I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 21

It has already been a month since Lenette arrived at the abandoned palace.

“Hello, Lenette!”

“Oh? You woke up early today, Lenette!”

It may not be a long time, but Lenette has managed to bring about quite a few changes during this period.

The most notable change is that the abandoned palace has started to come alive.

It’s so noticeable that even the children who used to hold their breath when passing by the palace now tilt their heads in curiosity.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Are you going for a walk again?”

“Yes. Staying in the room isn’t beneficial for my health.”

“Indeed, you are a doctor.”

“Ever since I heard that story you mentioned, I’ve been taking my mother for a walk around the neighborhood every evening. She really seems to have gained much more vitality than before, just from that one walk.”

“Is that so? That’s good news.”

Lenette smiled, folding the corners of her eyes in a familiar manner.

However, she didn’t seem particularly interested in hearing more detailed stories, so the conversation among the warriors didn’t last long.

Kazen, who was looking down from his room on the third floor, rested his chin on his hand.

“What an intriguing woman.”

She is friendly but not someone who is easily taken advantage of. Her kindness is warm, yet it doesn’t feel foolish.

She possesses a firm kindness.

“She has a charming personality.”

That must be why even those warriors are left speechless. Kazen chuckled to himself, finding the situation amusing.

Have the warriors watching the abandoned palace ever been this interested in a ‘bride’?

And have they ever been this talkative while working in this abandoned palace?

“Not at all.”

So, the change in the warriors can only be attributed to the uniqueness of ‘Lenette.’

“No matter what, it seems a bit excessive to become so relaxed just because she treated them a few times.”

From Kazen’s perspective, who is accustomed to injuries, it didn’t make sense. He often called the doctor to the palace, but he had never felt any ‘affection’ for the doctor who treated him.

“Is it just because of her face?”

Previous brides probably weren’t unattractive. However, they likely didn’t have the kind of appearance that would stop someone in their tracks like Lenette does.

Mya.

Kazen chuckled softly as he saw Kus entering the room while yawning widely.

“Well, it’s true.”

These days, when he sees Kus frequently visiting Lenette to show off her cuteness, it’s clear that Lenette’s looks are indeed exceptional.

If even a beast is drawn to her, how much more would a human be?

“Are you going out?”

Kus, who had been diligently grooming her fur with her tongue, stopped and stared at Kazen.

Her gaze seemed to ask what he knew.

“If someone saw you, they’d think she was your bride, not mine.”

Kus, having finished her grooming, went out to the other balcony as if she didn’t care about what Kazen said.

It was a spot from which she could leap directly to Lenette’s balcony. After giving her tail a casual wag, Kus jumped down.

Kazen, watching the scene with a bewildered expression, finally burst into laughter.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

After finishing her walk, Lenette returned to find the black leopard occupying her room as usual.

“Did you come back?”

What does it mean to speak formally to a beast? However, it is an animal raised by the owner of the abandoned palace. Moreover, it’s not just any ‘animal’ but a wild beast.

Just that alone would make it a creature that wouldn’t be strange to approach with trembling respect and deference.

Myaaa. Lenette flinched at Kus’s long cry.

‘No matter how many times I hear it, I can’t get used to it.’

That fierce face making a cat-like sound.

“Here you go.”

She placed the meat as close to the door leading to the balcony as possible.

For reference, she was currently in the ‘bride’s room,’ not the ‘bridal chamber.’

She had managed to reclaim the bride’s room that she had first used when she arrived here, under the pretense of research.

“Is it tasty?”

Mya.

At first, it only growled, but now, having seen her a few times, it wagged its tail gently.

‘Seeing that makes it seem a bit cute.’

“I’ll give you more tomorrow.”

Then Kus rubbed her face against Lenette’s thigh.

‘Does it understand what I’m saying?’

Is that why that man takes it around?

“By the way…”

It was the same yesterday and before; it was the black leopard that came down from the upper balcony.

Does that mean the man on the third floor is also up there?

‘They said it was a bridal chamber and all.’

It seems he feels awkward just being in that room.

Lenette chuckled softly and headed toward the area set up for refreshments.

The hexagonal tea table exuded an exotic atmosphere, which, by Lenette’s standards, was extremely exotic.

Lenette naturally sat on the floor around the hexagonal table.

“It seems like it’s time to make something else.”

No additional orders had come down besides treating the ointment and the people of the abandoned palace. It was time for Kazen to request something different.

“I wonder what he’ll ask for this time.”

Another ointment?

“I don’t think so. Maybe he’ll want to start treating again.”

However, to treat more people here, she would ultimately have to leave the abandoned palace.

Given the atmosphere, that didn’t seem likely either.

“Or maybe potion making?”

While she was deep in thought, the black leopard, having finished its meat, sauntered in.

With its mouth wide open, either from a yawn or a belch, the black leopard stared intently at Lenette.

“Did you eat it all?”

Mya-.

The yellow eyes that had been scanning her surroundings as if pondering something soon relaxed.

Then, suddenly,

“Huh?”

It approached Lenette and settled down next to her.

“……”

Lenette looked down at the black leopard, which was subtly leaning against her and curling up to prepare for a nap.

‘What’s this? Are you really going to sleep here? ’

Though she didn’t voice it, her thoughts seemed to be conveyed, as the black leopard raised its head and glanced at her.

Mya?

Do you dislike it?

It seemed to be asking that.

“……”

What is this? This person looks like…

Without realizing it, Lenette shook her head with a dazed expression.

“It’s not that.”

She was just a bit flustered.

‘I’ve heard that wild beasts… don’t show their backs carelessly.’

Lenette’s incredulous gaze fell back down.

The black leopard, resting its chin on its paws and preparing to lie down comfortably, really seemed at ease here.

“……”

‘Is this… really a black leopard?’

Such rational doubts arose.

Its cries were one thing—though she had never heard a leopard’s cry in her life—but also seeing it interact so closely with humans was another. Excluding the man upstairs and herself, it only growled at others. She had never heard of such a wild beast.

‘Could it just be a big cat?’

As Lenette entertained such absurd thoughts, she shook her head.

“That’s not what’s important.”

Muttering softly, she shifted her gaze back to the table.

‘I need to think about what to make.’

Yes. With that thought, she tried to concentrate on the paper.

However, the warmth of the black leopard was making her thigh feel cozy… her eyes were getting heavy.

Without realizing it, Lenette slowly closed her eyes.

‘Is it really time to sleep peacefully now? ’

In fact, it was time for her to sleep. She hadn’t been able to get a proper rest in what was supposed to be her bridal chamber for the past two weeks.

‘I’ve just been taking short naps at my desk.’

At that point, one might say, ‘Forget the bridal chamber, go back to your room and sleep comfortably,’ but the man upstairs only smirked at her struggles and didn’t stop her.

‘He’s relentless.’

At that moment, Lenette heard the soft breathing of the black leopard in her ear.

‘……Should I sleep a little too? ’

Normally, she would never have such thoughts.

However, it had been ten days and four additional days. Lenette had been sleeping awkwardly at her desk.

Was that why? In the end, she surrendered her body to her instincts.

“A little bit should be… okay.”

Her eyes slowly closed. Leaning her back against the sofa, she grabbed a cushion and placed it behind her neck.

Naturally seeking warmth, she laid her hand on the black leopard’s body and gently closed her eyelids.

‘Just a little… let’s sleep for a very short time.’

Muttering that to herself, Lenette soon fell into a deep sleep.

Mya?

Kus opened one eye slightly and lifted his head.

As Lenette’s body gradually tilted to the side, it eventually settled on the back of the black leopard. Kus, who had been quietly watching the woman leaning against him, soon closed his eyes again as if it didn’t matter.

It was a lazy morning, perfect for being sluggish.

* * *

Kazen, looking for Kus, came down to this floor’s bridal chamber and stopped awkwardly as he opened the door.

“Not here either.”

Could it be that he’s still in that woman’s room?

“That’s not like Kus.”

Though he had interacted with humans, his identity was still that of a wild beast.

While he showed some fondness for Lenette’s captivating face, he was not an easy creature to let in so readily.

However, since the only place he could be was that woman’s room, he eventually made his way to Lenette’s room.

The central staircase was visible, and soon a pedestal adorned with flower petals appeared.

As the incoming brides kept dying one after another, the old woman created an altar to soothe their souls. To her, who is unaware of the assassin’s identity, the deaths of the brides seem like the whims of a ‘god.’

“There can’t be a god.”

Kazen, the only atheist in this mansion, twisted his lips and knocked on the door right in front of the altar.

Knock, knock.

There was no response.

After waiting for a moment, Kazen carelessly opened the door a short while later.

“What the…”

An absurd scene caught his eye.

Kus was wide-eyed, and Lenette was sleeping, leaning against her.

“Huh.”

Kus greeted Kazen as if inviting him over.

Myaaa.