TMDW | Chapter 007

Chapter 7

Callion, terrified, wriggled and wailed:

“Heung… heung heung.”

“You always pretend to be cute to slip out of situations, don’t you?”

“I’m not cute!”

That word seemed to be his complex, judging by how sharply he reacted.

“Tell me quickly how to become human…”

“Oh, it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to follow my training step by step.”

Callion looked at Shayla with eyes half suspicion, half anticipation.

“We’ll start the serious plan tomorrow. Be ready.”

Shayla pulled out the snack pouch she always carried. It contained steamed-and-dried sweet potatoes and thin dried apple slices.

“Eat this for now.”

Callion stared at the sweet potato and apple slices with strange eyes, not opening his mouth easily.

“Eat quickly!”

“Okay, okay.”

Callion approached with his nose to sniff, then slowly began chewing the sweet potato.

He was definitely very hungry. Yet he didn’t devour it greedily, meaning it wasn’t to his taste.

“Wait a moment.”

Shayla gathered all the foul devil’s seeds into Henry’s leather pouch and headed to the servants’ kitchen.

“The cook is probably asleep, right?”

“Good heavens, Young Lady.”

Fortunately, Hanna was there. She stood up from where she had been gossiping with the other maids.

“Are you hungry at this hour?”

“Yes. Cook me some meat. Something tender.”

She had heard the young duchess only ate fresh vegetable-based food, so Hanna was surprised but nodded without comment.

“If you want tender meat, we have lamb. Shall I grill it?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go to the pantry manager.”

After quickly going and returning, Hanna came back with grilled lamb.

“Won’t you eat in the dining room?”

“I’ll take it to the room and eat with Callion.”

“Be careful, the plate is hot.”

Even though it was on a silver tray, hot steam rose, and the strong meat smell was intense.

My nose suffered the whole way back to Callion’s room.

‘It’s just bringing food.’

How could I not do this for a starving seven-year-old groom?

* * *

“What did you bring this time?”

Callion was standing at the door waiting for me—impressive.

“Lamb.”

He recognised the meat type instantly by scent. His tail wagged—he seemed happy.

“Do you like lamb?”

“Not particularly… I don’t mind.”

He answered arrogantly, then hopped onto the sofa beside me. He calmly placed his front paws on my lap and watched.

“What are you doing now?”

“Cutting the meat so it’s easy for you to eat.”

Suddenly a strong huff came from his nostrils.

“I’m not a child.”

“……”

If his ears were fully upright, maybe.

‘This pea-sized little thing has huge pride…’

I had a lot to say, but I held back. I couldn’t discourage him further in his current state.

“Seven is still a child. Hoo, hoo…”

I cooled the hot lamb and placed it in front of his nose. He glanced at me, then devoured it ravenously.

“How is it?”

“Delicious…”

Seeing him eat while whimpering heung-heung made me realise how awful the devil’s seed had been.

“I’m done.”

“Chew and swallow!”

His jaw barely moved!

“The meat was small.”

He said that, but he would have done the same even if I’d cut it into big pieces.

Gulp.

“I’m done.”

“Please chew and eat…”

How delicious must the meat have been for him to act like this? On the other hand, I felt sorry for the boy who had lived three months on one garlic a day and couldn’t bring myself to scold him further.

“From tomorrow… you have to chew properly.”

I quickly went down to the kitchen and brought three more plates of steak.

He must have been starving—he devoured four portions of lamb in no time.

“Will you bring food tomorrow too, Shayla?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of three meals a day.”

His tail wagged quietly.

“I’ll come early tomorrow morning.”

His tail wagged faster.

“Good night, Callion.”

I think I earned some points today. He even walked me to the door.

“See you tomorrow.”

He said nothing as I waved and closed the door, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Compared to our first meeting when he wouldn’t even look at me, this was already luxurious treatment.

When his small body disappeared from view, the realistic worries I had forgotten returned.

‘I’ve gotten myself into trouble. How am I going to make him human?’

I had spoken confidently in front of Callion, but of course it was a lie.

‘How am I supposed to…’

make him human?

My twin sister, who grew up with me, is still a rabbit!

If I really knew the way, I would have helped my sister first.

I had told Duke Graywolf I would “try,” but I wasn’t sincere then.

I only said it to stay in this castle and not be kicked out.

But for this boy…

‘It’s all because of that damned devil’s seed.’

Without thinking, I made huge promises to Callion. If he hadn’t been eating garlic, I wouldn’t have said it.

But I wasn’t afraid of the responsibility.

‘Even if he never becomes human, it’s fine. I can take care of him for life.’

Like a precious jewel, just as I’m doing now.

I pulled the blanket up to my neck, looked at the ceiling painting of running wolves, and made a vow.

It doesn’t matter whether he is human or wolf.

‘He is already my husband.’

Therefore…

“Turning this pup into a human…”

•♡•

<Part 1: A Fake Marriage – End>