#25

“Isn’t she cute?”

Zerakiel said this nonsense with a nonchalant face. Zakari, doubting his ears, sharply asked again.

“What did you say?”

“That’s why I tried to keep her close by.”

“…For such a trivial reason? Are you out of your mind? What is so special about that little ferret that you would imprint on her? Tell me the truth now!”

Zakari, not understanding the reason, kept pressing. But Zerakiel was shameless. He tilted his head as if he didn’t see what the problem was and asked.

“Why can’t I do it? I plan to keep her for life anyway.”

“Do you even understand what you’ve done! Imprinting is not something you do to a mere pet! Do I have to explain this to you in detail?”

“I didn’t do it without knowing. I’ve heard that imprinting is a pledge made to a beastman you intend to be with for life.”

“Then which madman imprints on a pet?”

“Was there anyone in Jabisi who wasn’t mad?”

Zakari felt like he had been hit on the head with a hammer at Zerakiel’s brazen answer. His attitude clearly indicated he had no intention of admitting he was wrong.

Ivan, who was frightened by Zakari’s menacing aura, as well as Zakari’s aide, Herman, bowed their heads in a corner. Zakari ruffled his hair irritably and spoke.

“Even if other families don’t understand, you know how serious this matter is for us. How could you do something so important without discussing it first?”

“Did Father consult me before divorcing?”

“What did you say?”

“I don’t plan to be a coward like Father. I will take responsibility for this for the rest of my life, so you can rest assured.”

“Z-Zerakiel!”

Unable to listen any longer, Ivan tried to cover Zerakiel’s mouth, but it was already too late.

Zakari’s face hardened coldly at the mention of “divorce.” His trembling lips held a mix of anger, shame, and inexplicable bitterness.

It was a statement that struck the most painful nerve.

Zakari had not imprinted on Rachel. Officially, it was because he didn’t want to tie them together with such a trivial pledge, but the real reason was for Rachel’s sake.

Rachel was too precious to spend her life with a mate destined to either commit suicide or be killed by his son.

He deliberately did not imprint because he feared she might not be able to meet another beastman if he died. Rachel might even choose to remain faithful for life.

However, as soon as his frenzy began, Zakari could not keep Rachel by his side. Instinctively, he understood why his predecessor had treated his mother so harshly.

He had grown up watching how his predecessor treated his mate.

It was a relationship where one side unilaterally inflicted pain while the other only received it. From the erratic and irritable behavior to the violent outbursts.

In the end, his predecessor had imprinted to keep his mother, who tried to escape in exhaustion. Zakari did not want to become like his father, so he made no means to hold Rachel.

It was a protective measure, but Rachel strongly resisted. The wounded Rachel left his side.

Thus, his son’s sudden imprinting on a white ferret made him anxious. He feared that he might end up doing something crazy like his predecessor.

“Damn brat.”

Zakari sighed repeatedly with his back turned. A son who drove nails into his father’s heart. A truly dreadful quality befitting a successor of Jabisi.

But the milk was already spilled. Once imprinted, it could not be undone unless the subject died.

Zakari, recalling the cute, scurrying white ferret, murmured lowly. That small body seemed incapable of standing against a black lion.

There was no knowing how long Zerakiel would protect her.

With no other choice, he decided to act as the shield for the white ferret. Zakari’s voice was dry as he muttered.

“Fine. Do as you wish. But don’t think about continuing this damn pet game!”

“It’s contradictory to tell me to do as I wish but then say not to do it.”

“What I mean is! If you’ve imprinted, take responsibility.”

Zakari grumbled, continuing his words.

“Formally register her into the Jabisi family. Not as a pet, but as your wife.”

Zerakiel stared blankly at Zakari, who was talking about taking Chichi as a daughter-in-law.

It was an imprint done unilaterally because he knew his father wouldn’t allow it. Once the imprint was done, it couldn’t be undone.

He also expected that Zakari, upon learning about the imprint, would insist on killing Chichi. It was an action taken with the resolve to confront his father.

But now, his father was not only accepting it but also telling him to formally register her. Zerakiel, looking doubtful, asked.

“Are you really accepting Chichi?”

“Of course! Isn’t that why you did this in the first place?”

When Zerakiel didn’t respond and just smiled, Zakari turned his head with a displeased look.

“While you’re at it, give her a proper name instead of a pet-like one. What’s Chichi? It sounds like a pet name.”

He continued to grumble with a furrowed brow. Ivan, who had been watching all this, dropped the documents he was holding.

Herman, too, was shocked, his mouth hanging open. Such an informal way to suddenly gain a young mistress was unheard of.

However, Herman couldn’t help but frown at Ivan’s subsequent actions. Ivan, pretending to pick up the documents, muttered.

“She was named Chichi because she cried ‘Chichi’. If we can’t call her Chichi, should we call her ‘Ji-ji’ instead?”

“…”

What kind of crazy lion is this?

Ignoring Herman’s disdainful look, Ivan continued his fussing.

“Poor Ji-ji… Now, she really can’t escape living with Zerakiel. She lost her name but gained a husband, so maybe it’s a fair trade.”

This marked the moment when Chichi’s chance to escape from Jabisi vanished without her even knowing.

* * *

It was right after Zerakiel returned to his bedroom, having had a big argument with Zakari. The room was unusually quiet. Chichi, who was supposed to be there, was missing.

“She’s gone again.”

Seeing the empty room, Zerakiel wore a graceful smile. A chilly wind swept past him.

Ivan, who was with him, was the first to sense the ominous aura and rubbed his arms against the goosebumps.

“Shall I look for her?”

“I’ll find her faster.”

“That’s true.”

Ivan quickly reached for the door. Zerakiel grinned and started heading somewhere.

Following him, Ivan sighed quietly.

‘Run away, Chichi! Even though I know you can’t actually escape!’

He muttered internally, too cautious to say it out loud after witnessing the tense encounter between the father and son.

“Are you really planning to take her as your wife?”

“Why? Don’t you want to serve a white ferret as the mistress?”

“If I say no, will you cut my head off?”

“You know me well.”

Zerakiel’s grin made Ivan rub his neck. It seemed both of them were serious.

It wasn’t that he disliked the idea of a white ferret as the mistress. It was just the absurdity of the situation that left him bewildered.

Moreover, Chichi could now express her own will. She would certainly be shocked and refuse Zerakiel’s words.

What was he thinking to be so confident?

Ivan glanced at Zerakiel, his mind wandering. A true successor must face at least one adversity. Ivan wanted to see Zerakiel get rejected this time.

Especially with that expression.

That face that clearly showed he didn’t think he’d be refused made Ivan’s desire to see him turned down a true act of loyal service.