PUBW 51

Chapter 51

A huge beast appeared before my eyes, and I gasped, unable even to scream.

My whole body froze — I couldn’t even turn to run away.

“Milady, it’s all right. Breathe.”

Allen rubbed my back to calm me down.

At that moment, the wolf moved.

Instinctively, I grabbed Allen and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Your Grace, please don’t move. You’re frightening the lady.”

Allen scolded the wolf as if reproaching it.

“Your… Grace?”

The strange title made me look up at the wolf in confusion. The wolf was sitting quite docilely.

“Wait… what?”

I sent Allen a questioning look, and he explained.

“I thought His Grace’s curse had been lifted, but it seems not. He suddenly transformed again, so I hurried to bring you here.”

I stared at the wolf that Allen claimed was Artif.

Its sleek black fur gleamed, and its eyes glowed red — Artif’s colors.

“You… were a wolf? Not a cat?”

I asked in a trembling voice. The wolf averted his gaze.

Oh my god. All this time, I’d imagined a cute black cat — not a wolf the size of a house.

“Could you use your divine power, milady? Even for a short while would be enough. He needs to return to human form to escape the palace.”

I had been practicing my divine power, but I was nowhere near the level I’d reached during the fountain explosion.

“I’ll try.”

It had been a week since the moon disappeared.

If I could maintain divine power for about an hour, he could stay human long enough — so it wasn’t impossible.

“Then I’ll step outside and make sure no one’s looking for you.”

Allen left, and I locked the door.

Meanwhile, Artif stayed perfectly still, the only movement being his tail gently swaying behind him.

Even knowing it was Artif, instinctive fear kept me from approaching.

“Whine—”

The wolf suddenly let out a low, pitiful sound and lay flat on the ground.

His ears drooped, brows furrowed, and he looked up at me with only his eyes — like a forlorn puppy.

A soft laugh escaped me.

“So, strawberry tart and wine don’t go well together, huh? You stole enough of my food to know that.”

I walked up to the wolf.

When I gently stroked his head, he closed his eyes and leaned into my hand.

“I’ll start now. Just trust me.”

I hugged his head, closed my eyes, and focused — steadying my mind.

I felt the divine power flow through my body and gently push outward, into him.

“Shasha.”

Artif’s low voice came from above my head.

I did it!

“Ar—AH!”

When I opened my eyes, Artif’s face was right in front of mine.

Because my hands had been on the wolf’s head, I was now clinging to his neck — only, he was human again.

“Th-this is…”

I started to explain that physical contact was necessary to stabilize the divine flow — but then I froze.

My eyes had drifted down from his face.

“Even so, staring so openly is a bit much, isn’t it?”

Artif’s face flushed as he turned slightly away.

“Kyaaa!”

I shrieked, covering my face and spinning around.

“I’m the one who was naked, so why are you the one screaming?”

Artif teased, amusement in his tone.

I had forgotten — when I returned from being a cat, I was also naked. Of course he would be too; animals don’t wear clothes.

I shook my head furiously to erase what I’d just seen.

I didn’t see anything. Nothing at all. Nothing that looked even remotely like Calix… nothing.

Behind me, I heard the sound of him dressing — fabric rustling softly.

Honestly, this wasn’t my fault. I even helped him, technically!

“Shasha, I’m dressed.”

My face still burned. Thankfully, the room was dark.

“I said, I’m dressed.”

Artif placed a hand on my shoulder.

Startled, I slapped his hand away and jumped back.

“I didn’t see anything! It’s not my fault!”

A mischievous grin spread across his lips.

“For someone claiming that, you were staring quite intently.”

“…”

I clamped my mouth shut. Artif tried to hold back his laughter — his lips trembling.

Look at him smirking. So annoying!

“I feel like I just lost my purity. Shouldn’t you take responsibility?”

“W-what purity? I didn’t do anything!”

“Your eyes were very passionate, though.”

“I told you, I just froze!”

It really hadn’t been on purpose.

“Funny, your eyes seemed to move just fine.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“If you want to see more, just say so. I’d gladly undress for the woman who broke my curse.”

“Wait, so the curse isn’t gone? Why did you change back then?”

I ignored his teasing and latched onto the real issue.

“It seems it was only temporary.”

How could we make it permanent, then?

During the fountain incident, I had felt nearly all my divine power drain away — the dizziness, the exhaustion, classic symptoms of overuse.

If that was the case, maybe my current strength wasn’t enough.

“Actually, part of my divine power is sealed somewhere else.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reason I didn’t know I had divine power before… is because it was sealed away. I’ve only recovered a fraction of it.”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

I hadn’t told Artif much about my past or present.

Not because I still suspected him — but because if he wasn’t Calix, I knew I’d feel disappointed.

How ridiculous.

I had told Chase not to act like my lover since I wasn’t Eluna — and yet here I was.

It was obvious what this contradiction meant. But I had a fiancé and things to resolve first.

Not yet… not yet.

“If I recover all my divine power, I think I can erase your curse completely.”

“You mean…”

Artif thought for a moment, then his face turned sly.

“So during the times I’m a wolf, you’ll have to keep giving me your divine power. Like today.”

He said it as if it were already decided.

I had promised to help, but his smug expression made my rebellious side flare.

“Well, we’ll see how you behave.”

“So you’re saying I’ll have to live half my life as a wolf?”

“You’ve done it your whole life — what’s the difference?”

“I’ve been overworked because of it! And yet I still made sure to have steak every night and kept you company so you wouldn’t feel lonely.”

“Oh please. I became a cat because of you!”

I’d literally shared his curse for his sake.

“…So your transformation into a cat was related to me?”

Artif stepped closer.

Damn it — a slip of the tongue. I hadn’t meant to admit that yet.

My mind raced for an excuse.

“Tell me the truth.”

“Well, um…”

Artif was tall, and now he was right in front of me. Shadows formed in the dim, moonlit room, hiding his expression.

Only his familiar scent surrounded me — gentle, enveloping, impossible to ignore.

“I knew you were hiding something,” he said quietly. “I wanted to wait until you told me yourself.”

I couldn’t move. I avoided his unseen gaze.

“But… I’m too useless. All I’ve done is pick you up and raise you, giving up bits of myself to protect you. And even then, it was you who saved me.”

Artif’s deep voice sank low, heavy as the sea.

“I couldn’t even save you from the crown prince. The Rika leaf I gave the duchess to heal her — it was tainted by demonic energy. I almost made her worse.”

“Artif, I—”

I wanted to say he was wrong, that I relied on him a lot.

But he looked so broken I didn’t dare.

“When I heard about your engagement, I was crushed. The woman I love sold herself — and I couldn’t do a damn thing. Even now, cursed to turn into a beast, I can only lean on you.”

His bitter laugh tore through me.

“Tell me the truth. Let me help you.”

Artif knelt down on one knee.

“If you told me to crawl at your feet, I’d kiss them. If you told me to die, I’d choose the most painful death.”

He gently took my hand and pressed a faint kiss to it.

“If it means you can be happy, I’ll do anything. So please… be my master.”