I blinked in curiosity as I stroked its well-maintained, glossy black fur.
There was no way he would understand what I was saying, and even if Rood understood and answered, I wouldn't be able to understand it myself, but I naturally asked and pondered.
I wondered why, out of so many places, he specifically lay down in front of the back gate.
"Do you perhaps want to go out like yesterday? Ah. Is it because you're worried about that brown wolf?"
Rood tilted his head slightly as if scratching his head.
"Hmm. There weren't really any dangerous roads yesterday, though. There weren't any strangers either..."
As long as I follow Rood closely, I shouldn't get lost, so wouldn't it be fine? I told Thierry to spend time alone with me, so I can't exactly ask him to go out the back gate with Rood again when we meet later.
I pondered this and that, then wrinkled my nose.
"It'll be fine. It's not like we're going far."
As soon as I made up my mind, I put it into action immediately. I held up my index finger to warn Rood, but then, struck by a sudden thought, I lightly touched the tip of Rood's nose with it.
"Rood, you can't just go off on your own like yesterday. Ah! I guess I'll just have to hold your fur gently as you go."
It wasn't an unfamiliar behavior, as I sometimes walked while gently holding the tips of Rood's fur. First, I would slowly stroke his lower back, and when I carefully grasped his fur, Rood would glance at me for a moment before starting to walk as if accustomed to it.
“Empress?”
"Ah, Marie, I'll drink the tea after I get back from my walk. Leave it on the table."
"Yes. Shall I come along too?"
"No. I'll be back soon. If His Majesty happens to come, please tell him I went this way for a walk."
"Yes! Please take care on your way."
I waved briefly at Marie and followed Rood as he headed toward the back gate.
As expected, my prediction was correct; as soon as I opened the door, Rood started walking the exact same path as yesterday. He occasionally sniffed as if trying to smell something, but he continued exactly as he had been.
The lush forest held familiar yet colorful sounds. It was a familiar scene that somehow reminded me of the Imperial Palace, with the chirping of birds, the rustling of grass, and the sound of insects that would spin in the distance and stop when approached.
But this feels a bit unfamiliar.
"Isn't that the brown wolf from yesterday?"
I never imagined that brown wolf would be waiting in the same spot as yesterday.
I approached cautiously and let go of the fur to let Rood go first. The brown wolf, which had been backing away cautiously as if wary of me, stopped abruptly as Rood approached it.
"Ah, if I had known this would happen, I should have brought some medicine. Should I get it now?"
It wasn't bleeding like yesterday, but the wounds were covered in scabs, and seeing even the marks where fur had been pulled out from a bite, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Rood leisurely circled the brown wolf once, then approached the severe-looking wound. He then began to lick it slowly. At the sight, I held my breath and did not take my eyes off him.
After being wary of me for a moment, the brown wolf obediently gave its body to Rood and lay face down as if in submission.
I felt a bit strange. To think they opened their hearts so immediately. I knew that wild beasts are particularly wary of each other, so it was truly a fascinating sight.
"Oh? I see there was a passenger."
But suddenly, a man appeared from between the trees on the left. The man, with brown hair and a gentle expression, was looking at me with a surprised look on his face.
"But... did they mate? There's even a wolf I haven't seen before."
"Oh. The black wolf is my family."
“Family?”
"Yes."
The man looked back and forth between Rood and me with his eyes wide open. He seemed surprised, probably because it is rare to see someone who raises wolves. However, I wondered why he was so nonchalant and not even on guard when the wolf was so close.
I had no choice but to approach Rood step by step; he was already holding his head high and wary of the man. I was worried that if I left him alone, he might bite the man.
As I approached, sure enough, I saw the brown wolf get up from its seat and back away hesitantly.
The problem was that what happened next was unexpected. The brown wolf, which had been so wary of humans, walked toward the brown-haired man of its own accord. I stared at the scene in stunned silence.
“...Do you know this wolf?”
"Yes, it's a wolf I sometimes see here. But you got hurt again today? Bringing medicine has become such a natural thing to do now."
"Does it get hurt often?"
"Yes. I have treated it several times."
The man frowned as if feeling sorry for the victim. He released what he had been holding onto the floor, stroked the brown wolf's back with practice, and began to check the wound.
"As I treated it frequently, at some point it started approaching me first like this. Haha, I was really surprised at first. Originally, it tried so hard to bite me; if I hadn't been weakened by the pain, I might have been bitten to death right then and there."
"Ah, I guess even the wolf knows to be grateful. I also got close to Rood while treating his injuries."
"Is that so? Why do you guys go around getting hurt like that? Take care of yourselves."
The man meticulously examined the brown wolf's wounds and applied medicine. Judging by the high-quality material of his clothes, he appeared to come from a noble family, yet his demeanor was incredibly unpretentious.
"Either leave this place completely, or just follow me. I told you to, so why do you keep coming back here?"
"...Is a wolf pack here harassing it like that?"
"I think so. After all, beasts tend to be cruel to those who are different from them. They probably can't accept a wolf with a limp."
"Isn't it because it injured its leg?"
"I noticed that one of its legs is noticeably shorter than the other. I suspect that it might have been like this since birth."
Ah, so that's why you tripped. I thought it was because I got bitten...
The brown wolf, who seemed to have a complicated past in many ways, did not take his eyes off Rood even while receiving treatment. It might sound like I'm being a doting fool, but the thought that this wolf had fallen for Rood was slowly creeping into my mind. No matter how I look at it, this seems a bit too much to simply be opening his heart because he is of the same kind.
I was stroking Rood's head when I lowered my gaze at the feeling of my skirt being tugged slightly. It was only then that I realized my mistake, seeing Rood pull at my clothes as if to say we should go back and try to lead me toward the villa.
This wasn't the time to be leisurely chatting with others, and if Thierry were to see me like this with a stranger, there was no telling what kind of trouble he might cause.
It seemed better to hurry back, just in case the Jealousy Demon King came.
"I should be going now. Still, seeing the treatment before leaving puts my mind at ease. Goodbye for now."
Just as I had come, I lightly held the tip of Rood's fur and turned around, when an urgent voice pierced my back.
“Ah. Lady!”
"Yes?"
As I flinched and turned around, the man bit his lower lip like a nervous person, then slowly caught his breath and opened his mouth.
"If you don't mind, may I ask for your name?"
"...My name?”
"Ah. Well... It's a bit fascinating to run into someone here, and since you mentioned you raise a wolf, I thought it would be nice to get some advice in case."
I rolled my eyes. Do I really need to tell him? We won't be meeting again anyway.
"It’s a bit difficult to handle it this way. If we happen to meet again, would it be alright if I brought it up formally then?"
"Ah, yes! I was very thoughtless. Please forgive my rudeness."
"You're welcome, Rood? Alright, let's go, let's go."
I followed Rood, glancing back only slightly. I saw the man and the brown wolf staring at us endlessly without moving an inch.
I brought my gaze back to its original position and quickened my pace. Hmm, if I ever come here again, I shouldn't come alone.
***
It has already been a week since we arrived on our honeymoon. Nothing particularly special happened, but the days that felt like special days repeated themselves.
Of course, Thierry did check the approval documents from time to time, but since we were together almost all day, there wasn't even the slightest chance to sense his lapses.
Waking up in a warm embrace filled me with richness. As warm breaths scattered amidst kisses overflowing with affection and soft skin touched, the thought that this is what happiness is pleasantly filled my mind every morning.
"...Ugh."
Today, too, the sensation of lips settling on my shoulder woke me up. Since the day he started sharing a bed with me, Thierry has been sleeping quite a bit better than before. However, that doesn't mean his sleep duration has increased, so he would mostly stay awake by my side while I was asleep, keeping watch over me and even preparing my breakfast.
“I need to eat breakfast.”
"Yeah... how much did you sleep today?"
I mumbled while rubbing my heavy eyelids with both hands.
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