Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Lykan Threat
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The official holiday schedule for the servants of the Aren Estate was set to end at noon today.
Following Marsha, who had arrived first, Breina and Rin returned to the estate along with the other servants, and just like that, the Aren Estate swiftly returned to its former bustle, as if it had never been empty.
"……."
Everything was the same as before—with the exception of the estate's butler, whose expression somehow looked even worse after the holiday. Breina watched Marsha for a moment before speaking up first.
"Marsha, what's wrong? I'm the one who got grounded for a week over Rin's incident, but you look like the one who got punished."
Breina had been confined to the estate for a week due to Rin's mishap, but the holiday granted to all the servants right after had effectively saved her face.
Besides, her confinement came with a slight exception. She was the estate's only chief physician, after all. Rin, on the other hand, had been tied back up in her room the moment she returned, with no exceptions.
Breina was well aware that Theodor had gone out of his way to accommodate her.
But then, why did her old friend look like this after such a short holiday?
Marsha was now pressing her fingers against her temple as if nursing a headache, her eyes squeezed shut.
"Breina. You're back."
"Something definitely happened. Right? Come on, Marsha, spill it."
"Haa."
Marsha didn't answer right away and simply shook her head. After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"…Breina. Do you know about Lykan Spender?"
"Lykan? That Lykan Spender? Who doesn't?"
Breina's steam went out at Marsha's out-of-left-field question. What on earth was this butler trying to say?
"I've never met him in person, but isn't he the strongest among the five Wolfkin families? He's practically their king."
"Yes. The strongest. And king, too."
"So what's he got to do with anything right now? We serve the head of the Diarc Family. Why would we get tangled up with Lykan?"
Breina spoke lightly, but Marsha didn't seem to take it that way.
As she spoke, Breina started feeling an odd unease. The reason for the butler's sour expression couldn't be…?
"What's wrong? Is Lykan coming to attack us or something?"
"……."
"……For real?"
Now even Breina's face was starting to pale. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she quickly scanned her surroundings. A few maids hurried by.
"Um… Marsha. Ahem. I need to discuss the estate's stock of medicines with you…."
Breina quickly led Marsha to her office. Marsha followed like a ghost, her face utterly blank.
"I can't believe it. Lykan Spender? Of all people. What on earth happened?"
Breina was stunned after hearing a brief rundown of what had transpired over the past two days, while Theodor Diarc—the current head of the Diarc Family and their master—and the human girl Lara had been left alone in the estate.
Marsha sipped at the tea Breina had brewed, her expression soulless as she spoke.
"To be precise, it was Master Theodor. He willingly accepted the fight that came knocking at our door."
"My goodness. Master never struck me as the hotheaded type. Why? This makes no sense."
Breina muttered. Marsha set down her teacup.
She calls her master's actions hotheaded. But… Theodor was the youngest family head in Diarc history, yet this wasn't mere impulsiveness.
"Breina. This is your first time working for a Wolfkin family, isn't it?"
"Yes. You know that, Marsha."
"Your first time as a resident chief physician, too."
Breina was the most renowned physician among Owl Beastkin, sought after by people of all ages and statuses who trusted her skills.
Out of the countless offers she received, she had chosen the Diarc Family largely due to her long friendship with Marsha.
"Then, have you met any other Wolfkin besides Master up until now?"
"Occasionally. But never anyone as high-ranking as Young Master Theodor. Those sorts have their own personal physicians. Wolfkin don't get badly injured in the first place… and they recover quickly. Their strength alone ensures that."
Wolfkin excelled in both power and recovery far beyond other Beastkin races.
Having weathered a brutal era of bloodshed, they now maintained their territories across the five families, avoiding trouble and fiercely guarding their domains.
"Not to brag, but if a Wolfkin skips their family physician to come to me, they're probably on the brink of death."
"You're right, Breina. But that might happen soon enough."
Marsha's voice was deeply grim. Breina's heart sank as she offered more tea to comfort her.
"Why say something like that, Marsha? That's not like you."
"The situation is that serious. If it comes to that… I don't even know what I could do."
"Don't talk like that. You're this family's butler, aren't you?"
At Breina's words, Marsha seemed to perk up a bit. Breina continued.
"This must have happened because… Lady Lara is the 'Bride of the Wolf,' right? But that fact hasn't leaked outside the estate yet."
"Who knows. Given how things turned out, there might be an insider…."
Marsha's words carried heavy implications.
There could be a traitor within the estate. Neither woman spoke further on the grave suspicion, but the heavy atmosphere lingered. Finally, Breina ventured cautiously.
"But Marsha. Yesterday was Moonlight, and Lykan Spender is a Wolfkin too, so he must have been affected. How did he even barge into the estate?"
"Well… what came yesterday wasn't Lykan himself."
"Not himself?"
"Lykan Spender can summon phantoms. It's the Spender family's ability, but his mastery is top-tier."
Marsha had hurriedly disposed of the pitch-black fragments embedded under Theodor's ice sculpture in the middle of the hallway. That erased the traces of intrusion, but Lykan's phantoms were never weak.
If it hadn't been for the master, the young lady would have been in real trouble.
Thanks to her long service in the Diarc Family, Marsha knew more than most about Lykan Spender. Few would suspect that the elegant, refined man could stoop to such tactics.
He had risen to become king of the five Wolfkin families using his powers over phantoms and shadows—without aid from anyone in his own house, much like Theodor in that regard.
"…Lykan is brutally ruthless and savage. The title of Wolfkin king isn't won easily."
Marsha continued after setting down her cup.
"But Master Theodor won't let this slide, no matter how strong Lykan is. That's the nature of wolves. For Wolfkin, defending their territory is more important than life itself. And he touched Lady Lara, too… I'm deeply worried."
Now Breina's face was clouded over as well.
"Marsha. Even if Lady Lara is the Bride of the Wolf, she's just an ordinary human."
"……."
"She shouldn't have gotten dragged into something like this…."
She was worried about Young Master Theodor too, of course, but Breina's heart went out more to the young human girl she had cared for so closely.
She could only fret over the fate of a human girl with no power to protect herself.
"…We'll be busy for a while. Prepare yourself, Breina."
Composing herself with cold resolve, Marsha rose first.
"Thanks for the tea. It calmed me down a bit. Breina, check on Lady Lara's knee later."
"Pardon? Did the young lady hurt her knee?"
"Please."
Returning to her capable butler mode, Marsha entrusted Lara to Breina and left the room.
Breina told herself that the ominous shape of the tea leaves left in the cup was just her imagination.
"Breina…!"
Lara greeted her with a hint of joy.
It had only been two days since Breina left the estate, but the theft incident at the end had left Lara terribly worried. She hoped Breina hadn't gotten too scolded by Theo.
Breina inwardly sighed in relief at the young lady's warm welcome. Fortunately, Lady Lara didn't look too worse for wear.
"Young lady, have you been well? I've finished my holiday and come back."
"Breina, I'm sorry. This is all because of me…."
"What are you saying, young lady?"
As Lara tried to apologize for something that wasn't her fault, Breina met her eyes and spoke gently.
"You don't need to say such things. If anything, it was my mistake."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Breina."
"Hee-hee, I'm so glad you say that."
As she replied, Breina quickly checked Lara's condition.
Sure enough, there were bandages wrapped thickly around her knee.