Chapter 53
“Apologize?”
Cecilia felt an indescribable emotion as the bear pressed its snout against her.
Although she had joked about it before, she now found herself genuinely curious about the secret Berry was hiding.
“He behaves and feels too much like a human to be just a beast.”
Could this bear really be someone cursed by the North?
Just as Cecilia was starting to approach the truth,
“I didn’t mean to act so affectionate!”
Yuri struggled with a mix of embarrassment and shame.
He should have just stayed by her side, but instead, he poked her with his snout and acted all cutesy.
Of course, ever since “Berry” had met Cecilia in this body, days when he didn’t act like this were rare.
Maybe it was because he wasn’t used to comforting others; the gesture just made him feel more awkward.
Yuri twitched his snout and jumped to his feet.
“Are you planning to take her back already?”
—Growl!
Even though it was just a reflex to hide his embarrassment, a few immediate reasons for why he should act this way flashed through his mind.
They had encountered danger in the forest, so it was better to get her back before nightfall.
“Other monsters might show up too.”
That was probably why he had set out earlier than usual to reach the border.
His restless thoughts calmed slightly as Berry casually tugged at the hem of Cecilia’s skirt.
A damp, bloody smell rose unpleasantly.
As he wrinkled his nose, Cecilia seemed to realize the state of her clothes.
A brief gasp escaped her lips.
“Oh dear. Elly would be in trouble if she saw this…”
The hem of her skirt, soaked in monster blood, had darkened.
Even if she tried to wash it in the lake, the stains would be hard to remove completely.
She might not have realized how damp her tights had become under all the layers, but feeling the weight of the wet clothes shouldn’t have been difficult.
Yuri looked at Cecilia worriedly.
Although she tried to act fine, she clearly wasn’t fully aware of the situation. That was another reason to escort her back safely.
—Growl!
Yuri tugged gently at her skirt. With a troubled look, Cecilia gave a faint smile and stood up.
“Alright… I guess it’s better to fix my posture before returning to the castle. And…”
Her words trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.
Yuri somehow sensed what she wanted to say.
She probably worried about being seen by others on the way back. Everyone else didn’t know about the bear.
Berry had ordered that Cecilia keep quiet about the curse running through the ducal family’s bloodline. Now, seeing how things turned out, he felt a pang of guilt.
Moreover, even when he appeared as the duke, he had drawn a strict line about knowing nothing of the bear, so Cecilia would work hard to hide his existence.
Once the truth came out, would she feel betrayed?
“…Probably, yes.”
Yuri let out a long sigh from deep within.
Cecilia, oblivious, just laughed at how worried he was.
Her laughter deepened his sense of guilt. He gently leaned his head against her.
“I’ll have to tell her eventually.”
But how could he explain his secret? Even though his parents had accepted it naturally since they had grown up with him,
“Cecilia isn’t like that.”
Would she despise him? People couldn’t easily accept someone who could transform into a beast.
Berry’s moist eyes glanced upward.
Unaware of the complexity of his emotions, Cecilia focused on navigating the way back to the castle.
“I think I can find the way by now.”
She muttered to herself occasionally.
Suddenly, she looked down.
“Berry.”
—Growl!
“Could I visit your hideout again sometime?”
Yuri froze, trying not to show his surprise. After a moment of thought, he made a decision.
—Growl!
All he could offer in response was his usual bear growl.
Cecilia probably wasn’t really asking for permission; she just wanted reassurance and comfort.
Still, Yuri wanted to give her that sense of permission—the idea that it was okay for her to enter his space. That made him feel closer to her.
“So that means you allowed it, right? I’ll take it that way.”
—Growl!
Cecilia teasingly repeated her question. Yuri answered faithfully, then turned his head forward.
Even so, once he returned to human form, it would be better to forbid further forest visits—for her safety.
Yuri felt the cold wind and lifted his head.
The decaying stench of monsters seemed to penetrate his sensitive nose.
After Parting With the Bear
Cecilia returned to her room, again trying not to be seen by others.
She needed time to change clothes before Elly came to fetch her for dinner.
After quickly changing, she bundled the bloodstained clothes and stuffed them into a hidden corner. She bit her lip nervously.
She could burn the clothes later, but something else bothered her more.
Raising her arms, she sniffed.
It seemed the scent of blood hadn’t left her body.
“Maybe it’s just my imagination.”
It was her first time seeing a monster up close.
Now she vaguely understood why the servants at Lotreben had been so wary when she first arrived.
Sure, they might have held some personal grudges, but urgency was also a factor.
Just recalling the creature’s massive jaws made her shiver.
The warmth of the bear by her side slowly calmed her trembling.
Holding her hands together, she massaged her numb fingertips and exhaled a shallow sigh.
“…I want to thank Berry properly.”
How could she acknowledge the bear’s existence without revealing she knew his secret? How could she improve the place he lived in?
It was a tricky problem.
Cecilia imagined a stable for the bear, but realized she would need Berry’s consent. She shelved the idea for now.
There were more pressing issues to handle first.
If you want, I can also do a more “natural and polished” English version that reads like a light novel rather than a literal translation. That way, it’ll flow better for English readers. Do you want me to do that?
