CFT 90

Chapter 90

Before going to find Liana, Leon didn’t forget to transform into his cute and tiny form.

Of course, he was both cool and adorable in his true form too, but it was undeniable that he looked just a little more charming in this small version.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of what mischievous thoughts Leon was running toward her with, Liana had just finished a lesson and was leisurely enjoying the spring breeze in the rear garden of the Emerald Palace.

On the tea table in front of her lay a few pages of historical material her tutor had left behind.

“Your Highness, please have some snacks!”

It was Betty who broke the peaceful silence.

Pushing a luxurious trolley, she placed a tray on the table.

On it were delicious-looking cookies, pudding, and a refreshing fruit ade.

“Thank you, Betty.”

“Hehe, think nothing of it!”

“Would you like to join me?”

“No, it’s fine! Thanks to you telling the head chef to prepare snacks for us as well, we already have our share waiting. I’ll eat mine later.”

Betty shook her head with a grin, clearly eager to run off and have her own treat.

“I shouldn’t keep you, then. Go enjoy.”

Smiling at her, Liana gave her permission to leave.

Betty bowed politely, looking both shy and excited, before quickly wheeling the trolley away.

The chef sent by His Majesty to the Emerald Palace was truly skilled, and thanks to that, the maids had plenty of reasons to smile.

With so much laughter around, Liana herself couldn’t help but feel at ease.

But that peaceful moment didn’t last long.

She sensed someone rushing across the lawn at full speed.

Recognizing the familiar presence, she slowly rose to her feet and turned—just in time for a small black furball to leap into her arms as though headbutting her. Fortunately, it didn’t hurt.

“Kyung!”

Leon, snug in her arms, wriggled happily, rubbing against her with affection.

“I told you not to run at me like that.”

Despite her words, Liana couldn’t help smiling as she reached to scratch his neck out of habit—

Until a tiny voice interrupted.

<Hehe, I like you, Liana.>

“…What?”

Startled, she looked around for the source. But there was no one nearby—everyone had been dismissed.

And that voice hadn’t been quite human.

“…Was that you, Kkamang?”

At her hesitant words, the little panther in her arms stiffened.

That twitch was as good as an admission.

Good heavens, how cute.

She knew that Ian could speak with Leon, but she never imagined she herself would hear his voice one day.

“Kkamang, say something again, please?”

Cooing at him, she coaxed Leon, who tried to bury his face in her chest to avoid her gaze.

After about a minute, he finally peeked up, let out a soft whimper, and—

<…Hello, Liana.>

The whimper melted into a clear voice inside her head.

Though strange and startling at first, the sound soon brought a tender smile to her lips.

“Hello, Leon. Finally, a proper greeting.”

<Yeah… It feels weird. Embarrassing.>

Muttering bashfully, Leon shoved his head back against her warmth, forgetting that his every murmur reached her clearly.

“So how come we can talk today?”

<I plucked one of my whiskers…>

“…What?”

Whisker?

Curious, she gently lifted him to examine his face.

And sure enough, one side of his perfectly symmetrical whiskers was missing a strand—the right side was short by one.

“So this is the method His Majesty mentioned before?”

<Yeah… But it’s a secret. Not even Ian’s men know.>

He pawed at his cheek, whispering conspiratorially.

Adorable. Too adorable.

“Are you sure it’s okay to tell me? What if His Majesty scolds you?”

She teased, but Leon snorted.

<Ian… Ian can’t beat me. I’m the strongest divine beast!>

“…Is that so?”

His smugness made her stifle a laugh as she nodded along.

It wasn’t hard to guess that “Ian” was Liana’s little nickname for Ianhardt.

“How long does talking last with one whisker?”

<About a day.>

“So we can talk all day today?”

<Yup!>

“Do they grow back?”

As she gently rubbed his face in fascination, marveling that such a cute feature held such a power, Leon purred contentedly.

<They grow back in about a week. Ahh… right there feels so good.>

“Here? You like this spot?”

<The best…>

He practically melted in her arms, purring away, until suddenly his eyes flew open ten minutes later.

<Oh, right…!>

“What is it?”

He hopped down and tugged at her skirt.

“Where are you trying to go?”

Remembering belatedly that he could just talk, he let go of the fabric and spun around in place excitedly.

<Let’s go see Ian. He’s alone right now.>

“…You want me to see His Majesty?”

<Yes!>

“But I don’t have a reason to…”

<…So you won’t go if there’s no reason?>

His voice fell with disappointment, making Liana hesitate.

Truthfully, she wasn’t eager to face Ianhardt at the moment—not because she disliked him, but because the strange mood from yesterday still lingered.

She had convinced herself she’d stepped into his inner circle, but something still felt unsettling.

<…If you don’t want to, it’s fine. We don’t have to go. …Though it’d be nice if we did.>

Circling her feet with his tail drooping, Leon looked so pitiful that guilt pricked at her.

“I don’t dislike it. Let’s go, it’s fine.”

And so she agreed.

<When Ian goes there, he just stares at the pond all day. Doesn’t eat or anything.>

“…Really?”

<Yeah. He hates company too, so even the guards are sent away. Well, except me.>

“I see…”

The way Leon chattered happily once she agreed made her wonder if she’d been tricked.

What was funnier was that she herself stopped by the kitchen to request a simple packed meal to take along.

“Your Highness, here’s the lunch you asked for.”

“Thank you, Sasha.”

“It’s no trouble.”

The quiet chef gave her a rare small smile before bowing.

As soon as she stepped out, Leon bounded toward her.

<You didn’t have to go through the trouble.>

“It’s nothing fancy. Will you lead the way, Leon? I don’t know where it is.”

<…Alright.>

Fearing that Ian might foolishly refuse her kindness and end up hurting her feelings—ruining everything—Leon flicked his tail and trotted off.

The path he took was like a maze: narrow alleys, climbing walls, even cutting across an empty wing of the palace.

“…Are you sure this is the right way, Kkamang?”

<Yup!>

His confident reply left her no choice but to follow.

Still, the thought of Ianhardt sneaking around in this same way to reach the pond made her chuckle.

She imagined him leaping walls and crossing courtyards, his tidy hair a mess, wearing loose trousers and an oversized shirt…

“…What am I thinking.”

Flustered, she shook her head to dispel the image.

<What?>

“Nothing.”

<Well, we’re here! Just head into that forest.>

Ahead stood a dense grove of tall trees—too large to be called just a palace garden.

Her heart fluttered uneasily. The closer they drew, the harder it was to push away the image of him.

But she couldn’t turn back now. Leon would never allow it.

<Hurry up!>

Already ahead, Leon urged her on impatiently.

“…I’m coming.”

The basket in her hand suddenly felt a lot heavier.