The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 26

#26.

‘Chee Chee, hang in there!’

Ivan cheered for Chee Chee to the empty air for no particular reason. Honestly, when he first heard that Zakary was going to raise a ferret beastman [a human-animal hybrid], he thought it was half a joke.

He never imagined he would even mark him [establish a magical bond]. When he was summoned by Zakary because of that, he felt a fear that made him feel like his whole body was being torn to pieces.

If any beastmen had seen Zakary’s gleaming eyes at that time, they would have realized that their breath could be taken away by just a look.

Ivan had to sweat coldly in the gruesome scene. Just when he thought something was going to happen because Jerakiel wouldn’t back down, he was even more surprised and almost fell over when Zakary declared him as his daughter-in-law.

‘Like father, like son.’

Ivan wanted to smack his forehead at the stream of consciousness he couldn’t follow at all.

How long had he been following Jerakiel? Before he knew it, the two of them arrived at the square and stopped abruptly when they found the hyena in front of the well.

“That person is…”

Ivan recognized Heathcliff first and trailed off. Why was he here of all people?

From the moment he found him, Jerakiel’s atmosphere became unusual.

Jerakiel stared at Heathcliff. Heathcliff was sitting by the well, as if standing guard. And Chee Chee’s energy was heading straight for the well.

Did he put the hyena on guard? If so, that was really amazing courage.

Just how many beasts was he trying to command to do his bidding?

Of all the guards he could have chosen, it had to be a hyena, and even the little master of Page.

The most unpleasant thing was that he was doing it willingly.

Why was that guy always wherever he went to find Chee Chee?

And why was he so displeased with that fact?

He didn’t know what he was doing in the well, but he didn’t like the fact that he was with the hyena instead of him.

He was getting married soon, so he didn’t want any affairs.

Jerakiel tilted his head and muttered in a low voice, not even trying to hide his uncomfortable mood.

“It’s you again?”

* * *

Hearthcliff was not shaken by Jerakiel’s sudden appearance. It wasn’t difficult to find someone who had been marked [someone who had a magical bond established].

What was strange, though…

“Yeah, it’s me again.”

…was that Jerakiel was particularly focused on that ferret beastman.

His reaction, which was unlike his usual self, was refreshing. He looked languid as if he had come out for a light drink, but his face had a slight annoyance at the base.

Hearthcliff recalled his conversation with his father. Rudy had mentioned the ferret in the process of reporting the confrontation between him, Jerakiel.

‘I heard that the young lord of Jabishi is raising a pet that is a beastman. He even cherishes it while smearing it with his pheromones?’

‘Rudy must have left out that he was about to be eaten. Today, his forepaw was almost eaten.’

‘That’s because you don’t know Jabishi. Jabishi doesn’t bother to put his pheromones on his prey. He enjoys hunting and eating them right away in the first place.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes. Keep a close eye on that ferret beastman. It may be useful in some way. It could be the Black Lion’s weakness.’

His father particularly hated the Jabishi family. So he wanted to find fault with Jabishi in every way.

At the time, he thought it was his father’s excessive speculation. But when he saw Jabishi’s marking with his own eyes, he was convinced.

That white girl would be Jerakiel’s weakness.

He thought it would be a temporary interest like a passing breeze, but it was unexpected.

If it was just a toy to play with, Jerakiel wouldn’t have come all the way here to find a ferret.

Looking at Jerakiel in front of him, it seemed that his father’s hunch was right.

Hearthcliff rolled his eyes.

‘It’s a good thing Rudy isn’t here.’

If Rudy were here, that child’s life would be quite twisted. Rudy was his aide and a person who followed his father’s orders.

He didn’t care if Jerakiel was in trouble, but he didn’t want the white snowball-like child in the well to be in trouble yet.

Hearthcliff shook off his thoughts and looked at Jerakiel. Then he realized that his gaze was always directed towards the well.

It was as if he didn’t care about me in front of him and was only interested in what was in the well.

To show such obvious signs to the enemy.

That meant two things: the person inside was either insignificant, or he was completely ignoring the enemy in front of him.

Neither answer felt good.

“I know you don’t like me, but if you’re looking for that child, wait here.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

Jerakiel tilted his head with a smirk, as if he had heard a joke. There was no sign of murderous intent in his languid eyes, but his eyes alone made his whole body tingle.

“If you do whatever you want, no one will stay by your side, Jerakiel Rune Jabishi.”

“Here comes the lecturer.”

Jerakiel clicked his tongue in a low voice as if he was annoyed. How could such a stiff young master be born from under the lecherous head of Page?

Now that he saw it, he was definitely a Page bloodline. He was so interested in Jabishi’s affairs.

“I decide who stays by my side.”

“So you forcibly marked that child?”

Jerakiel stopped smiling at Hearthcliff’s provocation. Hearthcliff continued.

“Stop playing with that child. It’s not right.”

Then he stood firmly in front of the well.

Clearly, Chee Chee didn’t seem to know about the marking.

Usually, marking was an act done to a partner. He wouldn’t engrave a tattoo containing his pheromones on a simple pet or snack.

He didn’t think Jerakiel marked that child because he liked her.

There must be something else going on.

Jerakiel Rune Jabishi was a twisted being.

In particular, he had heard that Jabishi was a family with a strong possessiveness. They thoroughly rejected anyone other than themselves.

It wasn’t easy to enter their fence [inner circle].

Even if you entered the fence, you couldn’t rest assured. They would easily get tired of the people inside the fence and kick them out without a second thought.

Wasn’t Jerakiel’s mother kicked out in that way?

So marking Chee Chee must be a simple whim. Perhaps it was just a way to tie her down and possess her.

But Hearthcliff was stunned by Jerakiel’s unexpected words that followed.

“I’ve never played with her.”

Rather, I’m the one being played with.

Jerakiel smiled lazily with his arms crossed. The situation of confronting each other over Chee Chee was absurd, but he kept getting serious.

He didn’t like the hyena who was suddenly acting as Chee Chee’s bodyguard.

Was he even going to act as Chee Chee’s guardian now?

It was absurd that he was acting as if he knew everything about our relationship, even though he hadn’t met Chee Chee for long.

But Hearthcliff seemed to want to get involved in this.

“You didn’t explain the marking to the person involved, but you didn’t play with her?”

Did he want to say that it was a bad thing? But what was so important about that? Wasn’t the problem that the hyena was prowling around Chee Chee in the first place?

He let her wear, eat, and sleep whatever she wanted, and even saved her after she was hit? Honestly, from Jerakiel’s point of view, the reason why Chee Chee was trying to get away from him was still a mystery.

He didn’t know what else to do here.

Chee Chee was the first person he had ever cared about this much, and Jerakiel was surprised himself.

When you think about it, the hyena in front of him was the biggest problem. Jerakiel muttered crookedly.

“I don’t think the cause of the problem has anything to say.”