As his joints and muscles grew rapidly, Khan could not stay still for even a moment, perhaps because his whole body ached. He would wander around the room all day or scratch the innocent floor with his front paws, and sometimes he would chew up bedding or furniture.
Seeing that he seemed to struggle to stay still in a confined space, she frequently took him for walks in the garden or let him roam the backyard, but that was not enough to quell Khan's overflowing vitality.
In the end, she had no choice but to take Khan over the city walls and roam the grasslands day after day.
"Do not go too far. The area up to where the Sheerkhan family banner is flown is our controlled hunting ground, but beyond that is a danger zone. You must take special care not to lose our sight."
Leaving the captain of the guard's arrogant warning behind, she began to stroll through the entrance of the forest where white frost had settled.
Khan, who had been circling around her excitedly, soon darted across the snowfield like an arrow. She felt anxious for a moment at his sudden disappearance, but Khan circled around between the trees and returned to her, wagging his tail vigorously.
Thalia giggled as she grabbed a handful of snow piled on the ground and playfully scattered it over Khan's head.
Khan, suddenly struck by a shower of snow, threw his ears back and shook his head violently. As snow was scattered once again over the wolf's head, Khan spun around and kicked the ground wildly with his hind legs, stirring up a small snowstorm.
Thalia, covered in snow, glared at Khan with narrowed eyes, then suddenly wrapped her arms around his fluffy neck and rubbed snow all she could get her hands on onto his face. As if amused by the childish prank, Khan's bushy tail spun around as fast as a windmill.
"My big baby."
Thalia playfully pulled the ear of the wolf that was rubbing its face against her neck and whispered affectionately in a voice mixed with laughter.
Khan looked joyful and happy. The wolf, whose grayish-blue eyes scattered with silver spots gleamed, gnawed wildly at her face with its hot, wet tongue.
Thalia, who had been leaning back to avoid the barrage of affection, suddenly lay down on the snowflakes and looked up at the pale winter sky.
Sparkling snowflakes were fluttering between the pure white branches.
She gazed at the beautiful scenery in awe for a while, then got up and started walking along the forest path. Not long after, a wide-open snowfield unfolded before her eyes.
She surveyed the panoramic view of Kalmor with renewed eyes. Beyond the vast hospital, the blurry outlines of a massive walled city and a magnificent citadel, surrounded by sandy walls, were emerging.
The Armund Forest surrounding the plain was faintly revealing its hazy form while enveloped in winter mist, and thin snow clouds hanging low over it were drifting rapidly westward with the wind.
For the first time, she thought that this land was very beautiful.
"I think it would be best if you went back now."
As the wind grew stronger, the captain of the guard, who had been following her at a distance, approached her and urged her on. Thalia walked to where the carriage was parked without a word of complaint.
Just then, something pitch black rushing rapidly came into view at the edge of her vision.
Before she could even fully recognize its true identity, Khan, who had been wagging his tail beside her, shot out like an arrow.
Thalia let out a shrill scream.
"Khan!"
As if that sound were a signal, the captain of the guard standing to her left drew his sword. At the same time, a rough, guttural roar rang out.
Thalia threw herself blindly in the direction Khan had run. As she passed through the dense thickets, she saw Khan biting the neck of a sea common wild boar.
The huge beast, which looked at least five times its size, thrashed fiercely in resistance, but the wolf clung tenaciously to its massive body with its strong jaws firmly closed. Then the wild boar twisted its body and mercilessly crushed Khan.
A sharp scream burst from Thalia's mouth at the sight.
"Save Khan right now! Right now!"
The captain of the guard immediately rushed forward and swung his sword. Soon, the massive body of the wild boar, which had been thrashing violently, fell silent.
Thalia approached Khan with trembling steps.
"Khan, it's okay, you can stop now."
Khan, who had been violently thrashing his body while biting the wild boar's neck, finally lifted his head.
Thalia involuntarily hesitated and stopped. The sight of Khan with his mouth stained with dark red blood was so unfamiliar to her.
"It is dangerous. Your Highness! Do not go near!"
While she hesitated, a guard approached and pulled her arm somewhat roughly. Thalia, snapping back to reality, fiercely slapped his hand away.
"What's so dangerous about it? Khan just took down a dangerous beast!"
Then, as if to show off, she suddenly hugged Khan tightly with both arms. The wolf, who had stiffened for a moment, immediately came quietly into her embrace. Thalia let out a small sigh of relief.
"Look at this, it's well-behaved."
"Even if it is like that now, you never know when they might suddenly change. Once they show aggression..."
"Shut up! If you guys had taken out that monster first, Khan wouldn't have had to fight! You couldn't even do your own job, yet you're ganging up on others!"
The captain of the guard's face hardened at her fierce accusation. However, the man, who remained silent as if unable to find a word to refute, sheathed his sword back into his waistband and bowed his head slightly.
"...I am sorry, Your Highness the Grand Duchess."
Then, he leaned down in front of the wild boar lying on the ground to check its condition, and shouted loudly at the soldiers who had rushed over belatedly.
"A Dire Boar has intruded into the hunting grounds. Check to see if there are any other individuals nearby!"
Then, he spoke to her in a polite tone.
"Your Highness, please go to your carriage. We will depart as soon as this place is cleared."
Thalia turned around immediately. Then, suddenly remembering something, she looked back at him over her shoulder.
"There is no need to report today's events separately to the Grand Duke."
"That can't be..."
"The conflict alone is enough of a headache; do you really have to make the Grand Duke worry about such a trivial matter?"
Thalia shouted in a voice that feigned dignity.
"There was absolutely no problem with my safety! Don't cause a fuss over something trivial!"
The man frowned. His expression clearly showed that he had seen through the ulterior motive of her trying to silence him, fearing that Barcas might forbid her from going out.
She retorted coldly.
“This is an order!”
"...Understood. I will do as you instruct."
The man bowed his head with a reluctant expression.
Only then did Thalia look relieved as she led Khan onto the carriage. She picked up a blanket carelessly left on the seat and began to wipe the blood from the corners of Khan's mouth. However, the dark red stain did not easily disappear.
Suddenly, a strong sense of anxiety washed over her.
Khan was no longer a small beast that could simply be held and soothed in one's arms. He would grow even bigger in the future; would she be able to continue taking care of Khan until then?
Biting her lip, Malia soon took out a clean new blanket and covered Khan's body. The wolf, looking exhausted, rested its head on her lap and let out a growling sound.
She slowly stroked Khan's hair and looked out the window. A moment later, the carriage began to move slowly.
Thalia, who had been watching the Armund Forest recede into the distance, soon closed her eyes.
***
The guards seemed to have decided to quietly bury the incident that occurred at the hunting grounds.
As Thalia's daily life continued for several days without any change from usual, he was overwhelmed by a strange mix of anger and relief.
He felt a strong sense of displeasure at the behavior of his subordinates who were not faithfully carrying out his orders, but at the same time, he considered it fortunate that the deeds he had committed had not been conveyed to 'him'.
If word gets out that he attacked Dire boar, he will try to drive himself away from her, regardless of the reason.
Even if she resents him because of it, he won't care, since that man never compromises on her safety.
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