Chapter 16. A Happy Partnership

Click.

The door eased open, revealing a petite figure. Her footsteps were so light they barely disturbed the silence.

“I’m back.”

Bear didn’t move. He only looked up, letting her words dissolve into the air, his eyes already clinging to her silhouette.

Ami paused, casting him a fleeting glance. “Mm.” Her voice was as calm as a passing breeze.

She stepped toward the wooden table. Slowly. Each movement seemed to etch itself into Bear’s gaze.

As she leaned down, her sleek white hair slipped over her shoulder, catching the fading afternoon light, shimmering like silver threads touched by fire. Her slender hand brushed the teapot, her delicate yet steady fingers lifting it. The soft trickle of pouring tea filled the quiet room, sounding almost like music.

Bear followed her every motion.

She tilted her head slightly, her face illuminated by the dim light, the elegant curve of her nose casting a shadow on her smooth, pale skin. Her small, rose-tinted lips parted to take a sip of tea—a mundane gesture that, in his eyes, became strange, almost sacred.

It was still that face. Those features. Refined, harmonious, almost impossibly so. But something was different. Not her appearance—it remained as vivid as his memories. It was the rhythm of her movements, a quiet, detached composure, as if she had long since stepped beyond his reach.

Ami raised a hand, her fingertip grazing her lips to catch a stray droplet. The motion was so deliberate that Bear felt the room itself hold its breath with him. Her alabaster skin glowed faintly in the twilight, the light tracing the contour of her cheekbone and slender fingers, turning the moment into a living painting.

She set the cup down, the faint clink rippling through the stillness. Then, without warning, her eyes flicked to him, piercing straight through.

“You’re staring so hard you’ll burn a hole through me.” Her tone was casual, tinged with a hint of jest, but her voice remained even, her expression unchanged.

“Sorry.” Bear averted his gaze reflexively, then slowly approached her.

“Ami…” His voice caught, his eyes lowering, heavy with sorrow and a crushing guilt.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me… but please, don’t leave me. I’m begging you, Ami.” His tone sank, steady yet trembling, laced with a fear he couldn’t fully conceal.

Ami looked up, her eyes clear and cold, as if pinning his face into the depths of her gaze. “You already know the answer.” Her voice was firm, clipped, leaving no room for hope.

A heavy silence fell, stretching on as if testing their endurance. She pressed her lips together, then let them curve slightly—thin and sharp, like a smile laced with defiance.

“Fine.” Her words dropped slowly, deliberately.

“But I’d advise you to chase me away sooner rather than later. If you insist on keeping me here…” Her eyes didn’t waver, each word locked into place, “…don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Bear was silent for a long moment, then gently lifted her hand, pressing it to his cheek. He leaned into her palm, closing his eyes as if finding solace in that fleeting touch.

“As long as you stay…” His voice fell, low and resolute,“…whatever the cost, I’ll accept it.”

When he opened his eyes, the corner of his mouth curved into a faint smile, his gaze lingering on her, deep and unyielding.

Ami didn’t pull away, nor did she respond. Her eyes remained calm, still as a mirrored lake, until that familiar, radiant smile bloomed across her face, bright as ever.

“To a happy partnership!”

In that moment, their gazes seemed to entwine, inseparable. In Bear, it was an almost uncontrollable devotion, yet a faint, cold glint flickered in his eyes, like a hunter who had locked onto his prey.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Behind Ami’s dazzling smile, her eyes shimmered with something unnameable—not purely joy, nor entirely innocence, but a quiet spark, as if she had known the rules of this game.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Pardon the intrusion, Lady Ami, are you there? We’ve come to prepare your attire,” a maid’s voice called from beyond the door.

Ami tilted her head slightly, her eyes flicking toward the sound before returning to Bear.

He froze for a moment, reluctant to let go, but finally released her hand, flashing a sly smile before turning away.

“See you tonight.”

Ami stood with her arms crossed, offering no reply, only a faint smirk curving her lips.

—

Ami raised her hands, letting the handmaidens dress her, a smile as radiant as the sun on her face.

“Sorry for scaring you all earlier,” she said, her voice bright and clear, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“I-it’s quite all right. It’s just… are you really alright?, my lady?” Lena, a lion beastfolk handmaiden, asked softly, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

Ami tilted her head, her smile gentle. “I don’t think I’ve gotten your names yet. What are they?”

“I’m Lena, this is Leva, and over there is…” Lena pointed to each person, her voice soft as she made the introductions.

“Hm? Everyone’s name starts with an ‘L’? Lin’s does too,” Ami said, her eyes widening in surprise as her lips curved into a playful pout.

Lena let out a small chuckle, her shoulders shaking slightly. “Ah, that’s a rule here in Leovara. When any lion beastfolk comes of age, they have to present themselves to the Beast King. He then gives each of us a new name, starting with either ‘Le’ or ‘Li’.”

“Millions of lion beastfolk, and the King names all of them?” Ami asked, a note of astonishment in her voice as she tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Lena nodded, a deep sense of pride shining in her gaze. “Yes, my lady. And not just the current king, but many generations of Beast Kings before him. It’s our tradition—like a mark, a reminder that we all come from the same place.”

“I see…” Ami murmured, her gaze sweeping over the busy handmaidens. For a moment, her eyes held a distant look, as if touching upon a hidden thought.

“You all seem to really love those names, huh?” she teased, her mouth twitching into a sly smile.

“We do. We consider them a priceless gift,” Lena replied, her voice earnest but warm, her chin held slightly higher. “The Beast King himself named us, even though we’re just common folk.”

“After getting our names, we’re assigned to jobs that suit us. Thanks to that, no one in Leovara has to go hungry,” Leva added, her eyes beaming as she nodded in agreement, as if her words were a deeply ingrained creed.

Ami’s lips curled. “Wow… No wonder they call him the ‘Lion’,” she said, putting a slight emphasis on the name as her eyes darted between Lena and Leva, observing their every reaction—their eyes brightened, their shoulders straightened.

“Right? He’s amazing. It’s because of him that Leovara is doing so well,” Lena said with a proud smile, sharing a knowing glance with Leva.

Amazing, huh… Ami repeated inwardly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, hidden behind her innocent smile. The image of her first meeting with the Beast King, Lion, surfaced in her mind—his lecherous eyes, his brutish gestures, his sly, foxy smile—a complete contradiction to their praise.

Do they really not know, or are they just choosing to look the other way? Ha, not a hard question to answer, is it… she thought to herself, a provocative spark igniting in her eyes as her lips curved.

It’s time… Her gaze flickered to Leon, the one whose sharp eyes had been following her recently, like the final piece of the game she was weaving.

Lema? Lenu? Ami tilted her head, then lightly tapped a fist into her palm as a bright smile bloomed on her face. “Leon!”

She turned to Lena, her voice casual. “Hey, Lena. Your friend Leon over there won’t stop staring at me. What’s her deal?”

“Leon?” Lena blinked, then burst into loud laughter, her shoulders shaking. “Oh, haha! Don't worry about her, my lady. She's just nearsighted, that's all, haha.” Lena and Leva couldn’t stop laughing, as if it were a familiar old joke.

“Haha,” Ami laughed along, her eyes twinkling. “Well, why doesn’t she come closer? It’s gotta be a pain to stand there squinting all day.”

“Leon’s really shy. She told me she desperately wants to talk to you, but she has a stutter and is afraid you’ll make fun of her,” Lena replied, her eyes shimmering with amusement.

“That’s silly. Tell her to come over. I don’t bite,” Ami said with a smile, tilting her head. Her gaze was playful, but razor-sharp.

Lena chuckled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh, my lady, you are just too sweet! Leon will be thrilled to know how approachable you are. She’s just a little overwhelmed, you see. Meeting a stranger who’s as sharp and brilliant as you has her staring from a distance.” Lena leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But just between us, she’s no less sharp herself. She’s probably sizing you up. You have this… aura about you that makes people curious.”

Lena gestured toward Leon, who was standing in a far corner, her expression a mix of doubt and hesitation.

“Hey, Leon! Get over here, the lady wants to talk!” Lena called out, then turned back to Ami with a mischievous grin. “Give her a second, she’ll come. But you’re pretty sharp yourself, noticing her staring like that. Not much gets past you, huh?”

Ami blinked and let out a loud laugh. “Ha ha, that’s because I have three eyes.”

Lena and Leva roared with laughter, the atmosphere turning lively. Ami smirked, her eyes glinting, as if hiding a secret behind her smile.

Leon approached slowly, her eyes fixed on the floor, her shoulders trembling slightly.

“G-greetings, my lady. S-sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she stammered, her fingers clutching the hem of her apron.

“Nah, you’re good, Leon,” Ami said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Her smile was gentle, but her eyes, glinting with curiosity, were fixed on Leon’s hesitance.

“I was just wondering why you were looking at me like I stole your lunch or something.” Her tone was teasing, but it carried a sharp edge, as if testing a reaction.

Lena nudged Leon playfully. “See? I told you she was easy to talk to. No need to hide in a corner and glare like an owl!” Leva stifled a laugh, and a warm feeling spread through the room.

Ami tilted her head, her voice casual.

“So, Leon. You’re from Leovara too, right?” She smiled, but her eyes never left Leon, as if trying to see right through her.

Leon’s gaze shot up, a flash of tension in her eyes, before she quickly looked away.

“Haha, my lady, you shouldn't tease her. She gets embarrassed easily. You can tell just by her name,” Lena giggled, waving her hand dismissively, trying to lighten the mood.

“No, I’m serious… She doesn’t really look like a lion beastfolk,” Ami said. The smile remained on her face, but her voice dropped, and her eyes sharpened like the edge of a blade.

The room fell silent.

Lena froze, her smile fading as her lips pressed into a thin line.

The other handmaidens stopped their work, exchanging furtive glances.

The air grew heavy, like the calm before a storm.