Chapter 44
Then, Leonhardt’s curse must have been lifted too, right?
I couldn’t believe it—the dreadful witch’s curse had been broken. I raised my hand to touch my face.
Just a little while ago, I had been a squirrel. And now, suddenly, I was human again.
“Then… Leon really… cared for me…”
My heart pounded in my chest. I could almost hear it thumping in my ears.
When I lowered my head, I finally noticed the shirt he had been wearing all this time. I pressed my nose to the sleeve.
“Oh my… really? Truly?”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Now that I was human, any redness in my face would show immediately. I had to be careful…
“My face must be red right now.”
The fact that I had become human must mean that my feelings reached him.
“What should I do… I’m so embarrassed.”
I rolled back and forth under the covers. It hadn’t been long since I had escaped being a squirrel.
Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening. Thinking it was Jane, I sat up.
“Decided to finally show your face?”
Standing at the door was Leonhardt, smiling lazily.
I stared blankly at him and then slipped back under the covers.
“Why are you here?”
“Cali. Why are you hiding again?”
There was a teasing edge in his playful voice. I tilted my head slightly to peek at his handsome face.
He held some clothes in his hand. Closing the door behind him, Leonhardt stepped inside and handed them to me.
“Cali. I brought clothes for you since the maid couldn’t. Go change.”
“Oh, really? What about Jane?”
“She’s waiting outside.”
“Then call Jane. I might need help changing…”
“No.”
His refusal was surprisingly firm. I had been about to raise my upper body to look at the clothes, but my hand froze. I blinked and slowly raised my head.
For the first time since becoming human, I made eye contact with Leonhardt.
“I don’t intend for anyone else to see your body.”
“……”
“Only I can see it.”
It sounded strange. I unconsciously furrowed my brow.
“That… sounds a bit odd.”
“Why? It’s true.”
He approached me with a teasing smirk. I noticed the underwear overlapping with the maid outfit I was holding.
Panicking that he might see, I quickly hid it. Did he see it? I nervously glanced at him.
“Ah! He saw it! That expression clearly means he saw it!”
I buried my head. I had never had a boyfriend before, so this situation was incredibly embarrassing.
“I guess there’s no choice. We’ll probably be seeing each other’s faces all the time from now on.”
I lifted my head under the covers. With this, my neck wouldn’t hurt.
“Will you step aside so I can change?”
“……”
“Leon?”
Suddenly, Leonhardt was right in front of me, holding my chin. He tilted my face left and right, a smile playing at his lips.
“Do you want me to help you change?”
“……Um, Leon.”
“Hm? You want me to?”
I smiled lightly. For a moment, Leonhardt’s expression stiffened.
“Can I slap your cheek?”
“No. If I get hit, it’s going to hurt now.”
“Hmph.”
I turned my head sharply and waved my hands.
Now that I was human again, I could do as I pleased. The scenery around me returned to normal.
“Hurry up and step aside. I want to change.”
“I’d be fine if you stayed like this.”
“What are you saying? Pervert!”
Then Leonhardt grabbed the tip of my hair. I waved my hands to push him away.
Slowly, his hand moved up, entwining my hair at the back of my head. I tried to resist as he tried to turn my head, but there was nothing I could do.
“What… why is he so strong?”
Despite my struggle, I couldn’t help but turn toward him.
Leonhardt’s face was suddenly right in front of me. I could feel his hot breath on my skin.
We were close enough that our lips could almost touch.
“Cali.”
“……Can you move back a little?”
“Your face is red.”
“That’s probably just your imagination.”
Could it be that flirting was second nature to him? I wanted to close my eyes immediately.
Yet, like being spellbound, I only stared at him. Above all, his golden eyes shone beautifully.
“You’re pretty.”
His whisper was strangely seductive.
After saying that, Leonhardt gently stroked my hair.
‘Ah… such a gentle touch.’
It was the same touch I had felt countless times when I was a squirrel—unchanged and still warm.
‘I’m glad. It hasn’t changed.’
As soon as the door clicked shut, I buried my face in my hands. Just not having those round ears above my head felt amazing.
“Ugh…”
I rolled left and right on the bed, then slammed my right fist down.
“Finally, it feels real. Goodbye, miserable squirrel life!”
I jumped up and quickly put on my underwear.
When I wasn’t wearing anything, I lacked confidence. But wearing clothes gave me confidence—I could straighten my shoulders.
I could finally look at myself as a human.
“You really… are pretty.”
I had been so despairing when I realized I was a squirrel after the possession.
My body felt so light. Despite the squirrel being small, the human body felt even lighter.
I spun around in place. The maid outfit didn’t matter. My legs and arms were long, my body was in proportion, and my curly, vibrant red hair was beautiful.
“I can open doors at will now. No more getting kicked by someone’s foot.”
I no longer had to worry about being unable to move. I could go anywhere.
“Cali. Are you done changing?”
I didn’t hear Leonhardt’s voice from outside.
I pulled the curtains to the side. Struggling to hold one side, I barely managed to open it fully.
“Haah…”
I could open the curtains!
“Then…”
I swung the window open. It was difficult with just one hand, but I managed to open both sides.
This was freedom!
“Cali. Why aren’t you answering?”
“Ah…!”
I had been enjoying the breeze so much that I didn’t hear him behind me.
I turned to see Leonhardt. Somehow, I found myself trapped between him and the window.
“When did you get here?”
One of Leonhardt’s arms was raised. Glancing sideways, I saw his left hand resting near his head.
Even though I had grown taller, I couldn’t escape him. He looked at least 30 cm taller than me.
“I called three times.”
“Really…?”
“What were you thinking, Cali? Why did you open the window?”
“Just… opened it.”
“You weren’t trying to escape, were you?”
“Well…”
My eyes narrowed. Why did he keep asking if I was going to run?
“If you wanted to run, you’d have gone already.”
“But you were thinking about it, weren’t you?”
“Oh, I forgot about that for a moment.”
I blinked and smiled lightly, nudging his arm with my elbow.
“You have a good memory, huh?”
“……”
“Leon. Then tell me now so I won’t try to run. I showed you my face already.”
I leaned comfortably against the wall and lifted my head. My neck no longer hurt.
Leonhardt, now close, pressed his body against mine. I pushed his shoulder gently, feeling the weight.
But he didn’t budge. He was so solid, I could have mistaken him for stone.
“Uh… could you move back a bit?”
“I didn’t do anything at all.”
“Oh really? Okay… then could you move back just 5 cm?”
“Cali. Even as a human, it’s still true that I can’t let go of you for even a moment.”
“……That’s why?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
I saw the gentle curve of his smile and gave up.
“So… what were you thinking?”
“Ah… still that question?”
“I want to hear it. I mean, how I finally became human from being a squirrel.”
His free right hand moved slowly, caressing the soft cheek of my face with the back of his hand.
Before, it had been the hand of someone stroking a beloved pet, but now it was more careful. I could feel an unknown heat from his fingertips.
“Suddenly…”
My body shivered.
“You don’t want to hear it?”
I lowered my hands onto his shoulders. As I pushed, I was surprisingly pushed backward. A sigh of relief escaped me as his hand left my cheek.
“Really? You don’t want to hear it?”
“……”
“You want to hear it though.”
“Stop joking and tell me.”
“I only wished that you wouldn’t get hurt.”
Leonhardt shrugged.
“I thought it was better for me to get hurt than for you to get hurt.”
“…And then?”
“You are the only one in my world…”
As I was pushed back, he reached for my hair. He leaned close as if to kiss the tips, but stopped.
He lifted his head to look at me. I hastily covered my mouth with my hand, holding my breath.
“You are like my life.”
“……”
“Above all, I wanted to lift your curse now.”
My toes curled oddly. I hadn’t eaten anything sweet, but it felt as if I had. My whole body tingled.
Leonhardt’s golden eyes reflected me perfectly. I couldn’t look away.
