Breeding Instinct - Chapter 6: Full Moon III (3)

Meanwhile, Damian finished his meal with satisfaction and sipped the tea Landon handed him.

“How is it, Count? To your taste?”

“…Yes, it’s excellent.”

“Still, your appetite seems small compared to that large body. Eat more vigorously.”

“Yes… Your Grace…”

The count forced down the blood-heavy steak, feeling like he might get sick. But he knew the only way to survive in front of someone like Damian was to grovel.

When the count finally finished the entire steak, Damian spoke coldly.

“You’re quick to change your stance. You’re more merchant than noble.”

“When you work in trade, there are times when you have to set aside noble pride.”

“Hmph. I hope you don’t think this little display is the end of it.”

“Of course not. The Liffe Trading Company will do whatever we can to support you.”

“Well, I’ll be the one to decide whether I need that support or not.”

Holding his teacup, Damian glanced back and forth between the count and Moritz. Sensing his gaze, both of them froze, unable even to breathe. Feeling as though their innermost thoughts had been laid bare, they could only remain rigid while Damian rose from his seat.

“I have plans this morning, so I’ll take my leave. Ah—did the count come early because he knew my schedule?”

The sudden question made Count Liffe feel like he was about to vomit up the steak he’d just forced down. With a pale face, he barely managed a reply.

“…N-no, of course not.”

“Now that I think about it, your daughter seemed to have quite a bit to say to me. Tell her to come here before breakfast tomorrow.”

“L-Leoni? Why…?”

“She seems quite worried about me. I should show my appreciation, shouldn’t I?”

“…Understood.”

Glancing dismissively at the reluctant count, Damian turned to leave—but paused, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Landon, search that maid’s room. A few of Kanna’s accessories have gone missing.”

“Have they? That wretched little…”

Landon utterly despised theft among the servants. Damian, his voice casual, gave his order without hesitation.

“Cut out that maid’s tongue, pull out all her fingernails and toenails, and lock her in the dungeon.”

“Yes, Master!”

After Damian left the dining hall, those who remained finally understood the full meaning behind his earlier words—that an example had to be made.

The count, unable to hold it in any longer, vomited up everything he had eaten. It was a disgraceful sight, especially for someone of noble status.

* * *

Kanna managed to open her swollen eyes. She had been tormented by him until dawn, and since she hadn’t slept properly the day before either, exhaustion had piled up. Judging by the sunlight seeping through the curtains, it seemed to be close to noon, but her body still felt heavy.

Her throat was dry, and a raspy cough escaped her lips. As she sluggishly moved alone, there came a polite knock, followed by Marie entering the room.

“Young Miss, are you all right?”

“Mm…”

“I brought you some water. Please drink.”

“Thank you, Marie.”

Kanna sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed, drinking the water gratefully. Her throat felt raw, like it had been scraped with sandpaper.

“Hm, hm…”

“Of course your throat hurts—you’ve slept through an entire day.”

“…What?”

Kanna looked puzzled at Marie’s words.

“You came back the day before yesterday and have been sleeping ever since. The Master was out yesterday due to his schedule and came back late. He also left again early this morning. He left orders that if you woke up, we were to immediately summon the physician for a check-up.”

“…You’re saying I slept for over two days?”

“It’s a bit ambiguous to say two days. Maybe a day and a half?”

“That can’t be right.”

Kanna was too shocked to speak. True, she hadn’t slept a wink the day before she collapsed, had repeatedly stood for long hours, and then even practiced mating with him at dawn. Still, hearing it aloud, she was speechless.

“I… I don’t think anything hurts though…”

“No, you must still see the physician. The Master insisted.”

“Mm… I guess I have no choice, then.”

“I’ll call him right away!”

“Okay.”

Marie turned to leave in a hurry but stopped and stepped back toward Kanna, lowering her voice.

“But, Young Miss…”

“Mm?”

“There’s someone outside the Master’s room right now.”

“…The young master?”

Thinking she meant Moritz, Kanna asked, but Marie mentioned someone unexpected.

“It’s that red-haired lady who visited the estate before. She’s apparently Leoni von Liffe.”

“…Why is she here?”

The thought of seeing her was unwelcome, and Kanna’s tension rose.

“She won’t be allowed in unless you give permission… but it’s something the Master ordered.”

Marie had heard bits and pieces. It was satisfying in a way, but she felt Kanna might suffer guilt if she heard everything, so she kept the rest to herself. Instead, she delivered only what Damian had explicitly commanded.

“The Master told her to apologize to you.”

“Ah…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be by your side the other day. I don’t know the details of what happened, but I’m relieved… because it truly seems like the Duke treasures you. Forgive me for overstepping.”

“No, Marie. It’s all right.”

“Thank you, Young Miss. I’ll go call the physician now.”

“Mm…”

The moment Marie said Leoni was outside, a heavy feeling settled in Kanna’s chest. She didn’t know exactly what Damian wanted from this, but right now, she didn’t want to see Leoni.

Leoni’s words from the other day came back to her vividly. Kanna hadn’t misunderstood what she meant. In fact, it was thanks to her that she had come to fully realize her true feelings.

She had dared to covet him in this monstrous body. Just because he was the only one who ever cared for her, she had foolishly believed that if she just listened to him, they could be together forever.

But that wasn’t right. And it wasn’t something that could ever truly happen.

With a gloomy face, Kanna pulled the blanket back over herself. She wished time would just stop here, without her having to think or feel anything more.

In that moment, Kanna finally and completely understood her own heart.

“I love you… Master…”

* * *

After being examined by the physician, Kanna moved to the sunroom and was now eating the soup Marie had brought her. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Leoni.

“Marie… is she still… here?”

“That lady?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course. It was the Master’s command, after all.”

Kanna pouted in discomfort. So much had happened in just a few days, and with her anxiety already high, the fact that Leoni was near the space she shared with Damian made her deeply uneasy.

It felt like things would unfold exactly the way Leoni had warned. That this happiness would come to an end. And that thought terrified her.

She’d always known it would end someday—but not yet. She wasn’t ready to accept it. Restless and unsettled, Kanna stood up after finishing her soup. Her legs trembled. The most recent mating practice had been especially rough.

She walked slowly to the parlor and paused there, hesitating in front of the door. The memory of what happened the other day still made her break into a sweat, but her desire to get Leoni out of this space was stronger. She knew now—it was jealousy.

Peeking the door open, she immediately locked eyes with Leoni, who was standing in the middle of the hallway.

“Lady…”

Leoni felt exhausted and humiliated to the point she wanted to disappear. When Kanna finally appeared, she felt anger surge through her. Why was she suffering so much because of someone like this?

But her father had sternly warned her, so she couldn’t say anything harsh. Regret welled up—if she had known it would come to this, she wouldn’t have said those things back then. Forcing a smile, Leoni spoke.

“You’re finally awake? I waited quite a while for you.”

“…I never asked you to wait. Could you please leave now?”

“What did you say?”

Kanna, who Leoni thought would stay silent like last time, instead replied coldly. Leoni raised her voice without even realizing it.

“Please go back. I can’t rest with you here. It’s too uncomfortable.”

Kanna was incredibly unsettled by Leoni’s presence in this space. The sun would be setting soon—Damian would be returning. If Leoni was still here when he arrived, she couldn’t bear it.

“…It was the Duke’s order. I don’t think this is something a mere lady should interfere with.”

“He said you should ask for my forgiveness… that’s what I heard.”

Leoni hadn’t expected Kanna to know the details. Her face flushed with humiliation. Kanna, with only her face visible through the slightly opened door, continued in a flat tone as she looked at the trembling woman.

“I forgive you. So please leave.”

Hearing Kanna declare forgiveness when she hadn’t even asked for it made Leoni even angrier.

“I don’t want your forgiveness! I didn’t even say anything wrong!”

Even as Leoni snapped back in frustration, Kanna nodded calmly, without a flicker of emotion.

“You’re right. I agree with that part. But mocking my clothes on purpose—that was wrong, wasn’t it?”

“…”

At Kanna’s pointed words, Leoni’s lips sealed shut like a clamshell. Kanna stared quietly at her—at Leoni, who bore all the signs of someone raised in love, adorned in beautiful clothes and elegant bearing—then stepped out past the door. Still in her nightgown, Kanna looked visibly frail at a glance.

Seeing her like that, Leoni felt a small pang of guilt.

“Having someone like you—someone who’s been so loved—by the Master’s side… I think that’s something to be happy about.”

“…What are you saying?”

“This is my first time… feeling this way. So… I’d like to be selfish. Just a little. But I don’t think it will last long.”

Leoni couldn’t quite understand what Kanna was trying to say at first. Then, she recalled the lie she had told—the one about exchanging betrothal letters with the Duke. It must be about that.

But she couldn’t bring herself to admit that it had been a lie. Even now, when things were this humiliating, she didn’t want to tell Kanna that she had tried to manipulate her way into marriage with the Duke. Perhaps it was because of those innocent blue eyes. That’s what Leoni told herself.

“…So please, go back. This place… it’s a haven I finally managed to find.”

Kanna’s earnest voice left Leoni with no words in return. Silently, she turned away. As she descended the stairs, her legs felt too shaky to move properly—there were moments when she nearly stumbled. But she didn’t stop. She walked all the way down and climbed into her carriage.

A strange tightness settled in her chest. Leoni stubbornly refused to acknowledge it for what it was: guilt.

* * *