Chapter 19
“Why? I always sleep naked.”
For a split second, she caught a glimpse of his upper body—lean yet solid with muscle hidden beneath his clothes. She’d been so distracted by his face that she hadn’t noticed he was bare-chested.
Just then, a mischievous finger poked her on the rear.
“Eek!”
“Kali, your butt is cute.”
“Wh–where are you touching! Pervert!”
She spun around and was met with the sight of Leonhardt’s bare torso. He’d deliberately lowered the blanket to his waist.
Eyes squeezed shut, she quickly clapped her hands over them.
“Kali, we are technically married, you know. No need to be that embarrassed.”
“That’s beside the point!”
“We’ll be sleeping together from now on, so get used to it. You can’t jump every time.”
“…Excuse me?”
At those teasing words, she lowered her hands and cautiously opened her eyes, tilting her chin upward to avoid looking at his broad chest.
But resisting that view was impossible. Kali was still a woman, after all. She stole a furtive glance before pretending she hadn’t.
“Kali, if you want to look, just look. Sneaking peeks makes you seem more like a pervert.”
“I wasn’t looking! Why would I? Nothing to see anyway.”
“Really? Nothing to see?”
He tossed the blanket aside entirely, then scooped her up and set her down on his bare chest.
The sudden movement made her dizzy. She went limp, rolled herself away, and flopped onto the bed—eyes firmly shut, hands over her face.
“Ah, so this is your weak spot? Noted.”
His amused voice made her drop her hands in flustered denial.
“No! Absolutely not…!”
Yet again she snuck a glance over her shoulder, then quickly covered her eyes. She could feel him chuckling, his body shaking with laughter.
“But why do I have to sleep with you from now on? Where is this nonsense coming from?”
“I don’t know what you mean by nonsense,” he replied casually.
He lay back, uncharacteristically relaxed. Usually he was irritable in the mornings, but today he seemed calm. The constant headaches were gone, and he even looked refreshed.
Normally he could only rest when alone, yet with someone next to him tonight, he found he didn’t mind.
Of course, in his mind Kali wasn’t exactly a “person,” but a “pet.”
“Kali, I’ve decided. You have no say in the matter.”
“What? Give me at least a little choice, you tyrant!”
“Ha! Thanks for the compliment.”
Turning to his side, he propped his head on his arm and looked down at her, his sculpted torso fully on display.
Kali turned her back on him entirely. She wasn’t confident she could keep from staring if she faced him.
I am not some lecher, she told herself.
But who could resist when a handsome man’s bare chest was right there?
Don’t drool, don’t drool.
She tried to ignore the finger that now poked at her back.
“Kali, we’re heading back to the estate today.”
“Together?”
“Why? Don’t want to come with me?”
“It’s not that. But it’s not like I especially want to either.”
“Ouch, that hurts.”
Despite his words, his voice held a note of amusement.
She turned halfway toward him, meeting his eyes.
“You don’t sound hurt at all.”
“Ah, caught me?”
“You said you hate lying. Liar.”
“My lies are fine.”
“Wow… shameless.”
Though she protested, Kali couldn’t help but laugh.
The conversation was absurd, yet oddly comfortable. Somehow, she felt a little closer to this infuriating man. Maybe that’s why she decided to let the self-centered tyrant have his way—for now.
Just for a while.
“Ma’am!”
As soon as they stepped off the carriage, Levi greeted her with a bright smile. Kali leapt onto the girl’s head.
“Levi, been well? It’s only been a week.”
“I missed you, ma’am.”
Levi carefully lifted Kali, cradling her under the arms and spinning her around.
“A week felt like a month!”
“You’re saying embarrassing things.”
Leonhardt followed them out of the carriage, eyes cool as he watched Levi. Noticing his gaze, Levi immediately bowed, still holding Kali tightly.
“G–greetings, Your Grace. Welcome back.”
“This servant lacks proper training.”
He summoned the steward and took Kali from Levi’s arms. With a brief order, he had Levi led away for retraining.
Kali stared at him in disbelief.
“Why are you acting like this? She’s just a child.”
“No, Kali. Proper education starts young. No one was planning to train that servant at all.”
His golden eyes were icy today. Suspended in his arms, Kali could only listen.
“Someone dared assign that girl as a servant.”
“…”
“Kali, don’t let anyone else touch you so freely.”
“…That sounds easy to misunderstand.”
“What about it?”
Now his eyes burned with some unreadable emotion.
“No, Kali. You belong to me.”
Possessiveness seeped into his gentle voice.
“From now on, only I can touch you.”
A chill crept up her spine.
“Understand, Kali?”
The tender yet possessive gaze left her mind blank.
Something feels… off.
Kali replayed the scene in her mind.
Why? What was that?
He’d said she was his and no one else should touch her. He’d quickly sent Levi away after one innocent hug.
Considering all of it together…
“Is this… what first-time pet owners are like?”
The conclusion seemed obvious.
A pet owner wanting their beloved companion to look only at them. To love only them. That jealous, possessive instinct.
Ah, right. I was like that with my old dog, Nureong.
Remembering her late pet made Leonhardt’s feelings clearer. Of course it felt unpleasant when someone else touched your beloved animal without permission. And naturally you’d feel jealous if your pet wagged its tail for someone else.
Ah, Leon’s the same. I was lacking in understanding.
Kali nodded to herself. From now on, she would approach Levi and others with the mindset of a pet.
Though I’m not actually a pet.
Still, they had signed a contract. She needed to cooperate if she wanted this curse broken quickly.
Her pride could wait. Living as a pet for a while wouldn’t be so bad—he wasn’t the kind of owner who mistreated his companion.
Still, I didn’t expect him to be this jealous.
Feeling guilty, she waited for Levi to return.
Levi came back only after nightfall to help prepare for bed.
“Ma’am…”
In just half a day, the girl looked exhausted. Kali’s eyes widened.
“What happened, Levi?”
“The steward… is so scary.”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yes. It was really frightening. His Grace too…”
The child reached to stroke Kali but hesitated, likely remembering the earlier reprimand. Kali felt a pang of sympathy.
She leaned her head into the girl’s hand. Startled, Levi pulled back.
“Go on, secretly. I won’t tell.”
“B-but…”
“It’s fine. No one will know.”
“Ma’am…”
Tears welled as Levi gently picked Kali up and hugged her tight. Kali patted her comfortingly.
That red hair reminds me…
A fleeting dream came to mind. She barely remembered it now—only that a red-haired girl had gone to meet someone.
“Hey, Levi. Do you have any siblings?”
“I’m alone. I think…”
“You think?”
“Yes… I don’t remember.”
“I see.”
It seemed she would learn nothing more from Levi.
Who exactly was Kali Heraith?
The question only deepened.
Someone was groaning.
“…No…”
At first Kali thought it was a dream. She tried to ignore it.
“Please… Mother…”
The pleading male voice made her open her eyes.
There he was, the familiar man, brow furrowed.
She inhaled sharply.
So it’s real…
He’d said he’d sleep beside her, and he hadn’t been lying.
Why give up his own bedroom just to sleep here? The answer came quickly.
The owner who can’t stand to be apart from his pet for even a moment. I get it.
She glanced down. His upper body was still completely bare.
Determined not to stare, she lifted her gaze instead to his face, contorted in distress.
“Ugh…”
With a sigh, Kali moved closer.
A nightmare.
Even in sleep, he was disturbing hers.
Grumbling inwardly, she gently patted his forehead. Slowly, his features eased.
When he finally settled, she curled herself near his head like a ball.
If he has another nightmare, I’ll soothe him again.
That much, she could easily do.
I really am a good pet.
Half-asleep, Kali accepted the label of “pet” without realizing it.
