Chapter 326: Beneath a Gloomy Sky
Chapter 325: Beneath a Gloomy Sky
Lyria’s POV
I remained seated for several moments after I heard the howl.
It had not been loud.
Nor had it sounded particularly close.
Yet it carried through the quiet afternoon with such clarity that it lingered in my ears long after it had faded away.
I frowned, wondering where it had come from.
I looked out the window.
The gardens stretched before me, still damp from the rain. Water clung to the hedges, and servants could be seen in the distance resuming their duties now that the weather had finally cleared.
There was nothing unusual.
There was no wolf, nor any movement beyond the ordinary.
I frowned more deeply, wondering if perhaps I had imagined it after all.
As though answering my question, the howl came again.
This time, I realised it had not come from the gardens at all.
I moved to the other window, the one that overlooked the open field. People seldom used it.
The moment I reached it, I pushed aside the heavy curtain.
Then I froze.
Far across the open field stood a wolf.
It was magnificent.
Its fur was a warm light brown, almost golden where the afternoon light managed to break through the heavy grey clouds. Even from this distance, I could tell it was unusually large, with a broad chest and powerful limbs built for speed rather than brute strength.
The wind stirred through the tall grasses around it, causing them to ripple like waves across the field.
The wolf stood perfectly still.
Its head was lifted towards the sky.
Then another howl escaped it.
The sound carried across the distance, melancholy enough that it tightened something inside my chest.
It sounded... as though it were carrying a burden too heavy to set down.
I stared for several moments before suddenly remembering something.
Without another thought, I hurried back to where my chair rested beside the other window.
Gripping its back, I dragged it across the chamber as quickly as I could manage.
The legs scraped softly against the polished floor.
Once I had positioned it before the second window, I sat down immediately.
My sketchbook rested upon my lap once more.
I reached for my pencils.
I scarcely thought about what I was doing.
My hand simply began to move.
The outline came first, the graceful curve of the wolf’s back, the proud shape of its neck, the way its ears stood alert despite the sadness that seemed to surround it.
I added the tall grasses next.
Each blade bent beneath the wind.
Then the distant clouds.
Heavy and dark, still lingering after the rain.
I glanced up frequently.
The wolf had not moved.
It continued staring towards the heavens as though waiting for an answer that refused to come.
I did not know why...
But I wanted to remember this moment.
There was something strangely beautiful about it.
Beautiful...
And heartbreakingly sad.
Perhaps that was why I found myself so determined to capture it faithfully.
Not merely the wolf.
But everything.
The vast field, the restless wind, the gloomy sky.
For several minutes, the wolf remained where it was.
Eventually, it lowered its head.
It stood quietly for another brief moment before breaking into a run.
Its powerful legs carried it swiftly through the tall grasses.
The golden-brown fur disappeared and reappeared as it moved through the swaying field.
I watched until it became smaller.
Then smaller still.
Before finally disappearing altogether.
I remained seated.
The wolf was gone.
Yet I no longer needed to look outside.
The image had already settled within my mind.
My pencil continued moving across the page.
I deepened the shadows beneath the clouds.
Added movement to the grass.
Adjusted the angle of the wolf’s lifted head from memory.
Every now and then, I paused only long enough to consider what the drawing still lacked before continuing once more.
Time slipped quietly by.
The world beyond the paper faded.
Only the drawing remained.
Little by little, the image before me became clearer.
More complete.
Until finally...
I placed the last touch of colour upon the page.
Then I leaned back in my chair.
A smile slowly spread across my face.
This... this was exactly what I had wished to capture.
Just then, a dreamy sigh drifted through the room.
"Oh..."
I jumped so violently that the pencils went tumbling to the floor.
Turning sharply, I found my maids standing several paces behind me.
"Oh!"
My heart nearly leapt from my chest.
Debbie hurried forward at once.
"Your Highness!"
Elara followed close behind.
"Are you quite alright, Your Highness?"
"I-I..."
I pressed a hand against my chest.
"W-when d-did y-you all c-come in?"
They exchanged amused glances.
"We have been here for quite some time now, Your Highness," Debbie replied with a smile.
"You h-have?" I asked in astonishment.
"We realised rather quickly that you were completely absorbed," Pippa said with a warm smile. "We did not wish to disturb you."
"I d-did not e-even hear t-the door."
"You did not," Bridget agreed with a small laugh. "You looked as though nothing else in the world existed."
"I s-suppose I d-did," I said with a laugh.
"We already knew, Your Highness," Pippa continued, "but your artistic talent truly is remarkable."
Heat rose to my cheeks.
"I-I am n-not..."
"You are," Bridget interrupted without hesitation.
She stepped closer, admiring the finished picture.
"I must admit..." Her eyes lingered upon the wolf. "...that is a beautiful creature."
I took my sketchbook from Margery, who had picked it up along with my pencils, then looked down at the drawing.
"I-it truly i-is," I agreed.
Margery tilted her head thoughtfully.
"There is something rather unusual about it, though."
"H-how so?" I asked.
"The wolf appears..." She paused, searching for the proper words. "...hurt."
"Or perhaps," she continued more softly, "as though it is caught in some deep conflict within itself."
"T-that is exactly h-how I saw i-it, and I w-wanted to capture e-exactly t-that," I told her.
"Goddess above, Your Highness, you did," Pippa exclaimed.
"It truly is quite beautiful, Your Highness," Elara said, a gentle smile upon her face.
I smiled shyly.
"T-thank y-you."
"Can we speak to you about something your highness?" Elara asked her.