The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 52

#52.

“Ah.”

I yelped in surprise and recoiled, just as Zerachiel barged into the room. I was dumbfounded at being treated like a playboy out of the blue.

Besides, his skills at breaking and entering were improving day by day.

Having successfully entered the room in an instant, Zerachiel relentlessly cornered me.

“I wasn’t the only one you gave it to.”

“Huh?”

“And it wasn’t the first time either.”

“What are you talking about?”

As I protested, unable to understand a word, Zerachiel’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t even remember.”

It felt like accusations were constantly being added.

His gaze naturally turned to the flowers. Only then did I understand Zerachiel’s words, and I couldn’t hide my bewilderment as I asked back.

“…Are you perhaps making a fuss about me giving flowers to other beastmen besides you? Are you not?”

“…”

I was right, I was right!

I blankly stared at Zerachiel, who had come all the way to my room to protest.

How could such a cute side exist in a villain?

In the end, he was upset that I hadn’t given flowers only to him.

Judging by the ‘first time’ comment, he seemed displeased with the order as well.

Clearly, Zachari had said that Zerachiel would hate flowers.

But this wasn’t the behavior of someone who hated them, was it?

“Didn’t you hate flowers?”

“Who said that?”

Your father.

I couldn’t bring myself to mention Zachari here, so I pursed my lips and remained silent. Zachari clearly didn’t know his son well.

After a moment, Zerachiel shrugged and said.

“If I had to say, I’d say I don’t like them. I wasn’t interested in them either. But…”

Zerachiel’s gaze turned to the flower vase in my bedroom. I had personally picked them every morning and put them in the vase.

“It makes me feel bad to be treated the same as everyone else.”

I see. Our Zerachiel wanted to be treated specially by me.

Oh dear, this pet… no, my future husband didn’t understand his true feelings.

I chuckled as I watched Zerachiel jealously, which didn’t suit him at all.

Looking at this alone, who would believe that the Zerachiel before me was said to be the reincarnation of the fearsome first leader of Jabishi? [Jabishi is likely a powerful clan or group in this world.]

To me, he just looked like a wriggling baby black lion.

As the corners of my lips refused to come down, Zerachiel’s expression turned sullen. If I teased him any more, I might be the one to suffer, so I decided to react at this point.

“I didn’t treat you the same.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Look closely. The flower I gave you is a little different.”

At those words, Zerachiel stared at the flower. But even after looking again, he still didn’t seem to understand.

“It’s the same, though?”

“Oh, geez.”

I took the flower from his front pocket and held it up to his face.

“It’s the prettiest at a glance.”

“…”

“I picked and chose the prettiest one in my eyes to give to you. Did you really not know?”

“…Really?”

Zerachiel, who had a suspicious look, took the flower back and put it in his front pocket.

My ridiculous excuse seemed to have worked quite well.

Of course, it wasn’t a complete lie. The flower I gave to Zerachiel had black sesame-like stamens, so I had set it aside. The black stamens on the white petals were quite unique and pretty.

“And I thought you didn’t really like flowers.”

“Why?”

“Zachari said so. He said Jabishi hates flowers. And that you would hate them even more.”

At that moment, the light seemed to go out of Zerachiel’s eyes. He looked indifferent, as if he had never been in a good mood.

It was as if he was suppressing his excited emotions on his own. It felt like a wall had suddenly formed.

“That’s just like Father’s judgment.”

“Huh?”

“There are flowers I hate separately. And Father feels the same way.”

Zerachiel took a step back.

“I don’t know why Father is telling you such things.”

“Zerachiel?”

I was flustered because I couldn’t figure out which part of my words had made him uncomfortable. I had only talked about preferences, but he suddenly seemed angry.

But it was fleeting. Zerachiel wore his usual languid expression as if nothing had happened.

“Anyway, I don’t hate the flower you gave me.”

“Oh? Oh, okay…”

But strangely, something was bothering me. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but it felt like Zerachiel was drawing a line between us.

So, without realizing it, I reached out to him. At that moment, he quickly pulled his arm back to avoid contact.

At the same time, my eyes met Zerachiel’s. He was startled and rubbed his arm.

“Ah, I came straight here after training, so my clothes are dirty.”

It didn’t seem like that was why he avoided me.

It wasn’t like him to say that, considering he had been so close to me until just now. Besides, I didn’t feel good about being suddenly rejected.

I reached out further and grabbed his sleeve as he tried to escape.

“What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were so eager to be around me before.”

Why are you being so distant now?

At my honest question, Zerachiel moved his lips and let out a soft sigh. Then, he ruffled his hair and muttered.

“It’s just that, when I’m with you, I become strange.”

“You were always strange.”

Is this something new?

As I pouted my lips sullenly, Zerachiel chuckled.

“Yeah. I was always strange. But, you know.”

Zerachiel lowered his upper body to match my eye level, as if he had never stepped back. My surprised face was reflected in his golden eyes.

“They say it’s really dangerous when a strange guy realizes he’s strange.”

“…”

“When I’m with you, I keep doing things I never used to do. And…”

Zerachiel’s gaze turned to my neck. His golden eyes seemed to become strangely sharp.

Like a predator about to hunt.

I instinctively broke out in a cold sweat. Zerachiel casually averted his gaze and said.

“I think this is appetite.”

“…”

“What if I lose my mind and eat you?”

I smiled along with his warning.

It was clear that this guy would get thorns in his body if he didn’t spout nonsense for even a day. [A figure of speech implying he needs to be outrageous or provocative.]

“Get out.”

I pushed him straight to the door and kicked him out of the room.

* * *

“Get out.”

With that cold word, the door slammed shut.

Zerachiel, who had been kicked out, wiped away his smile as if he had never smiled. His face was nothing but cold.

It was hard to believe that he was the boy who had just made a mischievous joke.

He looked down at his arm with a stiff face.

The moment Cherchia reached out her hand, Zerachiel instinctively pulled his arm back. As if he would be done for if he was caught.

She was just a carnivorous beastman weaker than him.

Why did he feel like a herbivorous beastman cornered in a dead end?

The feeling was unfamiliar and strange. He knew at a glance that she found him annoying, but he found himself a little ridiculous for constantly coming to see Cherchia.

“Strange. It’s really strange.”

It was a feeling he had never experienced in his life. So it was unfamiliar. He had just happened to raise a ferret that had rolled down on top of his head. [Metaphorically, he stumbled into this relationship.]

He had just been indulging in a light whim.

He had no idea how he had come to care so much about that existence.

Zerachiel was on his way back to his bedroom when he stopped in his tracks, spotting Zachari coming from the opposite side.

Duke and his youngest son, Victor, were accompanying Zachari. Seeing that Zachari had been meeting with Duke so often lately, it was clear that his condition was getting worse.

“Young Master, it’s been a while.”

Victor greeted Zerachiel first. It was the first time he had seen him since he was dispatched to the border last fall.

“I was going to visit you anyway, but we meet like this. I’ve returned after completing my mission this time. It just so happens that the Young Master’s wedding is soon. I’m very lucky. Hahaha!”

Victor joked and acted friendly. He had always been sociable and had a good relationship with the members of Jabishi.

Before going to the border, he had even resided in Jabishi Castle and learned medicine from Duke.

On the other hand, Zerachiel’s expression as he looked at Victor was indifferent.