WDTD 04

Chapter 4

[Even if you eat us, I doubt all of you will fill your stomachs. You’d be better off going to the grasslands instead. There are plenty of deer there.]

I spoke as gently as possible, trying to calm the wolf leader.

[The grasslands are gone. There are no deer anymore.]

It seemed they had been descending closer and closer to human settlements because farmland development had destroyed their food sources.

Both the world I used to live in and this world I lived in now were suffering disasters caused by reckless development.

“Tsk.”

Clicking my tongue, I pointed toward the Duchy of Racton.

[Do you see that forest over there? There are many deer there.]

Beyond the lake, the Racton duchy possessed forests and grasslands so vast and fertile that they could practically be called a national park.

Since the Duke of Racton came from a knightly family, he frequently enjoyed hunting.

Because of that, he devoted tremendous effort to maintaining the hunting grounds, meaning the wolves could eat their fill there.

I felt a little sorry for the deer, but the wolves needed to survive too.

[How can I trust your words, human?]

The wolf leader bared his savage teeth and growled.

[If you don’t trust me, then I’ll have no choice but to call your natural enemies—the lions and the eagles. If you can hear my words, do you think your predators can’t? They’re hungry too.]

[You are clever, human.]

To think I was being praised by a wolf. I grinned.

[You should make a wise decision too, if you want to keep your pack safe.]

The wolf leader glared at me as though trying to pierce straight through me. Then he let out a long howl and turned around.

[If there are no deer there, I’ll return to you. But if your words are true, I’ll reward you in my own way.]

Was he planning to throw me some venison or something?

[If you happen to encounter a crazy red-haired bastard carrying daggers all over his body there, run away immediately. Farewell, wolf.]

I was warning them to beware of Frederic, the eldest son of Duke Racton.

If the wolves encountered Frederic, the greatest swordsman in the empire, the entire pack would be slaughtered.

The wolf leader flicked up his tail, let out another long howl, and sprang away.

Countless wolves raced after him.

“Phew… I think we barely avoided disaster.”

I let out a relieved sigh.

Just then, I heard a faint groan coming from the distant grass.

“Is someone hurt?”

As I approached, I saw a man clutching his leg and twisting in pain, as though he had fallen from a horse.

A tall man with shining tawny hair like a wheat field at harvest and blue-gray eyes.

“Your Highness, Crown Prince Valentine?”

What incredible luck.

No, not luck—a jackpot.

It seemed Crown Prince Valentine, whom Demon had recently been trying hard to win over, had been thrown from his horse after it was startled by the wolves.

It was strange that he had come alone without escort knights. He was clearly involved in something secretive and had ended up in danger because of it.

“Your Highness Crown Prince Valentine, the little sun of the empire, are you alright? I am Clarissa Craig, wife of Baron Demon Craig.”

“…Baroness.”

“It appears you injured your ankle. Though someone of my position should not dare inspect Your Highness’s body, I must determine the extent of your injuries, so please allow me to examine it briefly.”

Not that I actually knew anything about medicine, but I needed to look like I was trying my best.

“Go ahead.”

“Hmm… I don’t think you should move. It would be better to call for help. My husband should be nearby.”

“But the wolves could return.”

Valentine seemed eager to leave immediately. But if his bones were broken, moving carelessly would only worsen the injury.

“The wolves will not return. And even if they do, I will protect you.”

I spoke with shining eyes and a loyal expression.

“Milady!”

Miranda and the coachman came running over.

“Bow your heads. This is His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At my words, Miranda and the coachman immediately prostrated themselves flat on the ground.

It was only natural. Most people would go their entire lives without ever seeing the Crown Prince in person.

Miranda and the coachman were so shocked they couldn’t even produce proper greetings and merely pressed their faces to the ground helplessly.

“Miranda. I will remain here with His Highness. Go with Ben and bring the Baron here.”

“Yes, Milady.”

Miranda and the coachman hurried back to the carriage, leaving only Valentine and me behind.

I removed my scarf, placed a branch against Crown Prince Valentine’s ankle as a splint, and tied it tightly.

“Please wait just a little longer. My husband will arrive soon to escort Your Highness.”

“You were traveling through this dangerous mountain path just to see the Baron?”

“He’s so busy working outside that I thought he might not even be eating properly, so I prepared a meal and was bringing it to him.”

“Baron Craig is a fortunate man.”

And yet he kicked away that fortune and treated it like a nuisance. Tsk.

“By the way, earlier you were staring into the wolf’s eyes and speaking words I couldn’t understand. Were you using sorcery?”

So he had seen me talking with the wolf leader.

‘Should I tell him about my ability?’

I had to be careful about revealing my power to Valentine.

Right now, Demon and Valentine were allied against their common enemy, Duke Racton, but eventually that alliance would shatter and they would become enemies.

And if Valentine later used my ability against me and accused me of being a witch, I would be in serious danger.

What should I do?

Valentine had become Crown Prince after defeating two older brothers and three younger half-siblings in the succession struggle.

Even though he was physically weak and poor with a sword, he had emerged victorious because he was intelligent and highly strategic.

If I tried to brush it off carelessly, he would probably become even more suspicious.

“I can speak with animals.”

In the end, I revealed my ability.

“That is an incredible gift. Baron Craig is truly blessed.”

“Shh! Please keep this only between us, Your Highness. My husband does not know about my ability.”

I lowered my head, blushing as though terribly ashamed.

“No, if you possess such an extraordinary power, why are you hiding it from Baron Craig?”

“Because he might think I’m a monster. Your Highness, please don’t ask any more.”

I turned my head away with the expression of a tragic woman unloved by her husband.

‘I need to look even more pitiful. Then the Crown Prince will tell Demon to divorce me.’

Apparently my acting was convincing enough, because Valentine sighed sympathetically and muttered,

“Would a man truly think his wife a monster after she risked herself against wolves just to bring him a meal?”

“Your Highness, the reason I am not loved is because I am lacking as a wife. So please do not blame my husband.”

At that moment, dust must have gotten into my eye because my cornea stung painfully.

As I repeatedly blinked, tears rolled down my cheeks.

Seeing my sudden tears, Valentine wore a stunned expression for a long moment.

“I will ask no more.”

Valentine lifted his hand as though to wipe away my tears, but hesitated midair before lowering it again.

He probably thought it inappropriate to touch another man’s wife.

The sun set, and darkness rapidly swept over us.

Only the sound of wind rustling branches and the breathing of Valentine and myself filled the air.

The strange atmosphere made me deeply uncomfortable, so I suddenly started singing.

“Why did you only return after my funeral?
If only you had come one day earlier.
Did your lover refuse to let you go?
Or was the war simply not over yet?”

It was a folk song in this world called A Wife’s Heart Offered to Her Husband.

The song was based on the legend of a wife who turned into stone while waiting endlessly for her beloved husband.

As my song continued, Valentine’s expression darkened further and further.

Then, from far away, I heard the howling of wolves.

[Humaaaan! This place is full of deeeeer! Thank yoooou! We will repay yoooou!]

The wolf leader was shouting to me.

‘Wow… what lungs.’

I could hear him all the way from the mountains beyond the lake.

“Did you understand the wolves just now as well?”

Valentine asked.

I nodded.

“They’re having a feast with deer meat. I showed a starving wolf pack a good hunting ground. They said thank you.”

“Even beasts know gratitude, yet how could the Baron allow tears to fall from his wife’s eyes?”

His sigh sounded to me like the clear ringing of temple bells.

Because I had successfully brought Valentine onto my side.

At last, the sound of approaching horse hooves drew near.

“Your Highness Valentine!”

Demon leapt down from his horse and walked straight toward Valentine as though I were invisible.

“Your Highness Valentine. Were you seriously injured?”

At that moment, Valentine sharply narrowed his eyes.

“Baron Craig, can you not even see your own wife?”

Demon glanced at me briefly before suppressing his irritation and speaking.

“What brings you here?”

Because Valentine was present, Demon was forced to address me politely.

“I was worried because your back looked especially thin this morning when you left the estate before dawn.”

At my sorrowful words, Demon’s face twisted violently.

I could practically hear his thoughts:

Have you lost your mind? Last night you desperately begged me for a divorce. What exactly are you plotting now?

I lowered my eyelids slightly and dabbed delicately at the bridge of my nose with a handkerchief.

“It’s embarrassing to say this in front of His Highness, but… I missed you, dear.”

At my words, Demon narrowed his eyes and glared at me.

‘Stop glaring at me so hard, you bastard husband. You’re going to burn holes through my face.’

I wanted to curse him with my eyes, but I kept smiling sweetly instead.

Looking utterly fed up with me, Demon approached Valentine and crouched beside him.

“Your Highness Valentine, allow me.”

Even though Valentine was a thin and frail adult man, Demon lifted him effortlessly into his arms.

As Demon strode through the brush carrying the Crown Prince, I glared daggers at the back of his head and followed behind.

The secret merchant base was unexpectedly large and luxurious.

To someone unfamiliar with it, it could easily look like a noble’s private villa.

It seemed that not only salt but many other secret goods were traded here—and even more dangerous discussions undoubtedly took place within.

All the servants stationed there carried swords, possessed sturdy physiques fit for battle, and had sharp, intimidating eyes.

Even stranger was the fact that this remote villa had not only physicians but also stocked medicines.

It felt more like a strategic wartime base than a merchant outpost.

“How did you find this place? What were you thinking, coming all the way here, Clarissa?”

Now that Valentine was receiving treatment, only Demon and I remained in the drawing room.

Naturally, I couldn’t help feeling tense.

If Demon suddenly shot a flaming arrow from his fingertips and burned all my hair off, I’d be in serious trouble.

“I told you—I came because I missed you.”

I spoke in a desperate voice, as though I couldn’t bear even a moment without seeing him.

“What nonsense. Are you trying to investigate me behind my back?”

Maybe because he was a villain, he could see straight through people plotting behind him.

Damn it.