Ch.328Leona (1)

It wasn’t Cherry but Leona who was reported as a stalker. I don’t know who reported her, but currently Leona has been arrested by knights and brought before me.

Seeing that they didn’t punish her themselves but brought her to me, I can guess what it means. They probably want me to punish her directly.

Actually, it’s rather fortunate that Leona was caught first. If someone else had been caught, I would have punished them severely, and Leona, caught afterward, would have received a similar punishment.

But fortunately, I know Leona, and above all, we have an appointment. I should have contacted her first or gone to find her myself—it’s my fault.

So I explained the situation to the knights. She’s a friend I had made an appointment with, but I forgot about it by mistake. Since I’m Xenon, she probably couldn’t approach me directly and was wandering around nearby.

I didn’t tell a single lie, only the truth, so the knights released Leona. Since this mishap originated from my mistake, I should resolve it.

“I’m sorry. I should have paid more attention to you.”

Somehow everything was resolved well, but my mistake remained unchanged. I bowed my head sincerely and apologized.

Whether the knights had arrested her forcefully or not, Leona was massaging her shoulder despite her sturdy body.

Her identity could have been exposed, and beyond that, she might not have been able to properly attend the academy—I almost committed an unforgivable sin.

“Huh? No, no. I was a bit surprised, but this much is fine. I should have just waited quietly, but I went looking for you without thinking.”

In response to my apology, Leona waved her hands dismissively as if it were nothing.

“If you’re really sorry, buy me a steak after all this time. Got it?”

She’s quite thick-skinned too. I smirked as I looked at Leona, who smiled cheerfully and made a joke.

Her tail, sticking out of her pants, was swaying gently—she really seemed fine.

We’re currently in my newly occupied dormitory. Unlike student dormitories, VIP dormitories allow others to enter with the owner’s permission.

“I’ll feed you all the steak you want. Should we go eat now?”

“I’m fine now. I just had dinner with my mother.”

Come to think of it, I heard from Marie that Leona’s mother is also at the academy waiting for me.

I must meet Leona’s mother for what is essentially a meeting with the parents. Otherwise, I won’t be able to tie up loose ends.

I stared at the grinning Leona for a while, then smiled gently and opened my mouth.

“How has academy life been so far? Nothing unusual happened, right?”

“It was crazy. As soon as the news that you’re Xenon spread, that’s all anyone talked about for a while.”

“Anything else?”

“I’ve just been studying, so I don’t know much? Oh! When Marie arrived, people rushed toward her but were all repelled. Her guard wall was solid.”

I’ve heard that from Marie too. As expected, she had a tiring schedule for a while.

I listened to various updates from Leona, then clasped my hands together. After pondering for a while, I asked her in a careful voice.

“…Is your mother still firm in her thoughts?”

As you all know, Leona’s mother was not pleased with the idea of Leona becoming my wife.

She wishes for Leona’s true happiness. She wants her to be led by personal feelings rather than following cultural norms.

“…Yes. She was already firm, but after you revealed your identity, that tendency became even stronger.”

As soon as Leona heard my question, she stopped swaying her tail and spoke gloomily. Her perked-up ears drooped as well.

It seems the situation has worsened rather than improved. I nodded my head slowly.

Honestly, I thought Leona’s mother would give permission now that the massive shield of Xenon had appeared, but that wasn’t the case.

As the third wife of the Warchief, and the only human at that, she must have lived quite a tumultuous life.

Rather than being protected by a massive shield, she’d prefer Leona to live an ordinary life. That’s what I’m guessing.

“Hmm… I guess I’ll have to meet her in person to know.”

“That’s true, but mother also said this. She asked what benefit there would be if I became your wife.”

“She said that?”

“Yes.”

When I asked in surprise, Leona nodded with a gloomy expression. I crossed my arms and thought for a moment.

It’s something a parent shouldn’t say, but it’s also a blunt statement meant to make her face reality.

In fact, Leona had almost nothing that could benefit me. If anything, it would be the stress relief I get from patting her head.

But her mother made a big mistake. The very fact that she said such a thing contradicted the life she wanted for Leona.

‘I can use this well.’

It seems her maternal instinct caused her to make such a mistake. Either way, it’s clear she wants Leona to find true happiness.

Then I just need to respond with sincerity. I looked at the depressed Leona and reached out my hand.

*Swoosh*

“…Huh?”

When I placed my hand on her head, Leona perked up her ears and looked at me. I smiled gently at her golden eyes, similar to mine.

*Pat pat*

“Mmm…”

As I patted her head without saying anything, Leona made an adorable sound. Her perked-up ears drooped to the sides, making them easier to pat.

She’s definitely a lion, but being in the same cat family, she even purrs. It’s hard to believe other beastmen find her ugly when she’s this cute and pretty.

For a long time, I gave her all kinds of skinship that beastmen would enjoy—patting her head, touching her ears, pinching her cheeks, and so on.

Compared to other races, beastmen place much higher frequency and importance on skinship. Like cats grooming their kittens, or canines mouthing each other’s cheeks.

You’ve probably heard of grooming, but you might find it strange that canines bite cheeks, but there’s a special meaning to it.

It’s a sign of trust that says, “I will never harm you.” You might have seen large dogs taking a small animal’s head in their mouth and immediately releasing it.

*Swish*

“Hmm?”

Then something surprising happened. While I was patting her for a while, Leona’s swaying tail wrapped around my arm.

If what I just mentioned applies to “family” as a show of affection, this is clearly something only permitted for a “mate.”

Allowing someone to touch your tail, or wrapping your tail around someone’s body—I couldn’t help but be surprised.

Leona truly likes me. Even though she’s entranced by my touch, her tail moves on its own, which confirms it.

“Purr. Purrrr. Purr.”

Does she not realize what she’s doing? Leona pushed her head forward as if asking for more pats.

Gradually, she pushed forward more and more until eventually she got up from her seat and slipped closer to me.

After my initial shock, when she leaned her body against me and sat on my lap, I embraced her without saying anything.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

As the affectionate interaction between Leona and me continued, Adelia cleared her throat and quietly vacated her seat.

The unnecessary throat clearing seemed to contain an unspoken message to take it easy.

I smiled wryly but didn’t stop my skinship with Leona. I don’t know if she’s been starved for affection, but it seems to have intensified.

‘Well, her stress must be no joke.’

She probably doesn’t have many opportunities to reveal her true self like this. I’ve experienced the precarious balancing act of hiding one’s identity.

At least now I don’t need to balance anything since I’ve openly revealed my identity, but Leona doesn’t have that luxury.

As I pondered this, a good idea suddenly came to mind, and I spoke up.

“Leona.”

“Purr. Purrrr.”

“Leona?”

“Purr. Yes?”

Leona, who had been rubbing her face against my chest with a loving expression, raised her head at my call.

Her twitching ears made me want to touch them, but I barely suppressed the urge. How can she be so addictive?

“Isn’t it hard hiding your identity?”

“It would be a lie to say it’s not.”

“Then shall I help you?”

“What?”

At the offer of help, Leona’s eyes widened. I could feel the strength of her tail wrapped around my hand weakening.

I faced Leona, whose expression was more bewildered than surprised, and quietly spoke.

“I can help you stand proudly without needing to hide your identity.”

“H-how?”

“You know Kind from the Biography of Xenon, right?”

“It would be strange not to.”

Kind is the brother of Wrath, Satan, and the person who became the new Warchief by breaking the old traditions of the country.

He was physically weak by nature but stabilized the country politically through his exceptional intelligence—a beastman.

“If I say that you’re the motif for Kind, wouldn’t everyone accept it?”

People already firmly believe that Cecilly is the motif for Lillis, and Arwen is the motif for Elisha.

Because of this, readers are wondering who the motifs for other characters might be.

Of course, this led to impersonators causing trouble, but they all disappeared thanks to Kate’s efforts.

So if I spread the rumor that Leona is the motif for Kind, she wouldn’t need to hide her identity.

Leona listened to my opinion and seemed to think deeply, then tilted her head and answered.

“I’m not really interested.”

“You’re not interested?”

“Yeah. It feels like I’m just receiving your help.”

I didn’t understand at first, but after knowing Leona’s personality, I could comprehend.

As evident from her entering the academy while hiding her identity, Leona has a somewhat independent and proactive personality.

Also, unlike her current affectionate behavior, she’s quite fierce and cynical toward others. This shows her strong pride.

“The politics that my mother hates so much might get involved. Even though Chinoa is now the Warchief, there’s still some internal dissatisfaction. It means the Kingdom of Animus might try to use me. And if you say I’m the motif for Kind? What would happen then?”

“Hmm… you certainly have a point. My thinking was short-sighted. It’s better to put this on hold.”

“Good thinking. And it’s not that uncomfortable right now. If I hadn’t met you, I might have accumulated more stress. I much prefer how things are now.”

With those words, Leona hugged me tightly. Perhaps due to the beastmen’s unique strong muscles, the pressure she transmitted was remarkable.

I didn’t push her away but responded by patting her head once more. This made Leona emit pleased sounds.

*Lick*

Adding to this, she even licked my neck with her tongue. Whether her instincts had overtaken her reason, she had started grooming.

If I hadn’t had experience, I would have been startled. But now that I somewhat understood Leona’s behavioral patterns, I let her be.

It’s not unpleasant, and who would dislike being groomed by a beautiful woman who likes them? I don’t find it dirty either.

“Leona.”

“*Lick* Yes?”

“Can I meet your mother tomorrow?”

Only one hurdle remains—Leona’s mother. I must win the war of words with her to gain Leona.

Originally, I reluctantly accepted her due to beastmen’s unique culture, but now those feelings have completely vanished.

Who could reject such a cute and lovable pet… no, woman? If she were to leave me, it would leave a deep scratch in my heart.

“That’s fine, but can we eat steak first?”

“…”

“I’m already hungry.”

“Didn’t you just have dinner with your mother?”

When I asked incredulously, Leona smiled awkwardly and offered an absurd excuse.

“I have a separate stomach for steak…”

“…”

“Hehe.”

The roaring lion has completely disappeared, leaving only a kitten meowing for food.