Translator/editor: ruby

A body larger than a bear, an incomparable destructive force, an almost God-like species.

The leopard Shinsu had been a king ruling over people since he was born. He was not raised to confront petty, weak humans.

Such a great species.

The boy crossed his arms.

Youre more afraid of that useless speck of a human being than this noble body?

Yes. First off, he was gigantic, not a speck.

Why? Looks are deceiving. I could tear his heart out with a swipe of a paw, you know.

Lord Rohadi is just really big, you can see that too. Its just scary.

He looks like the innkeeper that used to beat me.

She couldnt say that, obviously.

He gave her a questioning look after the evasive remark. The answer didnt seem to please him.

Belinda hurriedly changed the subject.

Lets go to my room. You need to heal.

When she looked down, there was a little black beast before her eyes.

He hit the floor with his tail.

Take me in your arms. My ankle hurts

.

Belinda lowered herself without a word and held out her hands.

The face of the cat, sorry, leopard, looking up at her sulkily was irresistibly cute.

But she couldnt say that either, could she

He scampered onto her arm. Belinda gently smoothed out the soft hair on his back as she walked inside.

You said you could take out the knight with a single swipe, and now you want to snuggle up against me because your ankle hurts.

Belinda snickered at the thought.

Whats your name?

Aymon. Aymon Arkin.

Im Belinda. You heard it earlier, right? You can call me Birdy, though. Thats what my mom used to call me.

All right, Birdy.

Aymon looked up at her.

A humble human should not dare to make eye contact with me.

Then wont you be friends with me, a humble human?

Thats not what I meant.

Aymon sighed defeatedly. He just couldnt make sense of the girl.

He tapped her arm and almost recoiled at the feel of her skin. It was much softer than hed assumed. He pricked his ears and started playing around with it.

Belinda grinned.

It tickles. But youre so cute. The soles of your feet are soft.

.

Aymon snatched his paw away and looked at the floor.

As soon as they arrived to the palace, Belinda asked the maid for ointment and bandages.

She carefully washed the blood off the leopards legs with clean water..

There was no serious injury. Only a slight cut remained.

Its not a big wound. Thats a relief.

Belinda smiled to herself as she applied ointment to Aymons hind legs and bandaged them.

I cant believe you asked me to hug you because of such a slight wound. Isnt that the cutest thing ever?

She didnt know the whole truth, though.

When they first saw each other, Aymon was badly hurt from having fallen off the cliff and torn open his leg on a branch thats why he couldnt move for a while and was in pain.

However, Shinsus healing powers were excellent

By the time they came across the knight Rohadi, only a slight throbbing pain remained.

Still, he didnt mind Belindas careful touch, sohe just remained silent.

There. Youre good. The suns already set Can you go back in the dark?

It was a cloudy day. Outside, even with the slivers of moonlight that shone through, everything was enveloped in a dreary darkness. Only the sound of the wind could be heard coming from the desolate forest.

Aymon answered in a flat tone.

What are you talking about? My attack abilities are superior. Im Shinsu, for crying out loud. The night is my time.

Oh, really? Have a safe trip home, then.

Belinda started putting away all the ointments and bandages.

Aymon glanced at her with a sharp look before leaning on a soft cushion.

His black tail moved gently.

Ill just sleep here.

Yeah. Okay. Of course.

Belinda nodded absentmindedly. It was Aymon who was embarrassed by her repeated affirmation.

What do you know about me to let me stay here just like that?

You? Just that youre a cute cat.

.

He didnt even bother to correct her again. He flapped his tail around rather nervously, which was rather strange for someone that could usually fall asleep anywhere.

Youve treated me very kindly, so Im sleeping here. Its the first time Ill sleep in a human habitat.

How come?

Because were not friendly with human beings.

And why would that be?

We dont like humans.

Why dont you like them?

Belinda continued to prod away like a nosy child.

Aymon scratched away at the pillow nervously as if he was expecting it to give him an answer.

Human beings smell cunning and foolish.

Do I smell like that too?, Belinda asked, concernedly sniffing her wrist. All she could smell was expensive perfume. She wasnt a girl living on the streets anymore, she was a princess.

Youre fine.

Aymon answered lazily, his chin rested on a cushion.

Ah, thats a relief. What is that smell like, though?

Its a thing, it really is. Youre just a human kid, you dont need to know.

He wasnt talking about an actual scent. It was just the easiest comparison to, well, simply human nature, which any animal like him could feel by instinct. Most of the people hed met before Belinda were high-ranking nobles and royals, cunning and arrogant.

To a beast like him, it was easier understood as a stench that surrounded them wherever they went.

However, Belinda couldnt wrap her head around his words.

She went into her dressing room and changed into a silk chemise.

Instinctive smell?

She, a human, couldnt know.

She came back into the room, turning on the soft lights before laying down on a rug on the floor. The feeling was familiar to her so much so that it was way more comfortable than the bed. She shuffled a bit to get closer to Aymon. He frowned when he felt a hand stroking his nose and moved his long whiskers slightly.

Even that is cute about him.

He was so tiny and cute as a kitten. Great Leopard Shinsu.. in Belindas eyes he was just an adorable black kitten.

Aymon.

What.

Belinda couldnt help but giggle a bit about his lazy voice, answering even while he was half-asleep.

How old are you? Im eleven.

Nine.

Im your noona, then?

Noona?

Aymon laughed. She certainly spoke like a noona.

Wouldnt you be an adult already, if youre nine? Since youre an animal. But youre still.

Were not like ordinary leopards. We grow all at once, when we are about eighteen or nineteen. Thats when we have our coming-of-age ceremony.

I see.

So youre going to stay this cute for another 10 years?

Belinda rubbed Aymons forehead, suddenly in a good mood. Her fingertips brushed slightly against the purple stone on his forehead.

He slapped her hand away, barely remembering to retract his claws.

Hey, dont touch me.

Huh? Are you in a bad mood? Im sorry

I must have gotten too touchy.

. Belinda pulled away with a sullen face.

No, Im fine, its just were sensitive here.

Huh? What do you mean?

It feels a little Anyways, dont touch it.

He was relieved he was in cat form if he were human his ears would have been burning red.

Belinda nodded understandingly.

Can I touch anything else?

What are you saying?

Aymon sighed again.

By the way, Aymon. How did you get here? Didnt you say you dont go near humans?

You saw them. Those kids with the spotted fur

Yeah.

Well, this is where I ended up after they chased me.

But why did you fall off the cliff?

I didnt see it behind me. It was a stupid mistake.

Belinda looked at the pretty beast, taking her hand off Aymons forehead.

Why dont you get along with those cats, if theyre just like you? Did you fight?

Aymon didnt answer.

The problem was that he was born a black leopard. It wasnt his fault that the colour of his fur was so dark, but most leopards still avoided him. He was born from a bloodline of ruthlessness, and they were afraid that Aymon would kill them just as the black leopard did 500 years ago.

Although he had the title of Shinsu, he was still just nine years old.

He approached the cats because he was lonely and wanted a friend. They couldnt be friends, so they ended up fighting instead.

That was it.

Better to stay lonely and fight than have a fake friend. It was just his personality.

Just because.

Aymon yawned and turned around. It seemed to mean Dont talk to me, Im going to sleep.

Belinda gently swept down the fur on the back of his head.

The cat sighed, as if he were annoyed. However, he didnt resist her.

He smiled.

Thats so cute.

A little rough around the edges, but she had a friend that was a cute little leopard and a breathtaking boy.

That alone made Belinda happy

After that day, Aymon went in and out of Belindas palace like it was his own home.

He always excused himself with something along the lines of only coming for food, but they were already friends. More or less.

Belinda was very happy with her new friend.