TMDW | Chapter 002

Chapter 2

The marriage between the Duke Graywolf family and the Lexi family was undoubtedly a failed one.

Status, honor, wealth, power…

Everything in this marriage was a guaranteed loss. The reason Duke Graywolf rushed to push this marriage forward was that the duke’s only heir, Callion Graywolf, suffered from a major problem.

“You’re a variant too…”

Though the family crest is an animal, it was merely a symbol. He was supposed to be born in human form.

But the world often harbors unexpected mutations.

Like this thing before her eyes, born in the form of an ancestral ruler.

It was extremely rare, but it did happen.

“You were born a wolf, weren’t you? And you still haven’t managed to become human.”

Her words seemed to anger him; the small creature clinging to the wall suddenly raised its front paw and struck the ground hard.

“Woof!”

That was apparently an expression of displeasure, but it had the opposite effect.

‘So cute…’

It was adorable! Even Shayla, usually immune to most kinds of cuteness, felt her heart squeeze.

“Ahem.”

Even if born a variant, by age seven, he should have shed his animal form long ago.

He ought to stand proudly on two legs, learning human dignity and noble etiquette.

‘But this thing…’

There was no majestic black wolf.

Just a pup—and a very cute pup, to be precise.

Moreover, he wasn’t black as the prophecy claimed, but white…

“That’s why you couldn’t attend the wedding, right?”

It wasn’t enough that the future hero bearing the hopes of the northern people was born in animal form; even at seven, he was still a tiny pup…

Yes, he must have been unable to stay among people or show himself to them.

And weren’t the northerners known for their pride?

“I thought you might be a monster or something and was scared.”

Shayla laughed lightly and knelt down. Resting her chin in her hands, she admired Callion’s deadly cuteness.

A body covered in soft white fur from head to toe. A black, moist nose like jelly. Eyes like blue sapphires.

‘I want to touch him.’

The silent little creature noticed Shayla’s disrespectful gaze and opened his mouth for the first time.

“Don’t ignore me!”

He pretended to be a fierce beast, twitching his nose and baring his teeth.

Of course, it wasn’t scary at all.

Just a cotton ball decorated with three beads. No matter how he growled, it wasn’t frightening—only cute.

‘Even his ears haven’t perked up yet.’

A small pup that looked easy to handle.

Shayla, who had planned to run if he tried to turn her into roast rabbit, immediately changed her mind.

‘I’ll take care of you.’

Because her husband, whom she met for the first time today, pleased her greatly.

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“…Don’t look at me like that!”

“What kind of look is that?”

“…”

“Huh? What kind of look?”

He couldn’t answer easily and just growled.

He doesn’t like me looking at him fondly, does he?

Shayla, smiling unintentionally, tried to soften her expression.

“Don’t be too harsh.”

The reason Shayla was chosen for the Graywolf family was simple.

“I was a rabbit too until a few years ago.”

Shayla and her twin sister, Layla, were also born as rabbits.

But Shayla succeeded early in becoming human, so rumors of a variant birth in the Lexi family didn’t spread.

Count Lexi only took Shayla out, claiming she was his only daughter.

“And when I’m flustered, my ears still pop out sometimes.”

In other words, I understand the suffering you’re going through.

But her words didn’t seem to reach Callion.

“Hmph!”

The fierce little creature acted annoyed even by this small confrontation and turned his head sharply.

Then he rested his small head on his front paws and closed his eyes, as if refusing to continue the conversation.

“Callion.”

“…”

“Callion.”

Each time she called his name, his folded ears twitched.

“Calliooon.”

Shayla tapped her fingers on the floor as if playing an organ.

She was trying to get his attention any way she could, but Callion stubbornly kept his eyes closed.

“Are you really going to keep this up?”

She had to change tactics. Shayla made the saddest sound she could while trying to soothe her little husband.

“You’re from the Graywolf family.”

“…”

“They say wolves take great care of their mates, but it seems that’s all a lie. I believed it and came to the north alone…”

Her plan worked.

As she pretended to be miserable with all her might, Callion’s eyelids trembled.

“Do you think I know how long it took to get from the capital to Hamelock? My butt still hurts!”

“Who said I wanted this? Marriage and all that!”

He suddenly opened his eyes, lifted his head, and shouted.

“Marriage, I…”

“Are you acting like this because you don’t like me?”

Shayla lay fully on the floor. When she finally caught his eyes, the panicked Callion shrank and lowered his body.

“Don’t you like me?”

“This, this…”

His beautiful blue eyes darted awkwardly.

“Because my family is far below Graywolf, right? Because I’m a shameless rabbit?”

Huh? Isn’t that it? You don’t like me? When she pressed for an answer, he suddenly started whimpering.

“Squeak… squeak squeak.”

His pitiful appearance with round, drooping eyes made Shayla feel like the evil villain tormenting the sweet little Callion.

Feeling guilty, she raised her voice instead.

“Do you avoid answering like this when things get tough? That’s so cowardly!”

Suddenly, Callion, who had been growling into the air, opened his eyes wide.

“I’m not a coward!”

“Who said you were a coward?”

“Just now, just now you said coward…”

“I said you’re cowardly, you idiot! Cowardly is the stage before being a full coward!”

In the end, in verbal battles, the one who’s bolder and louder always wins. And children this age were no exception.

The little creature shut his mouth, unable to retort. His already protruding mouth seemed to extend further.

Seizing the chance, Shayla reached her hand into the gap between the wardrobes.

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

Callion panicked and scrambled with his hind legs, but the wall trapped him; he had nowhere to escape.

“Ugh.”

But the gap was long, and Shayla’s short arm couldn’t reach him.

He was close enough to touch, yet far enough.

The closer she got, the softer his fur looked.

What groom in the world leaves his bride waiting like this? She felt annoyed. Angry, Shayla said:

“If you keep avoiding me, you’ll really become a coward, you know?”

At the words “really a coward,” his blue eyes shook violently.

His beautiful eyes, like gems holding the sea, glistened as if tears would fall any moment.

‘Was I too harsh?’

She felt guilty. She wasn’t supposed to make the groom cry on their wedding night…

“Look, what I meant was… no matter how much you hate marrying me… a married couple has a duty to respect each other…”

“Hmph!”

Callion buried his head between his front paws, as if refusing to listen. His flapping ears drooped sadly.

Not knowing what to do, Shayla tried to cover the situation.

“Anyway, our marriage is done…”

Then a grumbling voice came from him.

“This marriage is invalid. I didn’t attend.”

“…”

“What wedding is held with only the bride? It’s completely fake.”

Shayla was stunned for a moment.

She had thought the marriage was definitely complete. The priest from the grand temple read the declaration, so she assumed it couldn’t be undone.

She was nine. She didn’t know the exact conditions for completing a marriage.

Moreover, in the north, the rules set by Lord Hamelock had to be followed. Things were very different from the capital.

“So… you knew that and didn’t come on purpose? Because you don’t want to marry me?”

He pressed his front paws hard over his ears.

“That was it, wasn’t it? I didn’t know and rode an uncomfortable carriage for a month to get here. Like a fool… I was excited alone about marrying you.”

Her last words faded into emptiness. Her grumbling, sad voice quieted.

A short silence followed.

“Fine, then I’ll go back to the capital. Since you don’t want to marry me this much…”

‘A lie!’

As long as this cream-puff-like little creature was her husband, Shayla had no intention of ever leaving the duke’s castle.

Even if she died, she’d die here. Even as a ghost, she’d live here.

“Callion, then goodbye… forever.”

As she stood up, pretending to be dejected, her wedding dress made an annoying rustle.

Callion sneakily raised his head, and when their eyes met, he quickly hid it between his front paws again.

“…If you go to the east wing on the first floor, you’ll find a storeroom. Look for ‘Henry’ there and ask for his help.”

“Help?”

“Yes. Say you want to return to the capital. Henry will prepare a carriage for you.”

“After the duke’s family even held a bride’s procession, you think they’ll help me? They’ll be thrilled with the bride running away…”

“No!”

Callion suddenly stood and cut off Shayla’s sarcastic words. Then he added hesitantly:

“I… told them in advance.”

“You prepared in advance so I could escape?”

“Yes.”

His voice was so quiet it was barely audible, but Shayla understood his intent.

‘Was he that serious about hating to marry me?’

To prepare an escape route for the bride in advance, before even meeting face-to-face…

‘Was the Count Lexi family hated that much?’

That wasn’t strange…

No, if so, why send the marriage proposal? There were plenty of chances to stop it, but they completed the ceremony, and now…

“Did you see my face in the portrait beforehand or not?”

“…”

“I’m asking, did you see it or not?”

“…I saw it.”

His voice was almost vanishing.

You didn’t like my face either? It must be that. It was my best portrait…

Feeling a slight shock, Shayla turned and asked:

“You said the storeroom in the east wing on the first floor, right? The servant’s name is Henry?”

“…”

“Fine, I’ll go back to the capital.”

Callion lowered his head like someone who had sinned, as if he were the one ordering her to leave, but he looked utterly miserable.

Shayla took hesitant steps away.