Chapter 175
“That will never happen.”
She spoke with firm conviction.
But Varkas noticed that she herself was not entirely certain. Hidden beneath that confident smile was the unmistakable expression she always wore whenever she was bluffing.
Perhaps, deep down, she too was uneasy about the dire wolf's aggressive nature.
‘...Just in case, I'd better have capture artifacts prepared.’
Any monster that attacked a person was to be put down immediately by law. But he was concerned that Talia would be deeply shaken if she witnessed such a scene.
Even if the moment came when force had to be used against the dire wolf, he would have to give his men strict orders that capturing it alive must take priority.
Letting out a weary sigh, he stepped away from the window.
“Then I shall inform the retainers of my decision.”
“You're leaving already?”
Varkas halted in front of the door and looked down at her.
Talia, absently playing with her long, still-damp hair, muttered awkwardly,
“You've only just returned. I thought... perhaps you should rest first.”
He frowned.
She had once found it painful simply to share the same space with him. Although he had returned to the castle countless times over the past two years, she had consistently avoided him.
So why had she suddenly changed her attitude?
“...As Your Highness said, I have only just returned, and there is a mountain of matters awaiting my attention. Regrettably, my rest will have to wait.”
Disappointment briefly crossed her face.
As though trying to conceal it, she curled the corner of her lips into a crooked smile and replied curtly,
“Oh, really? Then hurry along.”
After hesitating for a moment, he grasped the doorknob.
Standing in the corridor like a silent sentinel was the enormous gray wolf.
Apparently displeased at having been separated from its master, the beast glared at him with gleaming blue eyes before roughly forcing its way through the open doorway.
Its massive body shoved Varkas aside, making him grimace as he glared back at the wolf.
As though returning to its own home, the dire wolf strode naturally across the bedroom and settled beside Talia.
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she looked at it.
Wrapping both arms tightly around the beast pressing itself against her side, its tail swaying happily, she buried her face in the thick fur around its neck.
Watching the scene in silence, Varkas quietly closed the door.
* * *
“Your Grace has become far too indulgent toward Her Grace the Grand Duchess.”
Varkas, who had been seated at the head of the council chamber reading through petitions, raised his head toward the elder councilor seated to his left.
The stern-looking man, now in his fifties, served as the magistrate responsible for settling the numerous legal disputes arising throughout Kalmor.
After polishing his dwarven monocle with a handkerchief, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Until now, we have overlooked many things out of consideration for the unfortunate events Her Grace has endured. But we cannot continue tolerating her unreasonable behavior forever. That wolf has left many within the castle uneasy, and it has also created unnecessary friction with the Church.”
“I intend to meet with the High Priest shortly. I will resolve the matter with the Church myself, so this subject is closed.”
“But, Your Grace...”
“Since when have the men of House Siorcan become so timid? To cause such an uproar over a single wolf.”
With visible irritation, Varkas tossed the stack of petitions onto the conference table.
The senior members of the house filling the chamber all stiffened.
One of them, unable to hide his displeasure, spoke up.
“Your Grace, everyone gathered here is a devout follower of the Imperial Church who has undergone the Rite of Baptism twice. According to the doctrine, monsters are creatures fashioned by demons to bring harm upon mankind. For Her Grace the Grand Duchess, who ought to serve as an example to all people of the East, to keep such an evil creature at her side diminishes the dignity of the Grand Ducal House—”
“As I recall, you fathered three illegitimate children by three different women.”
The man's face instantly flushed crimson.
Varkas let out another weary sigh.
“Must I truly bring such matters into the open? I can assure you that not one person seated here has lived entirely according to the doctrine. So let us put an end to this pointless argument of exposing one another's faults.”
A heavy silence settled over the chamber.
Varkas slowly swept his gaze across the retainers seated around the long table before continuing in a somewhat gentler tone.
“If you are willing to overlook my wife's harmless eccentricities, then I am likewise willing to overlook your own minor indiscretions. Is protecting one another's shortcomings not the duty of family?”
Perhaps they sensed the quiet threat hidden within those words.
Tension spread across the retainers' faces.
They exchanged uneasy glances before awkwardly steering the discussion toward the next agenda item.
Apparently, none of them wished to risk having all of their own secrets dragged into the open over a single wolf.
After placing his seal upon several proposed legal revisions, Varkas rose from his seat.
As he left the council chamber, Lucas hurried after him and spoke in a stiff voice.
“Do you truly intend to leave that beast as it is?”
“Do not make me repeat myself.”
“Brother, I'm only worried about my sister-in-law...”
Varkas stopped walking and turned toward him.
Realizing his mistake, Lucas hastily corrected himself.
“I mean... I'm worried about Sister-in-law. I don't know what she said to convince you, but... that beast is dangerous. One day, it's going to cause a serious incident.”
“When that day comes, I'll take responsibility for cleaning up the aftermath myself. Stop pursuing the matter. That is an order.”
At the cold rebuke, Lucas shut his mouth.
Varkas turned away and continued down the long corridor.
Then—
Faint laughter drifted in through the window.
Turning his head almost unconsciously, Varkas stopped.
Talia was sitting upon a long marble bench.
As always, that enormous beast sat firmly at her side.
Apparently it had just finished tearing through the gardens, for the dire wolf's thick fur was covered in blades of grass and flower petals.
It lowered something it had been carrying onto her lap.
Recognizing it as a large bouquet of flowers, Varkas frowned.
The stems had been crushed beneath its teeth, and the blossoms were hopelessly mangled.
Yet Talia happily gathered the ruined bouquet into her arms.
As he silently watched the scene below, Lucas stepped beside him and muttered in disbelief,
“That crafty thing only pretends to be gentle in front of its master. In truth, it's an incredibly vicious—”
“Lucas.”
Varkas cut him off firmly.
“I've heard that wolf only bares its fangs to protect my wife. Has it ever threatened her?”
His younger brother hurriedly waved both hands.
“Never! Well... we do argue from time to time, but that's only because I'm worried about Sister-in-law...”
“Then it would be best if you stopped lingering around her.”
His voice was icy.
“If you do that, that wolf will have no reason to show hostility toward you.”
Lucas's cheeks reddened as he pressed his lips tightly together.
Watching him with a frigid gaze, Varkas turned and continued on his way.
* * *
After spending the entire afternoon inspecting Kalmor, Varkas returned and shut himself inside his study to write a letter to Daren.
Since the conservative nobles had agreed to take the lead during the negotiations, there were unlikely to be any major surprises.
Even so, he intended to leave nothing to chance.
After writing instructions ordering Daren not to lower his guard against the Duke of Heimdall until the negotiations concluded, he poured wax over the document and pressed his seal into it.
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
“What is it?”
“Excuse me, Your Grace. I've come under Her Grace the Grand Duchess's instructions.”
Looking slightly surprised, Varkas gave permission for the visitor to enter.
A healer clad in flowing robes cautiously stepped inside.
“It has been a long time, Your Grace. I sincerely congratulate you on your safe return—”
“That will do. Tell me why you've come.”
The woman moistened her lips nervously before placing a small glass vial upon the desk.
“Her Grace the Grand Duchess asked me to deliver this to you. It is a special tonic made from mandragora extract.”
Varkas narrowed his eyes as he looked at the vial.
“She told you to give this to me?”
“Yes, Your Grace. She heard that ever since returning to the castle, you have scarcely had a moment's rest because of official duties... She seemed deeply concerned.”