Chapter 46
“But it said it would grant everything Asil wants.”
That was definitely written in the marriage contract Asil had once received from Edenber.
Asil tilted their head.
“Since it said it would grant everything I want, if I say I’m going home, it’ll wave bye-bye and let me go.”
“Asil.”
“Yeah.”
“Humans are selfish and always change their words like flipping their palms. They’re a species you must never trust.”
“Uuu….”
“So you must never let humans find out that you can transform into a human.”
“Uuu… got it.”
Even as they answered, Asil slightly furrowed their brow.
‘My husband seems like a human I can trust, though.’
But since Mom, the kindergarten teachers, and the adult beastman had never been wrong, instead of arguing with Dad, Asil asked another question.
“Then is it okay to tell my bunny friend?”
“Bunny friend?”
“Yeah. The bunny I hang out with. It’s super white and tiny.”
“Hmm, alright, you can tell your bunny friend. Humans can’t understand animal speech anyway.”
Arcian, who had readily agreed, suddenly stared into the air with a hardened expression.
“It’s about time to go.”
“Why?”
“The Duke of Monlepe is preparing to return.”
If he lingered any longer, it might arouse unnecessary suspicion.
He returned Asil to her baby dragon form.
And then he gave them a gemstone necklace he had prepared in advance as a gift.
“I infused this with my magic. With this, you can practice transforming into a human even when I’m not around.”
“Bbi-hyaaa.”
Wow, now Asil can transform into a human on her own. A full-grown adult beastman!
Overwhelmed with emotion, Asil’s eyes sparkled as she accepted the necklace.
“And if you press this, Dad will appear with a poof. If something urgent happens, press it hard. I’ll come right away.”
“Bbi-i.” (Okay.)
That’s what Asil said, but she had absolutely no intention of calling Arcian.
Asil is now an adult beastman. No matter how tough things get, she can handle it all on her own.
Little did they know that just a few hours later, they’d end up calling him, as Asil tucked the necklace into their subspace.
* * *
Inside the carriage heading back to Monlepe.
Edenber was quietly watching Asil, who seemed to be in a good mood.
He always felt uneasy whenever he came here.
It was because Arcian kept holding onto Asil with all sorts of excuses.
But since Asil seemed to enjoy visiting the count’s estate, he didn’t let it show outwardly.
‘she seem in an even better mood than usual today.’
And for good reason—Asil was currently thinking about the necklace they had tucked away in their subspace.
‘I’ll practice transforming into a human as soon as we get back.’
Lost in such thoughts, Asil’s face was flushed with excitement as she stomped their short legs eagerly.
“Bbi-ya, bbi-i.” (Hey, husband.)
“Yeah?”
“Bbi-ya.” (Asil has something to brag about.)
“What is it?”
“Bbi-yaa bbi-i.” (It’s a secret.)
Covering her mouth with both front paws, Asil giggled mischievously.
‘If they knew Asil met Dad here, they’d be so surprised, right?’
If they found out I could become human, they’d be twice as surprised, right?
But since I was told never to tell anyone I can transform into a human, I’ll surprise them right before I go back home.
Having a secret that no one else knew was incredibly thrilling.
‘Today’s Asil is a mischievous black dragon beastman!’
“What’s the secret?”
“Bbi-yaaa.” (Not telling.)
Excited all by herself, Asil kept stomping her feet and giggling “bbi-hya-hya-hya.”
She completely ignored Edenber’s puzzled gaze.
And that night,
Asil’s human form was immediately discovered by Edenber.
* * *
It was a night when sleep just wouldn’t come.
After tossing and turning in bed for a while, Edenber finally got up.
Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Arcian doting on Asil.
And the image of Asil, who seemed burdened yet subtly pleased by Arcian’s affection, came alive in the darkness.
Arcian, who, despite seeing Asil almost every day, always looked reluctant to part and earnestly asked her to come back to play.
Asil, who clung to the window, waving her little hand until Arcian was out of sight.
Why on earth, for what reason, had they grown so close?
When Asil first met him, she had been full of wariness.
But with Count Erzébet, she showed a bright smile from the start. And they met every day, no less.
If time went on like this…
‘she might leave me for Count Erzébet.’
Thinking that far, Edenber clenched his fists tightly. It felt like anxiety was pricking his heart like thorns.
He had lost his mother as soon as he was born.
Even his father, to whom he had grown attached, had left him with a heavy burden and departed.
There was his grandfather, Elcai, but he was more a figure to learn from than someone to lean on or act spoiled with.
The only one Edenber could rely on, the only one to whom he could fully reveal his vulnerable heart, was one being.
Asil.
The thought that such a precious child might one day vanish like smoke made his head spin.
‘Surely Sir Arcian isn’t approaching Asil to take her away.’
Even if that were the case, if Asil chose to leave of their own will, there was nothing Edenber could do.
Unlike the divine beasts of other families bound by the “oath” passed down since the kingdom’s founding, there was nothing binding Asil to him.
When Asil was first appointed as the divine beast, his vassals had pointed this out and urged him to make a contract with Asil.
But Edenber didn’t do it.
Since he had summoned Asil by his own will, he wanted Asil’s will to be reflected when it came time to leave.
That thought hadn’t changed even now.
While Edenber hoped to stay with Asil forever, he was ready to let her go if that’s what she wanted.
Because keeping someone who wants to leave by his side out of greed would feel like a prison.
However,
‘What should I do if Asil really leaves me?’
Imagining her departure felt like the world was crumbling.
Overwhelmed with despair, Edenber covered his face with his hands.
‘…No, I just have to do better.’
He tried his best to think positively.
Asil’s interest in Count Erzébet must be because the count was giving her something he couldn’t.
He didn’t know what that was, but if he did even better than that, Asil wouldn’t leave him.
‘If I do much better than I am now…’
There’s no way she would leave him.
Repeating this to himself, he barely calmed his unsteady heart. Then, to get some fresh air, he flung open the curtains.
That’s when he saw the lit window of the divine beast’s room.
‘Is she still awake?’
It was pretty late… or maybe she fell asleep with the light on.
Wanting to see Asil’s face and ease his heavy heart, Edenber stepped outside.
He crossed the hallway, softly lit by orange lantern light, and headed toward the divine beast’s room.
“Kyu… Kyuu…”
A baby bunny was dozing off in front of the door, but Edenber, preoccupied, didn’t notice and lightly knocked.
“I’m coming in.”
To avoid startling Asil, he paused for a moment before opening the door.
And he froze at the unexpected sight.
“…Hwaaaaaaa!”
A black-haired girl in the room, blinking her eyes, let out a loud scream.
She was clumsily wearing an oversized maid’s outfit.
* * *
“Hwaaaaaaa!”
Startled by Edenber’s sudden appearance, Asil screamed.
Why did my husband come in all of a sudden?!
☆☆☆
By Anna 💓
