TMDW | Chapter 014

Chapter 14

Today was the monthly settlement day for Shayla’s personal funds.

Shayla, who had been the dream of the merchant family, had been accustomed since childhood to keeping a detailed expense ledger.

Since a large sum called “personal funds” was allocated to her monthly by the ducal household, it had become natural for her to record her consumption and expenditures.

‘They might expel me from the duke’s castle on the grounds of extravagance.’

Meanwhile, the head butler came to visit Shayla in the morning.

It wasn’t necessarily his duty, but since he had come all the way here, she felt she should show him her personal account ledger.

“These are the expenses, and these are the expenditures.”

She had also noted what she bought and how she paid for it. Daily.

Antonio, who had been looking at Shayla with a satisfied smile at first as she hugged the ledger, began flipping through the pages one by one with growing astonishment.

“Young Lady, do you know the difference between expenses and expenditures?”

“Expenses are purchases of things that aren’t necessary but that I want, or spending money that could have been avoided.”

Shayla’s hand pointed to a corner of the ledger.

Purchase of 30 cones of Guipure lace.

“On the other hand, expenditures are money that must be spent by necessity. For example, changing the old bedroom decor for Callion, or buying the lamb he likes.”

Buying good wall fabric cost a lot of money. The cost of the meat wasn’t cheap either.

Shayla deliberately emphasized this point. She had bought what Callion needed with her own personal funds.

It was supposed to be the head maid’s job. But since there was no head maid in the duke’s castle, the servants had to manage it.

‘Even if Callion refused, haven’t they been far too negligent all this time?’

She wanted to say that.

How could they neglect feeding and cleaning him? Unless they wanted him to starve or fall seriously ill.

Yet they had continued this neglect for many years.

Ignoring the young duke, considered a burden, had become so familiar that repentance came far too late.

As expected, Antonio didn’t appear remorseful that Shayla had personally taken care of Callion.

He simply checked the carefully written ledger and was delighted once again by Shayla’s frugality and resourcefulness.

“Will you be going to the young duke again today?”

“Yes.”

As Shayla stood up holding the ledger, Antonio surprised her with unexpected words.

“Young Lady, may I ask you for one favor?”

“A favor?”

“Yes. His Grace has been wondering about the young duke’s condition, so I thought of arranging a meeting between them…”

This was good news.

The hunting festival was approaching soon. As the biggest festival in the north, preparations had to begin at least half a year in advance.

It seemed Antonio was planning a family dinner during the hunting festival period hosted by the duchy.

“The problem is that the young duke… no one can wash him…”

“What?”

Shayla’s eyes narrowed instinctively.

She had wondered why this old man had come all the way to the east wing with such effort. So he had another purpose.

“When our young master was little, he used to follow his nanny a lot.”

“Do you mean the nanny who left the duke’s castle because of responsibility for Callion’s kidnapping?”

“Yes, in fact, the nanny left of her own volition. The young duke gradually began to hate her until their relationship deteriorated.”

It was rare for a noble’s child to hate his nanny. Usually they felt more attached to her than to the mother they spent little time with.

“How did that happen? Did she despise him because he was a wolf?”

“No, not that. I heard that while she was trying to wash him…”

Wash him?

“It’s said he hates water very much. So since the nanny left, no one has been able to wash him.”

“Wait a moment, the nanny left five years ago, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…”

No wonder his smell had been foul from their first meeting.

Yes, that smell couldn’t have come from just a year or two!

“I know this is an impudent request, but… could I ask this of you, Young Lady?”

“…”

Didn’t he say no one had succeeded?

‘Why are they burdening me with something like this…’

* * *

“Shasha, you’re here?”

Perhaps he heard Shayla’s footsteps in the hallway, because the moment she opened the door, she saw him.

At first he stood ten steps from the door, then gradually approached until now he was almost pressed against it.

‘If this continues, he’ll go outside.’

But he was a shy boy who avoided going out during the day when people were around, so it wouldn’t be easy.

“Leon, did you do the education again?”

“Yes, I did…”

Callion, feeling shy but waiting for praise, wagged his tail faster and lifted his head. His folded-back ears were an added bonus.

“Good job, good job, my little one!”

He looked embarrassed but pleased with the enthusiastic praise, spinning in place.

Shayla reached out to stroke Callion from head to tail, then firmly rubbed his chin and neck.

Suddenly the boy turned and exposed his belly.

While he lay there with eyes closed, completely enjoying it, Shayla stopped petting him and stood up.

“Alright, let’s go take a bath now.”

Callion reacted to her words after a moment’s delay.

“What?”

He slowly opened his eyes and turned to stand.

“Leon, let’s wash up.”

“What did you say? I didn’t hear well.”

“…You say you didn’t hear.”

“Believe me, I didn’t hear.”

“Then why are you backing away?”

“I’m not hearing…”

He had already retreated more than twenty steps.

She hadn’t done anything yet, but he was terribly scared and tucked his tail back. She felt like the villain, but there was no choice.

Shayla placed her hands on her hips and unleashed the truth she had been holding back.

“You’re dirty and cute at the same time.”

“…”

“You, you smell really bad.”

The boy jumped in place, trembling.

“Me?!”

“Yes, very strong smell.”

Callion, the soft white furball, was like a walking duster.

‘All the dust in this room is attached to his cute body…’

Even his whiteness was just Shayla viewing him fondly; in reality, his color was closer to gray.

His fur, never cared for, was tangled and dirty, and the lingering annoying garlic smell hadn’t gone away.

Dust, garlic, lamb meat, and foul odor.

All of it gathered in this cowardly furball.

“Let’s wash. You might get sick if you keep going like this.”

Although he had become obedient lately, bathing seemed to be something he intensely hated.

Shayla had no choice but to chase him around the room, engaging in a real battle.

“Leon, where are you?”

“…”

“This is a big problem. I can’t find you at all.”

Shayla stopped in front of the curtain and looked with exasperation at the protruding hind paw.

‘What an innocent idiot…’

Did he really think he was hidden if he hid behind the curtain?

Under the puffed velvet curtain, she pulled his hind leg, and Callion desperately clung to the curtain.

“No, no! Let me go!”

“No way! You have to wash! Do you know how bad you smell?”

“But, but you said it was okay!”

“When did I say it was okay?”

“You hugged me and touched me without any problem!”

“I was enduring! I forgave you because you’re cute!”

“Then keep forgiving me! I’ll stay cute!”

Shayla firmly grabbed the boy who was trying to escape and held him at her waist. He resisted so hard she felt exhausted.

“No! I don’t want to wash!”

“No way. If you don’t wash, everyone will hate you.”

“I don’t care! I don’t care about others!”

“You rascal!”

She finally exploded loudly.

“If you want to become human, you have to learn to wash with dignity!”

“…”

With that scolding, Callion suddenly calmed down, as if he had never defied her before, and began watching Shayla shyly.

She held him firmly and went to the bathroom, where she filled the hand-washing basin with warm water and began gradually splashing water on his body.

But the wolf fur, unwashed for a long time, was astonishingly water-resistant. Every time she poured water, it bounced off without wetting the fur at all.