The face of his younger sister, who had been spitting out harsh words without hesitation, suddenly turned pale.
Only when faced with that terrified expression did Barcas realize that he was clutching the back of her neck.
He felt a cold sweat breaking out on her star-stained, dark skin. He gently pressed her rapidly beating pulse with his thumb and hummed softly.
"It seems like your ability to grasp the situation has significantly declined."
Even though he hadn't applied any particular force to his grip, her face instantly turned ashen. It was the reaction of a reckless young lady who had never experienced physical danger in her life.
Barcas continued in a dry voice, his lips twisted cynically.
"You saw with your own two eyes what your brother did because of that woman you criticize, and yet you still acted like that."
"Oh, Brother..."
"You have to know that there is a limit to being lenient and letting it go, saying, 'It must be because your father said yes, yes.'"
Slowly, the shock filled her reddish-brown eyes, which had become as bright as a lantern.
Barcas, who was looking down at the sight with an expression that contained not a shred of sympathy, added softly.
"If you dare speak ill of my wife one more time, you will pay the price. You'd better behave yourself when I treat you like blood relatives."
Raina swallowed dryly. Goosebumps appeared on the back of her neck, which had hardened like a rock.
He withdrew his hand and gave instructions in a cold voice to the servants and inner guards gathered near the back door.
"The Princess is also ordered to be kept under guard. Take her to the annex immediately."
The soldiers immediately surrounded Raina.
Barcas, who had been observing the scene with a cold gaze, turned around. Just as he was about to take a step forward, a resentful voice rang out from behind him.
"Why on earth do you take that person's side so much?"
When he turned his head again, he saw his younger sister's face, flushed red and sobbing, as if she was very sad.
She couldn't control her anger and raised her voice.
"You almost died because of that woman! Everyone said that you would never wake up. Oh, you were terribly betrayed!"
A sharp voice resonated loudly across the empty lot.
He flexed his knuckles, which spasmed slightly, and stared at his sister's face. Perhaps sensing the eerie anger in his eyes, Raina, who had been grumbling, stumbled and backed away.
Barcas let out a weary sigh.
"You don't understand my words at all."
Barcasmuttere as if chewing and spitting out, and looked at the soldiers.
"Take her now and don't let her out of the room one step at a time until I give you permission."
The soldiers hastily stopped Raina, who was about to protest. They seemed to be trying to prevent the Grand Duke from receiving a more severe punishment. However, the girl, unable to understand their intentions, continued to scream.
Barcas crossed the open space, leaving all the commotion behind.
As he left the shelter, he saw a group of attendants waiting near the entrance to the inner wall. Only then did he remember his planned attendance at the Kalmor Council meeting.
Barcas, who had been looking up to gauge the position of the sun, gave an order in a businesslike tone.
"All afternoon plans are canceled. Send a messenger to the meeting place."
"Are you feeling unwell?"
The squad leader, who knew full well that he was continuing with an excessive schedule while his body was not fully recovered, looked at him with concern.
Barcas shook his head dryly.
"They say the Grand Duchess's wolf has disappeared. He may have escaped the castle. Release your soldiers and search for him."
The man, who had been blinking in surprise, finally realized the gravity of the situation and ran toward his subordinates.
While the squad leader relayed his instructions, Barcas moved along the outer wall.
If the beast had indeed escaped the castle without being noticed by the guards, it meant there was a secret passage hidden somewhere within the castle walls. Perhaps she, too, had used it to enter and exit the castle.
Thinking about it that way, Barcas clenched his fist.
If any such hidden passage were to be discovered, the accusations of heresy against her would intensify. The testimony that they witnessed the Grand Duchess attending a pagan gathering would also gain further traction.
He put one hand to his forehead, feeling the sensation of his brain being burned by a soldering iron growing increasingly intense.
Suddenly, he wondered why he was putting in so much effort.
The woman doesn't care about anything.
About that, too.
Also about herself.
Anything but that wolf cub would be fine.
Barcas gave a dry laugh.
He thought it might be better if that wolf just disappeared forever.
For him, it would be a headache to eat a well, so why bother finding that beast and offering it up?
Barcas, who was looking up at the cloudy sky with tired eyes, soon collected his disturbed mind.
Even if it wasn't her request, he couldn't leave that monster alone.
If Khan causes even one minor problem on the board, the blame will fall on her. And the consequences will fall entirely on her.
Barcas let out a self-deprecating laugh and resumed his steps. He planned to leave the castle and search the Armund Forest. If there was any place the monster could hide, it would be there.
He stepped past the inner wall toward the north gate. Then he sensed a strange presence nearby.
Barcas instinctively placed his hand on the handle and turned his head to look around.
A huge shadow could be seen darting across the small garden near the castle chapel.
He immediately chased after the massive shadow. Pushing through the overgrown shrubs, a small clearing behind the chapel came into view.
Barcas, striding briskly across the area, suddenly stopped. He saw a small tombstone erected at the end of the neatly organized backyard.
Barcas, who approached it, wrinkled his eyes as he noticed a heap of withered flowers piled up around the tombstone.
There was no inscription on the tombstone. However, it was smooth as if it had been frequently polished.
As he bent down and carefully touched it, he heard a rustling sound nearby.
Barcas turned his head and hardened his face as he saw a gray wolf standing tall among the thick bushes.
The wolf was soaking wet, as if he had just come from somewhere. His ash-gray fur, drenched in moisture, seemed almost black, and clumps of mud clung to his feet.
He carefully raised himself up.
The wolf stared at him motionless. Sensing a murderous intent in its eyes, Barcas took a step back and called the wolf's name.
"Khan."
Then the wolf that had been perking its ears slowly lowered its head.
He continued to speak soothingly, observing the wolf carefully.
"Your master is looking for you. It's time to return to her side."
Then the wolf that had been staring at him raised its head toward the tombstone.
For a moment, Barcas frowned as he saw a shadow of sadness pass across the beast's blue eyes. Beyond mere intelligence, the creature seemed to feel human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, arousing a strong sense of doubt.
Is this really a dire wolf?...
There were not many cases of taming a monster like livestock, so it was impossible to know if this beast's behavior was normal.
Barcas, who was observing the wolf with eyes filled with doubt, tentatively extended a hand.
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