The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 29

#29.

“Huh?”

“How amusing.”

Chichi flinched at Jerarkiel’s grin.

“Can you not find amusement in me anymore?”

Her following grumbling voice even carried a hint of annoyance. Whenever the word ‘amusing’ came out of his mouth, she always had such an overreaction.

She didn’t seem to consider blaming herself for acting amusing in the first place. Just then, footsteps approached from a distance.

It seemed Hebel’s followers were rushing over, having heard the commotion. If they stayed like this, things were bound to get troublesome.

Jerarkiel quickly picked up Chichi and said to Heathcliff,

“I’ll leave the aftermath to you.”

“What?”

“That’s your specialty, isn’t it?”

It was Heathcliff who had blocked the well, shielding Chichi. Not forgetting his revenge for this, Jerarkiel left with Chichi in a flash.

Surprisingly, his subordinate Ivan had already run off a long time ago. More precisely, he had gone to call someone to stop the two of them.

“Ha?”

Hearthcliff stared at Jerarkiel disappearing into thin air with an absurd look.

He didn’t even let him say a word to Chichi, and left all the troublesome matters to him before leaving, which was just absurd.

“Ah.”

Just then, something caught Heathcliff’s eye. He found a yellow hat behind the well. It was the hat Chichi had been wearing earlier.

It was around the time Heathcliff picked up the hat.

“W, what is this…”

Hebel’s follower, who had come after hearing the commotion, stared blankly at the well area, which had become a complete mess. But the bewilderment was only momentary.

“Oh, great divine beast! The holy water has burst forth again!”

Seeing Hebel’s follower suddenly bowing to the well, Heathcliff chose to quietly slip away.

He figured they would interpret the aftermath on their own without him needing to say anything, so he planned to escape before things got annoying.

Afterward, Hebel held a thanksgiving ceremony to the guardian deity for the well that had burst forth again and made that day a commemorative day [a day to remember the event].

* * *

“Alright, explain yourself.”

As soon as they arrived at the lodging, Jerarkiel blocked anyone from entering. I avoided his persistent gaze and made excuses.

“I was just thirsty and wanted to drink some water.”

“All the way to that distant plaza?”

“I got thirsty while taking a walk.”

“You’d have to come up with a more plausible excuse for me to even pretend to believe you.”

Jerarkiel didn’t seem to believe me at all. There was no way he, with his keen perception, wouldn’t notice my change.

It was only natural since the pheromones of the beastman he lived with every day had suddenly disappeared.

I wanted to get through this without anyone noticing if possible, but it seemed I was mistaken. I confessed only a portion of the truth to get through this crisis.

“I swallowed some marble at the well, and that’s how it happened.”

“A marble?”

“Yeah.”

“Spit it out.”

At that moment, Jerarkiel hugged me from behind and compressed my stomach. It happened in the blink of an eye. He quietly chided me.

“How could you eat just anything so recklessly?”

It seemed he thought I had swallowed just anything without any fear. As he forcefully compressed my stomach, I couldn’t help but groan.

“Ugh! Urgh, just a moment!”

“You can’t just eat anything that comes from Hebel. So spit it out.”

Jerarkiel didn’t stop pumping with a serious face.

At this rate, I might throw up all my organs!

I was about to spit out not only the pearl but also my innocent organs, so I hurriedly stopped him.

“Please, Jerarkiel!”

It was then. Jerarkiel, who wouldn’t listen no matter how much I tried to stop him, ceased his actions. His body, stiff and unmoving, seemed to be broken. Jerarkiel blankly asked,

“What did you just say?”

“How can you suddenly compress like that!”

I almost threw up!

Now that I had a contract with Taevy, there was no need to take this marble out of my stomach. It was safer to keep it inside than to wear it as a necklace like Ella.

“Tch!”

I turned around, getting out of Jerarkiel’s arms in a fit of pique. I was about to say something to him, but I lost my words when I saw Jerarkiel.

Why is his face so red?

To be exact, his ears were red as if they were about to explode. His face also looked a bit dazed and strange.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Say what you said earlier again.”

“Tch?”

“No, before that.”

“Um… Jerarkiel?”

I mumbled in an uncertain voice, as if recalling what I had just said. It was out of concern that he might react to me calling his name.

And the moment I called Jerarkiel’s name, his eyes flashed.

“Yes, that.”

His gleaming golden eyes exuded a chilling aura like a beast in front of its prey. I unknowingly shuddered and muttered,

“…You’re not going to say something about me calling my master’s name so carelessly, are you?”

“Do I look like that kind of guy?”

Nod.

As I nodded without hesitation, Jerarkiel frowned. After a moment, he mumbled as quietly as an ant,

“It’s the first time you’ve called my name.”

“Was it.”

“It was. You were the only one who didn’t call me by my name, you.”

Jerarkiel mumbled as if that had been his usual complaint. He even covered his mouth with the back of his hand, feeling embarrassed.

Come to think of it, I had comfortably called Marina and Ivan by their names, but I didn’t remember calling his name.

I didn’t particularly discriminate, but Jerarkiel didn’t seem to like it.

Jerarkiel narrowed his brows and muttered,

“I thought you were uncomfortable with me.”

“Hmm.”

Well, it wasn’t a comfortable relationship, but it wasn’t that I didn’t call his name because I was uncomfortable.

It was just that I was wary because Jerarkiel would deeply infiltrate me if I let my guard down even a little. I felt like I would become too familiar with him if I stayed like this.

On the other hand, I also wondered if I, as just a pet, could carelessly call the owner’s name.

Because Jerarkiel and I were only in a master-pet relationship.

I rolled my eyes and recalled what Ivan had whispered to me before, and mumbled as if making an excuse.

“Ivan told me before. He said you turned a scion of a 친선 [close-knit] family into mincemeat for calling your name without permission.”

“Do you believe everything Ivan says?”

No.

But this was something I had confirmed with Isla as well. Originally, he often acted like a thug, picking fights over trivial things.

I said with innocent eyes,

“But when I asked Isla, she said it was true?”

“Tch.”

Jerarkiel, who had nothing to say, seemed to shut his mouth tightly and retorted irritably.

“Are you the same as that guy?”

That meant I couldn’t be compared to the guy he turned into mincemeat.

Oh, look at this guy?

He has a subtly cute side.

After that, Jerarkiel frowned as if he had heard an unpleasant story. Strangely, I felt a little good seeing that.

I felt like he regarded me quite intimately.

Feeling a strange tickling sensation, I said something I didn’t mean.

“Well, I’m your pet, after all.”

Come to think of it, that was true. It was only natural for a pet to feel closer than a scion of a close-knit family.

Thinking that way, the floating feeling returned to normal.

I have to be calm in the Black Lion’s den. That’s how you plan for the future.

I built up my vigilance again. It was a defensive measure to protect myself.

Then Jerarkiel opened his mouth.

“It’s not just because of that.”

“Then?”

Is there any other reason?

As I stared with wide eyes, Jerarkiel pursed his lips.

“Well…”

Seeing that he couldn’t readily say the reason, it seemed that was all there was to it.

I knew it.

There was no way Jerarkiel would think of me as a friend. He was just giving me special treatment because I was a pet.

But that was something. I had to maintain a good relationship with him to ensure my safety.

I forced myself to shake off the slightly 섭섭한 [disappointed/bitter] feeling and asked,

“Then, can I call you by your name as I please?”

Even if I call you, you won’t hit me?

Jerarkiel sighed deeply at the playful addition.

“I’m the one who’s been getting hit all this time.”