Chapter 63. My Little Hero

Even though I said I was fine, Julian Berstein didn’t give up.

“Listen, Miss Lopez.”

He was acting like a leech that hadn’t fed for over three days.

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t believe Enoch Bayern could genuinely care for someone.”

Before I could respond, Enoch pulled me towards him, as if to show off.

“Can’t you see? How much I care for Ellen.”

I almost made a dumbfounded face but quickly smiled and nodded.

“See, Ellen agrees.”

“……”

Julian looked at us with an expression that suggested we were being ridiculous.

“Miss Lopez, to be honest.”

He began, looking at me with feigned sympathy. Even a passing dog could tell it was an act.

“When my brother loses interest, you’ll be discarded without mercy.”

“……”

“So don’t let your guard down even after marriage. If my brother abandons you…”

He stepped closer to me, ignoring Enoch’s presence beside me, and whispered.

“Come to me.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Enoch’s fist flew towards him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed loudly. Hopefully, no teeth were knocked out. I watched the staggering Julian with a mixture of anxiety and relief.

He smirked with his bleeding lips, wiped the blood with the back of his hand, and seemed to swallow the blood pooling in his mouth. At least his teeth seemed intact.

“How can you hit someone just for speaking the truth? Let’s be honest, Brother. You don’t genuinely care for Miss Lopez. She’s just a passing interest.”

“That’s none of your business. Do you need more hits to come to your senses?”

“Trying to solve everything with violence is why you couldn’t become King.”

“Is that supposed to be a provocation?”

Enoch’s voice, low with anger, was tinged with incredulity. I anxiously looked around, hoping no one was witnessing this scene. Fortunately, there seemed to be no one… Lucy!

“Meow—”

Lucy, who had noticed me, trotted over from a distance. The sudden cat’s cry made both men pause and turn to look at Lucy almost simultaneously.

Enoch let out a shallow laugh, while Julian muttered irritably, “What’s this?”

I hurriedly approached Lucy and asked,

“Lucy, why are you here? Why aren’t you in the room?”

“Meow.”

I didn’t know what she was saying, but Lucy stopped in front of me, stretched out her front legs, and yawned. She seemed happy to see me. I quickly picked her up. Her sea-green eyes stared at me intently. Then, she slowly blinked, giving me a slow blink kiss. This was Lucy’s way of showing affection. I smiled faintly and hugged her tightly.

“You missed me, didn’t you?”

“Meow.”

“I missed you too.”

“Meow—”

Lucy was a chatty cat who would start conversations and respond when I talked to her. I smiled contentedly and stroked her soft fur. Meanwhile, bewildered gazes were directed at me. It was Enoch and Julian’s.

At that moment, a way to escape this situation suddenly popped into my head. I turned to the two men and spoke urgently as if an unavoidable situation had arisen.

“It seems the maids forgot to feed Lucy. Her stomach is empty. Since she’s an old cat, she shouldn’t go hungry. I need to go and feed her right away—so please continue your conversation. I’ll take my leave.”

Lucy’s belly was actually full to bursting, but who cares? All I needed was to get away from these crazy brothers. Ignoring their incredulous looks, I hurriedly headed to the main building with Lucy in my arms. As for the engagement celebration… Enoch could handle it. Right now, escaping from this sibling quarrel was my top priority. Once I was free from their fight, I felt much more refreshed and relieved.

“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you, Lucy.”

“Meow.”

I gave a light kiss to my little hero.

* * *

“See, you’re the one playing hooky.”

Enoch said mockingly to Ellen, who was rolling around on the bed with the cat.

“Your Highness…?! When did you get here?”

Ellen hurriedly sat up and tidied her hair and clothes. She hadn’t noticed him entering the bedroom quite some time ago. Enoch clicked his tongue and sat on the edge of the bed. The cat glared at him disapprovingly and tapped the sheet with its tail.

Enoch called softly.

“Cat.”

“Meow.”

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“Meow.”

Does this creature even know what it’s saying? Enoch chuckled and reached out to ruffle the cat’s head. The cat hissed and swiped at him with its paw, claws extended. Enoch, finding it amusing, caught the cat’s paw and held it back. A small furry creature was no match for him.

“…Are you fighting with a cat?”

Ellen asked, doubting that he’d stoop to the cat’s level. Enoch raised an eyebrow and brushed off the handful of cat fur from his palm, grumbling.

“What do you think I am?”

“……”

Ellen started to reply but then closed her mouth. That somehow bothered Enoch, so he stared at her for quite a while.

“What were you going to say?”

Unable to hold back, he pressed her. Ellen, sitting demurely beside him, rolled her eyes. She looked suspicious no matter how you saw it. Clearly, she was thinking something disrespectful about him. Enoch narrowed his eyes.

“What are you thinking, Ellen?”

He reached out and grabbed her small face in his hand. It was so small and delicate that it seemed like it would shatter if he applied even a little force.

“Not going to tell me?”

“…Well…”

Her soft pink lips parted slightly, revealing a glimpse of her moist tongue inside.

For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Enoch impulsively warned without realizing it.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll kiss you.”

“……!”

Only then did Ellen realize his blatant gaze and clamped her mouth shut. As if that would make his gaze go away. He was still staring intently at her lips.

“I’ll count to three.”

“Wait…!”

“Three, two…”

“Cat!”

Ellen screamed, eyes tightly shut and fists clenched.

Enoch’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he watched her act as if she had revealed a major secret. Cat?

“You look like a… cat.”

“…Me?”

“…Yes, Your Highness…”

Enoch let out a laugh filled with disbelief. So, she thought he looked like a cat?

“In what way?”

“…Like when you nap in sunny spots…”

“Everyone likes sunny spots.”

“And how you like having your head petted…”

“Many people like having their head petted.”

“Not me…”

Not her?

Enoch looked at Ellen with disbelief. Had anyone ever gently petted her head? He knew she had been lonely since childhood.

“Lie down.”

Enoch patted his lap. Ellen looked at his face and lap in disbelief and asked,

“Lie down… where?”

“Has anyone ever petted your head?”

Ellen blinked, taken aback by his blunt question. Soon, she shook her head.

“If petting someone’s head is an act of affection, then no, never.”

“I see.”

Enoch continued patting his lap. The meaning was clear, but Ellen seemed reluctant to comply.

“…Even without affection, it’s the same for Your Highness…”

“Enoch.”

He corrected her. Call me Enoch, Ellen.

“…It’s not easy to break a habit.”

“Try to break it. At least in front of others.”

“Yes…”

Ellen answered in a barely audible voice and slowly distanced herself from him. She clearly had no intention of lying down. She was oddly meticulous about strange things.

Of course, that didn’t mean Enoch would give up. Seeing her trying to avoid him only fueled his competitive spirit.

He grabbed her as she tried to escape. Despite her startled struggles, he made her lie down with her head on his lap.

Her wide blue eyes looked up at him in confusion. Only then did Enoch smile contentedly and slowly untangled her braided hair.

Her long, light brown hair spilled out like fine threads. It was long enough to cover his thighs and still flow down onto the bed sheets.

As he gazed at the abundant and beautiful hair, Enoch slid his hand into it.

Enjoying the soft texture of the hair wrapping around his fingers, he let out a short sigh.

Again, Ellen’s pink tongue peeked through her slightly parted lips.

…A strange thirst arose.