Olivia rolled her eyes briefly, pondering the beast’s reaction that seemed to know all about her white lie, then smiled slightly while still watching the beast cautiously.

“It’s easier for that child to think that way. It’s my hope too?”

Though she easily startled and flinched whenever he approached, suggesting she wasn’t entirely fearless, her words and smiling face were oddly shameless enough to seem fearless, narrowing the beast’s eyes. It crossed his mind that she was an unpredictable type of human, annoyingly so. Perhaps because it had been too long since he’d dealt with humans, he felt somewhat tired despite her being just an unremarkable human woman.

“It’s not a complete lie, though. If there’s anything you need me for, feel free to ask.”

“Me, asking you, for a favor?”

“Hmm, then one-sided commands are fine too?”

He had followed out of curiosity, wondering if she might stupidly try to escape together, but far from escaping, her gently smiling eyes made him uncomfortable and annoying instead. He was already starting to regret keeping her, but he couldn’t simply let humans who had invaded his space run wild and then release them quietly. The beast inwardly clicked his tongue and for now led Olivia back to the top of the tower.

“Since you’re replacing that human, this is where you should be too.”

“Now that I look at it slowly, the room is quite spacious.”

Though it was more prison than room, since she had decided to stay, Olivia chose her words carefully, trying to think positively. And indeed, now that she had safely sent Kale back and her mind was at ease, she began to notice things that hadn’t been visible before.

Although the floor was hard and damp, and movement was restricted by bars, there was still a small window covered with wooden planks on one side, and a desk and chair placed on one side. And even though it was a prison, if it was indeed part of the Duke’s mansion, the overall area of the prison itself was much larger than her cottage’s bedroom.

The beast’s incredulous gaze followed Olivia as she looked around, finding relatively positive aspects. She touched the wooden planks covering the window here and there, then asked, ‘Can I remove these wooden planks?’ looking more like a visitor temporarily staying at someone else’s house than a prisoner in jail.

“Let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

With a voice mixed with mockery, the beast sneered, then instantly concealed himself in shadow and disappeared without a trace. Olivia called out “Sir Beast?” into the empty air for a while, thinking he might still be watching from somewhere, but when she thought he had completely left her side, she let out a heavy sigh.

“Ugh……”

Her fluttering heart still hadn’t calmed down. She tried her best to act brazen and nonchalant, but she wasn’t sure if that’s how she really appeared. Olivia crouched down under the window where light barely entered through the wooden planks.

It wasn’t that she truly felt nothing. At first, she had pretended to be bold and fine to reassure Kale and send him back safely, and then to prevent the beast from thinking of her as easily insignificant. Having dealt with many animals, Olivia knew that in animal life, it was better to hide one’s weaknesses as much as possible to survive.

“No. You did well.”

As time passed, she grew increasingly anxious, but Olivia didn’t regret her choice. She just had no idea how to endure well here and how to persuade the Duke when he returned.

“At least he doesn’t seem like he’ll kill me right away.”

Maybe he can’t kill without the Duke’s orders? Then maybe I’m safe until the Duke returns. Though she didn’t know exactly what the relationship was between the beast and the monstrous duke, Olivia buried her head in her knees, thinking as positively as possible.

“The world is always kinder than our worries.”

Mumbling one of her mother’s frequent sayings like a mantra, Olivia closed her eyes. May today’s worries be meaningless tomorrow. Olivia quietly prayed for tomorrow’s hope.

* * *

“Kale!”

“Oh my, come out here!”

The village entrance was noisy with the gathering of people. When the boy who had worried the villagers by disappearing for days reappeared in a ragged state, waiting adults rushed out to check his condition. As people shared water and food with the exhausted child, they quickly pushed him toward his mother when she appeared staggering.

“Mom!”

“You, you really where!”

The woman who embraced Kale couldn’t properly continue her words and burst into tears with choking sounds. Her scolding voice, which had been pouring out, soon changed to tearful gratitude: thank you for coming back safely, I’m so relieved. Kale, held in his mother’s arms, was also sniffling, burrowing into his mother’s most peaceful embrace. The village elders standing nearby also wiped their eyes, welcoming the boy’s safe return.

“Where on earth did you go? Do you know how many times we searched the forest?”

Once the emotional reunion calmed down a bit, the villagers asked Kale. Hearing their concerned voices rather than reproach, Kale repeatedly bowed his head with an apologetic expression.

Remembering Olivia’s request, Kale couldn’t easily open his mouth. He thought about going to the forest with all the villagers to save her, but when he recalled the image of the huge and fierce-looking beast, he couldn’t readily suggest going to fight. And above all, since she had said she would follow soon, he was afraid that if they provoked the beast unnecessarily, she might suffer some harm.

‘Let’s wait a little.’

Deciding to trust his promise with her and wait just a little while, Kale headed home surrounded by villagers. He glanced back repeatedly, casting his gaze toward the distant dead forest that was no longer visible.

‘You promised me, so you’ll come back soon, right?’

As he reached home, the clear singing of the healthy Ricky could be heard. I really have come home. Looking at his mother, who was busily moving to prepare a hearty meal, and Ricky’s cage, Kale finally realized he was completely safe.

“Ugh.”

As his heart relaxed, tears strangely flowed. Quickly and roughly rubbing his eyes lest his mother hear, Kale’s heart grew heavy with an emotion different from fear. He curled up on the sofa like hes hiding. Though he tried to reassure himself that he trusted her, the fact that he had left her alone and returned by himself made the child’s heart unbearably uncomfortable. As if comforting such a Kale, Ricky’s singing gently patted the boy’s shoulders.

* * *

— Wake up. Wake up. It’s morning! Morning!

— Do humans normally sleep this long?

— That kid from before also slept all day.

— That human was a child, and this human is a full-grown adult? Do human adults also sleep all day?

— Looking at our master, it seems so, but I’m not sure. Anyway, wake up, human!

The sound of someone whispering at her bedside could be heard. The faint sounds heard in her sleep gradually pushed away her drowsiness, and finally, Olivia lifted her heavy eyelids.

“Ugh, my shoulder hurts.”

Massaging her stiff shoulder with a blank face as she looked around, Olivia belatedly realized that where she had fallen asleep was not her familiar cottage but the prison at the top of the tower. When did I fall asleep? It seemed her shoulder hurt from lying on the hard floor after collapsing sideways and falling asleep without realizing. Rubbing her shoulder, Olivia’s gaze searched for the owners of the voices that had woken her.

“Oh? Were you the ones talking?”

Olivia approached the bars closely and directed her question toward the floor. From somewhere, a round-faced black cat and a yellowish cheese-colored cat that reminded one of well-toasted bread were staring at Olivia, tapping the floor with their tails. Meeooww. The black cat, who opened its mouth wide in response to Olivia’s question, nudged its friend. Then the other cat rolled several fruits that had been placed beside it through the bars.

“What’s this?”

“Meow! Meow meow. Meeooww!”

— Food! Food!

— Human, you’ll die if you don’t eat!

With quite a proud face, the cat held its head high and meowed triumphantly. Though it was modest by human standards—small fruits that would disappear after a couple of bites—Olivia carefully placed them on her palm, happy for the thoughtful gesture. A sweet fragrance wafted up from the well-ripened red fruits.

“Thank you. But how did you know I was here?”

— Well, the news has spread throughout the forest!

— Because you noisily broke through the thorn bushes.

— And those rabbit fellows have very loose lips.

Like a choir, the two cats standing neatly meowed at different pitches, chattering away. Thinking they had friendly personalities despite their seemingly haughty faces, Olivia put one of the fruits they had brought into her mouth.

When she bit it slightly, the soft fruit burst, spreading tart juice throughout her mouth. The refreshing taste that cleared away any remaining drowsiness naturally brought a smile to her face.

“When I was young, I used to pick and eat these in the forest often…… It’s a nostalgic taste.”

— These are fruits we cherish.

“You’re sharing your cherished fruits with me? Thank you.”

— Hmph, humans who can speak cat language are rare. You’re worth it.