TFM 249

Not once had he ever truly protected this woman

Chapter 249

The one fortunate thing was that there were still three years left before the Zram invasion.

He had to come up with a plan somehow before then.

...Is there no way to warn her about what will happen?

He walked out from behind the screen again and slowly looked around at the furniture, which seemed uselessly enormous.

On the desk, he saw three or four books and writing tools.

There was no way he could hold a pen with the forepaws of a beast, but perhaps he could leave a message using ink.

Yet would that truly be a wise method?

He turned his gaze back toward the bed.

She was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the world. When her pale complexion, not yet entirely free of illness, entered his sight, his heart clenched painfully.

Even if he somehow managed to leave a message, would she really believe it?

He himself could not even fully accept this situation.

If a magical beast left ominous words as though trying to warn her, he would most likely be driven out as an evil spirit.

Even if, by some miracle, she believed his words, that would be a problem as well.

One wrong move, and she too could be accused of being a witch.

She was already in a position where merely keeping a magical beast at her side could make people suspect her of heresy. If anyone were to catch her communicating with him, they would surely think she had been possessed by an evil spirit.

In the end, there was only one realistic method he could take.

Until that day came three years from now, he had to remain firmly by her side.

Using his hind legs, which had grown longer and stronger than when he had first awakened in this body, he leapt lightly onto the bed and sat beside her pillow.

Right now, he was in a pitiful form. But magical beasts grew at an astonishing rate.

And he knew very well how enormous this wolf would become in the future.

As long as he could avoid being driven out of this castle until the Zram invasion occurred, he would be able to prevent the tragedy that awaited her.

'...To do that, I need to act in a way that makes them see me as harmless as possible.'

He quietly looked at his wife’s face, half-buried in the pillow.

In order to protect this woman, he had to show those around him an obedient, docile attitude.

Most important of all was that he must never reveal aggression.

If, by any chance, he harmed someone the way Khan had attacked Lucas, it was obvious he would be disposed of immediately.

That absolutely could not happen.

No matter what, he had to remain by her side.

If he could stay in this castle for just those three years, he would be able to change the future.

And after that…

He stopped his thoughts there.

Right now, he did not want to think about a future that far away.

For the moment, he had to focus only on protecting her.

He curled up beside her in a small round shape.

He was afraid that, if he closed his eyes, all of this might fade away like a mirage. But in order to hasten the growth of this body, he needed to get enough sleep.

He pressed himself close beside her and rested his chin on his neatly gathered front paws.

Then a rough sound of breathing brushed against his ears.

It sounded like someone drowning, struggling desperately to draw in air.

His head shot up at once, and he saw her clutching her throat with both hands.

Startled, he sprang to his feet.

Even in the darkness, he could clearly see her face turning blue, like a person on the verge of drowning.

Without even having time to think, he let out an urgent cry.

At the sight of Thalia gasping as though her breath might cut off at any moment, a chilling terror swept over him.

Praying that someone, anyone, would come running, he cried out even louder. Then Thalia, panting painfully for breath, lifted her cold-sweat-soaked eyelids and looked at him.

A moment later, desperate hands pulled his body tightly into her arms.

“Varkas…”

At that tearful voice, his back stiffened in an instant.

For one brief moment, hope swelled in him that perhaps she had recognized him.

But when he met her unfocused eyes, that swelling in his chest collapsed all at once.

She held him so tightly it hurt and murmured like a person half out of her mind.

“I knew you would come. I knew… you would come to save me.”

He felt the blood in his entire body freeze.

The moment he realized the true nature of the nightmare tormenting her, it was as though a cold blade had pierced straight through him.

He pressed his face close to the cold nape of her bloodless neck and breathed roughly.

The image of himself running toward Ayla Roem Guirta, leaving this woman behind, and the sight of her being attacked by the magical beast rose vividly in his mind.

Not once had he ever truly protected this woman.

But this time would be different.

Even if it cost him his life, he would protect her without fail.

Even if he could never again hold her in his arms or kiss her, it did not matter.

As long as you are alive and breathing in this world, I no longer care about anything else.

He listened as her breathing gradually calmed and sank into steadiness.

Then he carefully licked the cheek that was drenched with tears.

Soon after, peace settled over her face.

Until the faint light of dawn began to brighten, he watched her like that.

He watched, and watched, endlessly.

***

“That medicine really seems to work well.”

When Thalia saw Marisen, who had come to check on her condition, she spoke in a bright voice.

“I walked two laps around the garden with Khan, but there’s barely any pain in my leg. I think I toss and turn less at night too.”

The mage, who had been rummaging through the shelf to change the bandage on her leg, turned back to her with a polite smile.

“That is truly fortunate.”

“So, prepare more of the spare reagent for me. I want to take it every day.”

“Your Highness, that reagent is quite strong. You must drink it at least three or four days apart for it not to burden your body.”

“It didn’t seem that strong to me.”

She pouted in dissatisfaction.

“It wasn’t even that bitter. And after taking it, I didn’t have any side effects like stomach pain either.”

“Only the taste is mild. The medicinal effect itself is quite potent—”

“What kind of medicine is it, for you to say that?”

Tiuran, who had been silently scraping ash from the incense burner, cautiously spoke up.

Marisen looked back at her with an displeased expression.

"Her Grace said the pain in her leg worsens every night, so I merely gave her a slightly stronger painkiller.”

“May I ask what herbs you used?”

“It was made by mixing mandrago extract with poppy, henbane, and wild boar bile.”

At Marisen’s explanation, a faint crease formed between Tiuran’s brows.

“Those are all ingredients with a strong bitter taste. What method did you use to prepare it so that…”

“Why should I explain that to you?”

Marisen’s voice grew noticeably colder.

“You are nothing more than an assistant mage. I find it unpleasant that you would try to interrogate me as though you were Her Grace’s personal healer.”

“That was not my intention. I merely wished to learn from you, Marisen… If I have offended you, I sincerely apologize.”

Tiuran immediately bowed her head.

Marisen was looking at her with displeasure and was just about to say something more when Thalia spoke in irritation.

“Enough. In whose presence do you think you are, carrying on with such a childish war of nerves?”

“…My apologies. I have shown you an unsightly side of myself.”

Marisen replied in a calm tone, then took a clean new bandage and ointment from her bag.

After that, she began examining her as usual.

Thalia looked out the window with an uncomfortable expression while he lifted the hem of her skirt, unwrapped the bandage around her leg, and applied the ointment.

Then, feeling a warm body heat, she lowered her gaze again.

Before she knew it, the young wolf had climbed onto the bed. With worried eyes, he was carefully examining the scar on her leg.

She picked up the wolf and slowly stroked his small head.

“You don’t need to worry so much. I got this wound several years ago, so it doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”

The wolf looked quietly up at her face, then turned his eyes back to the uneven scar.

A deep sadness seemed to have settled in his jewel-clear eyes.

For some reason, her chest grew tender, and she hugged the wolf tightly.

Just then, she sensed someone outside the door.

“Your Grace the Grand Duchess, I have come with an urgent matter to report. May I come in?”