Chapter 69
“What a beautiful smile. I’m delighted by such an unexpected welcome.”
The nobleman smiled, facing the startled woman.
“My apologies. I haven’t properly introduced myself yet.”
The man she had never seen before bowed slightly.
“My name is Julius Rensher.”
His glossy cheeks radiated confidence. Sharie had never met him in her life.
“I’ve long wanted to greet you, but the opportunity was elusive. I simply wished to see you in person.”
“I see. It’s nice to meet you.”
Sharie smiled awkwardly.
Nice words, but this wasn’t a ballroom.
The two of them—man and woman—were alone on a balcony while the ball continued inside.
Anyone who saw them would interpret it the wrong way.
“I’d love to talk more, but I’m not feeling very well.”
She was growing uneasy. The last thing she wanted was to give anyone a reason to gossip about her at her very first ball.
“You should rest, then.”
But as Sharie turned toward the entrance, her path was blocked.
“Leaving already? Stay and talk a little longer.”
The man stepped closer; she instinctively stepped back.
The distance between them became uncomfortably small.
Being alone in a confined space with a large man was unsettling enough—
and yet, he seemed completely oblivious to her discomfort.
“Actually, I meant to introduce myself during the hunting tournament. At the time, I—”
Julius began rambling about matters only he cared about.
Unlike her earlier conversation with Lady Nephir, this one was utterly dull.
She gave a few empty responses, just to be polite.
Then suddenly—
“Would it be alright if I visited you in private sometime?”
How had the conversation gotten here?
What is wrong with this man?
Julius, however, beamed as if nothing were amiss.
He was certain she would respond positively.
A handsome man like him—he had always received favorable attention from everyone.
A naïve rabbit woman wouldn’t be difficult to charm, he thought.
He wasn’t truly interested in Sharie herself.
He merely saw potential usefulness in befriending the wife of the region’s ruler.
“I’m sorry, but—”
Even though she lacked experience at formal events, Sharie knew this was inappropriate.
Her expression hardened as she began to refuse.
“Don’t.”
The deep, resonant voice cut her off.
Startled, Julius turned—and froze.
“L–Lord… Lord Kaisha?”
He had seen the ruler before at the hunting tournament, but standing face-to-face was an entirely different experience.
Julius, who prided himself on his height and looks, suddenly felt small.
Kaisha was tall enough that one had to look up to meet his gaze, and his sharply sculpted features only added to the intimidation.
Above all, the aura he exuded was overwhelming.
“You came to greet my wife, did you?”
Kaisha’s lips curved faintly upward.
“Yes, my lord.”
Julius flashed a bright smile.
Men and women alike were swayed by attractive faces—
and this tactic had always worked for him before.
“Do you not even know when and where it’s appropriate to speak to someone?”
This time, however, it failed.
“You came here under the pretense of greeting her—
to secretly meet my wife in such a place?”
The smile vanished from Kaisha’s face.
The chill in his expression was enough to make Julius’s spine freeze.
“N–No, my lord, it’s not what it looks like! I merely came to pay my respects!”
Sensing danger, Julius hastily pleaded.
This is bad.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
Of course he knew how improper it was for a man and woman to be alone on a balcony.
But he had assumed their marriage was a political one—
that Kaisha wouldn’t care about such trivial rumors.
He had miscalculated badly.
“You followed a woman out here alone, and expect me to believe you had no ulterior motive?”
The pressure bearing down on him grew heavier.
“I—I….”
Julius tried to defend himself, but his lips trembled.
The difference was overwhelming—
Kaisha wasn’t merely human, but a predator in human form.
Now he understood why they called him the one closest to the Progenitor.
“I don’t need excuses. Leave. Now.”
“Th–Thank you, my lord!”
Pale as a ghost, Julius stumbled out of the terrace.
He probably thought escaping the moment would save him.
How foolish.
Such a man would have to be dealt with separately.
Kaisha’s golden eyes darkened—
Clap, clap, clap.
A soft sound of applause interrupted.
Sharie was smiling, clapping her hands like she had enjoyed a play.
Kaisha let out a quiet chuckle.
So she had been drinking, just as he suspected after seeing her chatting with the other ladies earlier.
“Are you alright?”
The heavy air around them melted away.
A cool glass touched her cheek briefly before being handed over.
“Have some water.”
Kaisha closed the terrace curtains and offered her the glass with a smile.
“Ah, thank you.”
She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until half the cup was gone in a single gulp.
Wiping her lips, she leaned back against the railing, feeling a giggle rise up for no reason.
“If I whistle here, do you think Momo would come?”
Even her silly remark earned a serious answer.
“Nocturnal raptors have hearing eight times sharper than ordinary animals. She’d probably hear you and come right away.”
Then he added, “However—”
“She’s probably too busy enjoying her treats right now. Let’s let her be.”
Her falcon, Momo, had received a grand reward for delivering Sharie’s distress call during the hunting tournament—
no fewer than thirty boxes of gourmet snacks.
She really loved that, Sharie thought.
She remembered the bird wagging her tail feathers in delight, buried in the pile of treats.
The memory made her laugh again.
“People would think I starve her,” she said.
To be that happy over snacks.
And it hadn’t even been long since Sharie had bought her another box from Yuri Densler’s shop.
Still chuckling behind her hand, she added,
“Momo’s much greedier than most birds, isn’t she?”
Kaisha lifted a shoulder. For once, he didn’t rush to take her side.
“…I can’t deny that.”
The delayed reply nearly made her burst into laughter.
“Your falcon’s so composed and dignified. Do birds take after their masters?”
“But you’re not greedy at all, Sharie.”
There he went again. Sharie puffed out her cheeks in protest.
“I eat diligently every day, you know.”
Though Edwin often remarked that her meals were no more than “bird feed,”
and the kind-hearted chef seemed strangely obsessed with increasing her portions—
That was simply a difference between rabbitfolk and serpentfolk.
By her people’s standards, she ate quite well—more than most, actually.
Her younger brother, Liber, couldn’t even finish two plates.
Compared to him, she ate plenty.
“For a rabbit, I eat a lot,” she insisted.
“Hmm.”
Kaisha’s smile turned unreadable, as if recalling how small her portions truly were.
Being doubted so blatantly felt unfair.
“I mean it!” she protested.
“Honestly, I think I’ve even gained weight lately.”
Ever since coming to Barhad, every meal had been plentiful.
Her once-thin limbs had filled out nicely, though she sometimes flinched when feeling the softness of her belly.
Rabbitfolk women tended to have less muscle and gain fat easily.
At this rate, she might actually roll away someday.
“That would be quite a sight,” he said lightly.
She had been speaking seriously, yet he looked amused.
Seeing no point in arguing, she turned away with a pout.
He always gets the last word.
Tonight, she decided she’d ignore him for once.
“Look, Kaisha. The stars are so bright tonight.”
But her resolve melted instantly.
She couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.
The night sky glittered with countless stars, as though it might spill over.
Just standing here, sharing this view with Kaisha, filled her with joy.
All her earlier irritation vanished without a trace.
“They really are,” he murmured.
Then, resting his large hand on the railing beside her, he stepped closer.
