The Life of Maria Lewellin - Chapter 18

“I want to take you with me. But you might be in danger if I did.”

[But I still want to go with you. I hate being alone. It’s okay, I’m not worried because I have sister.]

Ayaya-

Her claws were tingling, but I didn’t want to express my worry or else, Ruri might be shocked.

By the way, she seemed to hate being alone and I’m really worried about leaving her here but I think, I’ll be more nervous if I take her… What should I do?

“Miss Maria, Glick’s meal is ready.”

I heard someone announced over the door, and I got up from the sofa, answering a loud, ‘Yes!’

I turned my gaze back to my shoulder. There wasn’t much time left. I tried to warn Ruri once more because Glick might growl at me if I arrive a little later. I didn’t want to scare her, but I have no choice.

“It can be really dangerous.”

[It’s okay! I want to be with you.]

I could feel the solemn determination in her voice. I can’t really go against those cute eyes so I swallowed a sigh and spoke in a solemn tone.

“…okay. But you have to promise me that you wont climb down my shoulder recklessly, alright? “

[Yes! Don’t worry.]

So I ended up heading to Glick’s room with Ruri.

My heart was pounding while walking in the hallway. Ruri, who doesn’t know how I feel, sits on my shoulder continued chattering.

She was too busy admiring everything she saw.

I finally reached the door at the end of the corridor. The soldiers, who recognized my face, unlocked the door, and I gave the door a little push forwad to open it.

We greeted each other from afar, unlike usual.

“I’m here, Glick.”

[You’re late.]

I don’t know if I’m really late, but I apologized first anyway. I need to be careful since I’m with a new face, Ruri.

Glick was sitting on a fluffy rug in the middle of the room. The wound in his mouth has fully healed already so his aggressiveness has subsided. And the iron bars had been put aside since yesterday as well.

His golden eyes still looked mysterious and beautiful. Glick tapped the floor with his tail and urged me as I pushed the cart closer towards him slowly.

[I can’t wait to eat meat.]

“Okay. I’ll give it to you right away….but I have something to tell you before that.”

[Give me the meat and say it.]

“No. You have to listen it before that.”

[Give me the meat and say it.]

Ah, this guy. He can’t really do anything without a lot of meat.

Glick was staring at me piercingly. He seemed really hungry as he liked his mouth.

In the end, it was me who raised the white flag. When I opened the lid of the plate on the tray, it revealed plate full of fresh raw meat, then I approach Glick with it.

It was then.

[Big! He’s really Big!]

Heuk!

I was surprised by the sudden voice, I almost dropped the plate. It was Ruri who spoke without any fear of the danger in front of her.

Glick flinched up at once. And why do I feel like his eyes are glued at Ruri and, not to me?

No, it wasn’t just a feeling. Glick began to approach me with his eyes fixed on my shoulder.

Embarrassed, I hurriedly put the plate I was holding in front of Glick.

“Hurry up, Glick. I especially brought more meat today!”

My heart was pounding like it was going to burst. I know that Glick wouldn’t definitely harm me, but I couldn’t imagine if he would react the same with Ruri.

Even though there was meat right in front of him, Glick did not take his eyes off Ruri. Then slowly asked, facing my eyes.

[That.]

“Hmm? “

[Is that my snack?]

(t/n: HAHAHAHA SNACK)

Oh no.

“No! Absolutely not!”

‘You’re making a mistake!’

I even waved my hand unconciously as I deny it. Then I introduced Ruri to Glick.

“This is my friend, Ruri.”

[Friend?]

“Yes. It’s like the same relationship you have with Ains.”

[Can’t I eat it? It’s moving.]

“Never. Don’t even try it…. “

I was going to say that eating Ruri wouldn’t even reach his liver*, but I swallowed my words in a hurry.

(t/n: *korean idiom which means it wont satisfy his hunger)

I can’t see her but I felt Ruri tightened her grip on my shoulder. She must be nervous.

“Anyway, if you try to eat her, I won’t bring you any meat from now on.”

I said it on impulse, but fortunately it worked. Glick’s eyes shook, and then he turned his head and answer back in a calm manner.

[I wont eat it.]

“…..you really wont?”

[If I say I wont, I won’t. I’ve never seen such a small bird. It’s not even a bite to eat.]

I asked Glick with a look of surprise at his remark.

“Do you know what a bird is?”

[I know. Ains taught me.]

“Really? You’re so smart, Glick.”

[I’m always have been smart]

He moved his tail as if he was saying, “What’s new?” and I cant help but smile.

Anyway, thank God he didnt ate Ruri… I don’t think that would happen. I’ve been watching him, and even though he’s a leopard, he’s the one who keeps his word.

Glick soon began eating the meat deliciously.

I sat crouching with my knees wrapped within my arms and watched him with a happy face.

The first day I gave a meal to Glick. I knew he was still sensitive because of the pain, so I purposely turned the chair around and looked at the wall pattern because I thought he might feel more uncomfortable if I look at him while eating.

Within seconds, however, I heard an uncomfortable voice coming from behind me.

[Why aren’t you looking?]

“Hmm? “

I turned around and saw Glick staring at me.

[I’m eating.]

“Yes. Enjoy your meal, Glick.”

After greeting him with a smile, I looked forward again. For a moment.

Grrrrr….

I heard a low growl from his throat and then Glick said one more time.

[I’m eating. But why aren’t you looking?]

I looked back again. I’m worried since I’m not sure if I understand what he meant by that so I asked carefully after thinking about it for a second.

“You want me to watch you eat?”

[Ains looks at me all the time. He looks at me when I’m eating, from start to finish, too. And when I’m done, he praises me.]

He sounded like he was telling me to do the same.

Only then did I get what he was talking about, and I had to hold back my laughter and watch him eat.

People often compliment their dogs or cats if they eat good, and Ains seemed to do the same.

If Glick took it for granted, it meant that it wasn’t just for a day or two. No, it seems that Ains compliment every time he ate until now.

‘Ains really raised you prettily. ‘

He looks like a leopard with a ferocious appearance, but he acts like a cat who likee compliments.

While blissfully recalling the past, Glick emptied his plate in the blink of an eye.

After confirming that he had already swallowed the last piece, I stretched out my arms and patted Glick on the head.

“Good job, Glick. Did you enjoy your meal?”

[Water]

Ah, yes.

When you put the water plate down next to him, he also drank it deliciously with his tongue clanging.

Then Ruri suddenky flew in front of my eyes and heard a small voice.

[Ruri is thirsty too!]

Hyuk.

I couldnt even stop her. She flapped with her tiny wings and flew. She settled in Glick’s water bowl and begand drinking while shaking her body .

[………]

I could see the look on Glick’s face. I can’t tell because I don’t have a mirror, but I’m pretty sure that my expression wouldn’t be much different from that of Glick.

[Kyaa, it’s cool.]

Ruri was the one who broke the silence. She exclaimed like an old man who cools down the heat with cool rice wine the middle of summer, then she came back to my shoulders and started to mess around.

[You’re so cool! I’ve never seen anyone eat a big chunk of meat that fast! It’s so cool!]

Looks like that’s for Glick. Ruri’s praises didn’t stop there.

[Your hair color is pretty, your eyes are pretty, too. It’s much prettier than the black cat I saw passing by the village. You’re so, so cool! Hey! Can you be friends with Ruri?]

There was no time for me to intervene in the middle. Following a quick compliment, Ruri even went as far as to ask Glick to be her friend.

On the other hand, Glick was still. I was getting nervous and my heart beat unconciously started beating fast. I didn’t know how Glick would react because of his unusual temper.

…..By the way, can birds and leopards talk to each other?

I opened my mouth with the thought of soothing Ruri, but I Glick’s voice first.

[That little thing is noisy.]

Oh, so you can communicate with each other. That’s amazing. So all other animals can talk to each other?’

Achacha, this is not the time to be thinking about that.

I glanced at Glick. Then he suddenly raised his head that was laying on his forefoot before and looked at Ruri as if he’s listening.

So I quickly changed my mind about taking Ruri back. Looking at his facial expression. it doesn’t look like he dislike Ruri so I decided to wait and see what they were talking about.

Like Ruri said, it would be great if they became friends.

[Ruri likes to chat. All my friends do too….but now I have no friends. Since they thought I’m a bad girl.]

I felt sad hearing her voice became gloomy in an instant. I could hear Glick’s voice in front of me as I gently stroked Ruri’s head with my fingertips.

[Why not?]

[My friend didn’t believe me and spread false rumors about me, so I was ostracized from the others.]

[That’s….]

Glick suddenly stopped talking.

Hm? I looked at him with a face that says, “What do you mean?” But he ignored my gaze and answered calmly while looking at the faraway place.

[It’s it all right. You don’t need friends.]

[But Ruri is lonely. Aren’t you lonely, Mr. Leopard?]

[…not lonely.]

Is it just me or did his answer sounded late?

Ruri, who left my shoulder again, settled on a red carpet. Without fear, he approached Glick’s front foot and tilted her head slightly.

[Come on, be friends with Ruri. It’s my first time seeing someone as cool as you, so I really want to be friends. We even shared water together. Alright?]

[You drank as you please.]

[But we drank together. Oh, if it’s because you’re embarrassed, let’s be friends next time! Ruri will be really nice to you.]

But Glick was never an easy guy.

hmp

I think I heard some kind of sound effect as he turned his head around.

I think it’ll be better if we go back for today, so I looked at Ruri and spoke with a smile.

“Ruri, let’s go back for today. I guess Glick wants to rest.”

Fortunately, Lurie responded without a hitch. She answered “Yes!” bravely, and then went to the place where Glick turned his head, curled up – tilting her whole body as she bowed and greeted him.

[See you next time, cool Mr. leopard.]

Ruri came back to my shoulder again. I reached out and petted Glick’s neck as I said goodbye to him.

“Then have a good night rest, Glick. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Glick didn’t answered as usual. I felt really sorry for him, so I patted his neck once more and left the room with the empty bowl.