The Life of Maria Lewellin - Chapter 9

“……alright.”

There we go!

“But–“

I looked at the prince for a moment in dismay at his words, which soon followed.

The pressure of a short silence was great. The tension, which had disappeared for a while from the crown prince’s face, began to rise again rapidly.

Fortunately, his voice continued. But the words from the lips were not pleasant.

“If you get a bad or unsatisfactory result, you’ll have to pay for it.”

“…okay. But–“

The prince’s foot stopped as he turned around.

His blue sapphire-like eyes stared at me indifferently.

(t/n: his eyes are blue? I thought it was black… I thought he had black eyes in the promo… or not?)

I kind of regret what I said. I shouldn’t have said anything behind his back, but I also didn’t come all the way here just to listen to his saltiness.

“Your Highness, promise me in God’s name. If I cure your leopard, you’ll have to grant my wish.”

“Such rudeness…..!”

The man who guided me here spoke with a fiery expression, but the crown prince immediately raised his hand to stop him.

Fortunately, his face didn’t look bad. Rather, his mouth seemed slightly raised, so my eyes widened. Ah, it’s gone already.

“Alright, I promise.”

Haah, that’s a ten-year worth of deal.

I let out a sigh of relief internally. You might be wondering why I made him swear in God’s name.

To put it simply, the people of this country believed in the god, Atra, and they believed that if they broke or someone else broke the promise made under his name, they would be cursed from generation to generation.

I used it thinking that the imperial family wouldn’t be an exception… That’s probably why the other man threw a fit earlier.

The Crown Prince soon turned around and continued walking again. A small question came to mind as I hurried to follow him.

”Shouldn’t he ask for what I wish for in times like this? What if I ask for something absurd?’

I kept my eyes at the prince’s back for the mean time. There really is no flaw in his posture. He really is not a prince for no reason.

The Crown Prince walked on and on. We went down the stairs again and turned in the opposite direction.

I tried my best to match him but because of his large stride, I ended up walk-running ungracefully. I can’t even become a crow-tit who could match a stork like him.

(t/n: there is a saying in korean about ‘the crow tit will break it’s legs trying to walk like a stork’ that means, pretending to be something that’s out of your reach or something like that.)

After a while, his steps stopped. Two knights armed like sentry soldiers, and a tightly closed door was seen before my eyes.

It must be in here.

My prediction was not wrong. The soldier, who saw the crown prince hurriedly opened the door, and I moved slowly with a nervous heart.

*creak* *thuuump*

“………!”

What the– that surprised me.

I turned around and found the door closed. The room was locked up in a flash. The space was quite wide, but I couldn’t shake off this weird feeling that’s making me feel like I’m a rat trapped in a jar.

“Haaaah. “

I took a deep breath and gathered my mind and raised my head. There was a large cage not far away. And finally I could see the leopard that the Crown Prince raised.

….so that’s him.

A large black leopard sat helplessly. I’m sure it heard us coming in, but it didn’t budged.

“What’s the name of the leopard?”

“Glick.”

“I’ll go and look at him, so please wait here for a moment.”

I started walking towards the cage.

The tension that I had been trying to suppressed rose again.

It is true that I’m a former veterinarian, but this is still the first time I have ever seen a wild animal like a leopard this close.

The leopard, who was lying on his stomach without moving a bit, began making sounds with his throat. It was an act that was seen when cats are wary of strangers, so I was determined once again.

It was then…

“Grrrrrr…..!”

Glick, who was laying still, suddenly raised his front foot. The battered steel cage rattled loudly.

I was surprised, but fortunately I endured the scream in on my throat. I bit my lips and stared straight at Glick’s golden eyes.

You think I’m not afraid?

That can’t be true. I’m scared to the point that I feel numb all over, but it’s important to show the leopard that I’m in control right now more important than anything else.

I clenched my fist and slowly walked towards the cage again. I continued to look into Glick’s eyes, and stopped about two meters in front of him.

“Grrrr…. “

Glick still hasn’t relaxed. He looks like he’s ready to pounce me at any moment, but I still remained on my feet staring into his eyes. I let the voice on my mind slip slowly.

[Hi, Glick.]

There was no visible change in Glick. He just kept looking at me with a fierce eyes.

But I notice a slight sense of surprise in his eyes and I smiled at Glick.

[First time, isn’t it?]

[……]

[You haven’t eaten much lately, the Crown Prince is really worried about you.]

[…..]

I noticed his expression became slightly brighter for a moment.

His serious charisma remained, but I could see his black ears flinch a little. It was proof that he’s responding to my words.

As expected, even a beast knows who takes care of him.

[Wait a moment, Glick.]

I said to him affectionately then I looked back.

What’s wrong with those two? The back of my head stings because I can feel them staring at me with their arms crossed in the same position.

“Excuse me, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What’s the matter?”

“May I know your name?”

There was a pause for a moment, then he continued and asked with an unobstructed voice.

“Why are you asking my name?”

“It’s necessary.”

“…..”

I could see his brows frowning. It seems that he’s not satisfied with my answer.

I need it to get closer to Glick. But of course, I can’t just tell him the truth.

His tightly closed lips seemed unwilling to open. I don’t think he’ll say it to me so I sighed and I gave up. I looked back at Glick when I heard a low voice behind me.

“Ains Winter Lopesten.”

Kek. It’s long as I expected.

“Thank you very much.”

Ains Winter Lopesten. Ains Winter Lopesten.

I quickly repeated it in my mind so I wont forget it and Glick met my eyes again.

[Glick, can I talk to you for a second? I could help you.]

[…………]

[I’m not a bad person. You know Ains back there? We’re friends.]

I pointed my finger at the back secretly so that it could only be seen in Glick’s eyes.

Since then, I continued to talk and sooth Glick with all my might. I also showed off my friendship with Ains by using his name and appealed my ability that ‘I’m the only person who can understand you’ as well.

How long has it been?

Then finally, Glick lowered himself and sat down.

‘It’s working!’

Before I knew it, my back was full of sweat. After wiping the sweat on my forehead with the back of my hand, I lowered myself and sat down in front of the cage.

I didn’t notice it when I first saw him because he looks bigger when he’s standing and also because of the pressure, but when I saw him sitting up close, his stomach was flat.

‘It’s really true that you can’t eat properly.’

I soon made eye contact with Glick and tried to have a gentle conversation.

[Glick, I heard you’re very sick. Can you tell me where the pain is?]

Please answer me. Please!

I look at Glick desperately with my hands together and I could finally hear a sound coming from his throat.

[…My mouth hurts. I can’t eat meat.]

I see! Your mouth hurts!

It’s the mouth… it’s the mouth… Aigoyaaah.

I’m really glad to finally hear his voice. I’m so glad that it’s not a serious illness. Relief washed over me like a wave.

If the inside of his mouth hurts, then I have to look there.

In other words, I have to like…put my face close to Glick’s mouth.

That’s a little scary….

But I couldn’t make it obvious. Smiling awkwardly towards Glick, I looked back and asked the people behind me again.

“Excuse me, do you have any anesthetic?”

The answer emanated from the mouth of the man next to the Crown Prince.

“What is that?”

“It’s a kind of medicine…No, never mind. Please forget about what I just said.”

I looked ahead again and my face darkened.

As expected, those things don’t exist in this world. Well, this is a problem.

But I couldn’t back down here. I’m scared about Ains’ threat, and most of all, I really wanted to help Glick if I could.

His golden-colored eyes still look archaic and mysterious.

Glick is a black leopard. He has dark grey leopard spots on his back and his fur looks as smooth and glossy black velvet.

[You know, Glick. I’m actually a doctor.]

Glick’s ears perked up again, as if he’s asking ‘What’s that?’ and I smiled at him.

[It’s a person who cures the sick. But I can take better care of the animals.]

[……]

[Really. Trust me just once.]

[……]

[Delicious meat dripping with blood, don’t you want to eat it?]

Glick was still just looking at me in the sitting position.

But I didn’t miss his fierce eyes wavered when I mentioned the word “meat”.

This is great!

I’ve got a pretty big reaction just now.

[I’ll go if you don’t want to talk. It breaks my heart to think that no one but me can understand you… But… I can’t do anything if you don’t trust me.]

(t/n: lmao she’s guilt tripping him)

Omo, his eyes are shaking more.

[Bye, then.]

I raised myself coolly as if I had no regrets and just then:

“GROOOOWL-! “

[Don’t go!]

I heard a desperate cry behind me.

Success!

I pushed down the corners of my mouth that were about to ascend to heaven and I tried to look back slowly with a grim face.

I can see nervousness in Glick’s face. On the one hand, I was heartbroken to think that he had called out to me in a hurry for fear that I would really go away.

I bent my knees again and looked at Glick.

[Are you trusting me?]

Glick snorts and turns his head to the side. But since he’s quiet, it’s a clear gesture that he’s saying ‘I trust you.’

Only then did I smiled and speak.

[Then I’ll ask them to get you out of the cage. Oh, and promise me one thing before that.]

[What is it?]

My eyes, which kept looking sideways, turn to me.

[That you won’t bite or hurt me.]

[……]

‘What are you saying?’

He looked just as if he was asking that.

I like how the author made the animals sound like children. It just adds some extra cuteness! And it’s kinda more accurate too since most animals indeed acts like kids. Lols.

Btw, I was trying to figure out how leopards sounds like so I went to youtube to listen and…. I just… fell… into… a deep hole… and I ended up watching big cat videos for 5 straight hours… But I did not regret it lols. They’re scute.