MBLIAH 26

Paren left, and in the reception room there were only the two of us.

“Hmm. Hmm. It’s a bit awkward to be just the two of us.”

I kept glancing at Ban from the corner of my eye.

“Come to think of it, I really have met the protagonist of this world.”

Perhaps, perhaps we’ll end up staying together for a long time. Realizing that made my mood feel strange.

I hadn’t read the novel to death; I’d only read it once, and only halfway, so I couldn’t say I loved the protagonist to death.

But the man in the novel was captivating. A painful past that gnawed at the heart, the strength to rise above it, and even the boldness to dream of the Empire’s glory.

With every letter I skimmed, I understood why everyone was drawn to him.

“Maybe… I might end up liking Ban too?”

Hot!

Before I could stop the thought, I sprang to my feet.

“Woof… woof-woof! woof-woof!!”

No, as a human being. Morally. Ethically!

Not Love, but Like!

In other words, I was speaking with the kind of respect I would feel for the novel’s protagonist.

“Woof… woof.”

I hurriedly shook my head. But he’s, after all, the protagonist among protagonists. Under the chandelier, his face was so dazzling that I lost my senses again.

“Woof…”

No matter how handsome the scions of the Lycan family are, they don’t compare to the protagonist.

The sculpted jawline and sharp nose. Especially the jet-black hair, which stood out in stark contrast beyond the window to the snowy mountains, drawing my gaze as if I were spellbound.

To think a color so wonderful could be discarded just because it wasn’t gold—that emperor was incomprehensible

“What’s on my face?”

Lost in thought, Ban frowned as he looked at his reflection in the glass.

“Woof, woof. Woof.”

Who would answer “handsome” so readily? I’ve told him countless times I’m not a meek, compliant noblewoman.

Coming to my senses, I spoke coolly.

“You’re really ugly, you know. That’s why I looked at you.”

“…You didn’t see me that way, and you’re suddenly insulting me.”

Ban frowned, crossing his arms.

“You’re ugly too.”

Don’t talk nonsense. I’m really pretty.

The words sounded like a retaliatory jab, but could I take them to heart?

Although I am currently a mere woof, I have once become human, so I know what Ishel looks like.

How pretty she was, even the beauty famed as the “national beauty” during the height of the realm had aged and lost a little of that shine. Perhaps Ishel is now the top beauty in terms of looks.

Raising her head proudly, Ishel didn’t miss Ban’s surprised reaction, and he let out a dry cough. But he did not back down.

“You’re not used to bragging this much, are you?”

-When one is beautiful and has a lot, it’s okay to brag a little. And it’s the truth.

“…If you keep talking, my mouth will hurt, so stop.”

Ban surrendered, lifting both hands.

-Yes, I’ll stop. But before that, I have a question.

I approached his feet and lifted my chin.

-What’s your name?

Of course I knew his current name is Rivayon, his nickname Ban, and his future name is “Leviavon Kaharje Galagon” (or similar). I knew better than anyone.

-You would have said he’s the Kaharze Young Master, right?

-Not the family name. There must be a given name.

“What good would that do?”

Anyway, I’m a tsundere. What’s wrong with telling you? Does a name wear out from use?

-Phew.

I breathed out, then stepped closer and gave him a sly grin.

-To keep a bit more familiarity, perhaps… heh.

“…Rivayon.”

-Okay, then I’ll call you Ban.

Ban gave an unreadable, ambiguous look in response to my sudden nickname, so I decided to grant him a little concession of my own.

-Hmm. You may also call me Ishel, if you don’t mind. I’ll permit it.

-…I don’t mind.

-Why so hesitant? Wait, then: if Farn is gone, why is it always me speaking politely while you use plain speech?

The polite form vanished as soon as Farn disappeared.

Of course I am six years younger, and my rank is far lower than his—the prince—yet now he is the fallen noble Kaharze Young Master, and I am the Lycan clan’s heiress, the prized daughter.

For now I continued to use the polite form because he once saved my life, but continuing to do so started to feel annoying.

Ban shrugged in a relaxed tone.

-There’s no helping it.

“Woof?”

-You saw me, didn’t you? Then what should I think of you?

“Woouu… woouff!?!?”

Wait, no…

-You’re not planning to treat me as a snack and eat me, are you? I’m a human!

Whether I jumped about like a startled rabbit or not, he remained unfazed.

Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall at an angle and spoke.

-You saw it after all, didn’t you?

-What? What is it? What! What—what!

“…The form I took when I became a beastman.”

With a loud purr and a sharp glare, his words came out in a scattered murmur, and his eyes widened.

Ban took a small handful of his dark hair between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed it, as the color of a perfect night sky scattered in the air.

I thought it was beautiful, but he fixed an icy gaze on my hair, cold enough to chill.

-If you’re also a noble, you’ll know. I’m a beastman who cannot be born under the Gold Lion’s line.…A race that shouldn’t even exist.

“…!”

-No matter how much of a lifesaver you’ve called me, you don’t have to take me in. Rather, a beastman like me should die for the good of the world, wouldn’t you think?

For a moment I was speechless.

-But what scheme are you plotting that you haven’t told your brother?

From each sentence he spoke, it was clear how painful his childhood had been.

Even his face looked a little tired.

“Woof…”

Seeing that tired look, I spent a long time wondering how I could prevent hurting him. And the words I chose were this:

-I’ve thought about it too, you know.

“…The same thought?”

Ban frowned as if it were nonsense. It was the most transparent expression I’d ever seen on him; his heart was laid bare. He probably wouldn’t agree that a noblewoman like me could think the same thing.

But Ishel really did. And as a reader, I thought so too. So I spoke without hesitation.

-I, too, am a race that cannot be born genetically. Among large, strong silver wolves, I am a small, weak lapdog.

“…”

-That’s why there were times I hated myself.

No matter how cute, Ishel’s beast-form was weak. But don’t people naturally yearn for something strong and elegant?

No one mocked Ishel, but she, trapped in her own complexes since debut, had hardly ever turned into a beastman.

-But I’ve thought about it for a long time: there’s no need to sulk. People have many different kinds of charm, after all.

I walked toward him with confidence and gave a firm smile.

-That’s why I saved you. I don’t know you well yet, but you saved me. So you’re a good person to me.

“…”

-And no matter what I look like, what kind of beast I am, my life and my value are irrelevant to that. That’s something I’ll determine as I live. Didn’t you know that too?

A moment of silence fell. Perhaps Ban was slightly surprised, or perhaps I was hoping he would laugh, which was probably wishful thinking.

Ban simply stared at me with an impassive expression and did not gesture further. After a long pause, he spoke.

-…I see.

Did it take him this long just to say that?

“Woof…?”

In response to his incomprehensible reaction, I tilted my head, and Ban wheeled around. His expression was hidden from view by his broad back.

-I want to rest. I’d like you to let me go now.

No! After you’d spoken something nice, you’re letting me go?

“Phew…! Woof!”

I stuck out my tongue, then turned around to look back at him. In any case, a nobleman’s heart is as fickle as a reed.

~·~·* . *^.^* . *·~·~

The small, fluffy bundle that seemed angry somehow slipped out the door.

When the door closed and not a single white fur remained in view, Ban let out a hot sigh.

If I said I was moved by the noblewoman’s words, it would be a lie. A few days after meeting her, the past that wore the scarlet letter wouldn’t have such a big impact on him.

I did not exactly agree with the claim that he, too, was in the same situation. Such talk is nothing more than pity from those who have much to give, like Zeroth had done.

Prideful yet cheap pity. The same as Zerros did.

As someone who had much, he withdrew from pity and need. When he no longer needed it, he discarded it.

Could Ban, discarded in this way, be moved by the words of a noblewoman who shared his status?

“…Sigh.”

Yet, ironically, if you say my heart didn’t move, that would also be a lie.

“I am also a small, weak lapdog.”

Ban stared out the window with dark, sunken eyes.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released on September, 3.

See you then!!