I locked eyes with Baekho and said with a serious expression.

“I guess I need to learn martial arts.”

What nonsense all of a sudden?

Baekho yawned widely. This darn cat, only serious when eating treats. I frowned and grumbled.

“I don’t think Lord Kashar will just leave me be. I need to live too, so won’t my chances of survival increase a bit if I learn martial arts?”

Baekho coldly told Danmokbi and me to think about our feelings only, but no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t control my fear of the Lord.

In the original work, the Lord didn’t even notice Namgung Ryuh, and he harshly told Namgung Ryuh to stay away from Danmok Chang when he was speaking nicely to her. The one who said that was the Lord.

He acted like that even to Namgung Ryuh, who was a palace maid, so how could I, who is not even a banned person, catch his eye?

‘He spoke nicely to Namgung Ryuh to get her to back off, but he might silently dispose of me.’

It was not a ‘might,’ but I felt certain he would. Now, I was young, and Danmokbi had not shown his true love, so it was fine, but now it would be hard to hide his feelings even if he returned to the world.

It was a serious concern for me, but Baekho just flicked his tongue and sulked in response.

Even so, if you die, it’s fate?

Hurt by his words, I tapped Baekho’s mouth with my finger.

“Baekho, you’re speaking evil again! You bad mouth!”

It tickles, so stop it. Do I really have to bite you for you to come to your senses?

“Hmph! I hate it. I hate that mouth.”

Who would cling to you if you bite? I glanced at Baekho’s mouth.

But then.

“……Ah, so cute. I’ve lost to this cuteness.”

The black lips were pouted like a ‘shi’ character, and they were so adorable. I was simply looking at those lips, but I felt defeated.

How could I glare at these lips? I hugged Baekho and sobbed. Baekho, nestled in my arms, grumbled as if he found it pathetic.

You’re a strange girl.

Yes, I’ll just be a strange girl. Baekho’s cuteness has broken through the stratosphere.

I petted Baekho’s lovely ears and his round front paws.

Even after years of watching, a new cuteness sprang up every time. It was a mysterious appearance. Looking annoyed, Baekho entrusted his face to my hand and looked at me with round eyes.

It’s much better since you’ve taken it off. What have you been doing without wearing it all this time?

At Baekho’s words, I giggled. Today I was wearing the vermillion dress Danmokbi had gifted me.

Even to me, wearing this bright vermillion made my face look lively.

But why didn’t I wear it! I know it’s pretty. But there was only one reason I couldn’t wear it.

“I couldn’t wear it because I didn’t have it! Honestly, it feels like a waste now. It would have been better to save money and secure a secret shelter, don’t you think?”

Danmokbi could easily become the successor to the Lord, but still, I thought it would be better to prepare a place to stay just in case.

But Baekho licked his paw and sharply rebutted my opinion.

Is a collapsed building a waste that you have to save money to make?

“Is this the sentiment for the continent’s houses!”

Collapsed buildings are wasteful. But there’s also the saying that it’s best to burn and destroy the house before leaving, as it becomes dangerous when it collapses.

‘This area has plenty of land and people, anyway.’

So what should I do with the saved money? Anyway, buying clothes was not it.

While I was immersed in distress, Baekho narrowed his eyes and growled.

You two aren’t even getting married right away, don’t you think too much about this and that?

My face turned bright red at his words. I slapped Baekho’s mouth with my finger.

“You, you, you bad mouth!!”

Then Baekho bit my finger with his canine.

“Ouch!”

Hmph!

It was a playful bite, so there were only faint bite marks, but it was hot. I shook Baekho up and down.

It was then when Baekho and I were squabbling. Knock knock, there was a knock on the door, and Danmokbi called me with a puzzled look.

“Yeona, what are you doing?”

“Ah, I’m coming, My Lord!!”

It wasn’t the time for me to squabble with Baekho. I hugged Baekho like a doll and rushed outside.
But Danmokbi, who had been outside the door, came out and locked eyes with me, freezing stiffly. I tilted my head.

“Master?”

“Ah, sorry.”

At my question, Danmokbi blinked as if he had just snapped to attention. Then, he spoke with his eyes cast down shyly.

“You’re too pretty.”

To think he would say something like that. I chuckled and nudged Danmokbi lightly with my elbow.

“What are you talking about?”

“No, really.”

As I laughed it off, Danmokbi shook his head with a reddened face and murmured, holding a corner of my clothing lightly.

“I wish I had gotten you something like this sooner. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. I knew better that Danmokbi didn’t have the means to do that. People’s watchful eyes were everywhere, and they reacted sensitively to our every move. I smiled and reached out my hand.