Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Half-Wolfkin
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Theodor Diarc. The new master who would lead the Diarc Family. The ruthless and cold family head. An incomparably arrogant and beautiful duke.
And, half-baked wolfkin.
That was another way to describe Theodor Diarc.
Unfortunately, Theodor could not perfectly control his beastkin traits.
It was a fatal weakness that didn't suit the 'perfect' Theodor Diarc at all.
And damn Claude had approached him knowing full well about that trait.
It was a place teeming with humans, a location where a fatigued Theodor would struggle to respond flexibly.
Who knew what schemes that fox-like bastard was harboring.
"......"
The big spender who appeared at a boutique in the city streets lavished money on a small, doll-like young lady, and a cart full of luggage followed behind the carriage carrying Lara.
Lara gazed endlessly out the window before sitting up straight again.
But seeing her gaze still drifting outside, bringing Lara into the city might have been the right choice after all.
"Do you want to see more?"
Theodor, who had been watching Lara, asked.
Lara wondered for a moment if he was annoyed that she wasn't 'behaving' properly, but finding no such tone in his voice, she relaxed a bit and answered.
"A little..."
"Hmm."
Originally, after buying clothes, he had planned to let her wander the city freely while he followed behind, but the sudden encounter with Claude had irritated him, leading to an earlier return to the mansion than planned.
But on second thought, she was still so skinny and frail that it was questionable if she could even walk around well. She managed fine inside the mansion, but outside was cold. Human children were far weaker than beastkin and might easily catch a cold or something.
"Is the mansion stifling?"
"No."
Lara hurriedly shook her head, worried he might misunderstand her answer.
"The mansion is so vast that it doesn't feel stifling at all."
Lara couldn't even imagine how many Laden Orphanages it would take to match the mansion where Theodor lived.
"I see."
Theodor replied curtly.
"We'll come to the city more often... once you've put on a bit more weight."
Lara blinked and looked at Theodor.
Again with the gaining weight talk.
Hearing it brought back the day she first met Theodor. In the carriage, when he said, 'So skinny, what could I even use you for,' she had absurdly wondered for a moment if he was taking her away to eat her.
After spending a few days with him, Lara realized he wouldn't harm her.
Theodor... wasn't a monster who would devour her; he was human, just like her.
He would never eat her.
The thought that she had worried over something so ridiculous made her smile faintly without realizing it.
"......Why are you smiling?"
"Ah..."
Lara panicked at Theodor's words.
Lowering her gaze, she said,
"I'm sorry."
"Why apologize?"
"Pardon?"
"I never told you not to smile. I was just curious. It's the first time I've seen you smile."
Lara lifted her head to look at Theodor.
His red eyes stared straight at her. They were Theodor's eyes, the ones Lara liked.
Eyes like jewels. In Lara's opinion, far prettier than the gem on the hairpin adorning her head.
"Smile when you want to, and don't when you don't."
"......"
"Whatever you do is up to you."
Lara stared at him blankly for a moment.
This man always said unfamiliar things to her.
Don't do anything, just stay still. Or do whatever you want.
So what was she supposed to do?
She wanted to know the answer.
"Today..."
Gathering her courage, Lara spoke up.
Her heterochromatic eyes looked up at Theodor quietly.
"Thank you for bringing me to the city."
"......"
"Thank you for buying me nice clothes."
Theodor simply watched the tiny human girl, wondering how far she would go.
"And for everything else too. I'll repay the favor someday."
In the end, the words she came up with in that little head of hers were about repaying a favor, and Theodor let out a small snort.
"Repay it?"
"Yes. If you tell me how..."
"How would I tell you what method to use?"
Theodor grew curious about what his little bride meant by repaying the favor and how.
"I'm curious about the method you've thought of."
Leaning his arm against the carriage window, Theodor leisurely enjoyed the sight of his bride flustering intensely.
"Well..."
Lara desperately tried to come up with an answer.
'This isn't so bad.'
And Theodor found watching Lara like this quite amusing. His mood, soured by Claude, lifted in an instant.
"I'll work hard and do my best."
But the answer she finally produced after so long pleased him quite a bit,
"......Really?"
and Theodor smiled languidly.
Do her best. It meant she remembered what he had said last time.
Not feeling bad about that either, Theodor said,
"Do that, then."
Upon arriving at the mansion, Marsha came out to greet Theodor and Lara.
"Miss, did you enjoy sightseeing in the city?"
"Yes. It was fun."
"You've put on the new hairpin? It looks lovely on you. It suits you perfectly."
"Thank you."
Lara answered awkwardly. Still, seeing her lips curve up slightly, Marsha felt relieved, thinking even this doll-like human girl had emotions of her own.
"Then, Miss Lara, we'll have dinner ready so you can rest soon."
"Make it so. I have to head out."
Theodor added.
Lara turned back at his words about leaving.
Theodor often went out, and according to Marsha, it was to handle the duke's duties.
Did that mean he had skipped work today to spend the whole day with her?
Seeing right through what the child was thinking, Theodor spoke first.
"Don't overthink it. Go inside and rest."
"Yes."
"You answer well."
Lara entered first, and Theodor called Marsha aside separately.
"Yes, Master. What is it?"
"I ran into Claude Renar in the city."
"You met Young Master Claude?"
Discomfort flashed across Marsha's face.
"I know his base is far from Aren, so why would someone like him be in the city streets of Aren..."
"Strengthen security around the mansion. Make sure no suspicious characters have been lurking. Report anything directly to me immediately."
"Understood, Master."
"Don't allow the newly hired ones access to the floor where Lara is. Keep people from going near there as much as possible. Not even a single ant should stir. No guests for the time being either."
"I'll see to it."
Worry clouded Marsha's face. She glanced toward where Lara had disappeared, then cautiously spoke up.
"Master Theodor, I..."
Marsha hesitated before opening her mouth. Theodor looked at her.
"Is Miss Lara truly the 'Bride of the Wolf'?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing else, but for now, she just seems like an ordinary human girl..."
Theodor's expression hardened in an instant. He slowly opened his mouth.
"......I believe I told you clearly. Don't call her a human girl."
Marsha's body stiffened.
"Didn't I say it right here? If you don't remember, I'll say it again."
Marsha was one of Theodor's closest retainers. She had watched over him since childhood and had been a confidante of his late mother.
But that didn't mean she could cross the line. It wasn't just because he was her master and she served him.
As a white weasel beastkin, Marsha instinctively felt fear toward Theodor, a higher beastkin, and it intensified whenever she displeased him like this.
"I'm sorry, Master Theodor. That wasn't my intention."
Marsha quickly bowed her head. Seeing her tremble, Theodor spoke slowly.
"I don't like repeating myself if I can help it."
"Yes, Master."
"If you make me repeat it once more, I won't let it slide, no matter who you are."
"I'll keep that in mind."
At the implicit order to withdraw, Marsha finally stepped back.
Left alone, Theodor sighed. He was tired. He didn't want to be this harsh with his longtime butler, but it was unavoidable.
Theodor was currently the sole family head of the Diarcs.
And once discipline crumbled, it would collapse uncontrollably.
At the very least, within this mansion, even the butler—who ranked second to Theodor—had to uphold the family's rules.
The current Theodor had to be even more perfect in every way.
"...Damn old man."
Leaving the mansion and boarding his carriage, Theodor muttered as he thought of his grandfather again.
He slowly unbuckled the buckle of his black leather gloves, which he never took off under normal circumstances.