Chapter 76
Climbing sheer cliffs and navigating treacherous canyons, they finally reached the towering peak of Mount Heyton.
“Piiit, pitt! Piiit!”
Ruda, tiny as ever, flapped her little wings energetically, calling out for someone nearby.
“Grr! Ker-heng!”
Soon enough, a familiar bark answered her. Hovering midair, Ruda realized that the creature below was the wolf cub Lionel had treated.
“Piiit!”
Excited, Ruda swooped down. The cub, equally thrilled, twirled in circles and jumped up and down in response.
“Pip-pit, pitt!”
“Ker-ker, ker-heng!”
Despite speaking completely different languages, they chattered back and forth for a long while. Finally, the cub nudged its head toward Ruda.
“Grr!”
Ruda immediately perched atop the cub, holding its fur gently with one wing while stretching the other forward.
“Piiit!”
And with that signal, the cub carried Ruda back to its den—a place teeming with dozens of massive wolves.
“Ker-heng!”
“…Krung?”
The recent kidnapping incident had already put the giant wolves on edge. Now, a cub had dashed out alone again, creating a tense silence among them.
“Piiit!”
But as Ruda soared high above, asserting her presence, the atmosphere gradually softened.
“Krreung…”
The cub’s mother approached first, gently biting its scruff and leading it back inside. The alpha wolf stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Ruda—a gesture of acknowledgment toward a superior.
“Pii-bit, pitt!”
Ruda, unconcerned with formality, lightly tapped the alpha’s head, twirling as she surveyed the den.
The alpha approached cautiously.
“Krreung…?”
“Pitt!”
Tilting its head curiously, the alpha watched as Ruda let out a long, commanding cry, drawing the attention of every wolf in the den. She then began explaining why she had flown all the way there.
“Piiit, pip-pit. Pi-pi-bit. Pitt!”
Hovering midair, Ruda gestured with wings and feet, telling her long story. Surprisingly, the wolves seemed to understand.
“Krung!”
“Krreung!”
“Grr!”
Some of the battle wolves stepped forward. Another escaped cub appeared, barking loudly to assert its presence. Naturally, it was quickly dragged back by its mother, while Ruda examined the volunteer battle wolves carefully.
“Pitt!”
Each time Ruda chirped, the battle wolves showcased their sharp fangs and sturdy claws.
After inspecting them all, Ruda selected one battle wolf.
“Pitt!”
“Auuu!”
The chosen wolf howled proudly. The others joined in a long chorus, praising the warrior selected by the superior. Ruda added her own chirps to their howls.
“Krung?”
At that moment, the alpha seemed to ask another question. Ruda, realizing she’d forgotten something, bounced lightly into the air.
She twirled around the chosen wolf, finally landing atop its head and spreading her wings to either side of her own head.
“Pitt, piiit, piiiiit…!”
The other wolves tilted their heads in confusion. They couldn’t know that Ruda was sending telepathic messages to Cecilia.
“…Huh!”
“Why are you like that, my lady?”
Scratching my cheek, I asked Eunice.
“Do we… happen to have a book on transformation magic at home?”
“Eh? Transformation magic? I’m not sure…”
“Check for it. And if we don’t have one, get one.”
Normally, I’d ask my master about this, but he was away at the Magic Tower due to a recent royal request for assistance, so I couldn’t get help immediately.
“Understood. But why transformation magic all of a sudden?”
“I just… suddenly felt I needed to learn it.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes. Suddenly.”
Eunice still looked puzzled, but I had no better explanation than “suddenly,” so I waved my hands in a fluttery gesture.
“All right, then. Oh, and make sure we never run out of chocolate again.”
“Understood.”
After Eunice left to fulfill my requests, I pondered why I had this sudden urge. My thoughts drifted to Ruda.
“Do we really need transformation magic for something…?”
Whatever adventures she was having outside must have required it. Once she returned home, I planned to telepathically demand every exciting detail of her escapades.
The day of departure for the northern front arrived.
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, the support troops assembled at the northern gate of the capital rather than the palace.
Family, lovers, and friends gathered to bid tearful farewells.
“Take care, all right?”
“I’ll pray at the temple every day…! Ugh!”
“Brother, don’t go! Waaah!”
Amid this emotional scene, one figure remained detached. Lionel, checking supplies for the northern campaign.
“Your Majesty, preparations are complete. We can depart immediately,” reported Berrik, Third Knight Commander, after inspecting the wagons.
Nodding, Lionel glanced at the soldiers sharing tearful farewells. His expression was calm, detached.
Knowing no one had come to see Lionel off, Berrik cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I’ll sound the trumpet to announce departure immediately.”
“No. Delay departure by thirty minutes.”
“Pardon?”
“We’ll be camping along the way today, so a short delay won’t matter.”
Berrik blinked in surprise. Hearing such words from Lionel was unexpected.
‘…Was this consideration for the troops?’
As people rejoiced at the delay, Lionel leaned against a wagon, pulling out a book to read as if the world outside held no relevance to him.
Glancing at the title, Berrik noticed a word about conquest. It seemed to be a military strategy book.
‘Reading even here…’
Yet Lionel appeared completely detached, separated from everyone else—a sight that made Berrik feel a pang of sympathy.
‘How could no one have come to see him off?’
Hesitant, Berrik approached.
“Ahem, Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
Lionel didn’t shift from leaning against the wagon, merely turning his head.
Berrik struggled, then spoke carefully:
“The Duchess’s daughter will be fine.”
“…?”
Startled, Lionel looked at him.
Berrik elaborated:
“The Lady of Rohaim. I heard she was shocked by your departure and collapsed. It’s unfortunate she couldn’t come to see you off.”
Ah, it was a message of consolation. Lionel nodded lightly, and that was all. Berrik couldn’t tell if Lionel understood—or if he simply didn’t care.
Then, Berrik noticed something.
[How the Duchess’s Daughter Will Conquer the Prince]
Not mistaken. The book Lionel held indeed had that title.
‘Wait… wasn’t he reading a military strategy book?’