I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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86

Chapter 19. Beasts Don’t Only Live in the Jungle (3)

Since Ian got out of the carriage first, I naturally thought he would escort me, so I was a bit surprised when Raven appeared and took my hand instead of my knight.

But getting flustered at times like this is second-rate. I’m first-rate. I’ll walk confidently anywhere.

Since it was difficult to jump down from the carriage because of my quite puffy dress hem, I first composed myself and got down.

And as soon as my feet touched the ground, I let go of his hand and spun around in a circle. The voluminous dress hem spreading out with the rotation was like a flower bud. Ah, I mean the dress was like that, not me.

“How’s that, cool right!”

Escort knights, please don’t smile warmly and clap like you’re watching your granddaughter’s antics… And don’t shout “You look so pretty, miss!” either. This isn’t our home… Lloyd has spoiled all the other knights’ habits too.

“…”

Indeed, even Raven didn’t expect me to come dressed up this splendidly, so he was speechless. You got me good with that quite effective hand-kissing technique, but did you think I’d just take it lying down? I regretted not bringing that flashy hat I gave up on at the last minute.

Should I strike a fabulous high fashion pose like some comedian from my past life…

“You really are.”

That was what Raven said after staring at me with wide eyes for a while. His beautiful golden eyes sparkling.

“You always surprise me.”

“It’s too early to be surprised yet.”

I was regretting that I should have brought the hat after all, when Raven leaned down and whispered to me.

“You’re so pretty I don’t want to show you to anyone.”

“Don’t try to sweet-talk me.”

If we’re going by that logic, you should cover your face first before going anywhere. I lost my composure once, but I won’t fall for the same trick (honey trap) twice. I calmly distanced myself from Raven and turned to look at the twins.

“Let’s go separately from here. See you later then.”

“Wait! You can take guards with you, Shana!”

The twins’ rebellion was easily stopped by the escort knights’ suppression. Even if I took them along, they’d just fight with Raven anyway.

Raven pulled my shoulder into his embrace and grinned wickedly.

“From here on, escorting Shana is my role.”

Leon’s attempt to shout something was blocked. I’d bet tomorrow’s snacks that was a curse word. I wouldn’t want to bet anything else though.

I placed my hand on Raven’s offered arm. He naturally led me forward. I decided to enjoy the curious gazes pouring toward me. They must be wondering who I am! They can guess since I’m Raven’s partner, but they’re probably thinking “no way, it can’t be!”

Look! Look to your heart’s content!

“We haven’t even entered yet, what’s making you so happy?”

“Do you know the rumors? The rumors about me.”

“Well…”

Raven frowned.

“If I had been there, I wouldn’t have let such talk spread.”

“According to Mother, Lepoer was the one spreading it around.”

“…There must have been plenty of mouths willing to spread it for them.”

The Lepoer family, which had a tight grip on magical talent, was like a famous professor’s family in terms of my past life. You could think of them as a family that had served as university presidents for generations. So how convenient it must have been for them to spread rumors.

“Mother must have had a lot of pent-up feelings. That’s why I decided to make a splash too.”

“If their eyes are properly attached, they won’t be able to call you ugly after seeing you.”

“Right! I’m pretty because I take after Mother!”

I could say this with confidence. Eyes are objective, after all. When I resemble Mother this much, how could I say something like “I’m ordinary”? Mother is a stunning beauty by anyone’s standards.

It’s my own face so I don’t feel like praising it with flowery words, but objectively speaking, I was undeniably pretty.

“Dispel the rumors, save Mother and Father’s face, and keep the promise I made with you…”

“So I’m just a bonus?”

“Why do you put it like that? I didn’t say it that bluntly.”

But I didn’t say no either.

“It would have been nice if you’d said you were happy to be with me.”

“Wake up from your dream.”

“Yeah, I figured as much. Just when I thought you were finally becoming conscious of me, you immediately went back to how you were.”

His voice sounded powerless, as if he felt deflated. I was looking at his profile because I was concerned, when he smiled briefly.

“Pay attention to me. It’d be even better if you pitied me.”

“What am I to pity you…”

Worrying about the prince would be more pointless than worrying about a celebrity. I quickly changed the subject. I felt uncomfortable when romantic conversation crept into our relationship.

“I hope you get sick somewhere, I hope you go hungry from lack of money. My pity isn’t that cheap.”

Raven was silent for a moment, then soon played along with me.

“That’s not very convincing. Then what about taking in, raising, and caring for someone just because they were a bit injured?”

“Humanitarian love?”

“How noble. You’re no different from a saint.”

“Not quite that much. Thanks for the compliment though.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know. Moving on.”

Raven hadn’t properly confessed to me, he had merely indicated his intention for me to stay by his side, to become his empress as things were.

But I had no intention of doing that.

Raven was certainly a precious childhood friend. …To be honest, I felt a sense of crisis that I might fall for him if a little more time passed, and I had definitely become conscious that Raven was an adult man…. But that didn’t mean I was ready to jump into his world. That much was quite certain.

I gazed at Raven’s profile for a moment.

The youthful face of the boy I remembered mixed with the face of an unfamiliar man, creating a strange sentiment.

Raven had known very well what he needed to do from a very young age.

The lives, words, thoughts, power of countless people, and their admiration and malice.

Even though he seemed to act superior and leisurely, I knew he actually worked really hard. Enduring the sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders while meeting duties and expectations couldn’t have been easy.

I wanted to be someone Raven could relax and talk comfortably with. Because it saddened me that this mature boy, who I suspected might be living his second life, often put on a cold face in front of others.

‘It was a promise to stay with him just for tonight.’

Raven stopped walking when we reached a large door. A guard knight who recognized him signaled to the doorkeeper, and the door slowly opened.

From the music flowing beyond the closed door, I could tell that beyond it was the Grand Ballroom. Should I prepare some kind of greeting?

‘Like self-introductions at the start of a semester…?’

Hi, I’m Shana. My specialty is healing, and my hobby is brushing Evelyn’s fur! By the way, my favorite smell is stinky feet! If you sniff them, you’ll get sleepy….

…I’d be ostracized. I decided to never bring out that ridiculous self-introduction from within me.

Actually, I knew there wouldn’t be anything like that, but it overlapped with first-day-of-school feelings, so I indulged in pointless fantasies.

Raven had his usual composed and confident expression. What was he saying about being scared?

I wasn’t being fooled. Far from being nervous, he looked completely confident as if he had the whole world under his feet, so what was this about being afraid…. Telling lies without even applying lip balm. As expected, they only teach strange things at the Academy….

“His Highness the Prince enters!”

“The Wentworth Noblewoman enters!”

…Damn, this is more embarrassing than I thought.

***

As soon as we entered, gazes poured in from all directions. The murmuring among themselves was quite loud too. They might think they’re whispering quietly.

I gripped Raven’s arm tightly. He lowered his head and whispered.

“No need to be nervous, Shana.”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Your hand is shaking though?”

“I feel like I should make a V sign….”

“…What’s that supposed to be?”

You know, something you have to do when taking photos.

I took a moment to catch my breath, suppressing the urge to respond somehow to all the attention being showered on me.

At times like this, shouldn’t I meet expectations and belt out a song or something….

I’m not an attention seeker, but I don’t dislike attention, so while holding Raven’s arm, I slowly made eye contact with the people looking at me.

‘Like meerkats….’

Stretching their necks to look at me, then getting startled and turning their heads away when our eyes actually met.

It wasn’t all goodwill—there were surprised or wary looks too—but most were admiring and favorable. Their blushing cheeks were cute, so I was thinking about making eye contact with everyone, when Raven covered my eyes with his large hand.

“Ah, why.”

“Don’t go around charming people indiscriminately.”

“When did I?!”

“Just now.”

“I was just smiling.”

“Think about your parents. Look what they try to do for you just from your smile.”

“….”

There probably weren’t many people like my parents, but it was strangely convincing. Raven led me to the head table. He said I needed to greet the Emperor and Empress first. My parents would be there too.

I looked back and forth between the splendid banquet hall, the murmuring people, and Raven who was slightly frowning, then let out a small laugh.

Raven, or rather the position of Prince, must really be something special.

The gazes pouring toward Raven and me, who occupied the spot beside him, were like those of predators eyeing their prey. They were going to bore right through us.

This was no different from a jungle.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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