I Raised the Beast Well

Side Story 10

TL : Nestaelle

Belinda shook her head dazedly. Aymon acted like a beast desperate to stick the ‘I’m married’ sign on Belinda’s back immediately.

To the point she was fascinated.

‘Do you like me that much?’

Belinda laughed at herself when she realized how much of a narcissist she was. Then she recalled what happened earlier.

As soon as she identified herself, Ronan and his guard’s face turned white. The guard was startled and fell face down on the ground, while Ronan bowed deeply to apologize.

“Please pardon my impoliteness, Lord Shinsu! Princess!”

His cold sweat dripped on top of the grass, showing how utterly flustered he was.

His reaction was understandable. He sat next to a girl and even made a move on her which turned out to be the Princess, and the arrogant man next to him was the Shinsu. Not to mention, he was the Princess’ husband and the chief of Shinsu, who was famous for his violent personality. What if Kingsford County faces a severe punishment due to his action?

I can’t believe I got myself into this mess as soon as I returned to the empire. Even if I acted in that manner because of my ignorance, the consequences would not be simple.

However, as Ronan was at a loss, she patted his shoulder gently instead of scolding him.

“I’m going to send an invitation to the County soon, so I hope you can visit the palace. Don’t worry, I’m not going to rebuke you.”

Ronan was polite to Belinda even though he mistook her for a commoner. He was also able to deal with Aymon’s rudeness in a dignified manner. As much as she recalled, Count Kingsford also had a praiseworthy personality. As expected, like father, like son.

It must be hard for those born into noble families not to be arrogant. In that regard, Ronan’s character was already proven. He’d be a good source of strength for Lart.

She was walking around the alley hand-in-hand with the sulky Aymon when someone approached them. He seemed to be a traveler judging by how looked around with a small map.

“Excuse me, by any chance–”

But before Belinda could respond, Aymon lost his temper.

“What’s your problem?”

The man shuddered at Aymon’s sharp growl. Aymon asked again menacingly.

“What’s your problem, huh?”

The man clasped his mouth shut, clutched the map tightly and stammered.

“W-Where do I h-have to go to get to P-Parthen Lake….”

Aymon grouchily furrowed his eyebrows, pointing to the back alley with a foam at his mouth.

“Get lost over there. Don’t make a move on my wife.”

“Yes! T-Thank you!”

With fast steps, the man who bent his waist vanished. He had no idea that woman was the wife of that ill-tempered man. He felt a little unfair, but there was nothing he could do.

Get lost, huh? I’m sure telling me to get lost nicely won’t hurt.

Belinda, who had been left behind, shook her head.

Aymon, you punk…

Isn’t that man just a passerby? He did nothing wrong. Just where did you learn to have tantrums like this?

‘Well, at least you still showed him the way.’

In any case, Aymon told him the right way.

The two began walking hand-in-hand again.

“Aymon, why are you so angry?”

“When did I?”

Aymon replied after taking a nervous glance at Belinda.

“You did it before, and you’re doing it again. You act like you must encase me in a gold-plated frame so that nothing can get near me.”

Aymon brushed his hair down and smiled warmly at Belinda.

“But it is true that you are encased in a gold-plated frame. Because in my eyes, you shine brighter than the gold-plated frame.”

“….Oh.”

Belinda was so embarrassed that she began mimicking the passerby earlier by quivering her mouth, seemingly forgetting what to say.

She heard those heart-fluttering words all the time. But it was his beautiful lips that made her ears flush red every time he said it. He was so handsome when he said those words.

She wondered if she was a sucker for beauty.

Belinda wiggled her fingers. Divinity started oozing from her fingers.

But no matter how much Aymon liked me, wouldn’t it be a problem if he kept doing this?

He’d always grown his claws, ready to destroy anyone who had anything to do with Belinda or himself. It was concerning at this point.

“What a grumpy cat you are.”

She murmured to herself and tapped Aymon’s forehead. She wanted to wrap her divinity around Aymon’s body…

Meow?

A black baby leopard fell on the floor.

The baby leopard without a transformation stone was so small, so if one didn’t see it properly it looked just like a black kitten on the side road.

[Me…ow?]

The small beast was going to say something, but he shut his mouth because he couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth.

The beautiful magenta eyes trembled uncontrollably, possibly due to the shock.

Belinda sat down on the ground to make eye contact with Aymon. Since her divinity had settled down, it was now possible to transform a huge leopard into a kitten. Aymon might not be able to return to his ‘original body’ until she freed him.

Belinda tapped Aymon’s snout and said sternly.

“This is a punishment. Reflect on yourself.”

[Meow!]

But Aymon wrinkled his snout and protested angrily.

Belinda almost laughed due to his cuteness.

Aymon has always been this adorable. He’s just lovely. I hadn’t seen him like this in a long time, so I forgot.

She held back her amusement and extended out her hands. When she grabbed the baby leopard’s body, the beast was embarrassed and squirmed its front feet, but he soon gave up. She then lifted the listless leopard and met his eyes.

“You acted like a child so much that I turned you into a kitten for real.”

[….]

“How can you keep being rude to people who approached me? You’re not even a child.”

[…]

“I know that you are the great Shinsu, but as long as you live with me, you’ll have to get used to mingling with others. Do you get it?”

[…]

Aymon was unable to respond. It hurt his pride.

He jerked his front feet to escape Belinda’s grasp, but he was held even more tightly in her arms. Aymon tapped the back of her hand with his front foot while simultaneously relaxing his body, as if he found Belinda’s arms comfortable. It had been a while since she hugged him like this. His body had become so big that he was always the one to hug Belinda. It really had been a very long time since he was held in this way.

A human body that stayed warm and tender. It made him happy. He bared his teeth in vain because he didn’t want her to know how he felt.

Belinda stood up and wandered about with a small beast in her arms. He was a good cat who didn’t even stick out his claws despite all of his attacks and protests.

A chain of meows rang out endlessly in her arms. It was Aymon’s subdued protests. He seemed to want to say ‘Let me talk’.

Belinda’s fingers tickled Aymon’s chin. At one point, Aymon’s ongoing complaints developed into a snarl.

“Wait. Learn to be patient.”

Belinda said gently as if she were dealing with a real kitten. The beast smacked his tail on Belinda’s forearm right after she said that. It was the most effective way he could demonstrate his rebellion without hurting Belinda.

Belinda laughed aloud as she walked through the alley. The warmth in her arms was refreshing.

A girl with freckles laid the teacup and cookies with care. The girl cast a glance at the kitty curled up on the table.

“It’s a very pretty cat.”

“Cute, isn’t it?”

Aymon’s whiskers twitched, as if he didn’t like being praised as pretty and cute. It just made him look even more cute.

Aymon turned his head to avoid her when she reached out to pet him. He had been silent since earlier. He seemed to be very upset.

Now that it comes to this, shall I return you to your original body?

That’s what she thought, but she chose to drop that idea for the time being because he was so cute. Aymon’s angry appearance was cute anyway, so it was still bearable.

“Aymon.”

Aymon, who moved languidly, turned his back completely.

“Aymon, did you reflect on yourself?”

Aymon merely wagged his tail instead of responding. It was a rebellion. Once he said he had reflected, Belinda was about to release her divinity, but his pride held her back from doing so.

Belinda poked Aymon ‘s back with her finger. The touch felt so good that she kept touching him, but Aymon moved to the end of the table to avoid her.

Belinda lowered the corners of her mouth, barely able to hold back her laughter.

You’re so cute. But being cute doesn’t excuse you from doing things you shouldn’t do.

“If you don’t reflect on yourself, I’ll let you stay like that throughout the trip.”

[….]

“You’ll also return home in that condition. Anish and Thilai will really adore you. Because they have a brother to play with. Right?”

Only then Aymon turned around. He wiggled his front feet and opened his mouth as if he had something to say. He eventually jumped beneath the table without even meowing.

Then he walked out of the cafe with a proud step.

“Hmm. You must be really upset.”

Actually, she wanted to release him and have cookies with him. Belinda thought of the small beast as she took a bite of the almond cookie. He was so upset that he even turned his back and just listened. She didn’t know it was so fun to tease Aymon.

His cute fangs and small paws were so adorable.

Belinda laughed, knowing that if Aymon heard her thought, he would undoubtedly give out an angry meow.

‘I wonder when my cat will stop being angry?’

She thought of him as she stirred the teaspoon, when a shadow loomed on the table. And when she looked up.

“Ronan Kingsford?”

Ronan, the youngest son of Count Kingsford, was standing there. He was looking around with his hands behind his back and an embarrassed look on his face.