The Life of Maria Lewellin - Chapter 8

*jingle*

Luckily, looks like it’s working. I could see the dog’s ears moving a little.

It was a calmer response than I thought. Usually, when I talk to other animals at first, they always get very surprised, but the dog in front of me didn’t show any signs of that.

[What a pretty fur color. What’s your name?]

[…….]

The dog remained silent. I looked up at the man standing next to me for a moment, lifting up the dog.

“Can I ask something?”

“Say it.”

“What’s this puppy’s favorite? Food is fine, even his favorite games will do.”

“It likes to play with ball.”

Playing with the ball? That’s great.

That’s a valuable information. I looked back at the dog with a much more convincing face.

[Do you want to play ball with me? I’ll throw it for you so you can go get it.]

[….]

But the dog was silent as expected. I tried to seduce it* several times, but I failed and for some reason, as soon as it opened it’s eyes, it looked at me with discontent.

(t/n: Maria is using a gender-neutral pronouns so I dunno if it’s a girl or boy so I used ‘it’ instead)

Does this dog really like to play with ball?’

I was planning to ask the guy, but I changed my mind. I definitely look like just in dazed as I stare at the dog in his eyes after all. I might sound crazy if I started suspecting him out of the blue.

“Can you tell me it’s favorite food instead?”

Don’t lie.

“…that dog likes chicken.”

“Really?

“How could I lie to a girl I’ve never seen before?”

Well, you just did. If you were born in the modern times, you could definitely be an actor.

But, I decided to trust the man one more time. I turned my attention to the dog once again and started talking out loud this time.

“Do you want some chicken?”

“Ruff! “

“That surprised me.”

Thank god, it worked this time.

The dog made a loud bark as if it had never been exhausted, and it made me realize that this child really liked chicken.

[Can I touch you for a second?]

[Give me chicken.]

[If you answer me.]

[Do whatever you want as long as you give me chicken.]

I burst out laughing. You must really like chicken.

I soon reached out carefully and stroked the back of the dog, then checked the ear and teeth one after another.

It’s a pity that I couldn’t do a thorough examination, but unless it was a serious disease inside, most things could be checked with the naked eye.

Fortunately, no major problems have been found while I scrutinize here and there.

I gently touched the soft nape of his neck and talked to him through my mind once more.

[What is it? Give it to me quickly. I like chicken.]

[I like it, too. Anyway, why have you been lying on your stomach a while ago? Are you sick?]

[No.]

[Then why aren’t you getting up?]

[It’s annoying. I hate moving around. But I always get dragged here and there. I’m so tired of it. ]

It shook it’s body as if to express how it really dislike it and then put it put it’s face on top of its front feet.

It has good hearing, and it speaks well. It looked like nothing’s wrong, but I decided to ask the dog one last thing. If it answered complacently, then the man would not be suspicious.

[Let me ask you one more question. Did someone else ever looked into your ear or touched you like what I did before me?]

[There is.]

[Really? Do you remember what they said?]

[Yes. They said that I’m strong, just lazy.]

Only then could I smile a little.

I stood up and faced the man with in a straight back after I had petted the neck of my commendable collaborator.

“I’ve looked at it, and it looks like it’s not sick.”

The man raised his eyebrows disapprovingly.

“Then why does it look so feeble and weak?”

That’s just the way it is.

That’s what I wanted to say but, I wisely spared my words and gave him a simple answer.

“Not all dogs are active. They also have different personalities like us humans. Since it likes chicken, if you want to take it for a walk or exercise, you can feed it to–“

Ooops.

I hurriedly shut my mouth. Haah, what happened to giving a simple answer?

“Well, anyway, that dog is perfectly healthy. You don’t have to worry about it, it just doesn’t like to move that much.”

Then I gave him a relaxed smile.

The man, who looked at me closely, rubbed his chin and spoke slowly.

“….Did you say you’re Miss Maria?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll show you where he is.”

Way to go!

I clenched my fists internally, and thanked the man.

“Thank you very much.”

“Wait here for a moment.”

The man then gave orders to the servant who was standing beside him.

‘Oh, we’re not leaving right now?’

My prediction was correct. The servant carefully began to walk with the dog in his arms, and within a few seconds I heard a loud barking.

“Ruff! Ruff ruff! Oww-“

[You said you’ll give me chicken! Liar!]

(t/n: Poor dog! He just got scammed skskajaksk)

When I heard his sad howling, I quickly shouted through my mind.

[I’ll ask them to give you some later! Thank you for your help!]

(t/n: good job gurl! I almost lost faith in you!)

I took a sip of tea that a lady who I assumed to be a maid, brought me earlier. I look around the room, and take another sip.

Wow, the tea tastes amazing, too, as expected of the imperial palace.

“…..haaa”

I placed the teacup down and let out a sigh. I have nothing else to do but to sit down in idle all by myself and I was bored to death.

I thought the man would come back immediately, but I was wrong. I’ve been waiting here for so long. It’s been an hour already since he left. I knew since I’ve been watching the clock’s longer hand made a complete turn.

*crack*

Aigoo-yah!

As soon as I stretched, I heard a bone crack.

The sound surprised me.

I glanced aside and fortunately the maid seemed not interested in me. She just remained standing there with her hands together politely, not looking at anything.

‘She looks young. Is she about the same age as Maria?’

As I became lost in my thoughts, the man who looks like he had done something first came up to me and said,

“Follow me.”

Can I finally see the Crown Prince now?

My heart was pounding. The man went back to the corridor where he had come earlier and climbed the stairs leading to the second floor.

The second floor was much more colorful than the lower floor. A magnificent corridor, reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles, stretched out before me.

That was not the only thing to see. Paintings that resembled Da Vinci’s filled the walls, and among the pillars were large statues.

Is it perhaps a piece of work made by the best sculptors of the country? Well, it’s at the Crown Prince’s palace after all.

‘One of these is probably worth a fortune. If I steal one, I think I can still pass it on to my future generations.’

Despite my foolish thoughts, my feet continued to move diligently along with the man.

After a while, the man stopped at the door. Seeing knights standing with weapons and full armor even though they were indoors, it seemed that the Crown Prince is there.

‘He said he look like a leopard, right?’

Gerard’s smiling face appeared in my mind as I think of that. Does that mean he’s as good looking as a leopard? I hope so.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

A brief body search was carried out before meeting the Crown Prince. After the confirmation process, the man polished the precautions.

“Your Highness doesn’t like fuss. Just answer questions with courtesy, and never be flippant.”

“Yes. Ah, excuse me.”

“What is it? “

“How should I greet him?”

There was no way there would be no royal etiquette that needs to be followed in a royal court. But of course I didn’t know that.

“….”

There was a hint of surprise in the man’s face. But he immediately went back to being expressionless and explained it briefly.

“You can hold onto the skirt with both hands and say your greetings with your knees bent slightly.”

Without realizing it, he looked like he chewed on a bug.

‘That’s not just it, isn’t it?’

The man continued to cough, as if his innermost feelings were revealed.

“He knows that you have not learned proper manners so he’ll understand.”

“What if I get mistaken as a person with no manners….Wouldn’t it be disrespectful for his Highness?”

“It’ll be all right. Glick… as long as you treat the leopard properly.”

Then he turns around and looks at the knights.

“Tell your Highness that I have brought in the veterinarian that will cure the leopard.”

Soon, the door opened and space was created.

Ugh, I’m nervous.

My heart started beating fast again. I tried to calm it down by breathing deeply, bu bit didn’t worked. I unconsciously lowered my head slightly.

It was because of the tension caused by meeting someone with a high position like the Crown Prince, and because I kept thinking of Gerard’s words that he resembles a leopard.

In short, I feel like I’m a high school senior who is about to press the announcement button of the university application passers, or, a lottery buyer who haven’t seen the last two digits of the winning lottery ticket yet.

Just that kind of feeling, the tension is at its peak.

“This is the woman, Your Highness.”

I gulped to try to ease the dryness of my throat. Holding onto the hem of my skirt, I bent my knee slightly in a three-second greeting that I had just cried out.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Maria Lewellin.”

The other party was quiet. After a while a low voice came to my ears.

“Raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I put my hands together and straightened my posture. After breathing in a little bit, I slowly raised my head with a trembling heart.

‘…….oh my god, amazing.’

As soon as I raised my head, I finally got the idea.

A cold perfectly shaped eyes, a tall nose, and a tight, straight lips.

The Crown Prince was an extremely handsome man. What was more surprising was that his hair was black.

(t/n: see, I told you she’ll shower him praises in her head once she met him lolol)

More than half a year has already passed since I came here. However, I have never seen anyone with black hair before.

Even the body I woke up into, Maria, had a Western appearance and red hair.

“Ehem.”

I woke up from my trance at the sound of a cough coming from somewhere. Then I lowered his head again, a low voice followed.

“You can cure the leopard?”

“Yes.”

I could hear a sigh. Why the hell? I haven’t even done anything yet!

“If you can’t do it, go back now.”

When I slowly raised my head, I still saw a handsome face as perfect as a sculpture, but he’s now looking at me coldly, his eyes filled with distrust.

“The crown prince’s leopard kept roaring sadly without eating, and that’s not all I’m worried about.”

“His highness has been searching everywhere, but no one seems to have cured the leopard yet until now.”

I can fully understand his distrust.

Since the rumors had already spread to Adella where I was, many people would have already come and gone to the palace saying they would try to cure the leopard. But everyone failed, because I wouldn’t be here if they did.

Having sorted my thoughts out, I looked at the Crown Prince with a sturdy expression.

“I’m confident with my skill so please, trust me.”

See, I told you. Maria has an eye for masterpieces. I mean, who doesn’t like handsome men? Lmao.

I’m excited about how their relationship will turn out hohoho.