Seeing that, I felt somewhat stunned for some reason.
"S-Surely you didn't hurt Rood?"
"...!"
There was no way he would understand what I was saying, but as if he had read the atmosphere, Rood immediately let out a short, whimpering cry as if he were being unfairly accused. What kind of reaction is this?
As I blinked in confusion, Thierry muttered softly.
"It’s not that Rood did that; it looks like he just discovered that it’s in this state."
“Oh, really?”
"It looks like Rood has been nearby the whole time, but he stayed quiet until we arrived and then became wary. Besides, Rood looks quite neat and tidy."
"Ah, I see. Rood, sorry for the misunderstanding. So you stayed by your injured friend's side because you were worried about him?"
I proudly stroked Rood's head. Rood closed his eyes tightly and raised his snout toward the sky.
Anyway, he was quick-witted, so even though he didn't know what it was, he realized it was just a compliment, and it was funny to see him thrusting at me and telling me to touch him to my heart's content.
Wondering how it could be so big yet still be cute, I stifled a laugh and glanced at the brown wolf that had been quietly keeping an eye on us for a while.
I thought it wouldn't be good to leave it like that, and I wondered how I could approach the wolf that was wary of people.
However, contrary to my worries, the brown wolf sprang to his feet as if he had sensed something from me. Then, limping, he ran off somewhere.
"Uh?"
Even though he was injured, there wasn't even a chance to grab it. The empty space was drenched in the brown wolf's blood.
I frowned as I stared seriously at the retreating figure of the brown wolf running into the distance. Although its whole body was covered in wounds, the brown wolf was already running at a much slower pace, limping as if its leg had been the most severely injured.
I glanced downwards. Rood, whom I thought would immediately follow, surprisingly showed no reaction and just kept his head pressed against my hand.
'Didn't you watch over him all this time? You're letting him go so carelessly.'
I was a bit taken aback by the sight of Rood, who seemed to have absolutely no interest in the wolf, instead busy acting cute and rubbing his head against my hand as if asking to be petted again.
"Is it okay to send it like that?"
"They're just wild beasts anyway. If we get involved for no reason, it might get bullied even more by the pack."
Thierry twisted his lips, putting particular emphasis on the word "bullied." He looked down at me with such a cute expression that I wondered if he was trying to play a prank, but since my attention was elsewhere, I didn't have the chance to press him, so I just muttered with a sigh.
"That's true, but..."
Of all the animals, why a wolf? It reminded me of when I first met Rood, so I felt quite uneasy, as if I had just let the injured wolf go.
I looked in the direction the brown wolf had run, then slowly lowered my gaze. The traces of bright red blood, not yet dry, weighed heavily on my chest.
***
"I should have quit right away. Why on earth did I stay here..."
Wagen, who had come all the way to Skedemon, lamented dejectedly with a face that had grown haggard in just a few days. I awkwardly raised the corners of my mouth and looked down with cold, bitter eyes at the heavy approval documents placed on the drawing table.
I opened the door, wondering where the sound of a carriage was coming from, since no one was supposed to be here, only to find Wagen appearing from inside.
Thierry tried to turn me away right away, but since Wagen quickly took a seat in the drawing room, I ended up sitting on the sofa with him.
"It's crazy?"
Thierry, sitting next to me, gritted his teeth as he looked back and forth between the documents and Wagen. His crumpled face blatantly showed just how disgusted he was, so I rolled my eyes as I quietly moved to the far end of the sofa.
"I told you to take the documents."
Wagen slammed his palm down on the papers with a fierce smile. Thierry seemed more annoyed by the fact that I had stepped back in surprise than by that fierce reaction; he raised one eyebrow, wrapped his arm around my waist, and pressed himself close to his side.
“Why are you sitting like that?”
"Ah. Just... please don't worry about me and just have a comfortable conversation."
Please... I looked at Thierry with desperate longing.
Thierry stared down at me for a moment, then clicked his tongue briefly as if displeased and turned his gaze to Wagen.
"What are you doing on your honeymoon?"
"I would have understood if the honeymoon was about a week long. But taking a whole month off!"
"Isn't that already over?"
"What I received was merely a notification, though?"
"Anyway, I did say it."
"...Okay, putting that aside for now, didn't I tell you to at least check the documents because I absolutely cannot leave your post vacant for a whole month? But you just left, conveniently taking out the papers I had prepared."
See, I told you a month is too long. I suggested we settle for about 15 days, but he just sulked pitifully. The problem is me, the real problem, for falling for it so easily during that pathetic day.
Wagen's bitter plea made me feel even more self-conscious for no reason.
I glanced at Thierry and almost let out a sigh. Just moments ago he looked a bit angry, but now he was sitting there arrogantly with his legs crossed, looking nonchalant as if it were none of his business; it was a sight that would make anyone watching seethe with anger.
"Is Podia mine? She's yours! Ha, I don't know. I'm just going to quit this and go travel. Still, we've grown attached to each other, so I thought I'd stay by your side for as long as you live, but I don't think that's necessary."
As if he had given up on even his vague politeness now, Wagen shouted with a choked-up look on his face. I was really worried that if I left him like this, Wagen might just run away.
I tried to stay as still as possible, but it didn't seem like Thierry would step up and do anything, so I felt like I would have to take the lead in the situation, even if I had to force it.
I moistened my dry lips and slowly opened my mouth.
"Um... I'm sorry to interrupt, but since you're going to such lengths, would it be hard to spare a moment to check the documents? We don't need to be with you all day anyway."
"Why wouldn't we need to? We're newlyweds, so we shouldn't be apart for even a moment."
Thierry glared at me. His face looked as if to say, "How could you say such a thing?" So I recoiled and rolled my eyes to the side.
"Your Majesty won't be separated even if you're not newlywed."
The last one was Wagen's words. Since he knew Thierry so well, his words struck a chord even more deeply.
I smiled vaguely as I grabbed Thierry's hand, who was looking down at me shamelessly without even denying it.
"Haha... I actually enjoy having an hour or two to myself. While Your Majesty is working splendidly, I can simply wait in the garden with Rood, drinking tea. Ah, since I’ve spent that much time with Rood, if I focus solely on Your Majesty for the rest of the time, Your Majesty will get the work done, and I will be more devoted to You; wouldn't that be good for both of us?"
Thierry raised one eyebrow like someone who was intrigued.
"...Then we don't necessarily have to go as a trio, right?"
"Yes! My goal was to spend even a little time with Rood, so that is enough!"
"Yes."
Huh? Really? I was the first to look at Thierry in bewilderment at his unexpectedly quick affirmation. I had just said it to test the waters, but I didn't expect him to accept it so readily.
"Ha..."
At the sound of a hollow laugh, I blinked my eyes, which I had been keeping open. I looked where the sound came from and saw Wagen laughing in disbelief. At the same time, he was slyly pushing the documents toward Thierry with his hand.
"...There are urgent matters, so shall we go to the room first?"
Fearing he might change his mind, Wagen quickly erased his expression and asked with a serious face.
'Let's get out of here quickly for now.'
I quickly stepped away from my seat, afraid of making eye contact with Thierry.
I could feel Thierry staring at me even without looking back, but I held back and didn't turn around. I did feel sorry for Thierry working even while just on his honeymoon, but since it was a situation he had brought upon himself, I had nothing to say.
I headed outside with quick steps. As I opened the door, bright sunlight poured overhead, causing me to squint slightly. I shielded my eyes with my hand, scanned my surroundings, and asked Marie, who had followed me out.
"Marie, did you see where Rood is?"
"I saw him heading towards the donation area a moment ago. Shall we go check it out?"
"No, I'd like to ask for a carriage."
"Yes!"
I walked around the villa in a wide circle and headed toward the back garden. As I walked along the path made for strolling, I caught sight of Rood lying prone near the back gate.
"Rood, what are you doing here?"
Rood spotted me before I could approach and jumped up from his seat and ran over.
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment