Failed to Train the Beast Male Lead

As the group was about to leave, leaving behind only Lord Elais and his son, Carol was also thinking of going straight home as she was tired today.

“No. Come with me. You haven’t eaten properly.”

“That’s right, Sis. Come eat something.”

Urged by her siblings, Carol reluctantly decided to accompany the Duke.

“Are you okay?”

The Duke gently asked, cupping Carol’s cheek.

“Better than I expected. It’s just…”

“…..”

She knew that some people didn’t approve of her, but she didn’t expect to hear such talk behind her back.

And she didn’t want to show this side of herself in front of the Duke.

Carol had decided to meet the Duke knowing she would hear such things.

She was prepared, but hearing it directly still made her uncomfortable.

‘The fact that it was Lord Elais’s son also played a part.’

Carol closed her eyes and leaned her face on the Duke’s shoulder.

In fact, she had become a bit complacent.

Recently, she had been lucky enough to meet only people who were friendly towards beastmen, so she naturally thought it would be the same this time.

‘It’s not like they attacked me just because I’m a beastman.’

As Carol let out a shallow sigh, the Duke gently stroked her hair.

It was a mistake to think that everyone in Lord Elais’s family would be unconditionally friendly towards beastmen.

The place they arrived at wasn’t a restaurant, but a hotel room above the multi-purpose cultural space they had visited before.

“…This is…”

“I thought it would be better to eat comfortably inside.”

“What?”

“You might transform again if you’re feeling bad, right?”

“…”

She wasn’t feeling that bad, but Carol didn’t bother to answer.

The Duke seemed to interpret her silence differently and said, raising both arms.

“I don’t have any other intentions.”

The Duke said with an innocent face, as if proclaiming his innocence.

“…Ah.”

The problem was that she was the one with other thoughts.

What she had forgotten due to Jack came back to her mind again.

“Really.”

“…Yes.”

Not knowing whether to like this or dislike it, Carol gave another dazed response.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the Duke truly seemed to be only concerned about her not having eaten, and didn’t make any moves.

While Carol sat on the sofa eating sandwiches and drinking tea, the Duke sat quietly beside her without saying a word.

“This is delicious. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Carol said as she put down her empty teacup.

Carol, now calmer than before, thought she should be satisfied with this for today, even though she felt a bit regretful. It was then that the Duke, sitting next to her, rested his face on her shoulder.

“Why do you look so calm? After being insulted like that.”

The Duke’s face looked dark, as if he was still thinking about what happened earlier.

“…Because there was no truth in what that person said.”

“I can’t stand it at all.”

The Duke muttered as if he was in pain.

“Duke.”

She wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say.

“That you hear such things, and that you seem so calm as if you predicted this would happen.”

The Duke looked truly distressed.

“…”

His hot breath touched her nape.

“Allow me. To always be angry on your behalf.”

He couldn’t bear the fact that people could view his relationship with Carol as ridiculous and trivial just because they hadn’t put a definite form to their relationship.

“…”

She felt his hot, sorrowful emotions. When she didn’t answer, the Duke held her hand and whispered in a desperate voice, touching his forehead to the back of her hand.

“I know it’s a bit rushed.”

It was what they had talked about at the lake. So he thought he would endure it. But he couldn’t stay still, feeling too anxious.

“Just being lovers isn’t enough in so many ways.”

The fact that Carol already knew this and didn’t drove both of them crazy.

Carol, who had been quietly listening to the Duke, cupped his cheeks and made him meet her gaze.

“…I’m glad.”

“Huh?”

“I said I wanted to take it slow at the lake, but…”

“Yes?”

The Duke’s eyes widened a bit.

Carol moistened her lower lip with her tongue. She was a bit anxious that it might seem strange to suddenly change her words after saying she wanted to take it slow.

Just as the Duke was starting to feel impatient, she continued.

“I was starting to feel it wasn’t enough too.”

Carol smiled faintly. It was a sign of permission.

It wasn’t simply about becoming a relationship where he could directly protect her. Beyond that, she wanted to have a deeper relationship with the Duke.

“If you want to take back those words, now is the only chance.”

The Duke whispered in a voice lowered with excitement. Carol kissed his lips. It was a brief kiss that didn’t match the atmosphere.

“I’m not saying this impulsively.”

Carol said solemnly.

After that, everything happened in an instant. The Duke lifted Carol in his arms, and when she came to her senses, she could feel the soft sensation of the bed behind her back.

She loved unbearably how the Duke, who always seemed calm, became anxious only about matters involving her.

“This time, it would be really troublesome if I transform again.”

Carol hugged the Duke’s back with all her might.

****

“…I’m crazy.”

Carol wrapped herself tightly in the bed sheet and buried her face in the pillow.

Although the world hadn’t completely turned upside down as she had thought, there was still amazement at being able to form such a deep relationship with someone.

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

“…No!”

The Duke, who had come out after washing, approached Carol who was curled up and sat at the edge of the bed.

Carol blushed at the sight of the Duke’s bare skin visible through his robe.

“I see. Seems you’re not in pain.”

Seeing Carol’s reddened face, the Duke said with a smile, causing Carol to pout.

“Don’t tease me.”

“Alright.”

The Duke leaned down and kissed Carol’s head.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m fine.”

“…It would be better to have a new dress brought.”

“…Yes.”

Carol nodded, looking at the dress sprawled on the floor beneath the bed.

“Are you thinking of lying down a bit longer?”

“Mm.”

Carol’s gaze turned to the Duke’s head.

There was something she had wanted to do since being at the Duke’s Mansion, but never had the chance to voice it.

“Um, there’s something I want to try. Can I?”

“…Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

Carol’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s not as fluffy as before.”

Carol said with a hint of disappointment. When she was at the Duke’s Mansion, she had wanted to try combing his fur after hearing that Mrs. Wells had done so.

Now, unlike then, it was hair instead of fur.

Contrary to its stiff appearance, his hair was soft, but it lacked the fluffiness.

“It’s strange.”

“What is?”

“When I’m with you, even the time when I was a monster doesn’t feel like a painful memory, but more like a fond recollection.”

The Duke murmured, resting his head on her lap.

“That’s good.”

For Carol, hearing that he didn’t only have bad memories of his time as a monster was the highest praise.

“Back then, it was nice because I didn’t have to worry about anything except you.”

“But you were frustrated being cooped up inside, weren’t you?”

“Now, I might even welcome it.”

So they could be alone without interference from the people around Carol.

The Duke naturally wrapped up his thoughts before his darker intentions could surface.

“Haven’t those memories become too fond?”

Unable to read his true feelings, Carol laughed, thinking the Duke’s words were an exaggeration.

Carol also had very fond memories of that time. Talking about the past made her eager to return to the North soon.

“So I’m looking forward to going back.”

The Duke had said they could return anytime, but Carol hadn’t finished her affairs here yet.

“Thanks to you, the guardian registration was completed quickly.”

“Is that so?”

Carol continued with a hint of regret.

“The tutoring center also sold faster than expected. Though the rights transfer will be next year.”

“I see.”

“But I haven’t told the parents it’s closing yet. Once I do that, and wait until they find a new tutoring center, that’s all.”

Due to the Duke’s intervention, everything had been processed faster than expected, leaving time hanging. Hearing Carol’s regretful tone, the Duke cautiously asked,

“…Would it be uncomfortable if I said I wanted to hire someone to manage it until it closes?”

Carol’s eyes widened in surprise, but she soon whispered as if sharing a secret.

“To be honest, I want to return to the North quickly too.”

****

“Damn it. Father is really too much.”

Jack had no choice but to set out on the return journey immediately with the coachman.

Moreover, despite the urgency to leave, they had to take a dangerous route along the mountain foothills instead of the smooth road they had come on.

Jack didn’t understand what the rush was, but he had no choice but to follow his father’s orders.