Chapter 11
“She’s not a Gemstone.”
Yeah, I figured. The way he dragged it out was suspicious.
“What do you mean, Mr. Millen? How can you be so sure?”
The headmistress, who just moments ago had looked like she would sell her soul to Millen, suddenly changed her attitude. But even with her rude tone, Millen stayed calm.
“The snake that bit Selena’s arm is a special creature raised on Cycle energy. It can sense the presence of that power. If Selena were a Gemstone, the snake’s eyes would have turned red. But there was no reaction.”
The excited glow on the headmistress’s face turned cold.
The kids, who had been buzzing with excitement, looked downcast.
I’m the one feeling the most disappointed right now, you know.
Honestly, Selena had expected this kind of result.
A Tamer just happens to discover my hidden power during a show? That’s way too cliché. That kind of predictable twist is so outdated.
She told herself she wasn’t upset.
But… she was.
So what if it’s cliché? It’s my life. Don’t I deserve to be the main character for once?
“Pii! Pii!”
Pom blinked its red eyes and rolled around.
Are you trying to comfort me?
This tiny creature she’d just met today was more comforting than all the people she’d lived with in the orphanage for years.
Selena slowly stroked Pom’s fluffy fur, trying to calm her heart.
The commotion ended.
While Millen performed with his elegant bird, sly snake, and playful weasels, Pom stayed in Selena’s arms the whole time.
The kids quickly forgot the earlier disappointment and got lost in the performance. But Selena couldn’t join their cheerful mood. The emptiness inside her lingered.
After the show ended—
“Pom, it’s time to go.”
Millen held out his hand to Pom.
“Piiuu…”
Pom blinked up at Selena, then looked back at Millen.
“I think Pom really likes Selena!”
“Mr. Millen, can’t you leave Pom here?”
The kids, now attached to the animals, begged sadly. Selena, too, felt sad at the thought of parting with Pom.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. It’s illegal for someone who isn’t a Tamer to raise a pet.”
Only Tamers can handle pets infused with Cycle energy. Just in case of any danger, it was a strict law.
“Pom, go on now. Go back to where you belong.”
Selena tilted her hand gently. The round fluffball rolled off her palm. After twitching its tiny toes, Pom gave a little hop and bounced into Millen’s arms.
Millen bent down a bit and whispered softly into her ear.
“One day, you’ll meet again. Until then, take care.”
Normally, Selena would’ve tried to read into those words, but not today.
She just sat there blankly, until the warmth of Pom faded completely from her hand.
After that, Selena couldn’t pull herself together for a while. She spent her days in a fog, going through the motions. Until one day—
“Noona.”
“……”
“Selly noona.”
“…Oh, yeah?”
Leotis, who usually just hovered awkwardly nearby, suddenly reached out and held her hand.
“Are you okay?”
His gentle question brought her back to her senses.
Right. I can’t stay like this forever. So what if I’m not a Tamer? It’s not the end of the world.
“Sorry, Rio. I made you worry.”
Selena forced herself to smile, just like usual.
But her heart still felt empty, no matter how many times she told herself she was fine. Her awkwardly lifted lips trembled slightly.
She was glad Leotis couldn’t see her eyes.
She didn’t want him to see how down she really felt.
As she fidgeted with her fingers and quietly moved her lips without making a sound, Leotis asked,
“Do you hate it here?”
His voice trembled faintly. She could feel his fear through it.
So he was worried because of me.
She wanted to reassure him.
No, I don’t hate it here. I actually like it.
But the words wouldn’t come out.
She would have to keep pretending to be a sweet, lovable child in front of nobles, just to please the greedy headmistress. She couldn’t leave the orphanage until she was old enough to live on her own.
As Selena hesitated to answer, Leotis suddenly leaned in close.
“You can touch my hair.”
…Huh?
Where did that come from?
Unlike the confused Selena, Leotis looked completely serious.
Whenever Selena used to pat his head before, he would always grumble, “Don’t treat me like a kid.” But now he was offering first?
I don’t know what this is about, but…
Selena awkwardly reached out. His hair was soft, like cat fur, and slipped between her fingers.
It feels just like Pom’s fur…
As she kept patting his head, Leotis suddenly squeezed his eyes shut like he’d made a big decision.
Then—
“Pii!”
He imitated Pom’s little chirp. He looked like he was doing the most embarrassing thing on earth. His cheeks were as red as a ripe tomato.
Wait… is he copying Pom?
Selena froze for a moment. Leotis rubbed his head against her hand, just like Pom had.
“Pfft.”
No, don’t laugh…
“Pwahaha! Rio, what are you doing?! Oh my gosh!”
She couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. It was the first real laugh she’d had in a long time. Leotis smiled brightly too.
“See? I’m cuter than that pet, right?”
“Than what?”
“C-c-cuter, than it… right?!”
His face, ears, even his neck turned completely red. Selena just laughed again.
He’s like a grumpy cat usually… and now he’s acting cute just for me.
Selena’s heart softened seeing how much effort he was putting in, even through his embarrassment.
She felt a mix of guilt and gratitude.
“Yeah. Rio, you’re way cuter than that pet. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything in the world cuter than you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then stay here. I’ll become an even cuter and nicer little brother.”
So that’s what he really wanted to say.
After laughing so much, her heart felt lighter.
Yeah. They say if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
No parents, no powers, no money… But she had Leotis. Even if he left her someday, right now, he meant the world to her. He was her comfort and support.
“Thanks, Rio.”
Selena smiled.
“Thank you, Rio.”
She said thank you.
The other kids were right!
—
Over the past few days, Leotis had been thinking hard.
How can I make Selena smile again? Like before?
He was scared she might suddenly leave the orphanage and never come back. Even though he knew she couldn’t just walk away on her own.
What if I wake up and Selena’s gone?
Just imagining her leaving without a word made his heart ache.
He wanted to give her a reason to stay. And he hoped… that reason could be him.
Should I pretend to be sick?
Selena was a kind person. She wouldn’t leave someone who was sick.
Or maybe I should say I’m having a hard time because of bullies.
Whenever he was picked on, Selena always stood up for him. Thanks to her, even the headmistress and the other kids didn’t mess with him as much anymore.
He had a lot of ways to make her stay. But—
I don’t want to be a burden to her.
Somehow, Selena had become precious to him. As much as he needed her, he wanted to become someone she needed too.
…But someone like me, how could I ever be needed by Selena?
A useless, unwanted child. Dirty. Unseen by the world.
Leotis knew his place.
—
While he was lost in thought, he overheard the other kids talking.
“Pom was so cute!”
“Yeah! Selena really liked him too!”
“Cute things are the best.”
Cute things…
Now that he thought about it, the reason nobles liked Selena was because she was cute. Nobles who never spared a glance unless something had value donated huge sums to the orphanage—all because of Selena’s cuteness.
[Listen up, Leotis. Cute things are the best. Cuteness can save the world. Got it?]
Cuteness saves the world.
And Leotis’s entire world was Selena.
If cuteness could really save the world—if it could bring Selena’s smile back—then…
A little embarrassment was no big deal.
How can I be cute?
He touched his face and tried making cute expressions. He smiled like Selena. He pouted.
Ugh. I still don’t look cute…
Then, without thinking, he copied Pom.
“Pii.”
What kind of stupid thing is this…
Even as he thought that—
“Pii.”
Selena looked sad that she couldn’t keep Pom. That’s why.
There’s no way I’m losing to some fluffball pet.
—
And so, Leotis imitated Pom in front of Selena. And it worked perfectly.
It was way more embarrassing than he imagined. But seeing Selena laugh made it all worth it.
Leotis made a promise to himself.
He’d become the kind of person Selena would like. That way, she’d never leave his side.
