Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Spirit's Secret
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"It's a misunderstanding."
"Which part?"
"All of it."
"Hmm... Then may I ask why I acted that way?"
"That behavior..."
"Sneaking meat in the dining hall, growling, suddenly licking my face, and grabbing me as a 'husband' who wouldn't leave..."
"Kyaaah! Don't say it!"
Knowing her own shame, Yelena shamelessly covered my mouth with both hands.
As I stared at her blankly, she realized what she'd done, jolted in surprise, and pulled her hands away.
"Th-that...! It wasn't me. Really!"
I knew that much. It clearly wasn't her own will at work.
But this was something only I knew—thanks to my knowledge of the original story, where her ability was tied to spirits.
Assuming last night's events were indeed spirit-related, though I wasn't certain.
How should 'Cassius,' who knew nothing of Yelena's ability, react?
I glanced at her. She looked embarrassed, but also deeply confused.
She probably didn't understand the situation any better than I did.
'In that case...'
"Fine, I'll let it slide, Lena."
"...!"
I called her by the nickname we reserved for when we were alone, then got out of bed.
I'd chosen to give her time to think for herself.
An ability involving spirit communion could shake the entire empire if mishandled.
If she didn't know about it herself, that'd be one thing—but if she did, knowing the risks...
'Worst case, I could turn all the trust we've barely built into suspicion, and it wouldn't be strange.'
So, I imitated something a few romance novel male leads from my past life had done.
You know there's something there, but for your sake, I'll pretend I don't. That vibe.
'They'd often follow up like this, too.'
"But it's a shame."
"...Pardon?"
"That it wasn't you. It was awfully cute."
"...!!"
Yelena's face flushed as if it might burst.
Leaving her behind, I barely suppressed my laughter and stepped out.
As I walked down the corridor, I pondered spirits.
Agents of nature, revered almost as minor gods.
Spirits wielded powers matching their traits and essence freely.
Their greatest strength? No special restrictions on using those powers.
If anything, they were bound to elements of nature, so they couldn't roam freely.
But as long as the terrain or environment matched, spirits existed everywhere—it wasn't a big issue.
This led to massive wars in the distant past, driven by spirits and spirit users, according to the original story.
Eventually—whether nature's wrath or war's toll—those who could see and commune with spirits nearly vanished.
So, if Yelena's ability came to light, it could reignite those wars—a perpetual terror.
Especially since her communion ability seemed unique...
Controlling her would be tantamount to seizing continental hegemony.
"I want to help her, deep down."
But my position was the problem.
As grand duke, I held immense power to raise armies if I wished— no different in her eyes from other regional lords.
So, first, I needed to give her time.
For now, it was something she had to resolve alone.
"Ughhh...!!"
Ignoring all the etiquette she'd grown accustomed to over twenty years, Yelena sat on the bed, kicking at the air.
She hugged the large pillow Cassius had been using and recalled last night.
[What...? ...You want my hand?]
Cassius extended his hand with a bewildered look, and she rubbed her face against it.
"Eek...!"
Regrettable and shameful aside, the rough yet warm feel of his hand lingered.
[...Yelena, snap out of it.]
Noticing something off, he patted her head gently to rouse her.
She should've felt annoyed at him touching her head...
"...And yet he was considerate enough not to hurt me."
His awkward strokes, aware of her ability, brimmed with care.
[Let's get you to your room first.]
"Hic!"
Then he even scooped her up in that indecent princess carry!
In her memory, she seemed comfortable, lost in sniffing his neck.
After that, she'd clung to him as he tried to leave the bed, and they'd both fallen asleep.
Reliving every memory vividly, Yelena wanted to die of shame.
She'd done things no noble lady—no woman—should ever do.
And Cassius had stayed calm, considerate throughout... making her even more mortified.
'Wh-what was I doing, acting like a beast...'
She wanted to crawl into a rat hole, but it was impossible.
The manor, managed by dozens of servants, tolerated no such filth.
Besides, Cassius had vacated the room—no need to hide.
"Why on earth..."
Without even wiping her teary eyes from shame, she retraced events for a cause.
But nothing clicked, no matter how she thought.
A magic spell? She'd never heard of one puppeteering people like that.
No sleepwalking sickness from birth, either.
Above all, those sudden frost-colored ears and tail for a day screamed not ordinary illness.
'What happened to me...'
Utterly clueless, she'd been victimized.
Worse, it could happen again.
Last night, Cassius spotted her first—no other servants saw.
But in broad daylight, before crowds?
"Ah..."
Unthinkable horrors awaited.
"..."
As her mind grew tangled and gloomy...
Huff huff.
Hearing the familiar sound, Yelena called out instinctively.
"Ulpi? Where were you last night... Huh?"
Ulpi had entered unnoticed, rolling around the room. Yelena's eyes widened.
Ulpi's body... was bigger than before.
"Uh...?"
No illusion.
Previously fluffy with downy fur, the frost wolf now had coarser coat, dark patterns on face and body, sharp eyes.
As if grown.
"Spirits grow...?"
Even Yelena, who communed with spirits, had never heard this.
Books on spirits she'd read offered no mention of growth.
Spirits retained form from birth to end.
That was the world's law.
"...Or a different one?"
More likely. Spirits of same essence varied in form and size.
A larger, mature frost wolf spirit made sense.
To check, Yelena commanded tricks she'd taught idly.
"...Ulpi, paw!"
Pat!
"Roll over!"
Huff huff!
"Down! Magic! Pffft~!"
Thud flop!
"Nose! Jump! Somersault!"
Whine.
The spirit nailed every trick effortlessly.
Proof this grown wolf was Ulpi.
Kiiing.
"Spirits growing..."
As Yelena muttered at this worldview-shaking revelation, Ulpi approached.
He nudged her limp hand with his nose, urging pets.
"...?"
Déjà vu hit. Suspicious, Yelena sat on the floor.
Mid-pet, Ulpi neared her face... and licked wildly.
Not saliva, but cool breezes brushing by—but that wasn't the point.
"Y-you...! No way!"
Yelena glared at Ulpi with betrayed eyes.
Come to think of it...
She sometimes took on traits of spirits she communed deeply with.
That's how Ulpi tasted meat, getting caught by Cassius in the kitchen.
...If last night extended that assimilation?
Frosty puppy ears and tail. Ulpi was canine, after all.
"...Did you possess my body yesterday?"
Suspicious glare.
... Huff huff!
"F-for real?!"
Ulpi nodded, grinning innocently as if he understood.
His cheeky post-mischief smile irked Yelena for the first time.
'...No, Ulpi's always been sly.'
Especially when mistaken for a thief by Cassius, fleeing alone.
But questions remained.
Why did possessed-Ulpi cling to Cassius? Why the growth?
Unsolvable alone.
Ignoring risked repeats.
Her solution: direct confrontation.
Tell Cassius roughly about her ability.
He was the most trustworthy now.
His help was essential to prevent repeats, as a key figure.
'...It'll be fine. He'll understand...'
No war-mongering schemes from him.
Maybe too casual a decision, but she trusted him that much.
He hadn't spread her antics, subtly considerate...
Surely safe to confide.
Steeling herself, she sought him out.
"Your Highness, about last night—I have something to say. What happened ties to an ability I haven't told anyone. It's precisely..."
"W-wait!"
Yet Cassius halted her, utterly flustered.
"Take a breath first. Then we'll talk."
"...?"
He said this, then abruptly left, face a mask of panic.