If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 81
Grasping her hand tightly as she launched herself into the nothingness, Louis did as she said and tried to keep himself airborne.
When he was alone, he floated on his own without much effort, but now he was falling as if he weighed a ton. Louis clenched his teeth, realizing how much heavier the weight of a living person was than he had felt in a long time.
Then Ruby’s falling body hovered in midair for a moment before she began to fall again. Louis tried to push herself upward, delighted that his powers were working on her.
As her body halted in midair, Ivan’s voice struck her ears.
“Ruby!”
Just when she thought the urgent voice was getting closer, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
Thunk, crunch—
There was the sound of something slamming into wood and the wood being split. Dizzy and unable to open her eyes due to the recoil, Ruby couldn’t see much. The force made her body sway back and forth.
“No! This can’t happen—!”
From above, a voice full of malice echoed. Only then did Ruby manage to open her tightly shut eyes. She turned her gaze to the person who was only holding her tight.
His silver eyes glowed coldly as they reflected the faint moonlight streaming through the branches. His black wolf ears, e***t and alert, glistened in the light. But it was the sharp, protruding fangs that immediately caught her attention.
Ruby swallowed hard at the sight of Ivan in his wildest form.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Ivan’s low, growling voice sounded so sinister. He was furious not at Leslie, but at Ruby herself.
“…Your Grace?”
“I thought you were going to die!”
Only now did Ruby understand why Ivan was angry. In his eyes, it must have looked like she had recklessly jumped without any plan.
Yet, she couldn’t say that Louis, the spirit, was helping her. For some reason, Louis didn’t seem to want Ivan to know he was there.
Dangling from his thick arm, Ruby sighed softly under Ivan’s warm gaze.
They were dangling at an awkward height in a tall, tall tree. And she was worried about his hands, as Ivan dug his nails into the hard wood to hold on.
She opened her mouth, her eyes tightly shut.
“I knew you would save me like this~”
She couldn’t help but put on the cute tone she used whenever she got scolded by her grandmother or mother. Whenever she stretched out the end of her words like this, they always seemed to let it pass as if it couldn’t be helped.
However, Ivan was neither her grandmother or mother, so Ruby didn’t think it would work on him. She avoided looking him in the eye after she had said that, feeling embarrassed and dejected.
“…What was that all about?”
But the trick worked.
“Well, I guess so. No wonder you jumped so confidently. Did you see me coming from above?”
“Yes…”
“Even so. I thought you might have fallen. You’re like a mischievous rabbit, causing trouble.”
“…I’m sorry~”
“Well, whatever. Save your apologies for later.”
Just a while ago, Ivan’s mind was filled with anger, but unexpectedly, Ruby’s playful act quickly softened his mood.
Believing that she was reflecting on her actions, Ivan glared at Leslie who was still on the opposite tree top.
He shouldn’t have let her go with just a slap on the wrist. He should have boldly driven her away when she dared to prey on his guest. He felt pathetic for regretting it now.
Ivan tightened his grip on the tree, digging his claws in. With a crunch, the sound of grinding wood, the two of them descended rapidly.
Before they reached the ground, Ivan jumped, clutching Ruby in his arms. He landed soundlessly and steadied himself.
At the same time, Ruby noticed his black tail spinning furiously like a windmill.
Kumiko
Thank you for update ♥️