"...How much longer?"
Dorin hugged her knees, squatting in the corner of the prison.
She had been locked up here for almost a week now.
It was a completely enclosed room, isolated from the outside world.
Apart from her, there were no other people, not even the sound of others’ voices. When it was ti to eat, drink water, or dispose of trash, she had to go into the inner room, Room A. Only after the warden had confird she had entered Room A would they remotely lock the door of Room A and send soone into Room B to put in the food and water and take out the trash.
Besides the wooden tray for food, the wooden bowl for water, the small toilet for excretion, and the sleeping bag-like "bed" spread on the floor of Room A, there was nothing in her room.
Utterly empty.
Only during interrogations would strangers with stern faces, wearing rings or white gloves, co through the door.
As soon as she made eye contact with them, Dorin would imdiately lose consciousness.
It was an extrely uncomfortable feeling.
It was like her head was imrsed in ice water, frozen to the point of losing consciousness.
She didn’t even know what questions she had answered, nor did she know when they left... It was as if she had blacked out from drinking too much.
When she ca to, her brain would feel scorching hot, as though she had a fever. It would take several hours to recover.
But the upside was that the fear and anxiety that had slowly accumulated in her heart while she was confined in the room would disappear without a trace with the onset of that state.
Dorin was very worried.
Had she already leaked information about Mr. Giralda while she was unconscious?
Or was there already a fight going on outside? A struggle for inheritance? Or a conflict between uncle and nephew?
Would Prince Dmitry be exiled?
After all, he didn’t seem very smart...
Grand Duke Ivan was said to be in poor health. Could sothing happen to him? Stabbed by Mr. Giralda, claid to have died of illness, and then take the opportunity to seize power, while Prince Dmitry would be exiled abroad... It seed quite possible. However, Grand Duke Ivan was said to be a good person, so it would be better if he didn’t die...
Mr. Giralda—no, Prince Giralda, didn’t seem to discriminate against werewolves like his brother did. If he could beco the Duke of Winter, perhaps our werewolf situation could improve a little... maybe?
But, but knowing so much information, could it be that Giralda would silence ?
"...Ooh."
Thinking of this, Dorin let out a cry and buried her face in her knees.
—It feels cold, I’m cold.
Just then, with a squeaky sound.
The seamless door without even a doorknob from the outside was opened. Two of Winter’s Hands ca in, one inside and one outside, holding the door and looking straight ahead without glancing sideways.
...Eh, I haven’t gone in to lock the door yet, have I?
Dorin shuddered, looking at the door with a mix of confusion and fear.
Normally, this door could only be opened when she went into Room A and locked herself in.
Why weren’t they worried about running away this ti?
Could it, could it finally be ti for my execution?
"—Dorin."
Mr. Giralda’s voice ca from the doorway.
The middle-aged man, who wore a gentle smile and had features as chiseled as a sculpture, walked in between the two of Winter’s Hands.
"Giralda... Mr..."
Dorin whispered in response.
She struggled to stand up from the ground.
But because she had squatted for too long, her legs were numb, and she stumbled forward.
Before she could fall into Giralda’s arms, he quickly grabbed her shoulders and steadied her.
...Was it an illusion?
Why did Mr. Giralda’s hands feel so strong... as if he was a living statue?
But she quickly ca to her senses and stood up straight, breaking free from his hold.
"—Sorry, Mr. Giralda! I was impolite!"
Dorin tried to speak loudly, but her voice was still so quiet that it was barely audible.
She was afraid of her clumsiness.
And she felt her throat tighten with fear, her gums and fingertips tingling slightly.
Yet Giralda wore a sowhat incomprehensible smile... a strange, almost scrutinizing smile.
...That smile, it seed familiar.
Yes.
When her old teacher had chosen her, he seed to have worn the sa expression...
"Dorin."
"Yes...! I... I’m here."
Her voice beca softer and softer.
But Giralda simply patted her on the shoulder and offered a gentle smile, "Don’t be nervous."
"By the way, why are you so afraid of ? It wasn’t like this before, was it?"
What can I say?
Because I don’t know if I have leaked any secrets, and I don’t know if I’ll be silenced...
Watching Dorin stutter, Giralda’s gaze grew more profound.
As if to break the silence, the middle-aged man with black hair and black eyes slowly began to speak:
"Don’t be nervous, nothing has happened."
"Nothing has happened, you an..."
"Everything is the sa as before."
Giralda spoke as if by afterthought, "By the way. If you are released, do you have any plans for afterward?"
"Plans..."
Dorin stamred, unable to say much. She also didn’t know what the correct thing was to say.
"...I don’t know."
After hesitating for a long ti, that was still her response.
That was the truth.
Because I didn’t know what the "right" thing was to say, in the end, I could only tell the truth.
At least if I got the answer wrong this way, I wouldn’t regret it too much.
"But if I can... I would like to go find the ’Teacher’."
"Professor Wolf?"
"Yes."
Dorin bit her own lip—truly bit down on her lip. She sucked on her own blood like a baby sucking on milk.
"I want to ask him... why he gave such a task. Also, to him, what am I really..."
As she spoke, Dorin’s voice faded even more.
She beca increasingly despondent.
Actually, there was no need for Professor Wolf to give an answer himself.
She already understood... she was nothing more than a disposable tool.
—After all, Professor Wolf himself was not a werewolf.
He raised and nurtured werewolf orphans, solely to achieve his own goals. From this perspective, Professor Wolf was no different from others who viewed werewolves as re tools.
"In that case."
Giralda spoke softly, "Why don’t you follow for now?"
"...You?"
Dorin looked at Giralda in surprise.
But is there any need for that?
I’m just a useless werewolf after all.
Not knowing anybody, without any special skills, only knowing how to follow orders... and ssing everything up.
"Yes, follow ."
Giralda spoke slowly, "I’m going to take a trip to the Underworld first to handle so matters. After that, I also happen to be looking for Professor Wolf to ask him so questions in person. From this point of view, our objectives align, don’t they?"
Our objectives... align?
Dorin stared at Giralda, stunned.
In her eyes, his gentle smile was reflected.
It seed especially convincing.
"Just like a teacher."
She whispered.
"What?"
"No, nothing."
Dorin inexplicably felt a growing fondness for the man before her.
Since I am rely a tool... why not let soone who wants use ?
Thinking this, Dorin felt her mood lighten considerably.
—In a place where she couldn’t see.
In Giralda’s lowered left hand, he clutched two crystal bells.
...Just as I thought.
Giralda nodded thoughtfully.
Reviews
All reviews (0)