I Raised the Beast Well

Translator/editor: ruby

The beast walked through the crowd with fluid movements, like a shadow.

People lowered their heads as he passed but looked after his tracks as he went on. Expectant gazes following behind his footsteps, the hunting grounds were already frozen in stillness.

The black leopard stopped next to Belinda.

The Emperor lowered his head.

“I welcome Shinsu, the great protector of the Empire.”

Only then did the heavy air break. Following the Emperor, all the nobles bowed down to the ground.

“I welcome Shinsu, the great protector of the Empire.”

“I welcome Shinsu.”

The servants, lying flat on the floor, trembled.

Aymon looked around and approached Belinda, who was looking up at him from her chair.

He slowly settled down, resting his chin on her thigh. The black beast curled up in front of a human woman on the grass.

「I’m here. The prey you caught.」

There was pin-drop silence. There were some gasps and widened eyes at the word “prey”.

Like a habit, Belinda patted his head with a bemused face.

She was glad about Aymon’s sudden appearance, but she didn’t know what kind of “official” attitude she should have towards the great Shinsu.

All the same, the situation was questionable.

The Emperor was no different. The sight of a Shinsu as a big black beast caught his eye.

“The prey you caught…. Does that mean Belinda has captured you?”

The Emperor said, not sure whether it was a question or a joke. Aymon slowly blinked and rubbed his face against Belinda’s waist.

「Of course, from the very beginning till now.」

The crowd stirred again. What could the Shinsu mean? The nobles looked around, trying to assess the situation.

The Emperor’s smile widened.

“Then today’s victory must belong to Princess Belinda.”

Instead of answering, Aymon closed his eyes and enjoyed Belinda’s touch. He didn’t seem to mind being treated as prey by the Emperor.

Aymon being here and showing up to this useless competition was all because of Belinda.

He remembered her words that she felt bad because no one would devote their prey to her.

So he always wished to grow up. He dreamed of today when he could be her prey. Bigger, nobler, and more dashing than any other beast.

The Emperor returned to his seat and called over a servant. After a loud blow of a horn, the tumultuous crowd quieted down again.

“Let’s announce the winner of this hunt.”

The Emperor spoke in a pleasant voice and glanced around.

Everyone gulped.

“Belinda Ryn Athez. I am pleased to announce that my eldest daughter is the winner of the hunting competition.”

“I declare Belinda Ryn Athez the winner!”

The servant shouted.

Cheerful music filled the field.

“Congratulations, Princess!”

“Honor to the glorious victor!”

The crowd erupted in praise. Belinda stayed in her seat with a puzzled face, only getting up when Lucy gave her a signal.

With Aymon rubbing against her legs, she awkwardly waved at the crowd.

What the hell is going on here? I must be out of my mind. All I wanted was a single piece of game devoted to me, and now I’m the winner.

It was all thanks to a big Shinsu, who was now licking the back of her leg.

The nobles were shouting praise. However, they were prevented from coming close by Aymon, lying at her feet. He’d growl and show his fangs instantly.

Meanwhile, the Emperor called over the man next to him. His faithful aide, the Duke of Marche, humbly bowed.

“Have you ever seen a princess who hunted Shinsu?”

He whispered to his ear.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Watch carefully. That’s exactly what my daughter does.”

She deserved praise for being a princess with a sacred clan under her feet. It was an unprecedented event.

Everyone congratulated her happily. Although the unfamiliar situation flustered them, their celebration was genuine.

There were only two people whose faces were downcast – Princess Adelai and Phillip Rodson.

In particular, the always-relaxed Phillip now felt the humiliation unique to those with injured pride. With his noble status, exceptional looks, and relaxed, virtuous personality, he was a duke worthy of praise.

He didn’t expect the situation facing him while he returned triumphantly with his prey.

He should have played the role in saving the lowly princess that was circling in the abyss.

Merely an insignificant being…

Phillip’s smile was wiped off his face for a long time.

A few steps away from him, Adelai smiled as she looked at his expression and approached him.

“Well… You should have just devoted it to me.”

She was referring to the black bear he devoted to Belinda.

Phillip stared at her calmly, and she put down her glass with a smirk.

“I like you, Phillip. Your useless stubbornness and handsome face.”

“….”

“Just imagine, Phillip. The things you’d get for marrying a princess.”

Adelai pointed at herself and left without hesitation.

“Of course, a true noble-blooded princess, not a mixed-blooded one.”

Phillip stared at her retreating figure. Soon, another crowd filled the space she left.

He might not have won, but he recalled Adelai’s words amid the praise he got for catching the black bear.

“…..”

He smiled and raised his glass. The banquet had started.

Belinda rubbed Aymon’s nose.

The nobles all dispersed to congratulate people, leaving Aymon and Belinda alone.

Comfortably sitting on a large rug, Belinda was still worried.

“Aymon, is this okay?”

「Is what okay?」

He answered roughly without opening his eyes. He nudged her with his face, protesting the lack of pets.

“You said the elders would scold you if they saw you around humans.”

「……」

Only then did he open his eyes.

「Breedee, have you forgotten who I am?」

“You’re you. Aymon.”

「Not that.」

“Aymon Arkin.”

「…..Not that either.」

Aymon pressed his head into her waist, forcing her to answer. Stroking him, she finally squeezed out the answer he wanted to hear.

“The great chief?”

「There you go.」

He responded coolly, tickling her ankle with his tail.

Belinda pulled away with a surprised shriek.

「I don’t care about others’ interests anymore. Whether human or Shinsu.」

“Does that mean you’ll be able to come in and out of the palace?”

His tail crept up her calf. Startled again, Belinda held her dress down. Him, stealthily moving under her clothes, was quite unusual.

When stopped, Aymon brought his tail back down, defeated, and wrapped it around her ankle again.

「Of course. Why would you doubt that?」

Aymon gently knocked her back and hovered over her, softly biting her exposed shoulder.

Belinda opened her eyes and relaxed. Even just Aymon’s head was very heavy.

「I’ll go into your room at night too.」

His rough tongue brushed against Belinda’s supple skin. She rubbed his cheek.

“Good. It would be hard to sneak around otherwise because you’re so big now. Hasn’t it been difficult?”

She said in a cheerful voice, laughing.

Aymon stopped.

「Because you’re this innocent….」

“Huh?”

「Because you keep accepting me like this…. My habits are getting worse.」

Belinda gently patted him.

“So what if your habits are a bit bad. As long as you don’t eat me.”

If Aymon failed to control his strength in a playful bite, he could probably devour her in a single bite.

Aymon buried his face in her neck, sniffing and rubbing.

「You smell so delicious, though.」

“You said you wouldn’t eat me.”

「Did I really?」

Aymon answered shamelessly as his soft hair kept tickling her. Eventually, she pushed him off.

“Liar.”

「That’s right. I’m also good at changing my words around.」

When she pushed back his snout as hard as she could, he finally fell back.

Belinda could see everything now. She felt very good. Her world seemed brilliant with this black leopard in it.

Meanwhile, Prince Lart, watching them from a distance, whispered to Lucy.

“Lucy.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Those two. Well…. Those two.”

Lart’s eyes were fixed on them.

“Are they in a relationship like that?”

Lucy shot him a look.

Didn’t you know that?

However, she soon smiled again.

“Maybe not. They haven’t said anything, but based on their actions…..”

“Isn’t that right? I think they’ve forgotten where they are.”

Someone else might not have recognized it, but Lart could easily see what was between the two.