Chapter 11

A couple of hours ago.

[Well done. You did really good, Glick.]

Ains carefully stroked Glick’s head a few times, then he raised himself. He turned and faced me then I gave him a big smile.

‘Now, tell me you’re ready to grant my wish.’

Our eyes met and I smiled even wider.

At last, Ains’ lips opened. But what he said was quite different from what I expected.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Yes? “

“For Glick’s full recovery.”

I was embarrassed by his unexpected question, but I answered calmly and unshakably.

“As you may have seen, the wound is severe. I think it’ll take, at least, another week for him to fully get well. And the medicinal herb we used is meant to be used for humans, so it could take longer than that especially if it doesn’t get applied regularly.”

“Hm…. “

‘Now, are you finally gonna tell me that you’re going to grant my wish? Yes?’

I smiled gladly again in anticipation. But what’s happening? Unexpected words just keeps coming out of his mouth!

“Then for the meantime, you’ll have to take care of Glick.”

What? Me?

Embarrassed, I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“We didn’t talked about that. You just said that if I cured your leopard, you will grant my wish.”

“When I said cured, what I meant is a complete recovery.”

Ains’ eyes were filled with firmness.

“Thanks to you, I’ve figured out what’s wrong with him, but you just said with your mouth that I have to wait at least a week for his complete recovery. In the meantime, if there’s a problem with Glick, who’s to blame?”

He’s not wrong. Since he really care about Glick, he probably wont be able to trust me until he can confirm that Glick’s completely healed.

Yeah, I get it.

I understand….

I was trying hide it but I’m a little upset. I felt a little twisting feeling inside me since that means he don’t trust me that much.

I soon met Ains’ proud. We’re not even playing a game, but why do I feel like I lost?!

“Fine, I’ll take care of him until he gets better. But, once he gets well, please not only grant my wish, but also thank me.”

*bzzzzztt*

Maybe it was just my feeling, but I felt like a spark was coming out of the air. No, am I the only one who’s prepared to die?

Ains answered, pulling up the end of his lips in a pleased smirk.

“Alright, I promise. And let me advise you in advance, you’d better not think about running away.”

“No way. Rather, it’s an honor to be given a chance to take care of Glick.”

….And that’s how he left me with Glick. It was an impulsive decision, but I don’t regret it.

On second thought, Ains’ words made sense, and I’m more relieved that I’m the one taking care of Glick than others.

Both the Crown Prince and Tyr went out, and now, it was just me and Glick in the room.

Although I was unintentionally trapped inside this room, I did not feel frustrated because the room was so big. Rather, I was more worried for Glick, who went back into the cage. He might feel frustrated.

I don’t know if he’s worried about me or if he’s just worried about me making a disturbance, but before he left the room, Ains ordered Glick to go back into the cage. Glick went in without a complaint.

‘…Are you asleep?’

I glanced at him while I sat on the chair. But I can’t check his face because he’s turning his head away from me.

‘The herb leaves must’ve been almost dry by now, right? Then I have to apply it again.’

As I was agonizing, I let go of a very small voice.

[Glick, are you sleeping?]

Then the answer came right back.

[I’m not sleeping.]

Oh, thank God you’re awake. I pulled myself up from the chair and approached Glick.

“Can I just take a look at your wound?”

[…I want to eat meat.]

(t/n: poor baby)

Somehow it sounded like a dead voice. Come to think of it, I guess he haven’t been able to eat properly. It’s not like he can eat raw meat even if they gave him one.

…..!

That’s right!

An idea flashed through my mind at the moment. I started talking to Glick again while smiling widely.

“Let me see the wound first. Then I’ll give you meat.”

Then Glick suddenly jumped up. His golden eyes were full of joy.

[Really?]

“Of course. You said you believed me.”

[All right. Look at it quickly.]

Ah-

I burst into laughter at the sight of him opening his mouth wide even before I could even ask.

When I opened the cage door, Glick walked out with his mouth open. Then, he folded his hind legs and sat in front of me.

“Let’s see… “

I looked up close and checked his opened mouth.

But I couldn’t see the herb that was supposed to be sticking to the wound.

Don’t tell me…

“Did you swallow it?”

[I swallowed it.]

“Why? You told me it’s not delicious.”

[I was talking to you a little while ago and it went over my throat.]

“Pu-hahahaha!”

[Don’t laugh. It was awful.]

‘You’re so cute!’

“Then eat the meat first and get another dose of medicine.”

[Again?]

“Because you swallowed it.”

In fact, even if he didn’t swallow it, I still have to remove the damp herb and reapply it, but I know that it’s something Glick doesn’t want to hear base on his expression so I tried to keep it a secret for a little longer.

“Wait a minute. I’ll ask them to bring me the meat.”

Then I got up and headed for the entrance. Then came the urgent sound of throat from behind.

[Meat is delicious! I want to eat a lot.]

“All right, all right.”

Arriving at the door, I pushed it hard to open then asked the soldiers, with only my head glancing through the gap.

“Could you call Your Highness the Crown Prince or Mr. Tyr, please? I have something to tell them regarding the leopard meal.”

I was worried that I might get ignored, but fortunately, I was not. After a while I saw Tyr walking this way.

“I heard you called me over for Glick’s meal.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can he eat in that state?”

“I have to make it possible.”

“….How would you even do that?”

He asked with his eyebrows raised slightly.

“Bring me thinly sliced meat. Boil it so he can swallow it without chewing too much.”

I’m sorry, Glick. I can’t give you fresh raw meat yet.

But meat is meat, so you’ll understand right?

◆◇◆◇◆◇

After feeding Glick boiled meat, I applied another herb in his wound. Then after 2 hours, I applied another one again.

Time went by without much effort. It was already sunset when I turned my eyes into the windows. The door opened and someone came in. It was Ains.

I jumped up from my seat as soon as I recognized his face. I should say my greeting first, right?

“You’re here, your highness.”

I made a brief eye contact with Ains but he quickly turned his eyes away and ignored me. He reached out to the cage door. Then he stroked Glick’s neck who was lying on his stomach.

Hah this guy.

I let out a fake smile. Is this guy really the crown prince?

I clenched my fist and pretended to hit him in the back. Then he suddenly turned around and I almost got caught.

Haa, that scared me to death.

After a while, Ains came in front of me.

“Well done.”

“You’re welcome.

“You may go rest for today. Tyr’s outside, so you can follow him.”

“What about Glick?”

“I’ll stay here for the time being until he feels well.”

“Okay, then I’ll be on my way.”

I bowed slightly and stood back. Then, I let go of my thoughts quickly because I was worried.

[Good night, Glick. See you tomorrow.]

[………]

There was no reply.

Well, they really are the same after all.

[Rohin year 26, month xx, day xx,

Today was a really spectacular day.

I finally met the Crown Prince and the Leopard today. The leopard is big and he has black fur. I was a little scared at first, but I finally spoke to Glick after andu… endo… enduring it for a long time.

The wound was so big, I was surprised. He must have been in so much pain.

Luckily, I was able to understand animals. And Glick…

When I put the boiled meat on his plate, he looked at me as if he loss a whole country. I feel bad for laughing but it was so funny. But it was a relief that he still ate it well.

After he finished eating, I put another layer of herbs on his wound.

I said I would give him some fresh raw meat. It’s completely mon… minced up, tomorrow morning.

I looked at it again in the evening, and I was surprised to see that it looks a lot better than before. If I give him a dose like that regularly, then he might get better soon. I feel really relived that I was be able to cure Glick.

And Gerard lied to me. The Crown Prince was different from the leopard. He’s actually handsome. His face is fair and his hair is black.

No, I guess there are some similarities as well. They both have dark hair and their personality…Personality… Anyway, it’s the same.

If Glick got better quickly and ate a lot of meat, then it’s a jackpot.]

— Diary of Maria who met the Prince and Glick today–

◇◆◇◆◇◆

Humans are just like animals when it comes to adapting to their environment. I didn’t have to look for evidence from afar. Because it’s happening to me right now.

What this means is…

“Good morning, Miss Maria. I’ll help you wash your face.”

“What kind of dress do you like today?”

“The meal is ready. You can go to the dining room to eat now.”

It has already been five days since I stayed at the palace for Glick’s treatment. And forbthe mean time, I was given a very spacious and colorful room and I’m being treated courteously by the maids too.

When I open my eyes, they start my day by bringing water to wash my face in a basin.

After washing up and drying my face with a towel, they put on some fragrant cream on me, and bring out a few expensive dresses and give me a choice to choose what I like.

“I’ll wear this.”

Then they’ll brush my hair about a hundred times with a comb and then put in a ribbon pin that matches the dress.

At first, I thought I was going to die of pressure. But like what I said before, humans are just like animals when it comes to adapting to a new environment. The same pattern has been repeated for 5 days, and I found myself already quite used to it.

I went to see Glick whenever I could too. His road to recovery is much better than I thought. After applying herbs for inflammation regularly, his wound which used to be the size of a thumbnail, has now been reduced to about half. At this rate, the wound will surely heal completely sooner or later.

Since Glick is a nocturnal animal, he’s usually lying on his stomach during the day and during those times, I spent my time reading a book next to him.

‘Taklon’s ….son Katarus, was sent to mistake….Huh? Ah. was sent to the earth to lead the battle… “

(t/n: ‘wrong’ (땡으로) sounds like :to the earth’ (땅으로) in korean.)

When I closed the book and turned my head to the rattling sound, I saw Glick, sitting already while looking at the door with an excited expression.

If Glick stands up and sits down like that, it means a servant is approaching. It’s the servant in charged to serve his meals.

Even now, I still give him tender boiled meat or sliced raw meat, and he complains that it was not good because it was too soft all the time.

“Is that so? Then don’t eat it if you don’t want it.”

When I try to play jokes like that and take his plate, he slaps my hand with his big front paw and takes the plate from me with a stroke.

Then chomp chomp chomp, with a delicious sound, he empties his plate in an instant and sits on his stomach then he looks away as if nothing happened.

Then I will hold back my laughter as I put the herb in his mouth. After that, I will continue reading the book.

This has been my daily routine this past five days.

When I went back to my room after the good day, the maids came out and welcomed me.

‘I wonder what’s for dinner tonight?’

I was sitting on the sofa, imagining about the dinner happily, when I heard someone’s voice outside the door.

“Miss Maria, may I come in for a moment?”

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈