Translator/editor: ruby

However, back then, everyone thought it would just be a passing interest.

The situation became strange when rumors started to circulate about Prince Larts daily visits to Belindas palace to see Lucy and when he was eventually sighted hanging around with the maid even on the trip.

Could Prince Lart be serious?

After hearing about the fuss, the DeHill siblings couldnt just look on idly.

It was a matter of pride. The lowly daughter of a count dared to compete with a highly powerful duke.

Duchess DeHill was even the current Empresss cousin.

Looking at it again as justification, it was only proper that the Duke of DeHills beautiful daughter would become the Crown Princess rather than that of a crumbling count.

Dirty thing.

Duke DeHill scoffed at Lucy, who was standing behind Belinda.

Lucy Herb. She was beautiful, but nothing else.

You could find a beautiful flower anywhere. Lucy was just a lowly woman without a single advantage over his sister.

She seduced the prince with those beautiful lips and humiliated his sister by flirting with him?

How dare she?

Brother, Prince Lart no longer replies to my letters

Recalling his sisters dismal whisper, Duke DeHill glared at Lucy.

It was his sister that had set her sights on Prince Lart since childhood, waiting for the day when she could become a princess.

He had no intention of forgiving Lucy Herb for hurting his beloved sister. Hed been silent because they couldnt come face to face, but this trip was an opportunity.

Lucy Herb. If you harbor greed for an undeserved place, I will show you what a disastrous end youll have.

Arrogant hostility burned in Duke Ruberos DeHills eyes.

***

In Shantis mansion, in the Shinsu forest, a strange silence was swirling around in the bushes.

.

.

.

Pretending they didnt see the eyes watching them, the two brown leopards who had been rolling around together lazily raised their bodies with awkward expressions.

Shanti, the slightly bigger one, sighed and rubbed his face with his front paws.

Chief.

Yes?

Aymon replied calmly from a faraway bush. He had settled in quite naturally as if the front yard of Shantis mansion was his own, and the two leopards fooling around tried not to mind him.

What the hell are you doing there?

Shanti asked with a frown.

Im watching.

Watching what?

You two.

Shanti blinked at the casual response.

Thats right. All Aymon was doing was lying down there and looking at them.

It had already been a week. It was hard to understand why Aymon was hanging around.

Why? Why are you watching?

Because Im bored.

Shanti sighed.

Bored? Hanging around with nothing to do was really Aymons specialty.

Every time Shanti went to look for him, Aymon relentlessly hit him and told him to go away, and when he asked if he was bored after lying down all day, he closed his eyes and didnt answer.

Why did that same Aymon suddenly show up saying he was bored?

Well, he could come if he wanted to, but why did he have to interrupt others relationships?

Im bored. I want to see you so much that Im going crazy.

Aymon muttered, pressing down on the grass.

What? What are you bored about and what do you want to see?

Aymon pressed down on the grass a few more times before replying with his head buried in his front paws.

Youre annoying. Dont talk to me.

You little.!

In a fury that overtook his instinctive fear of the chief, Shanti nearly inadvertently jumped on Aymon.

However, Halla swiftly stepped on his tail and stopped him.

Hold yourself back if you dont want to get beaten up.

Hed almost lost his head for a moment, but on second thought, getting hit by Aymon hurt a lot. He was a stupidly strong bastard.

Shanti hit the ground with his front paw, his fur standing up.

What the hell is wrong with him?!

Maybe Aymon, his friend and the new chief, was the most shameless beast out there.

He came to someone elses house, interrupted their good times, muttered something about being bored, then when nicely asked why he was bored, he told him to leave him alone.

How could someone fully grown have such a wayward personality?!

Lets attack together and kick that shameless chief out of here!

Shanti complained sincerely, showing his fangs. Halla shook her head at her lover with a sour expression.

You know a surprise attack wont work, and yet you still want to go at him? Do you want to die? Go do it alone. I wont do it.

Halla replied.

The Shinsu pecking order was rigorous. Elders were favored, but that was it. Otherwise, they were ranked solely by strength, regardless of gender or age, and no one could outdo Aymons power.

Even with his personality, that was the way things were.

Shanti twitched nervously when he heard Hallas answer.

Really, what is wrong with Aymon?!

I dont know. When have we ever understood him?

Even among the unruly beasts, Aymon was always the most self-indulgent.

If he was only less powerful, he would have had a very rough childhood, but like a gangster, he didnt have any claw marks on him and eventually became the chief.

Shantis tail fluttered restlessly as he complained about the unfair situation.

Go away, go! Im in a relationship, too! Someone has to make Shinsu descendants!

It isnt even the breeding season. What descendants are you talking about?

Aymons answer was as calm as ever, despite Shantis heated words and fangs.

It might not be, but does that mean you have to see all of my personal life? Huh?

Its up to you what you show. Why are you asking me?

Aymon replied sternly to his angry friend. His relaxed appearance only fired up Shanti further.

Why did you come here and make a fuss?! If youre so bored, go find your precious human and look at her all day instead!

Aymons eyes changed when he heard that phrase, quickly going from lying around with a bored face to standing up with sparkling eyes.

Can I do that?

What? Do what?

Shanti asked back foolishly with a confused expression.

What would he want to do? Why was Aymon so happy with just the prospect of watching a human?

Aymon ran out of Shantis yard with a happy look on his face, leaving no answers to Shantis confusion. He just stood blankly staring at the bushes Aymon had been sitting in a moment ago.

What was the matter with the chief for him to leave so suddenly after ignoring his previous pleas to leave?

What the hell, seriously.

He shouldve been happy to finally get rid of the annoyance, but instead, he was left with his whiskers twitching in confusion.

The giant black leopard that had just left sprang out of a bush again.

Hey.

What?! What is it?!

Shanti yelled back in surprise when he saw Aymon, quickly pulling his tail back to avoid a possible strike from his front foot.

However, instead of a smack, he received an imposing demand from Aymon.

Find out where the resort on the Gerban Peninsula is.

The Gerban Peninsula? What is that? Where is it?

Shanti pulled his neck back. What was this again, out of the blue? Why would a Shinsu who had spent his whole life in the Shinsu forest know where the Gerban Peninsula was?

You dont know, right? Thats why youre going to go and find out.

Who, me?

Yes, you.

Aymon said, holding down his throat as if he was annoyed to have to say it a second time. Judging by his scrunched nose, he was likely to show his fangs if he had to repeat himself again.

What a gangster!

Shanti, dragging around his front paw in the face of the injustice, eventually had to stretch out his tail and trudge away towards the palace.

If he was told to do it, he had to do it. Even if it was dirty. It was the chief in question here who knew nothing but force. He had no idea where to go or who to ask, but he had to go anyway.

It felt like he was paying for having bullied Aymon as a child. Leopards had to lead a good-natured life too.

Run.

Aymons calm voice rang behind his back.

..Ack.!

Shanti turned around to glare at Aymon and started to run for his life.

Hed find out the location of the Gerban Peninsula, or whatever it was, and tell the damned chief what he wanted so hed leave him alone!

Just leave me alone for a bit, I beg you!

Shantis head was filled with thoughts of injustice.

***

Duke Ruberos DeHill smiled at his younger sister, who was sitting in front of a mirror with a dazed expression.

No matter what anyone says, you shine the brightest, Claire. There might be lots of beautiful women out there, but not one that is as clever and thoughtful as you are.

..

Keep your chin up, Claire. You know that the princes whims all pass in a day. Soon, hell lose interest in that maid and come back, so dont worry.

A confident smile appeared on Rubeross face.

He was obviously right. Lart, always as whimsical as ever, still behaved like that.

Perhaps because he grew up without lacking anything, Prince Lart often paid shallow attention to things, and by the time his interest grew more profound, he already moved on to something else.

The same was true of his love life. Hed never had a serious relationship with anyone. They were all passing encounters, and it was only Rubeross sister, Claire DeHill, who was always around.

Of course, it was all under the excuse of being friends, but it was clear a relationship that accumulated like theirs would only become closer over time. It wasnt comparable to some boring maid who was only passing by.

Duke Ruberos looked down fondly at his sister. The reason she was so down was what had happened yesterday. Things had gone in an unexpected direction when Ruberos took the maids seat. As Lucy got up and hurried away, Lart, too, got up to speak to him.

Was your journey so tiring that you have to force Lucy out of her seat, Ruberos?