Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: To My Dear Wolf
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Rin arrived just after lunchtime. Upon hearing the news, Marsha and Breina came down to greet her.
"So you're Rin. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Marsha, the butler of the Diarc Family."
"Hello, Butler! Thank you for summoning me. I'll work hard!"
Marsha nodded as Rin bowed in greeting. Breina, too, warmly welcomed Rin, her distant relative whom she hadn't seen in ages.
"Rin, you've grown so much since I last saw you! It feels like it was just a few years ago."
"Lady Breina, thank you for making it possible for me to come here! My mom said to be sure to pass on her thanks to you!"
"I only recommended you because I've heard you're always so diligent. Do your best, Rin."
Breina encouraged Rin, and Marsha led her to the room where she would stay.
It was in the servants' quarters, but the closest one to Miss Lara's room. Rin trailed eagerly behind Marsha, peppering her with questions.
"Butler, is it really true that I'll be attending to the young lady of this house?"
"Yes. Didn't Breina explain the details?"
"Of course I heard about it in the letter, but normally only nobles attend to noble ladies, right? But I'm not a noble! So when I suddenly heard I'd be serving the Diarc lady, Mom and I were both shocked!"
Marsha quickly realized that Rin, unlike Miss Lara, was quite the chatterbox. A cloud began to form over Marsha's face.
'I wonder if she'll get along with the young lady... This is worrying.'
This matter had already been reported to Young Master Theodor.
Young Master Theodor, who was sensitive about anything concerning Miss Lara, would demand perfection in every aspect. Seeing Rin—so lively but a bit careless—it was already cause for concern.
"Rin, how old are you?"
"Seventeen! Mom just baked me a birthday cake not long ago. It was so delicious, filled with all my favorite fruits..."
Seventeen years old. The same age as Miss Lara. Though Rin looked far more like the older sister in terms of build and height, that was only natural considering Miss Lara's condition.
Rin was still chattering away to herself. Marsha spoke up.
"Rin. Let me tell you about the young lady you'll be serving. She's quite shy around strangers."
"Don't worry about that! I'm not shy at all, and I get along with everyone. So I'm confident I can serve her well!"
"I see... Rest for today, then. Start work tomorrow. For the time being, I'll accompany you and teach you everything you need to know, so listen carefully."
"Yes, Butler!"
Rin replied briskly and entered her room. Marsha was startled by the clattering sounds coming from inside the closed door but soon turned away.
'She seems like a decent girl, but I wonder if she'll manage...'
Marsha pushed aside her lingering worries and descended the stairs.
Today, Miss Lara had an appointment with Young Master Theodor, so it would be best to introduce Rin tomorrow. That lively crow girl needed time to settle down from the excitement of her journey anyway.
It was just a slightly special dinner, but Lara had been in a strangely excited state all day. Theodor had invited her to dine together on the terrace of the glass greenhouse in the annex where he'd seen her before.
'I haven't seen Theo for a few days... I'm glad I get to see him.'
Ever since that incident, Theodor had unconsciously avoided Lara, making it hard for her even to catch a glimpse of his face. He always seemed busy anyway, so perhaps it was natural not to see him every day. Still, Lara felt a pang of regret.
'Did I say something too forward?'
Her words that Theo was a good person were her unvarnished truth.
Theodor Diarc was the best person Lara had ever met in her life.
Of course, Marsha, who cared for her daily, and Breina, who treated her, were good people too—but what she'd said to him meant something a little different.
He hadn't turned away from her in her darkest moment of despair.
It was the first time. The first time someone had listened to her worthless story.
It was a feeling Lara had never experienced since birth.
When the pain and suffering made her want to run away, no matter how much she cried out, no one had ever listened to her. Not once had anyone looked back at her agony.
But Theodor was different.
I've finally found her. My bride.
In that instant, Lara's world flipped upside down, and she was able to tell him.
That Theo was a good person.
'But maybe I shouldn't have said that...'
She'd started feeling down again, sensing that he'd been keeping his distance since then. That's when Theodor had asked her to dine together today.
"It's wonderful, Miss. The Master has been so busy lately, but he must have made time for you today."
Marsha spoke with a knowing smile, as if she could read Lara's thoughts, and Lara nodded shyly. It was embarrassing that Marsha put it so plainly, but it was the truth. Lara was plenty happy.
"It's about time now. Shall we head to the annex, Miss?"
"Yes."
The sun was already dipping low. Draped in a fluffy cape with light fur trim, it was warm enough to dine comfortably on the terrace.
This was one of Theodor's gifts. The cape shimmered with silver tones similar to Lara's hair—chosen deliberately, though he hadn't explained, so she didn't know.
"Theo."
When Lara arrived at the terrace, she saw Theodor's profile as he sat in a chair, gazing at something. His deep red eyes, as always subdued, met hers.
His gaze softened slightly.
"Good evening."
"Yes. You too, Theo..."
Their greeting felt a bit awkward. The table and chairs set up on the glass greenhouse terrace were simple, cozy enough that once Theodor and Lara sat, the space felt full.
Perhaps because it was so modest compared to usual, Marsha escorted Lara and then promptly vanished.
The terrace overlooked the annex garden below in its entirety. At sunset, Lara found herself captivated by the layers of rosy light stacking over the snow-covered garden. Theodor's soft chuckle reached her.
"Ah..."
Feeling she'd been rude, Lara straightened up quickly.
"No need to mind me. Take your time enjoying the view."
"...Yes."
Watching Lara nod and eagerly gaze at the garden again was surprisingly pleasant.
...Pleasant?
Indeed, Theodor felt he could describe his time with Lara as enjoyable.
It was baffling.
Human, female, child—she embodied everything he typically avoided. Why?
'Because there's no sense of repulsion.'
Was this simply because she was the Bride of the Wolf?
Theodor had never taken the talk of the Wolf's Bride seriously, dismissing it as his grandfather's nonsense.
Only after encountering her did he understand why Wolfkin obsessed over it so madly—but he wouldn't die without her.
He'd just return to his usual state.
For Theodor, who'd lived so long under the curse's yoke, that wasn't a big deal. Lara certainly eased him, but that was all.
...Or maybe not. Maybe I can't dismiss it so simply.
To Theodor, Lara was a new presence emerging from his familiar pain. He'd never met anyone like her before.
"The terrace might be chilly."
"It's fine. The cape keeps me warm."
He'd ordered the mansion kept at a cozy temperature for Lara's health, but Aren winter was far from over. Dining outdoors in the dead of winter might still be too much for her.
"I like eating outside. The view from up here is stunning... Thank you, Theo."
Her expressions weren't dramatic, easy to miss if not paying attention—but Theodor could tell she was truly delighted.
'Was it true that she felt lonely in the mansion?'
He hadn't expected her to be so thrilled over just the annex terrace.
Theodor recalled Breina and Marsha's words. If not for the coming Moonlight, he could have taken her into Aren city.
Despite being at the northern edge of Repayrun, Aren territory was quite livable. Its people, adapted to long winters, were gentle, their homes warmed by roaring fireplaces.
Diarc had fortified defenses early on, forged treaties with neighbors, making Aren strong and safe. Proximity to the Kelsey Sea ensured trade routes for ample supplies—a credit to Diarc.
Hard to believe it was a winter city; Aren was prosperous and cozy.
But Theodor had relocated here to seriously seek the Bride of the Wolf for one more special reason.