Act 4. The Wolf Recites Poems Every Night
At the damp sensation touching her face, she barely managed to lift her eyelids, which felt stiff as if glued on. The first thing to enter her hazy vision was a pair of pale bluish-gray eyes.
She was staring blankly at the blue eyes sparkling like jewels on a small face covered in spiky downy hair when a small pink tongue touched the corner of her eye again.
It was only then that she realized her face was drenched in cold sweat. It seemed she had been languishing all night, as the painkiller had worn off.
She carefully pulled the ball of gray fur that kept licking her face up to her chest and slowly raised her upper body.
She could see the early morning sunlight streaming in diagonally through the window. Squinting her bright eyes and rubbing her throbbing forehead, she pulled the cord attached to the side of the bed, and Yvonne immediately opened the door and stepped inside.
"Did you sleep well last night, Grand Duchess?"
"Prepare some food that Khan can eat."
Thalia lowered her legs under the bed and gave an indifferent instruction.
The maid's troubled gaze fell upon the young wolf in her arms.
"Would it be okay if I brought goat's milk like last time?"
"I have to give instructions for each one individually..."
Thalia, who was about to scold someone, suddenly closed her mouth.
Her pensive gaze settled on the gray wolf that was staring up at her.
Although only a little over fifteen days had passed, the wolf had already grown to about twice its size. It was an astonishing rate of growth, considering that it could barely walk when it was first taken in.
'Is it because it's not an ordinary beast?'
She carefully observed the young animal nestled quietly in her arms, then gently parted its long snout. She could see tiny teeth beginning to break through the gums.
"I think it's about time to feed him some meat. Finely chop some lamb and bring it over. Also, prepare some lukewarm milk."
"Understood. I will prepare it and bring it right away."
As the maid left, Thalia put the wolf down on the floor and got out of bed. She then walked behind the screen to wash herself, but the wolf immediately followed her.
Thalia looked down at the wolf with eyes full of laughter.
Khan was a truly strange monster. For nearly a week, he slept as if dead, driving people crazy, and when he was awake, he refused to leave her side for even a moment. Sometimes, he would even force himself to fight off the overwhelming drowsiness just to keep his eyes on her.
He is probably afraid of being abandoned by her.
When he gave her a pitiful look, Thalia soon bent down and gently stroked his fluffy head covered in soft gray fur.
"Don't worry, I won't leave you anywhere. Let's just have a meal and then go for a walk in the garden together."
The wolf twitched its triangular, pointed ears as if it understood what she said.
She scratched the ears of the beast sitting quietly on the floor, then walked behind the screen, took off her pajamas, and washed herself. Just as she was changing into clean new clothes, Brisa and Yvonne entered the bedroom carrying a tray of food.
"Good morning, Your Highness Grand Duchess. I have prepared food for Khan and breakfast for Your Highness."
Brisa spoke in a polite tone and began setting the table. Meanwhile, Yvonne carefully scooped finely minced lamb into Khan's rice bowl.
Even though he must have been quite hungry, Khan stared intently at her without even glancing at his own meal. The wolf's blue eyes never left her the moment.
Thalia crouched beside Khan and gently pushed the bowl of food forward.
"Now, hurry up and eat. You have to eat a lot to grow big and strong."
The wolf, which had not moved for a while, finally bowed its head toward the bowl.
She looked down with curious eyes at Khan, who was eating quietly unlike a monster's offspring. The young wolf emptied his bowl very gracefully, without rushing at all.
A small gasp escaped the maid's lips, as if to say that the sight seemed fascinating only to her.
"You really eat well."
"You're eating so quietly."
"Yes?"
Thalia, feeling pleased by the words praising Khan, wore a faint smile on her lips.
"Khan seems a bit special in some way. Even though he is still young, he behaves maturely. Plus, he doesn't bark loudly and doesn't make a mess of the room."
"That's right. He must be very smart."
Brisa chimed in with a cheerful voice.
Even the maids, who had initially looked at the idea of raising a monster with concern, seemed to have eventually been captivated by Khan's clever and lovable appearance.
At some point, they began to actively cooperate in caring for Khan. Sometimes, they would wear pleased expressions as they watched Khan in her arms. However, not everyone accepted her eccentricities with generosity.
Thalia's expression darkened in an instant as she recalled Raina raging the moment she saw Khan. It felt as though her sister-in-law's taunts were still ringing in her ears.
"You are truly something. After driving your husband out of the castle with all sorts of abusive behavior, all you do is live off the walls!"
Thalia bit her lower lip at the pain that felt like it was digging into her chest.
It was not only her young sister-in-law who disapproved of her behavior. Although they did not show it openly, most of the retainers residing in Raedgo Castle harbored hostility toward her.
It was understandable. An illegitimate Princess who ascended to the position of Grand Duchess instead of the legitimate First Princess. That alone would have been unsatisfactory, but she had failed to produce a single proper heir.
They even shifted the responsibility to the Grand Duke and, after committing all sorts of wicked acts, went so far as to push him out on the expedition.
As if that weren't enough, she even turned the castle upside down by claiming she would raise monsters, so in the eyes of the Easterners, she must be no different from the worst wife in the world.
'Still...'
She had finished her meal before she knew it, and as she met the blue eyes looking up at her, a smile formed on her lips.
Joy welled up in her heart at the look in his eyes, as if he were gazing at the most special and important thing in the world.
The wolf's eyes were filled with that beautiful light that had cast an eternal curse upon her eight-year-old self from which she could never escape.
Thalia, who was counting the pale silver spots shining on the blue iris, was overcome with emotion and hugged the wolf tightly.
Just as everyone was whispering behind her back, she might have completely lost her mind. To think a dead child had returned as a wolf. She knew in her head that such a ridiculous thing could not possibly happen in reality.
However, her heart was saying something completely different.
Thalia kissed Khan's face and muttered to herself.
'Khan is my child.'
Anyone who quietly looks into this child's eyes will know. That this little life, rescued from the muddy water, loves itself more than anything in the world...
***
As he walked slowly out the back door of the castle, the bright light of late spring poured into her pupils.
Feeling his vision turn white for a moment, he slowly blinked. The landscape of the garden, tinged with soft hues, filled his field of vision, which was much wider than a human's.
Although the outlines of all objects were blurry as if enveloped in a thin fog, thanks to the field of view being doubled, he was able to take in everything around him at a glance without turning his head.
He spotted the servants whispering behind her back and unconsciously bared his teeth. Before he could even restrain himself, a beastly growl escaped from his contorted snout.
“What’s wrong, Khan?”
Thalia, who was taking cautious steps along the walking path, asked in a worried tone.
He felt the murderous aura enveloping his body vanish in an instant and threw his head back. Then, a delicate face shining like a pearl, brilliantly shining golden hair, and jewel-like deep blue eyes filled his vision.
Why is her image so vivid, even with eyes turned into beasts? Everything was full of things he couldn't understand.
"Are you scared because it's been a while since you've been outside?"
He was staring at her without even blinking when a dreamy, gentle voice tickled his ears.
He had known her for a long time, but he never knew she could speak in such a soft and sweet tone.
The woman, who had been stroking his neck with a gentle touch as if to soothe him, stopped in her tracks when she reached the flowerbed.
“Do you see this flower?”
The woman who had set him down on the floor pointed to a large armful of lush flowers.
"These are flowers your father gave me as a gift before he left the castle. They say they help calm the mind and body."
He quietly gazed at her profile, darkened with sadness.
Indescribable emotions welled up from the depths of his heart. It felt as if he were dreaming a very sad, cruel, and beautiful dream.
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