The Villain's Lost Daughter - Chapter 97

We talked about the Amber Guild for a bit longer after that, and then I turned to Thane.

“Speaking of which, Thane, did you have a good time in the Vadell Forest?”

Thane had traveled to the Vadell Mountains while Yurgen was away on business at the top.

Unlike Yurgen, however, Thane’s absence was not due to business at the top.

The Mountains of Vadell were a day’s horseback ride from the capital.

The mountains are infested with fierce demons and are so treacherous that humans are not allowed to approach them.

That’s why the mountains were chosen by the beasts hundreds of years ago when they sought shelter from humans.

The fact that the beasts settled in the Vadell Mountains was unknown to anyone until now.

‘Well, I knew that from the original story.’

A year after I took Thane from the arena, I took him to the Vadell Mountains.

From reading the original book, I knew by then that Thane’s father was desperately searching for him.

‘Thank goodness, I know how to use magic.’

Without magic, I didn’t want to think about what would have happened if I had tried to hike up that monster-infested mountain.

In the end, I succeeded in getting Thane back to his family safely, and I was able to prove to be a lifesaver to the beasts.

‘…I still regret that I didn’t bring him to them sooner.’

If I had wanted to, I could have sent him to them soon enough after I found Thane in the arena.

But I didn’t, even though I could have.

‘…because I couldn’t be sure that Thane would be on my side if I’d let him go to his family right away.’

Part of this was due to Thane’s poor condition immediately after he was rescued from the arena, but there’s no denying that a large part of it was because I needed time to establish a bond with him.

Call me selfish, but I needed Thane enough to do it.

“Miss Erita?”

My name rang in my ears as I was pulled from my thoughts.

It was Thane calling me.

“Huh?”

“You’re suddenly silent…”

“Oh, I was just thinking about something else…”

Coming to my senses, I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

No matter how or why it started, Thane meant more to me than anyone else.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them, and I’m sure it was a shame it was so short.”

“No, I’ve seen enough.”

Thane shook his head. I felt a little bad for him, even though it was obvious that he was disappointed because he loved his family.

“Maybe next time you’re free, you should come with me.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah, definitely. If you don’t use magic at times like this, when else will you use it?”

At Thane’s question, with a twinkle in his eye, I smiled faintly and nodded.

I hadn’t gotten around to it since I came to the capital, but before that, I’d been to the Vadell Forest every couple of months or so.

Thane liked to accompany me to the forest, though we never said so.

It’s hard to tell because his face would light up when we did.

“Anyway, my father thanked you, Erita, and said he’d like you to come visit him next time…”

“Huh? To me?”

What could Thane’s father possibly have to thank me for?

Unable to think of any reason, I gave him a puzzled look.

“He cried when he heard my voice. He said he thought he’d never hear it again… so he wanted you to visit.”

As he shyly delivered those words, Thane touched the back of his neck once.

Even the best potions and the care of a high-ranking priest could not erase the scars on his white neck.

All that remained was a faint blur, but that was enough to make Thane smile with glee.

“…I did it because I wanted to. It’s enough that you liked me, Thane.”

I choked out a lump in my throat, turning unnecessarily to hug Thane once more.

“…Miss Erita?”

Thane’s voice sounded panicked, but I only released my arms after hugging his large body greedily.

When I pulled away, I saw Thane’s face flushed red from the sudden contact.

The nape of his neck peeked out from under his white shirt.

“Sorry, I panicked, I just wanted to hug you after all these years…”

Seeing the innocent look on his face, I felt a little guilty, so I smiled and apologized.

“Oh, no, no, I’d love a hug from Miss Erita anytime…”

The good Thane grinned from ear to ear, waving his hands in the air as if he didn’t mind.

“Aww, Thane, you’re such a good boy.”

I placed the back of my slightly chilled hand on Thane’s cheek and felt a warmth.

Thane’s gesture of leaning his face against the back of my hand was natural.

It didn’t fit at all with the rumors of beasts, a wolf with a reputation for being domineering and ferocious.

“Did someone just hug you outside and say it was okay?”

“I don’t think so…”

Thane mumbled, shaking his head slightly at my playful concern.

“I am. I wonder if it’s a fox or a wolf…”

Seeing us like that, Yurgen muttered to himself.

“What?”

“Nothing, I’m just talking to myself.”

“I don’t think so…”

Squinting, I looked at him, and he shrugged.

“Well, not if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Not wanting to pry, I turned my attention away.

“Then I guess we’re done talking, you want to go get something to eat? I’ll buy.”

“I’m good.”

Thane, who had been sitting quietly beside me, quickly replied.

“Haha, what the hell, Thane, don’t you think you answered too quickly?”

“It’s my first time going out with Miss Erita in the capital.”

“Now that I think about it, yes, it is.”

Thane was right, today was the first time I’d ever gone out with the two of them in the capital.

It was because things had been busy preparing for the Debutante Ball, and neither Yurgen nor Thane had been able to make it.

“What about Yurgen, are you free?”

“…I don’t think so. I have a lot of work to get done by the end of the day.”

Glancing at Yurgen, I asked, and he gave me a troubled look, slowly declining my offer.

As I followed his gaze to his desk, I saw a stack of papers that looked like something out of my father’s office.

I felt a pang of remorse at the sight.

“…Do you want me to help?”

“I’m fine, you can go with Thane. You can come over for tea next time, and that’ll be enough for me.”

In response to my timid question, Yurgen smiled languidly with his characteristically delicate face.

“But…”

“I don’t mind, really. It’s tiring, but it’s what I love to do.”

Sure enough, Yurgen loved his work. He liked the smell of paper in the stacks, and he liked the coffee he drank while he worked.

“And there’s one wolf in there who will be disappointed if you stay, Erita, and that bothers me in more ways than one.”

Yurgen glanced at Thane.

Turning to the side, I saw Thane, who was looking a little wistful, hastily trying to control his expression.

His ears, which had been perked up with excitement at being out for the first time a few moments ago, were now floppy and droopy.

Somehow, he managed to make his face look normal, but he couldn’t hide his ears and tail, which were more honest than his expression.

“…Well, I guess I’ll have to take Thane on a date tonight. As for Yurgen, I’ll come back later with the Grand Duke’s special dessert!”

Thane’s expression brightened at my words, and Yurgen smirked at my suggestion.

✿

Unlike when he was at the top, Thane’s ears and tail were hidden from view.

It had been hundreds of years since beasts could be found in the Empire, unless it was against the law.

“Thane, do you feel uncomfortable?”

“What?”

Thane looked back at me and shook his head, not a hint of discomfort on his face.

‘Um, is it better now?’

Thane has never been a fan of being seen in public. He didn’t say so outright, but when one knows someone for a long time, certain things are unspoken.

Like, he didn’t like crowds, and he had a terrible aversion to anything that restrained him.

That he always wears a hoodie to cover his face in bright light.

These were all things I knew because I was around him.

‘It’s probably because of his past in the arena.’

The effects of spending over a decade in a horrible place didn’t fade easily.

“Miss Erita?”

“…Uh, nothing.”

As Thane called out to me with a puzzled look on his face, I shook my head, saying it was nothing.

I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable by saying it when he seemed to be fine.

Instead, I glanced at his soft, ash-colored hair, missing the triangular wolf ears that twitched.

‘…Honestly, magic is magic, but I find it just as strange that the beasts hide their ears and tails.’

Unless they were having difficulty controlling their emotions, the Sioux could take their ears and tails out and in at will.

Perhaps that’s why the few beasts who mingle with humans are able to live undetected.

With that thought, I gently grabbed Thane’s arm.

“We should probably get something to eat first and then wander around.”

It was now a little after one o’clock, vaguely past lunchtime.

There were plenty of ways to fill up without going to a restaurant.

Normally, nobles tend to look down on street food, but with vivid memories of my previous life, it was nothing more than a familiarity.

‘And there’s nothing quite as stimulating as street food.’

Spicy food, my particular favorite, was not the sort of thing the nobility favored.

Just look at my father and Aaron, they don’t particularly like spicy food.

“Thane, what do you want to eat? I’ll buy you everything you want.”

I asked, looking up at Thane with my arms crossed.

“I’ll eat whatever Miss Erita wants.”

Thane smiled gently at my question.

“Really? Anything I want to eat is good?”

“Yes, everything is fine.”

Seeing Thane’s face as he said okay, somehow the playfulness that I had been cultivating in my mind while being beaten by Fern peeked out.

“Hmph, if that’s what Thane says, then I’ll pick what I want to eat!”

I stifled a bark of laughter and gently led Thane by the arm.

Not knowing what I would choose to tease him with, Thane just followed my lead with a big smile on his face.