Chapter 9
“You worked hard, Riel.”
“It was my duty, my lady. But, is your body really okay?”
“I haven’t fully recovered yet.”
“…If you’re saying that, it must be really bad.”
Riel’s face suddenly darkened. He and Arin knew well that I could endure the worst pain without my expression changing. So, when I spoke like this, they must have realized how serious my injury was. But they also knew time wasn’t on our side. Riel hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
“My lady, I know you need to recover, but you must return now.”
“Yes, Riel. It’s time to go back. Can we reach the estate in three days?”
“Although we’re deep in the mountains, it’s not too high. Three days are enough.”
“That’s good. Make sure no one mentions my injury.”
Arin and Riel nodded immediately, but Mary shook her head, sobbing.
“Mary.”
“…My lady.”
“Injuries are a luxury for me. You know that well.”
Mary couldn’t be unaware that an injured wolf is neglected and left to its fate.
“Alright… I’ll stay silent.”
“Good, Mary.”
I sighed deeply as I saw Mary’s unstoppable tears. Despite her long service at the estate, her heart remained tender.
“We’ll rest here a bit, then return to the estate.”
“Yes, my lady.”
With my companions’ response, I re-entered the cabin. It was time to return.
Of course, when we returned, there would be an additional companion.
***
In the end, the frustration erupted.
When I introduced Didier to my companions and told them he would return with us to the estate, they welcomed him. And so, we—me, Didier, and my companions—began packing and descending the snowy mountain.
But the frustration that had built up during this time finally exploded.
“My lady, I don’t like this man!”
It was Mary, who had suppressed her anger throughout the descent, finally speaking out. Her face expressed complete dissatisfaction with everything about Didier. He hadn’t wronged her, but for Mary, who had to accept a stranger, the situation was deeply bothersome. Since leaving the cabin, Didier had been doing all her tasks.
But Didier stayed by my side with innocent looks, as if he understood nothing. Of course, he knew Mary was glaring at him, but he didn’t care. It seemed all his focus was directed at me.
“Lady Erica.”
“You! Don’t call our lady like that!”
“…Lady Erica allowed me to.”
“Even so! Our lady is a precious person!”
“I know that Lady Erica is precious.”
It didn’t seem like Mary and Didier’s argument would end easily. Mary reached the point of baring her teeth, threatening Didier. But even seeing this, he blinked and looked at me, as if waiting for my words.
“Enough, both of you. Are you going to act so childish?”
“My lady…”
“Yes, Lady Erica.”
[Hmph, everyone’s acting like fools.]
Kob, who seemed to have built a nest on Arin’s head as he walked behind me, narrowed his eyes. Except for me, no one could hear Kob’s words, but Riel and Arin were stifling their laughter. They must have realized his cawing treated everyone like fools. The problem was that Mary and Didier understood it too.
“I’ll eat that raven one day!”
Mary’s gentle anger turned toward Kob.
“Mary, control yourself.”
“Alright…”
Her voice was still full of frustration, and her shoulders slumped so low they almost touched the ground.
“And when we return to the estate, you’ll still be by my side, Mary, so don’t be too sad.”
“…Yes!”
“Lady Erica!”
Their reactions were completely opposite. Mary raised her shoulders so high they almost touched the sky, while Didier’s eyes widened in shock.
“What about me?”
“I can’t take you to the estate without preparation, Didier.”
“But you proposed to me…”
Oh, the problem had surfaced.
I felt everyone’s eyes, except Didier’s, turn to me with sharp glares.
I had never felt such intense stares before.
I had only told them he was joining us, but I hadn’t mentioned the details of my contract with Didier yet. Because I didn’t know the current situation inside the estate.
“Wait a little, it won’t take long.”
“Alright, Lady Erica.”
Didier’s expression suggested he wasn’t pleased with my words, but there was no helping it.
If Kob, as planned before climbing the mountain, had stayed to inform me about the palace’s situation, things would be different. But Kob was with me now, and I didn’t know what was happening inside the palace.
Bringing Didier in directly would be like openly declaring my plan to my father. Unless there was someone in the estate to back my words, it would be like putting my head in the enemy’s mouth.
All I wanted was to escape the estate. I didn’t want to set foot back in my father’s grasp.
But I couldn’t leave Didier alone.
So, I’d hide him somewhere else, check the situation, and then announce my marriage to Didier at the wolves’ regular meeting.
‘It’ll be a sight worth seeing.’
If I announced my marriage to Didier and relinquished all my rights, Priscilla’s forces, who hated the idea of my political marriage to the Regulus family, would be the first to support me. The elders wouldn’t say a word. The Regulus family’s reputation wasn’t good among those old elders.
And so, my father’s absolute authority would crack. The elders would question his audacity in attempting an alliance with the Regulus family.
‘Even if my father tries to exploit Didier’s origins, it’s fine.’
Because Didier had something far beyond his origins.
‘A marriage to a rare mage like this.’
A mage worth far more than the Regulus family. But that wasn’t what worried me now.
What worried me was completing a political marriage before the regular meeting, or having a wedding ceremony held immediately upon my return to the estate without a chance to act.
‘The situation is different from before.’
My original plan was to outmaneuver my father with a political marriage, but the circumstances had changed significantly.
The regular meeting was about two weeks away. If my father pushed for a political marriage during this period, I’d have to change my plan. The worst plan would be eliminating the political marriage’s opponent.
‘My head hurts.’
When I returned to the estate, I’d assess the situation and execute the appropriate plan. So, I couldn’t bring Didier in directly.
The closer we got to the estate, the more a headache I hadn’t had before grew, furrowing my brow. Didier noticed this keenly and looked at me with concern.
“Lady Erica, are you ill?”
“I’m fine.”
“Really?”
“…A headache that will go away soon.”
“Is it because of the estate?”
I sighed slightly and looked at him. Worry poured from his red eyes.
“A little?”
“…Because of me?”
His voice was now full of concern. Was he worried that he was the cause? I couldn’t help but laugh.
He was too kind.
“No, so don’t worry too much.”
“Alright, Lady Erica.”
Despite his worried eyes, Didier nodded calmly. But there was someone who didn’t accept it.
“You’re making our lady suffer more!”
It seemed Mary really disliked Didier.
“Mary, that’s not true.”
“Yes, it is! If you marry him, you’ll have to give up everything you’ve built…”
I knew Mary cared about me more than anyone, but she had crossed the line now. She knew I hadn’t given up anything but had already lost it.
“Mary, he’s the person I chose. Is that a problem?”
“…”
“Mary.”
“Sorry… I’m sorry…”
Realizing her mistake, her face suddenly paled. Her words denied my choice.
“Be kind to him. He’s the one I’ll marry in the end.”
Mary lowered her head. Riel and Arin sighed at this commotion, and everyone continued walking toward the estate in silence.
Soon, the estate’s palace, which I both loved and hated, appeared before my eyes.
***
This translation preserves all details, including character names (Erica, Didier, Kob, Mary, Arin, Riel, Priscilla, Regulus), pronouns, and the formatting of conversations and inner thoughts, while ensuring natural and grammatically correct English. Let me know if you need further assistance or additional chapters translated!
