Chapter 4
[Even if you eat us, it doesn’t seem like all of you will be able to fill your stomachs. You’d be better off going to the plains. There are plenty of deer there.]
I spoke as gently as I could, trying to soothe the wolf leader.
[The plains are gone. There are no deer.]
It seemed that because farmland development had wiped out their food sources, they were gradually coming down toward human settlements.
The world I used to live in—and this one as well—were both turning reckless development into disaster.
Tsk. I clicked my tongue and pointed a finger toward the Rackton Duke’s territory.
[Over there. See that forest? There are lots of deer there.]
Beyond the lake, the Rackton Duchy had forests and grasslands vast and lush enough to be called a national park.
Since it was a knightly family, the Rackton Duke enjoyed hunting frequently.
Because of that, he put great effort into maintaining the hunting grounds, so the wolves could easily eat their fill if they went there.
I felt a bit sorry for the deer, but wolves had to live too.
[Why should we trust you, human?]
The wolf leader bared his fierce teeth and growled.
[If you don’t believe me, I’ll have no choice but to call your natural enemies—the lions and eagles. If you can hear my words, don’t you think they can too? They must be just as hungry as you.]
[Clever, human.]
To think I’d receive praise from a wolf. I grinned.
[Then you’d better make a clever decision too—if you want to keep your pack safe.]
The wolf leader glared at me as if to pierce me, then let out a long howl and turned his body.
[If there are no deer there, I will come back for you. But if your words are true, I will reward you in my own way.]
Was he planning to toss me some venison?
[If you happen to run into a crazy red-haired man covered in daggers over there, avoid him at all costs. Farewell, wolves.]
I warned them to be careful of Frederick, the Rackton Duke’s eldest son.
If they encountered Frederick, the finest swordsman in the empire, the wolf pack wouldn’t stand a chance.
The wolf leader flicked his tail upward, let out a long howl, and dashed off.
Countless wolves followed behind him.
“Phew… looks like we barely got through that crisis.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Then, faintly, I heard a weak groan from far off in the grass.
“Is someone hurt?”
As I approached, I saw a man clutching his leg and writhing on the ground, as if he’d fallen from a horse.
He was a tall man with shining golden-brown hair like a wheat field at harvest and bluish-gray eyes.
“Crown Prince Valentine?”
What luck—no, what a jackpot.
It seemed Valentine, the very crown prince Damon had been trying to win over lately, had been thrown from his horse in fright from the wolves.
It was strange that he was alone without any escort knights. He must have been trying to carry out something secret and ended up in danger.
“Your Highness, the Empire’s little sun, are you alright? I am Clarissa Craig, wife of Baron Damon Craig.”
“…Baroness.”
“It seems you’ve injured your ankle. Though it is not my place to examine the Crown Prince’s body, I must check the extent of your injury. Please allow me to take a look.”
Not that I actually knew anything about medicine, but I had to at least look like I was doing my best to impress him.
“Go ahead.”
“Hmm. I don’t think you should move. It would be better to call for help. My husband should be nearby.”
“But the wolves might return.”
Valentine clearly wanted to leave as soon as possible. But if his bone was broken, moving carelessly would only worsen the injury.
“The wolves won’t come back. And even if they do, I will protect you.”
I said loyally, eyes shining.
“Milady!”
Miranda and the driver came running.
“Bow your heads. This is His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At my words, Miranda and the driver dropped flat to the ground.
Seeing the Crown Prince in person—a once-in-a-lifetime event—was enough to shock them into speechlessness.
“Miranda, I will stay with His Highness. Go with Ben and bring the Baron here.”
“Yes, Milady.”
After they hurried back to the carriage, only Valentine and I remained.
I removed my scarf, placed a branch against Valentine’s ankle, and tied it tightly.
“Please wait just a little longer. My husband will be here soon to escort you.”
“Were you really traveling this rough mountain path just to see the Baron?”
“He’s been so busy with outside work that I worried he wasn’t even eating, so I prepared a meal for him.”
“Baron Craig is a fortunate man.”
Too bad he didn’t realize it and treated me like a fly to be swatted away. Tsk.
“By the way, earlier I saw you looking into the wolves’ eyes and speaking in a strange language. Was that some kind of magic?”
So he’d seen me talking to the wolf leader.
‘Should I tell him about my ability?’
Revealing it to Valentine made me uneasy.
Right now, Damon and Valentine were on the same side, working together to bring down the Rackton Duke—but soon their relationship would collapse and they would become enemies.
If that happened and Valentine used my ability as an excuse to brand me a witch, I could be in serious danger.
What should I do?
Valentine had beaten out two older brothers and three younger half-siblings to become Crown Prince.
He was physically weak and not skilled with a sword, yet he had triumphed in the battle for succession because he was shrewd and brilliant.
If I gave a sloppy excuse, he might become even more suspicious.
“I can talk to animals.”
In the end, I confessed.
“That is an extraordinary ability. Baron Craig is truly blessed.”
“Shh! Please keep it to yourself, Your Highness. My husband doesn’t know about it.”
I blushed as if terribly embarrassed.
“Why would you hide such an incredible gift from your husband?”
“Because he might think of me as a monster. Please, Your Highness, ask no more.”
I turned my head away with the expression of a tragic wife unloved by her husband.
‘I need to look more pitiful. That way the Crown Prince will tell Damon to divorce me.’
My acting must have been convincing, because Valentine sighed sympathetically.
“A man who would think his wife a monster after she faced wolves to bring him a meal?”
“Your Highness, it is only because I am lacking as a wife. Please don’t blame my husband.”
Right then, dust got into my eyes, making them sting. As I blinked repeatedly, tears rolled down my cheeks.
Valentine looked stunned by my sudden tears.
“I will ask no more.”
He lifted a hand as if to wipe my tears, hesitated midair, then lowered it, likely realizing he couldn’t casually touch another man’s wife.
The sun set, and darkness rushed in. Only the sound of the wind and our breathing filled the air.
Uncomfortable with the strange atmosphere, I suddenly began to sing.
-
Why did you return only at my funeral?
If only you had come one day sooner.
Did your lover refuse to let you go?
Or did the war never end?
It was a folk song of this world, “A Wife’s Heart to Her Husband,” based on a legend of a wife who turned to stone waiting for her beloved.
As my song continued, Valentine’s expression grew darker.
Then, far away, I heard a wolf howl.
[Huuumaan! This place is filled with deeeeer! Thank youuuu! I will repay youuu!]
‘Wow, what a voice.’
To think I could hear him all the way across the lake.
“Did you just hear the wolf again?”
Valentine asked, and I nodded.
“They’re having a feast of venison. I showed hungry wolves a good hunting ground. They say thank you.”
“Even beasts know gratitude. How can a baron make his wife cry like this?”
His words sounded like the ringing of a sacred bell.
Because I had successfully made Valentine my ally.
At last, I heard the sound of approaching hooves.
“Your Highness Valentine!”
Damon jumped off his horse and rushed to Valentine, ignoring me completely.
“Are you badly injured, Your Highness?”
At that moment, Valentine glared at him fiercely.
“Baron Craig, do you not even see your wife?”
Damon glanced at me, suppressing irritation.
“What are you doing here?”
Because Valentine was present, he used polite speech.
“I was worried you looked thinner leaving the house at dawn.”
Damon scowled.
I dabbed my nose with a handkerchief.
“It’s embarrassing to say in front of His Highness, but… I missed you, dear.”
Damon narrowed his eyes at me.
I smiled brightly.
Finally, Damon approached Valentine.
“I will escort you, Your Highness.”
Even though Valentine was a grown man, Damon lifted him effortlessly and carried him away.
Glaring at Damon’s back, I followed behind.
The secret merchant office was surprisingly large and luxurious.
To an outsider, it might have looked like a noble’s villa.
Not only salt but other secret dealings seemed to occur here—and likely even more dangerous discussions.
Every servant carried a sword and looked ready for battle.
Strangely enough, even in such a remote place, there was a doctor and plenty of medicine.
Almost like a wartime strategic base.
“How did you find this place? What were you thinking coming all the way here, Clarissa?”
With Valentine being treated, Damon and I were left alone in the reception room.
I had no choice but to stay on guard.
If Damon decided to shoot fire arrows from his fingers and burn all my hair off, I’d be in trouble.
“I told you—I came because I missed you.”
I spoke desperately.
“Ridiculous. Were you trying to dig into my business?”
As expected of a villain—he saw right through me.
Damn it.
