Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: To Become Perfect
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As he removed his gloves, Theodor's hands—which maintained a perfectly human form—looked flawless at first glance.
"...Not even amusing."
Half-beastkin. Half-wolf.
How much effort had he poured in to become whole?
Yet his grandfather had never acknowledged him, and had even cruelly abandoned Theodor's own mother.
'Did you meet him in the afterlife.'
His overly kind mother would surely have forgiven his grandfather by now.
Theodor had never understood his grandfather right up until the old man's dying breath.
But what he couldn't understand even more was himself.
'Why?'
The last words of a dying man—someone Theodor had already succeeded as head of the Diarc Family—could have been ignored without issue.
Right before death, his grandfather had shown weakness before Theodor for the first time.
'I'm sorry, Theo.'
'Forgive me.'
That final moment rose in his mind as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.
'I regret it.'
Regret what? He didn't want to hear any more. For all his gasping effort on the brink of death, that was all the old man could utter...?
'Forgive me. Forgive this old fool. You have to accept my apology. For what I've done...'
His grandfather's ragged breaths faltered.
The old man mumbled, gaze shifting between Theodor and the empty air.
Theodor wondered if those words were meant for him at all—or for those who had gone before.
Then, his grandfather's eyes gleamed fiercely one last time as he spoke.
'Listen well, Theo. I've written everything about the "Bride of the Wolf" in my will. You must find her and bring her here. Understand?'
'Remember my words! Theo, you must find that child.'
'Only with her can you become whole.'
After hearing that ridiculous last command, Theodor's mood plummeted.
Become whole?
Even in his final moments, all his grandfather wanted from him was...
Theo ground his teeth and murmured quietly.
"...Rest in peace."
That was the last of Theodor's patience.
The curse warped every sound, every scent, every sensation in the world into searing agony writhing inside him. But as one of the five great Wolfkin families, he had endured it as the rightful price.
The "Bride of the Wolf" who would make him "whole"—he had sought her out of sheer curiosity to see what grand being she might be.
But.
"......"
Theodor closed his eyes quietly.
His hypersensitive fingertips still wandered, unable to forget the sweetness the "Bride of the Wolf" had given him just moments ago.
Theodor had felt it more clearly than anyone: the way his senses had calmed so swiftly upon first meeting Lara.
They said the Bride of the Wolf was a miraculous existence for Wolfkin—a being who could captivate them more surely than any sweet fruit wine in the world.
The little human girl Theodor had found was far from seductive, but she granted him the profound peace he'd never known in his life.
The torment boiling from the curse stilled the instant he faced her, like a serene lake surface that had never known a ripple.
And if the five families learned of this "Bride of the Wolf"?
If word spread that the being lost in mystery for seventeen years had reemerged, it might only be a matter of time before the Wolfkin hunting instincts awakened.
Theodor slipped his leather gloves back on and fastened the buckles tight.
Fear of what was to come was instinct for all living things—but fear did not suit Theodor.
Lara sat up fuzzily in the bed of her still-unfamiliar room.
Her eyes always opened at this hour—a habit ingrained from life at Laden Orphanage.
Everything in Theodor's mansion felt foreign to her still.
The plush bed. The warm, snow-white blankets. The grand windows. The curtains with their beautiful patterns. The smooth wooden table. The small but pretty sofa.
Even so, a few things were starting to feel less strange.
"Miss, are you awake?"
The butler's voice came with a knock—that was one of them.
"Good morning, Miss. Did you have sweet dreams last night?"
Marsha entered the room with a bright smile and her morning greeting.
Lara returned the greeting.
"Yes. You too..."
"Hee-hee, I slept like a log."
Marsha had told Lara countless times to drop the formal speech, but Lara's shyness had made her clam up instead, so they'd agreed to take it slow.
"You must be hungry, Miss. Breakfast is ready—let's head down."
This was winter, but not as bitterly cold as Laden Orphanage.
The sunlight streaming into Lara's room felt as warm as spring.
A faint smile touched Lara's lips as she nodded.
Down in the dining room, Theodor—who had already finished the previous night's business and returned—greeted her first. He sat sipping coffee at the table, having risen even before the early-rising Lara.
"Up already? Good morning."
Theodor offered a brief morning greeting. Lara started to reply but hesitated, missing her chance.
His greeting, delivered while gazing at her like a painting, had left her speechless.
His fine black hair gleamed vividly in the sunlight pouring into the dining room. His even more striking features blended with his pleasant voice, setting Lara's heart aflutter.
Of course, what she liked most were his eyes.
But she knew staring into someone's eyes too long only upset them, so Lara deliberately looked away as she took her seat at the table.
In the few days of sharing meals with him, Lara had learned a few new things. Theodor tried to eat with her at least once a day.
But he didn't stay in the mansion. He went out often, and even when home, he spent most of his time working in his study—so they rarely crossed paths.
Butler Marsha had said Young Master Theodor was the lord of Aren and head of the Diarc Family—a duke whose duties involved concepts a bit hard for Lara to grasp.
Still, she understood he was a very high noble. And incredibly busy.
"Miss, we have steak today."
Marsha told her. Theodor, now gauging Lara's portions accurately, had instructed the mansion's chef to serve amounts suited to her—plentiful enough that leaving a little wouldn't matter.
But Lara often found her gaze stolen by Theodor, who ate with perfectly elegant poise. Even to her inexperienced eyes, he looked utterly refined. Compared to him, she felt shabby and a bit embarrassed.
"Switch hands. Fork in left, knife in right."
"Yes."
"Fork tines up, knife carefully—from outside in."
When unfamiliar dishes appeared and Lara didn't know how to eat them, Theodor would guide her like this.
Even when tense Lara made the same mistakes, he never scolded her.
Fortunately, in just a few days, she'd learned to mimic him enough to eat neatly without spilling or staining.
"You said you know letters. How much?"
Today, Theodor asked this. Lara thought for a moment before answering.
"...I can write my name, and read short sentences."
The director hadn't taught Lara separately; while the other children learned, Lara cleaned floors or prepared meals. Curious what they were studying, she'd eavesdrop when the director wasn't watching or scribble letters alone.
One day, she found a fairy tale book Helen had discarded. Like she'd been enchanted, Lara snuck it away and pored over it whenever she had time.
With the book, she practiced the letters she knew, learned to write her name, and eventually read the whole thing by the time it grew tattered.
Then Helen caught her.
'This filthy beggar stole someone else's things?!'
For touching orphanage property without permission, Lara was slapped by the director. The book Helen tossed into the hearth became kindling in moments.
Theodor watched Lara's face abruptly darken at the memory, then spoke quietly.
"I see. Then I'll have some books brought that suit your level."
Theodor considered whether beastkin Marsha could handle tutoring Lara.
Hiring a human tutor would be ideal, but bringing any human other than Lara into this place was nearly impossible.
"...Um, will you be back late today?"
Lost in thoughts of tutors, Theodor looked at her. It was rare for Lara to initiate conversation like this. Yesterday's outing had clearly lifted her spirits.
"Possibly."
"Oh..."
"Need something?"
"No."
Lara shook her head obediently.
Theodor stared at her for a moment before speaking first.
With Claude's encounter in the city and all, it was time to caution Lara too.
"Feel free to wander the mansion when I'm gone. But don't go outside."
"Yes."
Lara always obeyed Theodor, whether it was a command or mere suggestion.
Theodor took in the sight of her quietly.
A human girl like a doll. Silent and meek. She never caused trouble or bothered him.
Yet sometimes Lara did things a Wolfkin like Theodor couldn't comprehend.
Clinging to a stranger like him despite her frailty.
Still seeming a bit afraid, yet letting her gaze drift toward him first.
'Thank you for everything. I'll repay the favor someday.'
'I'll work hard and fulfill my duties.'
...And occasionally saying amusing things like that.
'So, do you dislike it?'
He didn't. Honestly, he found her intriguing.
As Marsha brushed Lara's hair, she said,
"The young master said he'd bring books for you, Miss? I can't wait to see what kind."
"Um, I might not read them well. I've only ever read one fairy tale book..."
Lara's voice trailed off meekly.
"Hee-hee. So what if you're not perfect? I'll teach you."
Marsha said softly.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks."
"Still..."
Marsha smiled faintly. She didn't show it, but the miss seemed excited for the books Young Master Theodor would bring.
She clearly lacked age-appropriate education from years of abuse, but with that personality, she'd pick up anything quickly.
Come to think of it, the tutor issue for the miss was a problem. She'd offered to teach, but she wasn't a professional educator. Besides, beastkin and human curricula differed.
'I'll have to discuss it with the young master.'