Chapter 174
As Varkas absentmindedly straightened his clothes, he let out a self-mocking chuckle at his own behavior before walking over to the chair opposite her.
The moment he settled onto the velvet seat, Talia handed him a goblet filled with wine and brought up a conventional topic of conversation.
“I heard the war is about to end. They're saying a peace treaty is going to be signed?”
“It is still too early to say for certain.”
Taking a sip of the wine, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) sweet enough to make his tongue tingle, Varkas answered evenly.
“The negotiations have only just begun. We'll have to wait and see how they develop.”
“...If the negotiations fail, will you have to return to the battlefield?”
Holding the goblet to his lips, he studied her expression.
Had he imagined the shadow that briefly crossed her face?
Letting another mouthful of wine slide down his burning throat, Varkas replied calmly.
“Unless another full-scale war breaks out, I doubt I'll have to lead another campaign. I can't leave the Grand Duchy unattended forever.”
“...I see.”
Talia murmured softly as she absentmindedly toyed with the pearl ornaments sewn onto the hem of her skirt.
His gaze lingered on her anxious fingers before he set his goblet down and leaned back in his chair.
The exhausting journey had left him utterly drained.
He had no desire to waste what little strength he had left trying to guess how she truly felt about his return.
She seemed to be doing well now.
If so, it was time to bring her extended stay outside the castle to an end.
Running a hand through his still-damp hair, he let out a long breath before steering the conversation toward the subject she had been deliberately avoiding.
“Now then, let's discuss the matter of that wolf... Khan.”
“I already told you Khan isn't a problem.”
She immediately bristled.
“I've raised Khan ever since he was this tiny. But not once have I ever seen him attack or harm an innocent person! Everyone's only finding fault with him because he's a monster.”
Varkas narrowed his eyes, having caught the subtle implication hidden within her words.
“Innocent people?”
For an instant, unease flickered through her eyes.
As though concealing it, she lowered her long, thick lashes and smiled coldly.
“He's only acted a little threatening toward people who behaved hostilely toward me. Other than that, he's always been well-behaved. If you don't believe me, ask my personal maids.”
Watching her through narrowed eyes, Varkas slowly leaned forward.
“Who has shown hostility toward Your Highness?”
She stiffened slightly before giving a disinterested shrug.
“Who else? Your siblings, and House Siorcan's vassals. Oh... and the old High Priest of Kalmor. That old man seems to think I'm beyond redemption.”
A chilly smile touched her lips.
“Well, I suppose it's understandable. An illegitimate child who even keeps a creature of the Devil by her side... From the Church's perspective, my very existence must be unbearable.”
“Have any of them ever directly insulted or disrespected Your Highness?”
“No one has openly criticized or insulted me.”
She slowly swirled the wine in her glass.
“They simply spend every sermon preaching about how impure monsters are and how grave a sin it is to reject the Church's teachings. That's how they attack me.”
“So that's why you drastically reduced the annual donations to the Grand Cathedral?”
“I was told I had the authority to make that decision.”
She answered defensively.
A dry laugh escaped Varkas.
Rather than shrinking back from the priests' petty attacks, she had retaliated immediately.
There was something unmistakably like her in that.
In fact, seeing her wield authority so confidently—almost arrogantly—was strangely reassuring.
“You may continue deciding how the allocated budget is spent according to your own wishes, Your Highness.”
That would undoubtedly result in endless requests for meetings and a constant stream of protest letters from the Grand Cathedral, but he was perfectly willing to bear that burden.
As for allowing that wolf to remain at the castle, however, he was still unconvinced.
Resting his chin on one hand, Varkas carefully chose his words.
“However, I believe we should reconsider allowing Khan to continue living inside the castle. Aren't you already being subjected to unnecessary criticism simply because you keep a monster?”
“I don't care what people say.”
She lifted her chin proudly.
“At most, they whisper behind my back. I can live with that.”
“There are a considerable number of beast-type monsters living throughout this region. Every time one of them causes trouble, people will blame your wolf. Even this time...”
Pausing briefly, Varkas carefully watched her reaction before continuing.
“I heard Khan was unjustly suspected.”
“If you're talking about Marisen... that misunderstanding has already been cleared up.”
Talia replied calmly, no longer agitated.
“During the time Marisen was missing, Khan and I stayed at Tiuran's cottage together. If you don't believe me, ask Tiuran yourself. She'll prove Khan's innocence.”
Varkas frowned.
For a moment he couldn't remember who Tiuran was.
Only several seconds later did he recall that she was one of the Grand Ducal House's healers.
“Why were you staying at the healer's residence?”
“Khan and I often spend time there. Tiuran's cottage is quiet and peaceful.”
A gentle smile suddenly spread across her lips.
It was a warm, tender smile unlike anything he had ever seen from her before.
A strange mixture of relief and discomfort welled up inside him.
He couldn't understand why he felt that way.
Shouldn't he be pleased that she had finally found somewhere she felt at ease?
Suppressing the inexplicable uneasiness, he deliberately refocused on the conversation.
“Regardless of the truth, many people believe that wolf is dangerous.”
“A lot of people like Khan, too.”
She immediately countered.
“When I took him into the castle town, everyone cheered.”
“Was he the same size then?”
Faced with the unfavorable question, she avoided his gaze.
“Everyone's only nervous because Khan suddenly grew so much over the past few months. Once enough time passes, they'll naturally change their minds.”
Her resistance was even firmer than he had expected.
He had always known she cared deeply for the monster, but he had never imagined she would disregard even her own safety and political standing for its sake.
Varkas pressed his aching temples.
If she was right and the wolf truly posed no danger, then people's complaints could simply be ignored.
But if, even once, the beast failed to restrain its aggression and injured someone, every ounce of blame would fall upon her.
Could he really allow her to shoulder that risk?
Apparently sensing his hesitation, she leaned forward, looking at him pleadingly.
“You once said... that you would grant me anything I wanted. Does that promise no longer count?”
Varkas froze as though someone had suddenly sunk their teeth into the back of his neck.
The faint scent of her brushed past him, sending an unwelcome sensation crawling along his spine.
Abruptly rising from his chair, he walked over to the window and drew a deep breath of the humid air.
Beyond the garden flooded with brilliant sunlight stood the chapel.
The moment he remembered the grave that lay there, the turmoil inside him quickly settled.
Gathering himself in an instant, Varkas turned back toward her with a composed expression.
“My promise still stands.”
“Then let me stay with Khan. If you give your permission, no one else will complain anymore.”
At that moment, bitterness rose in his throat.
This woman had never once allowed him to remain by her side.
And yet now she was pleading with him simply so she could stay beside a mere beast.
Realizing that left him with a strange sense of emptiness.
Speaking in a heavy, subdued voice, he finally said,
“Very well.”
A bright smile blossomed across her face.
Looking away from it, he added stiffly,
“However, if that wolf ever harms another person, there will be nothing I can do.”