Translator/editor: ruby

Belinda put the box of tea back onto the table and sighed. One day she would understand this unruly Shinsus behavior. Maybe he was just in a bad mood.

Lucy brought in a plate of cookies and pushed them in front of Aymon. Paying no attention to them, he kept rolling around a glass bottle of tea.

This was a gift, huh?

Lucy answered.

Aymon, its a tea made of rare dried flowers. Its really expensive.

What? Thats ridiculous. Even the flowers from the flower bed outside are prettier than this.

He pushed down on it with his front paw. The thick glass bottle, intact even after falling on the floor, shattered like cheap candy. It was an amazing feat, but instead of being surprised, Belinda ran over to him with a concerned face.

Aymon! Is your paw all right? Are you hurt?

She was much more worried about his paws than the bottle. She couldnt let him hurt his cute little feet.

He lifted up his paws for her to examine.

Aymon started to pounce on Belinda with questions while she had his front paws in hand and was looking through them.

What the hell was he here for? Whyd he give you that invitation? And the flower teas?

Instead of answering, Belinda moved her lips slightly.

She was caught off guard by the stream of questions and didnt even know what to answer first.

Lucy answered, smiling.

Aymon, I think youll have to ask her one by one if you want an answer.

That didnt calm him down.

Is it common for humans to invite people to their birthday parties?

I dont know. Maybe its just to be polite, since Im a princess?

And why would he give you all these expensive teas as a gift!?

Its a polite thing to do when you visit someone?

She couldnt exactly take out the brooch now she was afraid it wouldnt last long in Aymons hands if he found out about it.

What! Whats wrong with him?? Just coming around to see you like that??

Well

Is he reading my mind right now?

She shook her head. She was more worried about Aymon rather than herself could the Duke be trying to make fun of her again with Adelai, or is it really just kindness?

Aymon growled and snapped back roughly.

How could you not know that!?

As he hit the table with his paw, the ivory chess horse that Belinda had left there flew up and landed on the floor. He may have been violent at the chess piece, but somehow he managed to look cute even while acting like a gangster. It was one of the many positives of natural cute charm.

Belinda stared at his angry expression blankly, then approached him and stretched her arms out. He jumped into them unknowingly even though he was angry. It was really an instinct for him, so to speak. It wasnt until he was snuggled up in her arms that he rolled his pretty eyes as if the situation was a disaster.

Weird. Why am I in Belindas arms even when Im angry? Damn habit!

How the tables turned a great Shinsu leopard acting like a human girls pet cat. Without even realizing, Aymon started wagging his tail.

I cant believe youve forgotten about the anger just like that! I dont even want to leave here. Why am I leaning my head against a human girl?? This is a disgrace

Belinda smiled and stroked Aymons smooth fur. The nervous little leopards anger melted away at her touch.

Aymon, calm down. Why are you so angry all of sudden?

He sighed and rubbed his nose against her chest.

I know. Why am I angry?

I dont know.

Aymon, lost in thought for a moment, looked up at Belinda.

Are you going to the party?

Ill think about it. You know Im a princess anyway, so it might be rude for me not to go.

Even though she said that to Aymon, she thought it would be better not to go she still remembered the last time very clearly. If Adelai and her friends ignored her by speaking ancient languages again, shed be very hurt.

Belinda had heard somewhere that ancient languages were a symbol of the nobility, so nobles and royals were taught to speak them only by oral tradition. She couldnt exactly ask the Emperor or the Empress or her half-siblings to teach her So shed have to accept that she could never learn them.

She couldnt avoid them forever though.

She felt bitter. What could she possibly do in the future so she wouldnt be ignored anymore?

As if reading her mind, Aymon patted her.

Breedee.

Hm?

Do you want to learn the ancient languages?

Belinda was surprised.

Can he read my mind because hes a Shinsu?

It was clear that he was being so considerate because of the time he followed her to a party and saw her be excluded by the others speaking an ancient language.

Still, ancient languages were not easy to learn at all.

I want to, but I cant. I dont even have a book.

Ill teach you.

Aymon, you know the ancient languages?

She asked, eyes wide open.

He lifted his chin and replied with a pompous expression.

Of course I can. Im a great leopard of the Shinsu clan whove been of noble blood since ancient times.

Oh my God! Yes! Yes! Great! Thank you!

She squeezed him tightly.

Aymon was surprised but quickly gave in to the shower of affection.

The maid at Belindas palace was soon busy with fetching a pen and paper, as per Aymons request. She came back with a pot of ink, a pretty feather pen and a stack of fine paper.

Aymon patted the pile of paper with his front paws as the feather pen was placed on the table.

Belinda smiled cheerfully at the sight.

Can you hold a pen with those cute front paws?

She imagined Aymon writing with the feather pen in his mouth.

Just imagining it was cute. If he got ink on his paws, it would leave little prints all over the paper

Oh, my. So cute. So cute.

She really wanted to see the baby leopards footprints strewn across the paper, but she was also imagining him sitting gracefully, quill pen held firmly in his front paw.

I cant wait to see it.

Cute and lovely, but able to bite

Things went a little differently than Belinda expected.

The breeze lifted up the thin curtains.

The leopard jumped off the table, but human feet landed on the rug.

.

Belinda and Lucy stared dreamily at the beautiful boy who stood before them. It was Aymon, who was a cute leopard cub until just now.

Aymon slowly grasped the white paper and looked at it with a still face.

The boys lower lashes gracefully caught the sun. Belinda gazed at his pretty lips. Strangely enough, looking at him made her heart flutter.

Aymon picked up a sheet of paper.

Come on, Breedee. Now you can make me do anything you want.

He whispered sweetly.

Belinda gulped. At this pace, she was going to forget even the scraps of ancient language that she knew.

A soft wind flowed in as they sat down at the table. Then, suddenly, Mazetto burst in the window.

Wow! Aymon! Handsome! Cool! Pretty!

..

Why are you so handsome? Hm? Hm? I like the type of person that looks good in all their forms!

He chirped wildly, flying around before finally landing on Aymons hand.

Cant you just stay human? Please?

Aymon slightly squeezed the bird between his fingers, annoyed.

Go away. Im studying with Breedee now.

When Mazetto didnt move, he tightened his grip. The little creature screamed.

Im sorry! Dont eat me! Help!!!

..

Aymon looked down at him with pity before hurling him out the window. Mazettos distant cry rang in the air.

AYMONNNNN!

Noisy bastard.

He picked the pen back up. Belinda swallowed nervously.

Why am I this nervous? Is it just because hes handsome?

Aymon. Whyd you suddenly turn into a human? Youre always a leopard usually.

Would you prefer if I switched back?

Aymon muttered, bored. At least Mazetto loved it.

No, not that.

Its not that. She was just strangely embarrassed about it. But she didnt say that out loud.

It was the same Aymon, leopard or boy, but why was it suddenly so hard to look him in the eyes?

Every time he tilted his head to look at her, every time his pretty fingers touched the pen, her heart skipped a beat.

I cant write with leopard paws.

Thats true

She answered vaguely. Aymon, paying little attention to her reaction, dipped the quill into the ink and began to write curly letters on the paper ancient language. Even though ancient script was lost, the language could still be written with modern letters.

Lets not think about grammar for now and just memorize simple words first.

Here. This is teacup. This is plate. This is knife. And the last one is fork.

Aymon pointed to the words on the paper as he explained. Belinda smiled faintly.

What should I do Im too nervous

We should start with something practical, since youre going to be using ancient language at tea parties.

Belinda silently bit her lips.

Whats wrong?

I cant

You cant what?

I cant read.

She revealed her embarrassing secret quickly. Shed only ever lived as a commoner with no money in the back alleys When ones struggling to survive, learning to read is not exactly a top priority.

Im sorry Im this ignorant.

Aymon, looking at her contemplatively, shook his head.

Its just letters. You can learn it, step by step.

Still.

She lowered her head in despair.

Aymon smiled softly and stroked her cheek.

Its all right.

Belinda stiffened up. It was just a small touch, but her whole body reacted instantly.