Chapter 9
Earlier, Levi, who had run off in a hurry, brought back disappointing news. His Grace the Grand Duke was sleeping in late, so they would have to come back later.
Two hours had passed since then. Surely by now he would be awake?
The sun was already high in the sky. What on earth had that man been doing yesterday to still be asleep now?
“Uh… His Grace is rather weak to morning drowsiness.”
“It’s not morning anymore.”
“Well, for him, it still is.”
Apparently, the great Grand Duke had no sense of day or night. He must have lived irregularly for quite some time.
A sigh escaped her lips as if by itself. Kali flopped down on her back.
‘I need to secure his cooperation quickly…’
Her mind wandered back to what had happened the night after their wedding.
He had teased and tormented her, yes—but the atmosphere hadn’t been bad. He hadn’t seemed to truly dislike her, either.
‘That’s enough. We could definitely become friends.’
She’d been called nothing more than a sham wife, but she didn’t care. She hadn’t wanted to be a real wife anyway. All she wanted was to be his friend. Surely that much he could allow? But of course, only if he genuinely saw her as one.
“Oh…! I greet Your Grace the Grand Duke.”
Speak of the devil—there he was.
Levi, ever courteous, bowed his head in greeting.
Catching sight of Leonhardt, Kali was startled and lost her grip.
‘Ah! I’m falling…!’
She shot forward, tumbling down.
“Eek!”
“Ah, Madam…!”
Bouncing off Levi’s head, Kali went plummeting toward the floor.
She was about to crash!
Squeezing her eyes shut, she braced herself for the pain. But no matter how long she waited, she never hit the ground.
“Were you that eager to kiss the floor?”
Startled by the teasing voice, she jerked her head up. Kali found herself perched safely in Leonhardt’s palm.
“Ah, um… thank you. Grateful is grateful, after all.”
“So? I’m your savior now.”
“I said thank you already…”
“Kali. That’s one debt you owe me.”
“You calculating…!”
So annoying. Why did it have to be him who saved her?
She smacked his palm in frustration. Of course, it had no effect whatsoever.
It was infuriating. But she couldn’t deny he had saved her from hitting the ground.
He raised his palm to her eye level. Kali stared into his golden eyes, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
“Don’t forget. You owe me one.”
“Ugh! Fine. What do you want?”
“I’ll collect later.”
“No, now! Right now, just say it!”
Sitting down on his palm, she slapped at it insistently. But he only put it off.
She’d forgotten for a moment—this man was high-handed, selfish, and utterly calculating. Everything he did was carefully measured.
“Ah. This works out well. Your Grace, I’d like to speak with you.”
“About what?”
“Not something I can say here.”
“And what exactly do you want to say? Hm? Instead of an open space like this, you’re asking for somewhere… sealed off?”
The charming smile in his eyes was somehow infuriating.
Beautiful, yes—but it made her want to punch him.
Kali narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
“Anywhere is fine.”
“If it’s pointless, you’ll just be wasting my time.”
“It’s not pointless.”
Her firm tone carried confidence.
“It’s a mind-blowing story. You’ll see.”
She said it with pride, certain he would be interested.
At last, she’d secured a chance to talk.
‘What kind of reaction will he have?’
With Leonhardt, it was impossible to predict. But one thing she was sure of—he wouldn’t refuse.
As he carried her in his palm, Kali peeked up at him.
“Your eyes are noisy, Kali.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“You were staring at me. Your eyes are loud.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything at all! You sure are self-absorbed.”
“I know. I love myself the most, after all.”
He shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The gesture made her bristle with annoyance again.
‘Ugh. He never lets me win!’
Strong in body, strong in words—that was Leonhardt.
“Um… Your Grace?”
“What.”
“I’m not interrupting your walk, am I?”
“You are.”
The blunt reply made Kali flinch. She probably should’ve waited until after his walk to bring this up.
Should’ve asked why he was in the garden, then decided whether to talk or not.
She’d just spoken to fill the silence, but now felt guilty for disrupting him.
“You could’ve said something earlier…”
“I’ll hear your little ‘secret proposal’ first, then finish my walk.”
“…I don’t even know where to start with that.”
Kali turned her whole body toward him. Earlier, she’d been facing the same direction as him; now she faced him directly.
He glanced down, smirking, and poked her forehead with his finger.
“What’s there to argue about? Don’t be cheeky.”
“It’s not some shady proposal, okay? I mean, it is a proposal, but not that kind!”
“Quiet.”
This time, he pinched her cheeks between his thumb and forefinger, squishing her mouth in and out like a squirrel’s.
“What kind of proposal could a little thing like you make?”
“Hmph. If you underestimate me, you’ll regret it.”
“And arrogant, too, I see.”
Looking exasperated, he grabbed hold of her tail.
On their first meeting, he’d only lifted it lightly between two fingers. Now, he wrapped his whole hand around it.
Leonhardt didn’t notice that his behavior toward Kali was already different from before.
“What could possibly fit inside this tiny head of yours?”
“I’ve got everything in here! Just… let go, will you?”
“And if I don’t want to?”
Kali glared back defiantly. He only laughed and shook her gently side to side.
She scowled deeply, stretching her arms and legs out stiffly.
‘You think I’ll just take this? You mean bully.’
She started counting in her head. One… two…
“And if I don’t want to…?”
When her face was close enough to his, on three—
“Then you leave me no choice! Ha ha ha!”
She latched herself onto his face, sticking tight. It was a silly, triumphant bit of revenge.
Leonhardt stopped walking, grasped her body, and tried to peel her off. But she clung on with all her strength.
“Kali. Quite the performance.”
“It’s not a performance! Just don’t mess with me. Hmph.”
The message was clear: tease the squirrel and face the consequences.
Eventually, she relaxed her grip. At once, he seized her body and carried her dangling along instead of setting her back on his palm.
“Uh…”
The smile he wore then felt… ominous. Who knew what schemes hid behind it?
Did I just poke the sleeping lion? Kali thought nervously, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
“Amusing,” he murmured darkly as they entered the mansion. Kali shivered.
“Amusing.”
“…What is?”
“You’re the first to provoke me this much.”
‘Wait, isn’t this like one of those lines… “You’re the first woman who’s ever hit me”? Oh no.’
Kali felt she’d triggered something dangerous in him. She quickly turned her gaze forward.
“Could you put me down now?”
“No.”
“Then where are we going?”
“To hear your ‘secret proposal.’”
“It’s not secret at all, though.”
Her round ears twitched.
Leonhardt raised his hand, pinching one of them gently.
“Don’t touch me there.”
“You’re like a pet.”
“Ever owned one?”
“No.”
“Then how would you know?”
They bantered all the way up the stairs—though the conversation had little substance.
By the time they reached the third floor, he suddenly said:
“Maybe I should try keeping one.”
“Want me to recommend something?”
Her eyes sparkled as she turned to him.
Back in Korea, she’d lived with her grandmother’s dog. By the time Kali met him, the dog was already old, and passed away not long after. Still, having shared two years together, she’d cried hard that day.
“A recommendation? No need. I’ve already decided.”
“Oh? What kind of animal?”
Heading toward his office, Leonhardt’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“It’s right in front of me.”
“…Where?”
Kali glanced around. The hallway was empty aside from some servants at work.
“There’s no one here.”
She looked back up at him.
He only smiled silently.
Something clicked in her mind. Her eyes went wide.
With a click, he opened the office door.
“…Ugh. That’s a nasty joke. Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? I’ll treat you preciously. Dote on you.”
Why did he have to say that with such an indecent smile?
Kali shuddered. She didn’t like it one bit.
‘Ugh. Absolutely not!’
The office door shut behind them. Leonhardt set her down on the sofa in the middle of the room, then sat beside her.
“Why don’t you sit over there instead? The sofa’s plenty wide.”
“I’ll sit where I want.”
He stroked her head to tail with one hand, smiling lazily.
“So. What’s this proposal of yours?”
“…Ah. Right.”
She’d almost forgotten her purpose amid all the nonsense.
Kali slipped out of his hand. He let her go surprisingly easily.
Crossing over to the table opposite him, she faced him squarely.
“Your Grace. Why don’t we work together? No—let’s cooperate.”
