How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 61

“Um… Major General Wolf?”

“…”

In the forest, Aisha held a covered picnic basket against her chest and studied the tall gray wolf before her with cautious intensity. At the sound of her question, however, the giant wolf merely swayed his tail with his usual leisurely composure, as though he had no idea what she was talking about. When Aisha extended a hand, he even leaned forward of his own accord and rubbed his head against her palm.

Aisha let out a soft breath, finally reassured. With a smile, she went over, wrapped her arms around Les, and ruffled his fur with abandon.

His coat was as soft and warm as ever. Winter had come around again before she knew it, and leaning close to him was wonderfully comfortable. Between his warm body and thick fur, he gave off precisely the right amount of heat.

After mistaking Major General Wolf’s beast form for Les, Aisha could not help feeling nervous the next time she saw her wolf. She was terrified of making the same mistake twice and creating a situation even more embarrassing than the last. That was why she had deliberately called out Major General Wolf’s title first. Only after confirming that this was not him did she finally relax.

The thought that she had actually wondered for an instant whether Major General Wolf might be Les made her cheeks warm. Even now, her imagination occasionally produced similar scenes.

If she stopped to think about it, though, how could a man as serious and dutiful as Major General Wolf genuinely disguise himself as an ordinary wolf? Even if circumstances forced him to assume some false identity, he certainly would not choose to pose as a wolf and follow her around. Aisha could not imagine what possible advantage that would offer him.

Relations between humans and beastfolk were enjoying something of a honeymoon at present, so no one should be sending a distinguished major general into Helman as a spy. And even if Beast truly wanted intelligence on Helman’s military, following Aisha would reveal very little. She might be Tina Killott’s daughter, but she knew nothing about military affairs. Her mother had rarely discussed them with her.

In short, Aisha put her doubts aside for the time being.

She must have looked rather foolish, calling a giant wolf *Major General Wolf*. But Les was the only one who had seen her. Surely… it did not matter?

Aisha smiled in relief and opened the basket. She took out a book, several sandwiches, and a bottle of water. While feeding Les the sandwiches—Pal had said that although Les hunted for most of his meals in the forest, a little human food was fine as a treat—she found a comfortable place against his side, adjusted her position, and opened her book.

From the moment he first allowed Aisha to see his beast and human forms in close succession, Les had anticipated that she might become suspicious. Seeing that she appeared to have accepted the explanation, he relaxed as well. He caught the sandwich she offered, chewed, and swallowed it naturally.

“You look much better than before.”

Aisha smiled gently as she leaned against him.

Les could not answer, but he could hold her gaze. Aisha lifted herself slightly, kissed his cheek, then buried herself in his fur again and returned to her book.

Before long, however, her attention wandered from the page. She found herself studying Les as he lay quietly on the ground.

There truly seemed to be no difference at all between him and Major General Wolf’s beast form.

No—she had only seen Major General Wolf as a wolf for a fleeting instant. She had automatically assumed he was Les and had not looked carefully. Perhaps she simply had not seen him clearly enough. She ought to observe Major General Wolf’s beast form several more times, preferably long enough to find some distinction between them. Then she would not make the same mistake again.

Come to think of it… she could see Major General Wolf as soon as tonight.

At the thought, Aisha unconsciously pressed her lips together, then smiled. Her heart grew inexplicably light.

And not only tonight. For a long time to come, she would be able to see him easily here in Micks.

…

Aisha and Major General Wolf soon became familiar with each other.

Queen Louisa had placed them both on the second floor of the eastern wing. Major General Wolf’s room was actually across from the row occupied by Eric, Thorne, and Aisha. The palace contained many rooms, and several doors stood between Aisha’s quarters and his, but they were still very close—less than a minute’s walk apart. Once Major General Wolf gave Aisha permission to visit, it became easy for them to call on one another.

At first, one of them would simply knock, and then they would find somewhere to sit and talk, whether in the garden or another corner of the palace. Sometimes they dined together when the queen invited them. They discussed books, their fields of study, and the customs and everyday life of their respective countries.

The leisurely days in Micks passed quickly. After two or three weeks, silence no longer descended so readily upon their conversations. Aisha had also ceased to fear this beastfolk officer whose appearance seemed so forbidding. Sometimes Major General Wolf revealed an unexpected shyness or clumsiness, and Aisha would laugh softly. She was not mocking him. She simply found him… inexplicably endearing.

At such moments, happiness would surge up and fill her heart in an instant. It was as though her heart and the whole world had suddenly grown small enough for that happiness alone to fill them completely.

She was happy.

Aisha could not have explained why. She simply felt happy without trying.

“…It’s late again tonight.”

One evening, Aisha looked up at the slowly rising moon and spoke with a trace of wonder. Winter had arrived once more, and the moon shone with exceptional clarity. Its light opened a bright space in the dark sky and lent the palace garden an air of romance and mystery.

“Mm.”

The man beside her nodded and answered softly.

Aisha smiled at him.

“Shall we go back? I’m getting sleepy, and I still have lessons with my professor tomorrow morning…”

“All right.”

Les paused.

“…I’ll walk you back.”

Aisha’s smile brightened. “Mm!”

They rose side by side and slowly followed the path toward the palace. Everything around them was quiet except for their footsteps and the charged rhythm of their heartbeats. Every now and then, they exchanged a sentence or two. Aisha drew her padded cloak more tightly around herself to hide the shy expressions that occasionally crossed her face. Somehow, whenever she stood close to this man, even the winter air seemed to grow warmer.

Whenever they were together, time raced forward as though every second mattered. Before long, they were back inside the warm, brightly lit palace. Les escorted Aisha to her door. She smiled, thanked him, and wished him good night before opening the door to go inside.

“Wait. Um… you…”

Les awkwardly tried to judge the atmosphere between them. He reached out and caught Aisha by the wrist, watching her with nervous intensity.

“Sunday is your rest day, isn’t it? If you have time… would you like to go for a walk outside the palace with me?”

Aisha froze. Her heartbeat, which had only just settled, abruptly quickened again, and heat rolled through her chest.

She smiled. “Yes, I have time… I’d love to.”

“Then I’ll… come for you that morning.”

“All right!”

“In that case… good night.”

“Mm. Good night!”

After she accepted, Major General Wolf seemed to stare blankly for several seconds. Then he hurriedly released her wrist. They exchanged good nights once more, awkward and romantic in equal measure, and he turned toward his own room.

Aisha waited until he had vanished entirely before closing the door. Alone in the darkness, she leaned back against it, face burning, and released a long breath.

A date… This was a date, wasn’t it?

Did it mean… that the relationship between them was developing?

Aisha was so excited that she wanted to throw herself onto the bed and roll back and forth. Yet after delighting in the thought for quite some time, she looked at the empty room and felt a faint stab of loneliness.

Without the giant wolf, every corner seemed bare. If only she could hug him and talk to him at a time like this.

Aisha sighed.

She still visited Les in the forest almost every noon and afternoon, but the hours they spent together had undeniably dwindled. Sometimes she felt… lonely.

…

Meanwhile, Les retraced his steps to his own room. He was still immersed in the joy of Aisha accepting his invitation when he noticed Queen Louisa standing not far from his door. He paused in surprise.

“…Good evening, Mr. Wolf.”

Hearing his footsteps, Louisa turned and offered him a small smile, greeting him first.

“…Your Majesty.”

Les inclined his head. After a moment’s thought, he added, “…Thank you for everything you have done lately.”

Without Queen Louisa’s cooperation, slipping out of Aisha’s room in wolf form would never have gone so smoothly. If he had moved into the palace as Major General Wolf while also maintaining another room for “Les” along the same corridor, keeping up both identities would have been far more difficult.

Louisa had also taken considerable care when arranging their schedules so that, as much as possible, no situation would require Les and Major General Wolf to appear at the same time.

At his thanks, Louisa smiled.

“And how are matters progressing? Smoothly, I hope?”

“…Mm. Very well.”

Les clenched one fist in excitement.

Everything truly had gone well—so well that he sometimes wondered if he was dreaming. Aisha’s radiant smile, her sweet voice, and the warmth of her body so close to his own all filled him with indescribable happiness. If matters could continue this way forever… Merely imagining it made his ears burn.

Reading his expression, Louisa smiled and nodded.

“If things are progressing well, then I can put my mind at ease. That was all I came to ask. Until next time, Major General.”

“…Until next time.”

Les lowered his head in farewell.

Queen Louisa really had come only to ask about their progress. Les could not understand why she cared so much about their relationship, but he was genuinely grateful. He watched her go, then reached for his door.

“…Les, who were you… speaking with just now?”

Carter III’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear without warning.

For some reason, His Majesty’s voice sounded faintly tremulous.