Adrian tapped the thoroughly excited creature’s nose bridge.
“Now that I’ve given you a name, you need to earn it.”
He opened the jerky container the head maid had left that morning. As soon as the lid opened, a salty and savory smoked aroma brushed his nose. Leo’s nose flared and his gaze instantly turned to the jerky. Saliva pooling in his mouth was an unavoidable instinct.
“Leo.”
Adrian called.
There was no response. Leo didn’t react, his gaze fixed on the jerky. All he could think was when will that red, hard piece of meat enter my mouth?
“……”
Adrian’s eyebrow twitched. What was the point of giving a name? When the owner called, the creature was so preoccupied with food that it didn’t answer, let alone perk up its ears.
“Leonhart.”
This time it was a slightly sterner voice. Still, Leo remained unmoved. His head just moved left and right following the trajectory of the jerky swaying in the air. Adrian swallowed a hollow laugh. He put the jerky back into the container and shut the lid.
Thud.
With a crisp sound, the meat smell was cut off. Only then did Leo’s gaze urgently turn to Adrian.
‘Why? Why are you closing it? Weren’t you going to give it to me?’
Looking at the fox’s eyes tinted with bewilderment, Adrian crossed his arms.
“You have to answer when I call if you want me to give it to you.”
Answer? Leo belatedly barked—kyut!
“Yes, like that. When I call ‘Leo,’ stop what you’re doing and look at me. Understand?”
Leo quickly nodded. Whatever it was, it seemed he had to bark when his name was called. He quickly realized that if he didn’t pass this training, that delicious meat would be pie in the sky.
Adrian didn’t call his name right away. Instead, he pretended to be distracted and picked up some documents. Leo sat down obediently with his bottom on the floor. His eyes were waiting for his name to be called any moment.
Only the rustling sound of paper turning flowed through the room.
“Leo.”
Suddenly, the name popped out.
“Kang!”
Leo reflexively raised his head sharply. His eyes met Adrian’s squarely.
“Good.”
A smile spread across Adrian’s lips. At the same time, a piece of jerky slipped right into Leo’s mouth. The salty meat taste wrapped around his tongue. The more he chewed, the more savory juices oozed out. Leo narrowed his eyes and savored the taste.
‘So this is it.’
When called Leo, if he looked at Adrian, he got meat. It was a very simple and clear rule. A lion’s heart was good too, but first you had to fill your belly to maintain dignity.
After that, the sound of ‘Leo’ echoed throughout Adrian’s office whenever there was a chance.
“Leo.”
“Kyut!”
“Leo.”
“Kyak!”
“Leo.”
“Wang!”
After tasting the jerky, Leo answered faithfully. Even while sleeping, his ears perked up at just the sound of ‘Le.’
Adrian was satisfied. When he called the name, that small creature looked only at him. The sense of fulfillment that simple act gave was greater than expected. Countless nobles bowed their heads calling his name, but in their eyes there was always greed or fear. But in this creature’s eyes there was only pure trust and appetite.
“Good job, Leo.”
Adrian scratched the creature’s chin and fed him the last piece of jerky. Leo licked even Adrian’s fingers, happy.
It was a peaceful afternoon.
***
Night had deepened.
Moonlight seeping through the curtain gap crossed the room lengthwise. Adrian changed into his pajamas and stood beside the bed. Normally this would be the time when Leo would first occupy the center of the bed and wag his tail, waiting for him. Adrian naturally held up the blanket and patted the mattress with his palm.
“Leo, come up.”
Leo’s ears, who had been rolling around with a belly bloated from eating plenty of jerky during the day, perked up. The creature who had jumped up from his spot stepped his front paws onto the carpet. One step, two steps.
And hesitation.
The creature who had been walking well suddenly stopped. And only looked back and forth between Adrian and the bed without moving any further. The creature who normally would have jumped onto the bed before Adrian’s gesture even fell hesitated in front of the bed frame as if there were an invisible fence.
Had his body become heavy from eating too much jerky during the day? Thinking such nonsense, Adrian called again questioningly.
“Leo?”
Leo’s ear flinched. He wanted to go. He wanted to burrow into that fluffy blanket and fall asleep leaning against Adrian’s warm body heat. But at that moment, Theodor’s cold gaze he had seen during the day came to mind.
‘If you swallow a curse again next time without my permission, I won’t treat you then.’
That warning was clear. If he stuck close to Adrian and slept, he would eat the black energy flowing out all night again. Then his belly would hurt, Theodor would be angry, and perhaps he might really die. If he died, he couldn’t protect Adrian.
‘I have to endure.’
Leo put all his strength into his front paws. His head cried out to go toward the warm place, but Theodor’s warning held his hind legs even more strongly. Leo turned his head. Then he trudged toward the cushion on the sofa farthest from the bed.
“……?”
Adrian’s hand stopped in midair. He watched Leo’s retreating back. Even as he watched the creature curl up and lie down on the cushion, he couldn’t grasp the situation. Adrian, who had been blankly staring at the back of Leo’s head, belatedly came to his senses and got down from the bed to approach Leo. As he approached, Leo flinched and curled his body smaller.
“What’s wrong? Is your stomach still uncomfortable?”
Adrian tried to pick up the huddled Leo. Then Leo squirmed. He didn’t extend his claws, but it was a clear expression of refusal. He twisted his body trying to escape from his arms and whined, trying to get down to the floor.
Adrian didn’t force him. When the creature struggled, he released his strength and let him go.
Thud.
As soon as Leo landed on the floor, he quickly retreated. Then he glanced at Adrian, bowed his head deeply as if apologetic, and curled up again. Adrian stood there and looked down at his empty hands. The warmth remaining on his palm quickly cooled.
What?
It was bewildering that the creature who had answered when called by name during the day and followed him around suddenly changed. Had he been too bothersome? Was he annoyed because he kept calling his name with jerky as hostage when answering was annoying?
Whatever the reason, the result was the same. Tonight, this small beast didn’t want to sleep with him.
Along with absurdity came disappointment. The emotion he felt just because a mere beast wouldn’t give him its side was excessively bitter. But he couldn’t force it. Since it didn’t want to, he couldn’t tie it to the bed by force.
“…Fine. Do as you’re comfortable.”
Adrian’s voice was dry. He forcibly turned his body and returned to the bed.
When he blew out the candle, darkness rushed in. Rustle. The sound of covering himself with the blanket sounded particularly loud. Adrian lay down looking at the ceiling. The spot next to him was empty. That empty spot, which had been natural until just a few days ago, felt unbearably cold after knowing Leo’s body temperature.
He closed his eyes.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
There was no way sleep would come.
The blanket that would normally have been just cool and comfortable felt unusually cold today. He instinctively moved his legs seeking warmth, but all that caught his toes was the smooth, flat mattress. There was no heavy weight that always touched his thigh, no warm ball of fur that curled up inside his arm.
Insomnia didn’t torment him tonight. Perhaps because not much time had passed since receiving Theodor’s treatment, he didn’t feel the headache that seemed to gnaw at his brain or the pressure squeezing his heart. The headache that had pressed on his temples, the stuffiness that had constricted his chest were the same. Physically, he was very fine. However, the sensation that had hardened like a habit was the problem.
Without the warm sensation touching his arm, he felt empty; without the creature’s breathing that came regularly, the second hand of the clock above the fireplace sounded as loud as hammering; and every time he tossed and turned, the sound of fabric brushing hit his ears.
Adrian turned on his side. The empty spot came into view. He reached out his hand. What brushed his fingertips was only the cool texture of the blanket. He withdrew his hand and made a fist. It was a foolish act. He forcibly closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.
Meanwhile, Leo on the other side of the room was curled up on the velvet cushion. His eyes were closed but his ears perked up like a radar.
Rustle. Sigh. Rustle.
Adrian couldn’t fall asleep. Leo swallowed a silent whine. His throat rumbled but no sound leaked out of his mouth.
He wanted to go. Right now he wanted to jump off this sofa, cross the carpet, and burrow into the blanket next to Adrian. The cushion was soft, but cold air circulated here and it didn’t smell like Adrian. Only Theodor’s face came to mind. The cold grip that had held his scruff and the sharp pain that had stabbed his belly too.
Fear gripped his ankles. If he went, he’d get close to the bad smoke. If he got close, he’d eat it. If he ate it, it would hurt. If it hurt, he might die. If he died, he couldn’t help Adrian.
Just then the bed frame creaked. Adrian had tossed and turned again.
Leo raised his head. Moonlight crossed over the window and made a path on the carpet. That path led to the bed. It was as if it were tempting him to come to the bed.
