HRTCA 20

Today was the day the knights stationed at the fortress returned to the grand duke’s estate, while the estate’s knights departed for the northern wall.

They always took turns guarding the estate and the northern defenses.

When the knight commander, Gerald, arrived at the grand duke’s residence, he immediately sensed a change in the air of the manor and was startled.
His younger brother, Ains—who also served as the grand duke’s aide—told him something shocking.

“What? His Grace hasn’t suffered any bouts of madness lately?”
“You’re surprised too, aren’t you, Brother?”

Ains, long accustomed to the situation, remained calm, but Gerald stood agape in disbelief.
After ordering the knights to begin today’s training, he set off at once.

He had seen the little white squirrel once before, when he last visited the fortress, and he knew that the squirrel was, in fact, the Grand Duchess.
To think that he’s on good terms with the ‘cursed bride’ he once hated so much…

That much, he could accept.
But the disappearance of the madness—that was truly astonishing.
The grand duke had suffered from it since boyhood, and yet the attacks had suddenly lessened.
Gerald had to see it with his own eyes.

When he reached the garden, another surprise awaited him: His lord was actually out strolling there, a soft bundle of fur perched on his shoulder.

“Ah, Gerald. You’ve arrived.”
“I greet Your Grace.”

Gerald bowed, his gaze inevitably drawn to the furry creature on Leonhardt’s shoulder.
The “bundle of fur” twitched and moved—
a white squirrel.

At the sound of Gerald’s voice, it turned its small head, still draped across Leonhardt’s shoulder.

“Commander Gerald, just back from the fortress,” Leonhardt acknowledged.
“Yes, Your Grace. Please rest if you can,” Gerald replied, then hesitated.

“Is it true,” he ventured, “that you haven’t had any attacks of madness lately?”
“Ah, that.”

The squirrel’s round ears perked up. Gerald sensed a chill in the grand duke’s gaze and quickly lowered his head. The look clearly said: Where do you think you’re staring?

“Perhaps it’s because of this little one,” Leonhardt said.
“I—I beg your pardon?” came a tiny voice.

Gerald almost jerked his head up. The squirrel talks? But he kept his eyes lowered.

“I’m still observing to be sure,” Leonhardt continued evenly. “But it seems effective.”
“That is… excellent news, Your Grace.”

“Now, what of the monsters?”
“They’re quiet. After Your Grace burned so many last time, they seem frightened. I expect no activity for a while.”
“Good. And Peter remains at the fortress?”
“Yes. If both of us left, the balance would be off.”
“Wise. Then go and rest.”

Gerald felt oddly like an intruder.
Not just my imagination…

He turned to leave, but after a few steps glanced back.
His lord was speaking softly to the squirrel—and smiling.
It was the most at ease Gerald had ever seen him.
A good change indeed.

He silently wished that expression would last.

After the commander departed, Kali tapped Leonhardt’s neck with her tiny paw.
“What was that about? Your madness is getting better? Because of me?”
“Maybe it’s time I told you.”

Leonhardt had already tested his theory at the fortress, and his suspicions had solidified after several nights of sharing a bed with Kali back at the estate.
Defining the feeling was difficult—so many emotions mixed together.

“Kali, astonishing as it is, when you’re with me the madness subsides,” he said matter-of-factly.
“…Really?”

Could her mere presence help with something so severe?
She recalled how, when he had nightmares, he calmed whenever she stroked his forehead.
So it hadn’t been coincidence after all.
Do I… really have that kind of power?

“That’s why I brought you to the fortress,” he admitted. “I wanted to confirm it.”
He had called it “just in passing,” but clearly testing her effect had been part of the plan.

“Seems it truly works,” he added.
“I… see.”
“Yes. Even when you were in my pocket while I slew the monsters, I felt the difference.”

They strolled leisurely through the garden. Leonhardt patted her head, his cool hand unexpectedly comforting.

“Most of all,” he said, “the cursed voices were silent.”
“Uh… I…”
“Whether your presence alone is enough or if contact is required, I’m not yet certain.”
Kali suspected touch was the key. The nightmares were surely tied to the witch’s curse, and he had always calmed when she touched him.

“Kali, so I’ve reached a conclusion.”
“That sounds ominous…”
“It’s good news—for you,” he said with a gentle smile.
“…Is it really?”

“About your bedroom. I’m moving it.”
“Oh, the bedroom—wait, what? To where? I didn’t agree to that.”
“Remember asking to change the curtains?”
“Yes. The lemon-yellow ones were awful.”
“So I moved you.”
“…What?”

She flicked her ears, wondering if she’d misheard.
“Come again?”
Leonhardt’s charming smile was disarmingly confident.
“I only asked for new curtains,” she muttered.

He stopped by the fountain and placed her in his palm. She perched there, glaring up.
“How do you go from curtains to moving the entire room?”
“It was time to relocate you.”
“Why?”
“Your room is too small.”
“It’s huge! …Wait—where exactly?”

“Next to my chamber on the third floor.”
“Next to… your room?”
“We’re married. We agreed to share a bed, remember?”

The low, warm tone carried a different implication that made her ears burn.

“Kali, choose: share a bedroom with me, or keep separate rooms.”
“What’s the difference? We sleep in the same bed anyway.”

Amused by her confusion, he explained,
“If you share my room, we’ll be in the same bed every night.
If you keep your own, we’ll share a bed only when I feel like it.”
“…The second option sounds freer.”
“Indeed. Pick one.”
“Those aren’t great choices.”
“Still, you must choose.”

He was clearly in control; ignoring him wasn’t really possible.
Kali sighed. She was falling right into his scheme.

“Fine. The second option.”
“I thought so. I’d hoped you’d choose the first.”
“Too bad. I like defying you.”
“A pity indeed,” he murmured, stroking her with slow gentleness. She had to admit his touch now felt pleasant.

Her tail twitched as she settled calmly in his palm. His eyes softened.

“Leon,” she asked quietly,
“Do you often have nightmares?”

He paused mid-step, turning back toward the manor.
“From time to time,” he said.
“Even when I’m around?”

Kali debated whether to answer truthfully. Some dreams were surely about his mother.
She chose to spare his pride.
He only narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing more.

“Kali. If I ever have a nightmare…”
“Yes?”
“Don’t wake me. Stay away.”
“Why?”
“My blood boils when it happens. I might threaten you.”

“The witch’s curse… it torments you even in dreams?”
“So it seems.”

Someone had once tried to wake him during a nightmare and he had nearly killed them. That’s when he realized the dreams were tied to the madness.

“A truly horrible curse,” Kali murmured.

She wanted to tell him that when she touched his forehead during a nightmare, he calmed—that her touch might suppress the madness. But the moment to speak passed; he seemed lost in thought.

“But you,” he said softly, “might be the exception.”
“Because I seem to soothe the madness?”
“Exactly.”

Leonhardt looked both surprised and quietly delighted.

“Kali, you’re my tranquilizer.”