Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Zebra's Proposal
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The man had black hair streaked with white strands here and there, instantly revealing his race at a glance.
His overly sharp features and the shirt that seemed deliberately tailored to cling to his body created an oppressive, oily impression.
Right then, Ramen's amused voice sounded from right beside her.
"This is Jeb Horse from the Horse Family, the one who sent you that marriage proposal."
"What?"
What did he send?
Her face failed to hold its composure, crumpling mercilessly in an instant.
Jeb Horse. He was the Family Head leading the Zebra Territory, having inherited the position at a young age in his mid-twenties.
Yes, zebra. Not sheep—a zebra.
'Sheep should marry sheep, so why a zebra of all things?!'
She'd heard that cross-species marriages happened occasionally out of love that transcended boundaries, but she'd never even seen this man before today.
"What's with the sudden proposal?"
Since she was already infamous as a ferocious sheep, there was no need to bother maintaining an image. She asked bluntly, without hiding her displeasure, and the response came from across the table.
"Don't I appeal to you?"
"No."
No need for further words. Her firm reply caused a faint crack in the man's smug smile.
"Haha, you're so straightforward. That's just one of the many charms Lady Morton possesses."
His slimy tone, expression, and face.
How could a person embody butter itself like that? It was making her uncomfortable just sitting across from him.
"Looks like there's some kind of deal between you two. Did the Zebra Territory promise you something?"
These sudden marriages were usually based on transactions. Whatever they'd agreed on, she had no intention of letting it slide.
She had a critical mission: to safely look after Ed until the day he went to the Rub Family, then find a gentle, kind sheep to marry and live a happy, comfortable life!
At her question, Jeb Horse and Ramen exchanged a brief glance. Ramen spoke first.
"As you know, our Sheep Territory doesn't have any skilled mages, right?"
"On the other hand, the Zebra Territory does."
Jeb picked up from there, leaning back fully in his chair as he continued his explanation. The arrogant tilt of his chin and the haughty look in his downcast eyes made the nature of the deal immediately clear.
'They're getting mage support.'
In this world, it wasn't an exaggeration to say everything revolved around the power of mages.
From everyday magic items essential for life to the military forces protecting each territory—it was all thanks to mages.
Thus, territories with powerful mages held greater influence on the continent, and their beastkin enjoyed safer, more convenient lives.
Capable mages often came from carnivores, but even among herbivores, there were some with formidable power.
Like in that annoying Zebra Territory and the Kangaroo Territory.
"We're on a whole different level from those money-grubbing kangaroos. If Lady Morton marries me, I'll personally lend my power to the Sheep Territory for as long as our marriage lasts."
If it had just been some family exchange, she'd have rejected it outright, but this was something the Sheep Territory desperately needed.
Assuming she couldn't easily refuse such a deal, the corners of his mouth crept up slyly.
"I hate it, though. Too bad—we can't accept Zebra help."
But why should she, who'd only been in this body for a few months, sacrifice herself for the Sheep Territory? There was no need for her to sell herself out.
"Ha, you little... No, you must be embarrassed right now. Haha. We already finalized the deal between ourselves, knowing you'd react like this. You'll head to the Zebra Territory in three months, so prepare accordingly."
Ramen, who had nearly slipped into his usual speech before switching to a more formal tone, smirked mockingly.
'Three months later?'
That meant leaving almost immediately after sending Ed off.
What to do? Should she flip the table right here?
She was seriously pondering when a sudden commotion erupted from outside.
"You little brat! Who do you think you are, sitting here?!"
"Aack!"
Everyone whipped their heads toward the noise.
'Ed?'
That scream was definitely Ed's. And it was close by—not far from the drawing room at all!
Judging it trivial, Ramen and Jeb Horse quickly lost interest.
"From now on, instead of those arrogant kangaroos, the Zebra Territory will..."
There was no reason to listen to words she didn't need to hear.
She shoved back her chair and stood, leaving one final remark before storming out of the drawing room.
"If you're so grateful, you marry him, brother. You two suit each other perfectly."
Shouts erupted from behind the closed door, but she ignored them and hurried off. The voice had come from outside the window, so he had to be nearby.
Clack, clack. Her footsteps quickened, echoing through the now-silent corridor as she broke into a run.
Meanwhile, Ed, who had been chased outside, wandered near the main building, intending to wait for Lami to emerge.
The servants' gazes weren't kind toward him either—after all, he was the pet of the much-hated Lami—so he deliberately stuck to less-trafficked areas.
"Sit properly, Lami. We have an important guest, so show some manners."
He heard the Family Head—Lami's brother—speak. With his keenly developed hearing, Ed crept toward the voice, soon spotting the terrace outside the drawing room.
His small ears perked up straight.
'Eavesdropping like this will get me in trouble.'
The image of Lami, quick to spit venomous words, flashed vividly in his mind.
But he had one life lesson from his street days: knowledge was power, and you'd find a use for it eventually.
Better to know something than nothing at all.
That was why he hid beneath the terrace.
It absolutely wasn't because Lami was the only adult he could somewhat rely on, and he didn't want to be far from her. Absolutely not.
"What's with the sudden proposal?"
Lami's sharp voice cut through the air. Ed's round eyes widened.
Listening further, he gathered that the Morton and Horse Families had struck some deal, with Lami as the price.
'She has to go to the Zebra Territory in three months.'
What about me, then?
For someone who'd roamed the streets, a place to lay his small body was vital. Not to mention the regular meals and delicious desserts he'd never dreamed of before.
He might have to leave this mansion where he barely worked for such a life.
Because he was Lami's slave.
If she went to the Zebra Territory without taking him, he'd surely be kicked out.
'Will she take me with her?'
Hugging his knees with his face half-buried, Ed sank into serious worry. Perhaps from the anxiety, his lips unconsciously pouted.
"You little brat! Who do you think you are, sitting here?!"
Suddenly, a rough hand yanked his arm, forcing him to his feet.
Thwack—.
"Aack!"
The man who delivered a hard flick to his forehead glared with eyes that belied his gentle appearance.
"Think sticking to your master will do anything? Tsk. As if that ferocious lady will appreciate it. Idiot."
Clutching his stinging forehead, Ed stood as the man sneered with thick mockery in his voice.
"You've been around her a few days—you should know. She pretends to care just to torment you. Still too young to get it, huh."
Ed bristled at the dismissive gaze and words, opening his small mouth.
"No! Lady Lami..."
"What? Defending her now?"
"Lady Lami..."
Honestly, she wasn't great...
'But she never pretended to care just to bully me!'
Even so, he couldn't say she was better than the other beastkin here. He clamped his mouth shut.
He knew saying that in this situation would only invite more ridicule, no matter how young he was.
She always said mean things and hid or kept her distance when looking at him,
but last night's delicious meat pie had made him smile unwittingly, earning a smile ban...
"How dare you bare your fangs in front of your master? From now on, if you smile, I'll grind those vicious fangs to dust. Keep 'em hidden."
Lami's warning, peeking only her head from behind the curtain with a scary face. Ed had to eat the meat pie covering his mouth with his hand.
Because his fangs couldn't show.
As the memory from the day before resurfaced, making Ed purse his lips unconsciously while gearing up for a retort—
"Huff, heave."
Rough breathing he couldn't ignore grew closer from the side.
'Lady Lami?'
He'd thought the important guest and marriage talk would drag on.
Lami was rushing toward them, roughly hiking up her dress skirts with both hands.
The man ahead paled. She'd been slow and deliberate normally, quick only when breathing—why run now?
'She was glaring fiercely just earlier.'
If he was so scared of getting caught, why glare? What a stupid sheep.
"You, making me run?"
Lami, now right up close, caught her breath and scanned with her eyes before speaking in a high-pitched voice.
"S-Sorry!"
Lami shot the bowing, apologizing man a puzzled look—'Why's he acting like that?'—then yelled sharply at Ed.
"Get over here now! We're going back."
She spun on her heel, her legs visibly trembling as she walked.
She must be tired from running so much, Ed thought, remembering her morning words and following at a safe distance.
As they walked, the man who seemed to be Lami's suitor emerged from the main building, seeing off the troubled-looking Family Head.
'Is that zebra a mage?'
Whoosh—.
At that moment, a faint mana aura stirred within Ed. Unaware of it, he hurried after Lami to avoid losing her.