The Beast of the Albard Mansion - Chapter 18
When Desi stopped howling, my father didn’t kill him. Maybe he felt it was a waste to kill something he had bought at a high price.
The incidents of livestock dying in the village also subsided. Instead, occasionally, sheep living in the fields disappeared. Since no village livestock were dying, my father’s temper also eased. However, he believed that the beast would return someday.
“Such beasts are very wicked and persistent. They’ll come down to the village again when they run out of food.”
He warned us not to be reassured just because the beast had disappeared for now. He worried that it would return someday, and this time, it might bring more trouble.
Father invited a renowned hunter to catch the beast. He boasted that this hunter was no ordinary one.
The hunter had caught fairies living in the Adria Forest and animals with the head of a tiger and the body of a bear. He even claimed to have caught the legendary white horse with wings. The hunter had also captured rare creatures and presented them to the imperial family, so he was certainly no ordinary hunter.
This hunter was known for his skill in catching massive beasts. While he couldn’t catch a dragon, he could capture creatures smaller than a dragon, like a wyvern.
Father couldn’t contain his excitement about having this hunter, who even high-ranking nobles couldn’t easily summon, respond to his request.
“The events happening in our village aren’t ordinary. His interest proves my thoughts were right.”
This hunter wasn’t motivated by money or power. He moved solely for the thrill of capturing rare beasts. The more difficult and rare the beast, the more he liked it.
The hunter’s great reputation made me worry. Desi was just a regular kid who ate a lot of meat. While he could be fierce when hungry, he was mostly gentle and well-behaved. Lately, he had been following my instructions better, sitting or lying down when I told him to.
Threatening not to come the next day seemed to work better on Desi than hitting or starving him. No matter how much my father beat him, Desi never gave in, but the mere suggestion that I wouldn’t play with him made him act obediently.
After hearing my father’s conversation at dinner, I rushed down to the dungeon as soon as I finished eating.
“Desi, there’s trouble.”
“What is it?”
“Father is bringing a hunter.”
“A hunter?”
“Yes, a scary hunter who catches even the largest beasts. He might come and catch you, Desi.”
Desi smiled slightly at my words. When the corners of his mouth lifted, his sharp fangs poked out.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Of course.”
“You’re not scared of me?”
“I’m scared, but I still worry about you.”
Desi leaned in, asking to be petted. I stroked his smooth hair. Desi seemed to be looking better, probably because he roamed at night and fed himself well. He smiled contentedly as he felt my touch. His smile, with curved lips and eyes, was a captivating sight that often lingered in my mind.
I spoke brusquely to hide my blushing cheeks.
“Why are you asking for pets all of a sudden?”
“I like it when you worry about me. I always think of you, but you don’t, do you?”
I think about Desi a lot, too. Desi is a troublemaker, and I can’t help but worry about him.
I found it strange that Desi thought about me so much. I didn’t cause trouble, didn’t go out at night, and wasn’t in any danger. There wasn’t much reason to think about me all the time. Usually, well-behaved children don’t need much attention.
“I think about you a lot, too, Desi.”
“Liar.”
“Really.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t only visit me once a day. If you felt the same way, you wouldn’t come so infrequently.”
Desi, who once said he was fine with me visiting just once a day, now seemed more demanding. Maybe because he ate a lot, his greed also grew.
“You’re greedy, Desi.”
“Yes, I want everything.”
“…You’ll get in trouble. Being greedy isn’t good. Anyway, I’ll let you know when the hunter comes. Don’t come out of the dungeon when he’s here. It’s dangerous.”
“Is that an order?”
Desi carefully took my hand and rubbed his cheek against it. He sniffed my palm and even kissed it with a smacking sound. He tried to lick it, so I quickly pulled my hand away.
Desi looked disappointed and licked his lips.
Seeing Desi’s red tongue made my palm itch uncontrollably. After petting Desi’s head a bit more, I left the dungeon.
That night, a bright yellow moon rose. The sky was clear, making the moonlight even brighter.
