling you at times like this,'' he spoke through gritted teeth.

Esme wrapped an arm around his neck. Her body was so weak that she felt like she would slide off from his hold and fall down at any moment, ''Like you said, we will go our different paths. I don't want to owe you anything more than I already do. Who knows if you will come to taunt me in the future?" she looked at his face. 

Aleister placed her on the bed before squishing her cheeks in his palms, ''You are already at this state. Is it necessary to fight with me?"

Esme's lips formed a pout because of his tight hold on her cheeks, ''You started it.''

''Did I?"

Esme grabbed his finger and his grip loosened on her index fingers. She closed her eyes while holding his hand, ''I want to pay you back for everything. I want to apologize to you for my assumptions regarding you in my initial days in the castle. I want to be able to help you with anything I can.....'' His face softened at her words. He leaned closer to hear her words as  her lips moved slowly, ''….before I leave.''

Aleister's face darkened. He placed the tip of his finger on her cheek, ''Are you that eager to leave?'' he whispered but there was no response from her.

He pushed himself to his feet and walked towards the bathroom. He raised his finger and a golden ray shot out of it, aimed at the painting on the wall. As soon as it touched the painting, the wall split open revealing an entrance.

Aleister was about to step inside but his footsteps paused when he heard some noises. ''Come out.''

As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a movement near the window and a huge white figure leapt inside the room. It stopped in front of the bed.

Aleister glanced at Leo from behind the curtains, ''She is sleeping. I will roast you and feed you to wolves  if she wakes up.''

Leo let out a small protesting growl before he walked towards him and lowered his head in front of Aleister.

The corner of his lips twitched, ''Are you asking for a pat?'' Aleister raised an eyebrow.

Leo glanced at him with his sparkly eyes that loudly said 'Yes'.

''Oh? Have you turned into a cat?" he mocked before ignoring the feral's whines as he turned around and  stepped inside the underground passage.

Leo followed after him quietly. That human girl is a decent one. At least, she won't detest him when he asks for pats. That makes a difference.

Aleister descended the stairs and walked towards the table in the middle of the study room, ''You want to ask for pats?'' he asked Leo while looking at the parchments kept on the table.

Leo growled as an affirmation.

''Then you should cling to her,'' Aleister said, his gaze roaming through the books in the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Leo growled in protest. Cling to her? Is it not detestable now? Is that not a catty trait?

Aleister stepped  towards the shelf in the corner and picked up a book with an unremarkable brown cover. He picked it up and flipped through the pages, ''She wants to leave,'' he said while his fingers grabbed a parchment hidden between the pages.

Leo roared. Stop her then, Master. You need some progress!

''I can't force her to stay against her will, can I?" he turned to look at Leo, ''I am a decent man. It would be unfair of me to do this to a lady..''

Leo: "_"

The more he saw his Master, the more he understood what narcissism meant. 

Aleister opened the parchment before reading the words written on it. 

'Not to be tamed, not to appear

Neither by a battle hymn nor by holy water

Sin in the pulse, blessing in the eyes

A part divine, two parts in rise

Unseen til' the rebel blood is dropped twice'

''What a strange way to phrase things,'' Aleister clicked his tongue in frustration.

No matter how lame it was, it was the only way that will help them find out the words written in that book.

''Hmm?'' he raised an eyebrow when Leo stepped towards him,, ''Do you perhaps know what this means?" He extended the parchment towards him when he noticed his curious expression on his face. 

Leo extended his paw and scratched Aleister's palm lightly.. A drop of blood oozed out of the cut and he stared at the feral before looking back at the parchment in his hand.