My Life as a Beast Keeper

---- Chapter 9 Salem was still glaring at Clayton. "Layla, make him leave. I can explain the video, but I don't want to share a room with a lowly beastkin!" "T didn't ask you to share a room with him." I shrugged. " Don't you always sleep with Lisa? Then continue rooming with her." Beastkin had a relatively keen sense of smell and hearing. As such, Salem was the only one who knew I smoked. Although I never smoked in my bedroom, he always complained about the smell of smoke and used that as an excuse to sleep in Lisa's room. "It's fine, Salem. You always thought she smelled bad anyway.

Doesn't that make me the perfect match?" Lisa hooked her fingers through his. Salem hesitated for a moment before resolutely interlocking their fingers. "Layla, I hope you don't regret this." I smiled. "Then I'll leave Salem in your care, Lisa." An eerie silence settled over the villa. For a while, Salem went out of his way to be extra nice to ---- Lisa. Both of them, each with their own agenda, put ona show of being inseparable right in front of me. As far as 1 was concerned, I was fine with it, as long as those two didn't do it right in front of me.

Clayton often stared at the two of them, lost in thought. Lisa would frequently blush under his gaze, despite feigning her composure. In reality, Clayton was earnestly learning. He carefully observed Salem's strength, sequence of movements, and more. He then applied all that to serve me. Salem, meanwhile, looked dazed and lost, staring blankly at me. I knew exactly why he was like that. A few days ago, I heard them arguing in Lisa's bedroom. "Lisa, it's been ages since you last groomed me." Lisa replied coldly, "You've got hands, do it yourself. Do you expect me to wait on you hand and foot?

Are you a service beastkin or am I?" Salem sounded flustered. "But I've run out of my usual products!"" "Then go ask Layla. Your allowance isn't deposited into my account," she retorted. ---- "Lisa, why did you turn out like this? You liked me before. If you hadn't stolen a kiss from me that day, Layla wouldn't be so angry!" Salem said. "A person who likes someone wouldn't behave like this. Layla never found me troublesome. She brushed my fur every day." "Is this my fault? Did you rebuff me? What are you pretending for?" Lisa's voice was sharp. "Now even you think she's better, right?

Then go to her and see if she'll have you back! Go on!" Did Lisa even like Salem? I was more inclined to think she was just spoiled rotten. She simply enjoyed the feeling of everyone siding with her and things revolving around her. After that conversation, Salem grew increasingly haggard. He'd often look at me, the words on the tip of his tongue, but he was still too proud to make amends. I pretended not to notice. One night, I stood in a lace nightgown on the second- floor balcony, having an afterglow cigarette. Salem suddenly embraced me from behind, saying nothing.

I felt his warm tears falling onto my neck. I didn't move. "You don't mind the smell of smoke anymore?" "T'm sorry." He nuzzled hard against my neck, his voice full of hurt. "Please forgive me?" ---- I chuckled, saying nothing. "T really was drunk that night. Believe it or not, at first I genuinely thought it was you kissing me," he murmured. Inodded. "I believe you. Or rather, if you'd known it was Lisa kissing you, you wouldn't have resisted at all." "Tt wasn't like that," Salem explained in a muffled voice.