CH 12

“Grunt…”

Suddenly, he extended his hand to his side. He didn’t even touch her, but Leone twisted his body.

“It’s itchy. You guy.”

She once got hit by Deoksoon while playing around with Deoksoon’s feet, who hates tickling.

Still, she didn’t give up. What should she do if she keeps wanting to joke around even if she gets bitten? Is it because of that mischievous temperament? She had an insidious thought that she wanted to tickle Leone too.

“Come and see.”

Leone shook his head and stepped back. She moved her fingers in the air and laughed.

‘I want to tickle him violently.’

She smiled and held out her hand to him.

“I’ll try just a little bit.”

“…”

She felt a sudden silence and looked up to see Leone staring at her with an expressionless expression. His face… He seemed like a very sane person.

Oh That guy wasn’t a real dog. He just looked like a mean, perverted old man to her.

“… Sorry.”

“Yes.”

He didn’t know how to say anything, so he replied, yes, but he was even more embarrassed when the conversation took place.

She lowered her hands and knelt, moving her gaze to the rabbit’s rump.

‘Cute. Cute.’

She didn’t know how to treat Leone. A dog that was a human, and a human that was a beast… Wouldn’t he try to hunt if he were a little relieved? Oh, come to think of it, he was just trying to hunt, right?

It was nice to be reminded of the main topic that she forgot. She called out to him in a joyful voice, taking the opportunity to push back my awkward shyness.

“Leone!”

“Yes.”

“Just now.”

“…”

“Did you try to eat the rabbit?”

“…?”

“Ugh. Is it difficult to understand?”

She pointed at the rabbit, opened her mouth, and pretended to eat it. Leone shook his head.

“Then why?”

“Trixie.”

“Yes.”

“Trixie.”

He said her name over and over again. He looked at the rabbit once, then at her, and repeated it for a long time, but she couldn’t figure out what it meant.

Later, she would again when he could talk a bit.

I quickly gave up and got up.

“Anyway. No. No hunting rabbit, ok?”

“No?”

“Yes. No. Don’t do it. It’s bad.”

“Bad…”

Leone’s beautiful face was visibly sullen. She was sorry, but it was necessary. It was a law to be strict when disciplined.

“Now let’s really go back.”

She reached out to him but he just stared at her hand. So she took Leone’s hand, put it on top of hers, and held it tight.

“Let’s go. Leone.”

“… yes.”

Leone nodded his head with a blank face.

* * *

“Jamie. You have a nice face.”

“The good-for-nothing must be dead now.”

“You don’t know if she’s dead?”

“Even intermediaries don’t know anything. So far, all the workers that went there that day have come back alive, but not that girl. She has the worst luck.”

Jamie grinned.

“Okay! So, let me treat you today.”

“More? Hey, there is a very hot place here.”

Jamie smiled as she leaned back up to her waist, pulled some of her coins out of her pocket, holding Trixie’s first pay, and held it out on her counter. Beer mugs were squeezed into the hands of the sweaty men gathered in the small bar. These days, they were the people who flocked to the news that Jamie, who was in a good mood, was shooting alcohol often. Thanks to that, the bar where his girlfriend, Jeanne, works was in a festive mood every day. Even Jeanne, who had not allowed Jamie to touch her, kissed Jamie on the cheek for the first time as if she was excited.

“Hehe. In just a little while, I might get married again.”

“Will Jeanne marry you? What the! This man’s fortune is awesome.”

“What fortune? I had a hard time living with a girl who didn’t even look like a woman.”

As soon as he thought of Trixie, Jamie’s mood plummeted. How hard was it to live with that good-for-nothig? He couldn’t do anything because of the imperial law that doesn’t allow divorce.

Anyway, with one less burden, his miserable life has ended. Besides, Jeanne seemed to have opened up to him now. Aren’t women, from ancient times, beings that can be quickly captured once pursued?

Jamie laughed heartily as he stared at Jeanne’s ass carrying her beer frantically.

“By the way. Jamie. It seems that the fort has become more abundant… Would you like to go grab a bite?”

A man intervened and spoke to Jamie. He wasn’t seen often, and he was one of many who managed the hunting grounds outside the castle where nobles frequented. He was, in a word, a no-nonsense guy.

“I don’t go there. That’s where those poor who want to die go.”

“They say they start by giving 100 gold each as the base money.”

“What?”

It was nonsense. Even gambling houses targeting commoners at the bottom couldn’t pay that. Even if you lend money to those who have no ability to repay, it will go bankrupt rather than being invested.

By the way, did he say that was the basic fund? Plus a hundred gold?

“Even if it’s a gambling house run by a noble, can we get in there?”

“Rumors say it is run by the Count, who is a wealthy man. Both nobles and commoners can enter. He said he could just take it and come out. Really. Anderson bought the house with the money. But they didn’t really say anything.”

“What. Is he a philanthropist?”

“However, there is one condition to enter.”

“Ugh. What is it?”

“As soon as you enter, you must play a game with the casino dealer, and win.”

“… Is that all?”

“Well, it’s a complete luck test. The odds are low and fewer people get in. They say it doesn’t matter if you’re a commoner or an aristocrat.”

“Hoo… ”

It was pretty exciting news.

“If money is not enough, you can also ask for a family name. I don’t know if your wife is dead or not, but her family name can be used after all.”

He knew. There were times when Trixie also could be useful.

“What do you think?”

At the hunting ground manager’s question that followed, Jamie looked at Jeanne once. That girl was too arrogant.

Maybe one even better… Maybe he could meet a younger and pretty woman. Rather than being arrogant, wouldn’t it be better to have a girl with a lot of charms who knew how to be good to Jamie? He felt that putting the debt on Trixie’s side wouldn’t affect him too much.

“Where is it?”

The gamekeeper grinned as Jamie stood up from his seat.

* * *

Way to work.

Standing in front of the well, Gourden, who appeared in front of her in agony, was startled and said he would bring him to her instead, waving his hand at me to go in first. It was easy to understand what Gourden was doing. Now her entire left arm was wrapped in bandages. Looks like it was seriously injured.

A few nights ago, Leone, who was trying to hunt a rabbit, was scolded by the doctor who came to see him that morning because he rolled over.

‘You said it was absolutely stable, but what the hell did you do to make the wounds only add up?’

The doctor tied her shoulders very tightly. He told her never to move and put a splint on her arm and wrapped it around it, so she couldn’t use her entire left arm. She could move her fingers, but that didn’t help much. Fortunately, she was right-handed, so she was able to work.

‘Do you think I’m the kind of employee that wants an injured person working? Are you crazy?’

She went to work at the main building excitedly, but of course Adler was stunned when he saw her appearance. Then he said he would give her one of the unused rooms on the first floor to rest.

‘It’s not clean, but you can rest.’

She could use her right hand, so she would work. She insisted that she didn’t do it yesterday and the day before, and he had just confiscated the cleaning tools. So… She had no choice but to take a break from work that day. She felt like she had never done anything like work since she got a job there as a maid for cleaning.

“Hey, Adler.”

She hesitantly opened her mouth to Adler, who was looking at her with sharp eyes. She had one favor to ask him.

“Yes.”

“Do you have any books about animals in your library? For example… wolves?”

Leone’s actions, which he thought were insignificant, kept coming back to her over the past few days.

She, the rabbit, she, the rabbit. Why did he look at them alternately? What do rabbits and she have in common? No, if they had one thing in common, it’s that Leone saw them as his prey…? Did that make sense? Leone tried to protect her back then.

Deoksoon’s hunting instinct was not as authentic as Leone’s, so it was difficult to grasp him.

She seemed to need more study to know about wild animals.

‘Ugh. I should have watched animal documentaries in my past life.’

“About beasts?”

“Yes. Like habits or observations…”

If there was such a thing, she’d be raising Leone better, so she thought it wouldn’t be there…

Still, she asked with a glimmer of hope.

“There is a famous book that compiles the diaries of hunters. If I’m not mistaken.”

“Perfect. Could you lend me that book?”

“I’ll look for it first.”

“Thank you!”

“So, go to the inner drawing room and rest. Please.”

Adler snatched the cleaning tool she was holding in one hand and turned around.

“Teacher! I brought water here!”

Just then, Gourden cheerfully entered the mansion.

“Ah, thank you. Gourden. But Mr. Adler told me not to work today… What should I do?”

“Is that so? Then I will bring it back! Haha.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh no!”

He made a kind face and shook his head. She felt it from the beginning, but people there were really… They were nice.

“Anyway, a hunter… What else are you going to do this time, Teacher?”

Gourden looked at her expectantly. She averted her eyes and answered in a crawling voice.

“Gourden. I’ll talk because we’re alone. Please don’t call me teacher.”

Gourden widened his eyes as if he had heard all the strange words.