“······You bastard.”
I spilled out some curse words without even realizing it.
It had been ten days since I had bombarded the Dragania mansion with over a hundred letters.
Still, I had not received a reply from the Duke.
The Duke was deliberately ignoring me.
There was no way I could think otherwise.
‘Is he watching me somewhere right now?’
I glanced around, but I couldn’t find any trace of the Duke.
Considering that he saved Tia when she was in danger, it was certain that he was keeping an eye on us…
But why was such a person unwilling to engage in conversation?
“That creepy guy.”
If he was going to help me, he could at least do it discreetly.
What kind of mentality was it to leave subtle traces so that I could notice?
No matter how I thought about it, it felt like he wanted to perform acts of kindness in secret while hoping someone would notice.
How childish.
“I miss him······. Huh?!”
I surprised myself with my own words.
This is why it sounds strange.
It makes it seem like I’m longing for the Duke…
In fact, I just want to punch him.
“Oh.”
At that moment, I came up with a brilliant idea to call the Duke.
He must have set up cameras in the villa or used magic, so he would definitely be listening to everything I said.
If that’s the case, I just had to say things that would force the Duke to come back, as if I were talking to myself.
For instance…
“Ugh.”
As I tried to say it, my face suddenly flushed.
These are just empty words from my heart.
It’s just something I’m saying to bring the Duke in front of me.
I kept repeating it mentally and then finally spoke.
And I said something that would definitely pique the Duke’s interest.
“Just like that time… I want to feel it deeply…”
Shame rushed over me late, and I covered my face with both hands.
Maybe it’s because my sexual desire has been getting stronger lately, but this was the first thing that came to mind.
It’s driving me crazy.
This is just a silly desire.
But considering that the Duke had already forcefully violated me, I thought he might react to these words…
“Of course.”
Nothing happened as expected.
Anyway, even if he was watching Tia and me, he couldn’t possibly observe every single thing and my every word for 24 hours.
I had confirmed that with this incident.
I slapped my flushed cheeks to regain my composure.
No one heard me.
So it’s okay.
“Ah?!”
At that moment, I jumped in surprise at the sound of footsteps outside the door.
It was the heavy sound of a man’s shoes.
Since he wasn’t limping, it wasn’t the steward.
It wasn’t the coachman’s footsteps either.
In that case, only one person came to mind who could enter this mansion quietly.
‘Crazy. Did he really come?’
He must have heard what I just said.
Suddenly, my face started to burn again.
What should I do?
Should I cover it up by saying that what I just said was not from the heart?
Otherwise, he would think I was some kind of perverted woman with a rape fetish.
No.
If I make excuses like that from the beginning, the Duke might lose interest and leave right away.
At least, I had to keep up the pretense of being a woman with a rape fetish until I had poured out all the words I wanted to say when I faced the Duke.
As the footsteps got closer and the moment the door began to open, my mind was a whirlwind of confusion, and I couldn’t organize my thoughts at all.
“Uh, um! What I just said was actually…!”
“Uh?”
“······.”
In the midst of stammering out excuses, I froze at the low, husky voice.
It wasn’t the Duke’s voice.
When I glanced up, Leopard stood there with a bewildered expression, holding the doorknob.
“It was you, Leopard······.”
“Who did you think it was? Why is your face so red again?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Should I get you some black tea?”
“I don’t need it.”
Leopard effortlessly entered the office as if it were his own room and slumped down on the small sofa.
Then he took off his hat and draped it over his face, immediately falling asleep.
If you’re going to do that, why did you come here…
I sighed heavily as I looked at the always laid-back Leopard.
Still, it was somewhat nice to see him again after a long time.
“I’ll get you some ice cream.”
“I told you I don’t need it.”
“Ah······.”
Just as I was passing by the side of the sofa, Leopard grabbed my wrist and pulled me in.
I slumped down on the sofa.
I immediately tried to get up, but Leopard’s head was pressing against my thigh, leaving me unable to move.
After a few attempts to push his head off and stand, I eventually gave up.
He’s treating me like a pillow…
“What’s with you? Like a little kid.”
“If I were your child, how great would it be? I would protect you from terrible things.”
“······.”
What horrible things is he saying?
If I had a disgusting lesbian daughter like you, I would have beaten you up daily, but somehow Leopard’s voice had a somberness that made me hold my tongue.
“You just want to act cute. Like this.”
“I guess so······.”
I gently brushed Leopard’s hair aside.
Now that I think about it, he said he was summoned from another world.
Perhaps that’s why he became a homosexual.
He might have been a man in his world…
Thinking that made me feel a bit sorry for Leopard.
Before I knew it, I was gently patting Leopard’s head.
‘I definitely have to send him back.’
Leopard’s mental state is unstable.
When I first met him, he seemed like just a strong-willed and reckless brat, but now I know that’s not the case.
Leopard is fragile.
He hasn’t yet moved past the pain of losing the former Holy Maiden, Aerial.
No matter how I think about it, the Papal Office’s judgment seems correct.
It’s right to return Leopard to his original world.
I’m already late, but Leopard can still go back.
It’s best to send him back before it gets any later.
I mustered up the courage to try to persuade Leopard.
“Leopard······.”
“Is it right for me to go back?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“My hometown is in a faraway place. Once I return, it’s so far away I won’t be able to come back. Should I go back now? Is there no role left for me here? I’ve been having those thoughts a lot lately.”
Maybe there’s no need to persuade him.
Leopard was already thinking of going back.
I decided not to say anything unnecessary.
It would be the easiest path if he decides for himself.
“But I’m worried about what will happen to Julia if I go…”
“Why are you worrying about me, you fool?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Because I’m a weak woman who can’t do anything by myself.”
“I can handle my own share now. Last time, I even used divine power to perform a healing miracle. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“A miracle…?”
At that moment, Leopard’s eyes changed.
He suddenly sat up straight, grabbing my shoulders and facing me.
I flinched in surprise.
“When? Where?”
“Wh-why all of a sudden?”
“Hurry! It’s urgent!”
“Um… it was before…”
I hesitated, wondering if I should say it or not.
It wasn’t something I needed to hide that I saved a dying dragon on the way, but I wanted to hide the fact that I passed through the vicinity of Futorana Forest after ignoring Leopard’s advice.
If I spoke about it, he would definitely blow up and get angry.
“Don’t tell me you saved a dragon?! The black-scaled dragon?”
“How did you know?”
“······.”
There was no need to think it over.
It seemed Leopard already knew everything.
His eyes were too scary for me to try to deny it.
So ultimately, I confessed.
I naturally thought Leopard would get very angry, so I squeezed my eyes shut, but after a while, he didn’t yell at me.
When I slowly opened my eyes, Leopard was already standing up, turning his back to me.
“I’m sorry for causing trouble. I’m leaving now.”
“You’re not staying longer? Why?”
“I don’t want to stay here for long…”
Leopard clicked his tongue as he glared at the Duke’s desk.
Sure, it was annoying to act like a brat and fuss over things, but it wasn’t bothersome at all.
Being treated comfortably like this is much better than when Leopard was trying to seduce me with all sorts of nonsense.
Maybe I was showing too much dislike.
I felt a bit guilty.
“Excuse me.”
“······.”
Leopard left the office without any remorse.
I wondered if I could just leave him like that.
Concern began to creep in.
.
.
.
“Dammit······!”
Bang.
Leopard’s fist struck the wall, creating a dull sound.
The spot where his fist hit was cracked, and a piece of stone fell off.
“How could it be······ of all times······!”
I had never resented the goddess of fate as much as I did today.
Of all places, the Holy Maiden happened to be where the Black Dragon fell, and with her vast divine power, she brought the dying dragon back to life.
I had even warned Julia not to approach Futorana Forest to prevent such an incident, but she went against Leopard’s words.
Leopard knew well that he had no right to blame her.
There were more forceful ways to warn her.
To say that she would die.
Or there was a fail-safe way to physically hold Julia back so she couldn’t leave the institution.
Not doing that was Leopard’s choice.
“It’s driving me crazy······.”
Leopard let out a hollow laugh while gripping his throbbing fist.
To have his revenge for Julia fail because of Julia.
What a cruel joke of fate.
“Now it doesn’t matter.”
But Leopard decided not to care about such things anymore.
He didn’t care what disgusting things the Duke was doing while wearing a mask.
A person who would be leaving soon shouldn’t concern themselves with such matters—they would only tire themselves out.
As promised to the Sailor, he would definitely send Julia back to the world she originally lived in.
And Leopard planned to return as well.
Thinking about leaving the Duke to stay alone in this world after that was enough to satisfy any revenge.
“Let’s go······.”
He must not do anything that would cause Julia to have lingering feelings.
He couldn’t allow her to get attached to him either or let her be the one to get attached.
Visiting Julia today was just a whim.
He wouldn’t meet Julia again.
Until the day he sends her back.
Leopard withdrew his gaze filled with regret from the villa and trudged away.
“Leo!”
“······?!”
The moment he heard a voice calling from behind, Leopard stopped in his tracks.
That voice had always called him by his real name, but now it was holding onto him with a nickname.
What could she possibly want by chasing after him?
Was she planning to come and bother him again after coming at her convenience and causing trouble?
“If it’s about two hours, I can hang out. Let’s go.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
“You said you don’t want to stay in the villa for long. So I was saying I’d come out with you. Why? Don’t want to?”
“······.”
It seemed she had run over, as Julia took slow, heavy breaths while approaching Leopard.
What could have prompted her to do this?
Why was she, who had been so averse to and annoyed with me, suddenly acting like this?
Now that I was trying to give up my attachments and make an effort not to get attached, why now?
Leopard trembled his tightly clenched fist and finally spoke.
“No······. It’s fine······.”
This was really the last time.
After today, he would sever ties with Julia.
He knew full well that things never went as planned, yet Leopard vowed silently within.
