I Raised the Beast Well

He stayed still just a few steps away from the chair, looking intently at her back. He trailed the lines of her elegant back and thought of how it looked weaker than a baby deer and rabbit. If he attacked now, surely she’d die right away.

However, instead of drawing his claws out toward the weak prey, the beast was busy exploring with his gaze, her soft-looking shoulders. His prey was completely unaware of his presence even though he was sitting right behind her, in plain sight.

Being this defenseless, I’m sure you’d be an easy prey for wild animals. Such a foolish prey. Don’t you sense something is lurking right behind you?

It was hard to believe that such a weakling lived alone in the middle of the forest. Even now, he could finish her off in one bite.

「…….」

Aymon rested his head on his front paws. He openly seated behind her. He felt like he had to protect that weak figure.

Thus, the beast sat there like a statue all day long to protect her from this dangerous forest.

Until the sun slipped down from the sky and the surrounding area colored itself golden by the sunset. Belinda finally got up after spending the day eating cookies and reading books.

“Uhhm.”

Clasping her hands together, she stretched her arms up. Perhaps she was going to return, so she began to pack up her belongings.

“Kyaaa!”

After coincidentally looking back, she then screamed in surprise.

It was the beast that surprised her the most.

The black leopard was startled by her scream, so he scurried away to hide behind the bushes. But its large body was still out in the open because it didn’t mean to hide in the first place.

Why am I so surprised by that weakling? By a weak prey who seems like it could die just by getting hit by my paws? Why has my heart been beating so fast since earlier?

The human made a strange face. It was a face full of emotion, a mixture of resentment and happiness, and she seemed to be on the verge of tears.

It wasn’t long before she began to advance slowly. The leopard backed away to avoid her. Their distance had grown again.

Belinda stopped her advance. She just stood from a distance without taking her eyes off Aymon.

A pair of eyes that he knew somehow were once highlighted in golden color, were now burning red. Her eyes were wet as if tears were going to drop soon.

As she stood still, a faint smile rose on her face when the leopard crept up to her.

Perhaps it’d be the same as before even if he lost his memory, after all.

A warm greeting and eyes full of affection.

“Are you wary because it’s your first time seeing me?”

「…….」

“I see my cat turned into a real cat again.”

「…….」

“Just like when we first met. Right?”

There was no reaction from the beast, but she didn’t stop talking for long. She couldn’t help it as his presence itself was too overwhelming for her.

“Thank you for coming. Thank you so much, Aymon.”

Aymon, who couldn’t understand human language, only swung his tail gently without lowering his guard.

***

The warm sunlight streamed through the lush trees in the quiet forest. Only the sound of leaves shook by the soft breeze and chirping birds broke the silence.

Leisurely sitting on the grass, Belinda held a book in one hand and a large stick with feathers at the tip in the other hand.

Aymon’s eyes were stuck toward the swaying feathers.

At first, his two pupils followed the movement slowly. However, when Belinda threw the branch he jumped right away and caught it with his muzzle at once. In a swift and clean movement as if preying on a running deer.

「…….」

Then he froze for a while, perhaps stunned by his own act.

What the hell am I doing right now?

It felt like he was teased by this golden creature. But he couldn’t help it. His mind and body kept moving out of control whenever he was right next to her.

He could feel the blonde woman smiled at him. Meanwhile, Aymon just walked through fallen leaves and sat behind her as if nothing happened.

“You used to play like this.”

The woman muttered unknown words again. He couldn’t understand human language. Aymon pretended not to hear it and buried his face on his front paws. He wanted to protect this weak prey who played with him.

It became a routine that lasted for more than two weeks. A routine that became his goal in life for no apparent reason.

Aymon, who had been lazing around, jumped up all of a sudden. He felt an unfamiliar smell from a distance. It was different from Belinda’s sweet scent.

Grrr……

Aymon bared his fangs toward the forest. Belinda carefully approached him when he hardened his muscle as if to leap out right away.

“I guess it’s time for them to come.”

Aymon didn’t loosen his guard despite her gentle tone that rang as if to soothe him.

I can’t help it. The human next to me is living alone in this dangerous forest. I must protect her.

“Aymon. Don’t attack them. Those who will arrive soon are my precious people.”

At last, Aymon hid his fangs due to his gentle command.

Aymon.

His heart fluttered wildly each time she said that strange word. His throat felt itchy thanks to the unknown emotion that rose within him.

Belinda hesitated for a while before raising her hand. It was an attempt to smooth Aymon’s fur.

But she flinched because the leopard bared his fangs once again as if threatening her. She wasn’t allowed to touch him yet.

“Why are you sticking to me when you don’t want me to touch you? So you can come closer but I can’t do the same?”

Grrrr…..

“Alright. Alright. I got it, so stop being angry, Aymon.”

‘Aymon.’

As soon as he heard that sweet word, he loosened his tense expression again as if he was bewitched.

“Geez, you’re so feisty.”

Belinda smiled, prepared to welcome the guests. She shielded him in case the others were startled to see this big cat.

The others would recognize him right away, but right now he was only a beast who relied on his instinct, not a Shinsu.

“Princess!”

Lucy, who was rushing toward Belinda originally wanted to hug her tightly, but then she gave up on the urge. Because she knew about Belinda’s physical condition.

So instead of hugging the princess, Lucy bagan to nag.

“You’ve gotten thinner.”

“No. I’m just the same as ever.”

Lucy carefully patted Belinda’s forearms with a sad look.

“Look at how much you got thinner! Are you eating well? Should I just take care of you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Or come back to the imperial palace. Please?”

Belinda shook her head slowly.

“I’m fine. I feel like my heart will break if I stay in the palace.”

Belinda’s days in the Imperial Palace were only filled with suffering. She missed Aymon so much.

At last, she came here. If Aymon was still alive, he might visit this place. She barely hung on to that weak expectation, so she couldn’t possibly return to the palace.

After calming down Lucy who kept crying at her departure, she came here to live by herself. She lived in solitude and received food once every fifteen days. She endured her longing, wishing Aymon would come back someday.

“I’m really the same. It’s only been fifteen days since we last saw each other.”

“But, but….”

Lucy stammered. She originally had a lot to say. She wanted to persuade Belinda so she would return to the palace, move on and regain her life.

But Lucy couldn’t bring herself to speak more because she knew Belinda’s feelings. She just bowed her head deeply in sadness.

She recalled how Belinda was no different than a withering flower while living in the palace. Day by day passed, she only sat by the window and cried looking at the forest. She teared up as she missed the one who got away.

When Belinda came to this small mansion, she seemed to regain her energy little by little, so Lucy couldn’t dissuade her from living alone.

Lart, who stood next to Lucy like a wooden stone, sighed deeply and put down the basket. It was filled with freshly baked bread, cookies, fruits, dried meat and some cooked food.

Amid his busy schedule as the new emperor, he never skipped going back and forth to deliver the food for his half-sister.

“Lucy is right. I’d be best if you return, Belinda.

“I’m not going back.”

Belinda answered so firmly that it made Lart heave another sigh.

“What’s the point of waiting for a beast that won’t come back? We don’t even know if he’s alive or not.”

His sentence was filled with bitterness. It pained him whenever he saw Belinda waiting for a beast, that no-one knew if it was alive or not.

He wished for her to forget everything and start anew. He felt suffocated whenever he saw Belinda enduring everything alone in a secluded place.

He felt pity for her. He couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to endure everything alone.

But Belinda just smiled.

“No. He’s not dead.”

“What do you mean? You don’t even know if he’s alive or not.”

“I’m serious. He’s back.”

“He’s…what?”

Lart asked back in bewilderment.

Who’s back? Don’t tell me…. No way! Come to think of it, Belinda’s expression look brighter than last time.

So Lart looked around in a hurry.

“Agh!”

Then he staggered in surprise.

————–