CH 91

The swords that tried to stab Leone only cut through the air. It was because of Leone’s rapid leap. He came this way in an instant.

“Grr!”

As there were many corpses on the floor, the number of people had decreased considerably. Did they say that animals get excited when they see blood? There was no reason left in Leone’s eyes.

“Where!”

Even the assassins were not easy. They blocked Leone right in front of her. He ran amok without reaching her. More and more, becoming the wolf itself.

“Leave it here, let’s go, miss.”

The man holding her whispered in her ear. It gave her goosebumps. She was carried away by the man so easily.

“Leave me, bastard!”

She swung her fists and feet into the air while screaming.

“Ah, hold still, bitch! Why are her hands so hot?”

As she struggled, she kicked the man in the face, arms, and thighs. The man tilted slightly, as if carrying her was difficult, but his frightened arm did not loosen.

“Kreu, kong…!”

Leone was going to come this way. While she was more dangerous. She moved more vigorously. She wanted to free at least one arm. And then…

“Ha! uck!”

She kicked the man’s center. She had protective equipment, but even taking that into consideration, it took quite a bit of strength. The power that scared her was released.

“Haha.”

Just in case, she kicked the center of the man lying on the floor once more. This time, using her left foot as a support, she put all her strength into it.

“Oops, this… devil…!”

The man who had shouted his deathbed passed out. He seemed to pass out.

“Haha! Did you see?! Do not come, Leone.”

Leone’s eyes were round. Unlike before, the other side turned. He looked at her with surprised eyes, then smiled.

“Wait a minute, Trixie.”

The voice calmed down. He drove her into a corner and fought with his back to her. And finally. He told her to wait a little bit, and it was really short. The smell of blood was thick. All she could hear was Leone’s breathing. He came up to her on all fours and sat down on the floor.

“Trixie, are you okay?”

“Are you looking at me and asking me that? You’re the one who got hurt!”

Leone looked tired. There was also a knife cut on his thigh. Even if Leone was strong enough to overpower Adler, his opponent’s numbers were too many. In addition, Leone lacked the experience of interpersonal combat. It was a miracle that he overcame it like this.

“I am fine.”

Leone smiled. Such a fresh smile on the subject of being covered in blood.

“…great job.”

She didn’t have anything to say, so she said something like that.

“Trixie.”

“Huh?”

“Because of me, it became dangerous. Sorry.”

“What?”

“For all. Those who are after me.”

The latter was true, but she couldn’t agree with the former because it was a false premise.

“Why is this because of you? Those guys are bad.”

“So, do you think so?”

“Of course! Did you want to become a prince? They are just saying that you are the prince, just like that.”

Leone laughed.

“I was scared.”

“Omg. Having fought with so many people, it’s not rare at all to feel scared. I wish I was a bit stronger too. I am truly sorry.”

“That’s not it.”

Leone shook his head.

“I fear Trixie will die because of me. The beings I love are all. Because of me- I feel like she is going to die.”

His eyes looked very sad. He was looking at her, but not at her, with eyes that seemed to be looking far away. She grabbed his shoulders with both hands. He came back from afar and saw her.

“Leone. I am alive.”

“Huh. Trixie, thanks. I am not afraid.”

“Thank god! Don’t think like that. No one died because of you.”

“…Do the brothers think so too?” Leone muttered.

“Brothers…?”

“…huh.”

Leone faced her and opened his mouth.

“Humans. Call us wolves.”

Quaang.

The moment Leone spoke, the door opened. Standing there was Adler, who was in a similar state to Leone.

“Lord Leone!”

He came crying. Seemingly hurt quite badly, his leg was lame and he was holding onto his shoulder. It was to the point where Leone’s wounds were thought to be insignificant.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Why are you so late! I almost got into trouble.”

“I am sorry. I neglected my training. I was wrong!”

‘Looks like there were quite a few people over there too…’

Leone and she silently watched Adler’s wailing show, then stood up after the tears stopped. There was something more urgent than the three of them talking right now. A story to hear from Leone.

* * *

Leone went to his room, avoiding Adler’s eyes, and then came back to her newly assigned room. All morning they groped into the distant past. As before, she sat down and Leone lay on the floor. 

The ending of the story Leone told her was very shocking. She thought that the target of his anger might be the Emperor, but to think such a thing had happened. It was more serious than she thought. It was something he would never be able to forgive. It was no wonder that Leone lost his temper.

Again, the more she heard about it, the more she thought how good Leone would have been if he hadn’t been the prince. It would be nice if he could escape even now, but even if he renounces the throne now, there was a high possibility that he would be in danger the moment he left the imperial castle because of his lineage. There was no way the Archduke would leave him alone as he inherited the blood of the imperial family.

Whether the main couple appears and takes care of the Archduke, or Leone and Adler defeat and trample the Archduke, it was much safer to stay here until a complete victory was obtained. It was broken through like this today, but there were castle walls, fences, and knights in the palace. If he went outside, this was not there either.

“Today is similar, I thought. Tried to be bait for my brothers. After all, when I was caught- and then the brothers died.”

“Is that why you keep telling me to look at you?! Leone, don’t do that again.”

“I am… I’m fine.”

She was saddened that it didn’t look good. She thought he was excited about hunting, but the memory of that time hit him and he lost my mind.

“…Leone. Hey. Later, in the middle of the day. When everything is resolved, you can leave the prince position and whatever and run away.”

“Escape?”

“Huh. It’s dangerous right now, so I can’t say you’re going to get out of here. When it’s safe, then leave. Leone has no obligation to become the prince. You can choose. There must be someone right who can hand over the throne.”

“Huh.”

“That’s how you live away from humans. Do what Leone wants.”

She didn’t dare to offer consolation. So she just said these words. Her stomach had become stuffy.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t let you go right away.”

He felt guilty and apologized. Leone’s big hand held her hand.

“Do not do that, Trixie. Humans, it’s kind of fun. I am not, as I was then, trapped in a nightmare.”

Leone laughed. It looked really great. He lost everyone; he had nightmares every day, was possessed by anger, lost his temper, and lived aggressively. But now he was able to suppress those feelings.

“Humans, they are all different. Like today, there are humans like that too. There are people like Emperors. Teachers and knights are different people…”

“That’s right, but…”

“There’s only one human being like Trixie.”

“Haha yes. Somebody would crawl on all fours to play with Leone.”

“Huh. That’s right. So, don’t worry.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

“When that time comes, where is Trixie?”

She was speechless. It would be nice to be by his side, of course. Wasn’t it funny to hide this kind of heart and continue to stay together with the subject of being named as a guardian?

“Hmm, well. Shall I gather stray puppies and set up a shelter?”

So she spoke of a dream she had once thought about. Leone was speechless.

“It’s a distant future, so I don’t know yet. Let’s solve everything first. You can’t live like this for the rest of your life.”

“Trixie.”

“Huh!”

“I love you.” he whispered softly.

It was a confession she always heard, but today her heart sank. She needed to find equilibrium as quickly as possible. She felt like her whole body was shaking.

“Yes, Leone. I like you too.”

She barely managed to squeeze her voice out. 

“Oh, sleepy. My voice just goes to sleep. Let’s sleep now, Leone. You go to your room too.”

“Trixie.”

“Yes. Come on.”

His voice tightened her heart, and she jumped up from her seat. No, he was about to stand up. Leone sat up and hugged her tightly. She threw it into Leone’s arms with a hesitant posture. She had been avoiding being this close to Leone, but it happened in an instant. Hard body, hot body temperature. The scent of Leone, a large body that embraced her. She felt every single one of those things. Oh, she wondered if it would be like this. She didn’t hate it.

“What, what are you doing? Leone.”

“…I’m anxious, yes.”

Then she saw that his heart was beating really fast. There was such a battle today… It seemed that the trauma of the family continued.

“Ah… yes. It will be fine Leone.”

Maybe it’s because he’s been stroking and soothing since before, but it seemed like skinship was a way to soothe her anxiety. It wasn’t very good for her. Leone, who was holding her tighter and catching her breath, suddenly supported her buttocks with his two hands and sat her on his thigh.

“Ahh, what are you doing!”

Sitting on top of Leone’s thighs, it became embarrassing to face him. He looked at her with relaxed eyes. The atmosphere was different from Leone’s until now. It seemed like her face would explode. Leone put her arm around her neck and he said softly.

“Trixie posture. I thought it would be inconvenient.”

Was this caring? She would be caught by someone if he was considerate twice.

“Go to bed now!”

She punched Leone in the chest and jumped up. In her mind, she memorized all sorts of nonsensical prayers. She even sang the national anthem.

“Uhm. I’m sleepy, I’ll sleep here.”

Leone looked at her and fell back on the floor.

“Leone. You understand everything now, and you know how this place works. If you sleep here, you will be in trouble.”

“I can go early in the morning. No one will know.”

“This is just a trick.”

Leone hesitated for a while longer, and when she tried to stab him in the side, he ran away to his room.