The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 43

#43.

“……”

“The ears are gone, too.”

At Jerarkiel’s nonchalant remark, I raised my stiff arm and felt around my head.

They’re gone.

They’re really gone!

The ferret ears that were always on my head had completely disappeared. Jerarkiel’s pheromones must have worked.

Realizing that, a wave of emotion washed over me.

“Kya!”

Excited, I rushed over and hugged Jerarkiel, who was standing nearby.

“I can completely humanize now!”

“I get it, so please let go……”

He pushed me away slightly, but I wasn’t about to be deterred so easily.

“Hehehe! Thank you, Jerarkiel! I take back everything I said when I was mad at you!”

I was so happy that I hugged him again. After finally being able to fully humanize, I felt so good that I wanted to hug everyone.

I was practically dangling in his arms, giddy with excitement, when…

“Ahem!”

Zachary cleared his throat and then spoke.

“Isn’t it a bit early for that?”

Before I could even process what he meant, Jerarkiel pushed me away. This time, it was a much stronger push than before.

I stumbled to the side and looked at Jerarkiel. His ears seemed to be slightly red.

Then, I saw Zachary shaking his head as if the world was ending.

“Youngsters……”

“It’s not like that.”

“Hide your blushing face and stop making excuses.”

At Zachary’s words, Jerarkiel cursed under his breath and turned his gaze away. Judging by his still-red ears, it seemed he couldn’t hide his embarrassment even if he wanted to.

Still not quite grasping the situation, I finally felt my face getting hot after witnessing the exchange.

I had been too reckless without realizing it.

After all, completely humanizing was only a good thing for me.

Feeling embarrassed, I lowered my head and touched my cheeks. A hand, warmer than mine, gently touched my face.

Caught off guard by the tender touch, I lifted my head. Jerarkiel, who had regained his composure, said,

“Why did you suddenly become gloomy?”

“I’m not.”

“I have no idea what you’re thinking in that small head of yours.”

As Jerarkiel wore a puzzled expression, Zachary said casually,

“You could find out if you cut it open.”

That was certainly a straightforward solution.

I forgot my embarrassment and glared at Zachary. At that moment, Jerarkiel turned my gaze back to him and said,

“Come to think of it, I haven’t said this yet.”

“……”

“Congratulations on successfully humanizing, Chelsia Zabis.”

Jerarkiel grinned. At that moment, strangely, one side of my chest felt warm, and the sadness from before seemed to vanish instantly.

Did he notice that I was belatedly embarrassed for being so noisy about humanizing so late?

“You can hug me properly this time.”

“I’m ready.”

Jerarkiel spread his arms playfully. In response, I hugged him without hesitation. It was a comforting embrace, completely different from the awkward one before.

* * *

After the council meeting ended on such an ambiguous note, strange things started happening.

Every time I moved, I felt like I was being watched.

“Is that her? The one who slapped Jerarkiel-nim’s cheek?”

“Is that all? I heard she slapped both cheeks evenly and even tapped his chin.”

The elders, with their familiar faces, stole glances at me and murmured amongst themselves. If they were going to be discreet, I wouldn’t mind, but they were staring so openly that it was quite embarrassing.

After reluctantly approving the marriage, the elders started loitering around me every day, muttering under their breaths.

The gazes that followed me wherever I went were a bit annoying and uncomfortable. It felt like they were watching to see how worthy I was.

Besides, you’d think at least one of them would come and talk to me, but no one approached, as if they had been warned. They just whispered from a distance.

‘Did Jerarkiel say something?’

Jerarkiel was the only one I could suspect. Considering his attitude at the meeting that day, it was a reasonable suspicion.

“Eek.”

At that moment, an elder who made eye contact with me quickly averted his gaze. He was acting as if he would catch a disease just by looking at me.

It reminded me of my relatives in my past life who didn’t want to take care of me when I was left alone, and my mood sank.

“I’m not a germ……”

I felt wronged inside, but what could I do? I was an outsider who suddenly appeared and sat down, so they must have disliked me.

I strolled through the garden with Ayla, trying to ignore their behavior.

Spring was already in full swing in Zabis Castle, and all sorts of flowers were blooming. The fragrant scent of the blossoms tickled my nose as I walked by.

My mood improved, and I buried my nose in the flowers.

“Are you that happy?”

“Yeah!”

“Would you like me to pick some and put them in your room?”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. Everything within the territory now belongs to Chelsia-nim.”

Ayla smiled contentedly and started to put her fist in her mouth… but stopped when she noticed my gaze. She couldn’t hide the flaring of her nostrils, but it was a great improvement.

“Chelsia……”

I quietly recited my unfamiliar name.

‘Congratulations on successfully humanizing, Chelsia Zabis.’

It was inevitable that Jerarkiel’s words suddenly came to mind. I touched my cheeks, which were inexplicably heating up.

Jerarkiel was strange, acting as if he knew exactly what was in my head, even though he claimed he didn’t. [This refers to Jerarkiel’s ability to seemingly understand Chelsia’s feelings and thoughts despite denying it.]

He would act like a crazy person asking me to bite him, but then he would be serious at some point. The contrast was so stark that I felt a tickling sensation all over my body.

“Achoo!”

Ah, it must be because of the pollen.

I rubbed my tickling nose with my hand. Spring must be making my heart flutter.

As I started picking flowers, Ayla helped me from the side. There were so many pretty flowers that it wasn’t easy to choose.

Ayla, who had been watching me for a while, called out quietly.

“Chichi-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“Isn’t that enough now?”

“Huh? ……Gasp!”

At her words, I quietly looked at the basket. And I was surprised.

‘Oh, when did I pick this many?’

I had been picking flowers without thinking, and the basket was overflowing. Was I going crazy along with being in Zabis Castle?

I didn’t have flowers in my hair, but I knew that this behavior was excessive.

‘I was unknowingly happy that winter was over.’

I was sweating.

I felt like I had to make some kind of excuse, so I quickly came up with a brilliant idea and shouted,

“I, I’m going to give them as gifts!”

“Gifts?”

“Well, the elders don’t like me. If I give them flowers, won’t they be nicer to me?”

It would also be nice if they stopped staring at me.

Ayla’s lips trembled at my uncertain muttering. She frowned as if her heart ached and said,

“So, you were worried about it after all.”

“……”

“Don’t worry! If there are any elders who refuse the flowers that Chichi-nim gives, I will risk my life to cut off their heads!”

“But they’re elders……”

“Don’t worry! I won’t let them see Chichi-nim as a pushover. Do you trust me?”

Ayla clenched her fists with a passionate face. It was a great relief that her fists didn’t go into her mouth.

No. If those fists went to the elder’s face, things could get even worse.

I quietly held her hand tightly. I keep forgetting that she’s not normal either.

I, who am at least a little normal, have to stop her.

“I’ll deal with the elders. Ayla, put your fists down.”

“Yes……”

Ayla lowered her fists awkwardly. She glanced at her captured hand and twitched her fingers, and I could see what she wanted to do.

That’s how the impromptu flower delivery began.