Chapter 70: Direwolf
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: Direwolf
What is that?
The box was far too large to be called a gift. No, it wasn't even a box.
Thud!
A heavy sound echoed as several adult men lowered the massive object onto the floor. I looked at it, my brow furrowed.
‘An iron cage?’
It was wrapped in bright red velvet as if it were a present, but I could catch glimpses of iron bars through the fabric. My breath hitched at the ominous sight.
“Since it’s a special day, I’ve prepared something very special as well,” Rosette said with a smirk. Her eyes, however, looked a bit crazed.
‘She doesn’t seem to be in her right mind.’
Feeling uneasy, I sidled closer to Veronica. Just as I was about to suggest we leave, Rosette whipped off the velvet cloth covering the gift.
“Oh my...!”
“Wait, that’s...!”
The gift was none other than a massive iron cage with an animal trapped inside. And sitting within was a wolf with crimson fur.
“Grrrrr...”
The nobles gasped in shock at the sight. Some even recoiled in fear, stepping back slowly.
‘It’s way too big for a wolf.’
It looked like a wolf, but its size was enormous. Perhaps wary of the gathered crowd, the wolf growled, revealing long, sharp fangs.
“It’s a Direwolf.”
“How could she bring a demonic beast...?”
“I heard they capture and tame demonic beasts in the West. It must be one of those.”
“...”
Still, bringing a demonic beast? Isn't that taking it too far?
As I scowled in displeasure, Desmond’s voice echoed in my mind.
[This demonic beast... something is wrong with it.]
‘Wrong? How?’
[Its heart is beating too fast.]
‘Its heart?’
Isn't that just because it's startled by all the people? Humans and demonic beasts are enemies, after all.
But I didn't think Desmond would call it "strange" just for that. I peered closely at the drooling Direwolf.
“This isn't something a child should be seeing.”
“...!”
Veronica stepped in front of me, blocking my view. I couldn't check the Direwolf’s condition any further.
“As I said, it’s a gift for a special day. In the West, there is a custom of gifting a demonic beast to a bride-to-be.”
“...”
I wondered if she was lying, but seeing as no one spoke up, it seemed to be true.
Why on earth would anyone give a demonic beast to a bride? This place is truly bizarre.
I’d heard that the West, being even more barren than the North, was a lawless land. Was the gift meant to protect the bride with a beast tamed by human hands?
But there was no way Rosette had given this to Veronica with such good intentions. I narrowed my eyes.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Lady Chernoke.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s only natural.”
On the surface, their conversation seemed warm enough. Yet, it felt as though they were both hiding sharpened blades behind their words.
“Well then, this uninvited guest shall take her leave.”
“Yes, do get home safely.”
Surprisingly, Rosette turned to leave without a fuss. Of course, I couldn't let my guard down just yet.
“Move the cage to the side. And have the knights take turns guarding it.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Veronica also seemed uneasy, as she ordered Raven to have the knights watch the cage. Soon, the knights hauled the massive cage to a corner of the garden.
[That beast... I think there’s something near its heart.]
‘Really?’
Even Luers, who had been quiet, chimed in to support Desmond’s observation. My anxiety began to spike.
[I don’t know what it is, but shall I get rid of it for you?]
‘Can you do that?’
[Something of that level is child's play.]
Speaking in an arrogant tone, Luers was being quite proactive today. It seemed he liked Veronica enough that he wanted to protect her from any potential harm.
Well, it worked for me. He was a bit prickly, but thanks to Luers, Veronica had remained safe from assassins before.
The other demons remained silent, seemingly unable to dispute Luers’ skill. Deciding I could leave the rest to him, I turned my head away.
“Even if it is a Western custom, a demonic beast is a bit much.”
“I agree. Besides, Lady Chernoke’s previous attitude toward the Ducal Lady was also quite...”
“That’s why the Ducal Lady didn’t invite her in the first place.”
Since most of the guests were from families close to the Ducal House, many were critical of Rosette’s behavior.
Of course, there were those who remained silent, mindful of the fact that the Chernoke family had been elevated to a Marquis House following Dantalion’s victory.
“Dia, this macaron is delicious. Try it.”
“Mhm.”
Deciding I didn't need to worry about the demonic beast anymore, I took a bite of the macaron Abel handed me.
“My, the young Lord Gideon is already so gallant and handsome. Look at how he takes care of the Little Lady.”
“But who is that other boy? I’ve never seen him before...”
“I heard the Duke rescued a child from a terrorist incident recently. Could it be him?”
The nobles were also very interested in Abel and Nathaniel. They were busy whispering about the two boys who were busy ferrying desserts to me like mother birds.
‘Come to think of it, Nathaniel isn't a noble.’
Abel was the heir to a Count’s house, but Nathaniel was not. Since the Temple kidnapped commoner children at random for their experiments, Nathaniel was likely of commoner birth.
The Duke of Winston recruited talent regardless of birth, but other nobles were different.
If they found out about Nathaniel’s status, they wouldn't understand why a mere commoner boy was attending to the noble Little Lady.
‘I should ask the Duke to give Nathaniel a proper title before we head to the Imperial Palace.’
Nathaniel certainly deserved it. He possessed divine power so immense he was called the Temple’s ultimate weapon, and now that he had a proxy contract with Ilnes, he was likely even stronger.
I didn't know exactly how he was faring in the knight order, but even Raven seemed to acknowledge Nathaniel’s talent.
“This is too sweet.”
“Is it?”
I shook my head and set the macaron back down on the plate. Abel, who was starting to figure out my tastes, scanned the table with hawk-like eyes.
It happened at that moment.
“Dia.”
“Huh?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“...?”
Nathaniel suddenly grabbed my hand. For a moment, I couldn't understand what he meant.
[Oh boy, it’s going off!]
‘What? What’s going off?’
It happened in an instant. A massive roar erupted from nearby.
BOOM!
“Kyaaaaah!”
“W-What on earth...!”
Before I could even process what was happening, Nathaniel and Abel shielded me. Thanks to them, I wasn't hurt at all.
‘What was that?’
[The thing embedded in that beast’s heart. It exploded before I could finish removing it.]
‘That thing was actually a bomb?’
I was speechless.
That crazy bitch Rosette—she planted a bomb in a demonic beast’s heart and set it off with so many people around?
This wasn't just targeting Veronica. Everyone here could have died.
‘Did she do this because it’s hard to target Veronica alone with all her guards?’
Even today, the Duke had left knights behind out of concern for Veronica and me. It seemed she had planned this with that in mind. I could only marvel at the sheer depth of Rosette’s malice.
“Dia, are you alright?”
“Mhm, I’m okay.”
I was safe thanks to Abel and Nathaniel. In the first place, because Luers had been in the middle of removing the bomb, the explosion wasn't as large as it could have been.
“The knights have owies.”
“Ah, I see. We must treat them immediately...”
Only the knights near the cage had been caught in the blast and injured. At my words, Veronica stood up in surprise.
“Should I heal them?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll do it if you want me to, Dia.”
“...”
Nathaniel, who had been quiet, spoke to me. I stared at him.
If he used divine power to heal the injured knights in front of all these nobles, Nathaniel would draw a lot of attention.
The Duke would likely reward him for his contribution. That was what I wanted.
But there were too many noble witnesses. I felt it might still be dangerous if the Temple found out about Nathaniel...
As I wavered, Nathaniel reached out and squeezed my hand firmly.
“It’s okay. What you’re worried about won’t happen.”
“...”
Did he really know what I was thinking, or was he just saying that?
Regardless, Nathaniel’s calm voice helped me regain my composure. I nodded at him.