How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 64

“L-Loui… sa…?”

Even Carter III could not suppress his shock when he opened his mouth. His voice trembled uncontrollably.

*Beast Emperor?*

And… *it has been a long time?*

The force of those words defied description. For an instant, Carter III could not recover his thoughts at all. He stared at Louisa, mismatched eyes wide and shaken. By the time he remembered that an emperor ought not expose his emotions so plainly, it was already too late.

Ordinarily, he never would have. Cats were masters at concealing what they truly felt.

But the person before him was Louisa.

Before his thoughts could recover, another kiss touched his lips and vanished. Once again, it broke his train of thought and threw his heart into confusion. Carter III could only stare blankly into Louisa’s beautiful eyes.

“Would you… take human form?” she asked with a smile.

Louisa had seen Carter III as a man from the beginning, but her truth-piercing sight did not perfectly align with physical reality. She had to concentrate intensely to make certain her kisses did not miss.

And honestly, kissing a cat was not unacceptable, especially when she knew the cat’s real identity. Still, a mouthful of fur rather diminished the experience. As an ordinary human woman, Louisa preferred a human body.

After a moment’s thought, she began, “I think—”

It was already too late for words.

Before the next syllable could leave her throat, someone caught her by the wrist. Louisa tumbled into a man’s arms, then was turned and pressed back onto the bed as kisses fell over her like rain.

Soft lips laden with decades of longing deepened the sweetness in the air again and again, as though trying to repay in a single breath every desire left unanswered through more than twenty years apart.

Carter III had no attention for anything else. Perhaps he simply did not wish to think of anything else. To feel the warmth of Louisa—the woman he had dreamed of day and night—pressed tightly against him was already a perfect ending.

Louisa had been startled for a moment when he embraced her. She soon recovered and wrapped her arms around his back, drawing them close enough for greater intimacy.

By the time they finally paused after a succession of lingering, deepening kisses, more than ten minutes had passed. Both were breathing hard.

“I owe you an apology. I kept the truth from you all these years. I knew your identity from the very beginning.” Louisa sat upon the bed and gazed at Carter III. Her arms still rested on his shoulders, and very little space remained between them. “But… I am glad that you came back.”

Her voice was soft as a breeze.

Carter III paused. “…I was the one who concealed my identity first. In that regard, I am no different. Forgive me for deceiving you.”

Of course, he had tried and failed to hide the truth, while Louisa had successfully concealed the fact that she saw through him. By any measure, Louisa had outplayed him.

More than that, he had been an enemy stranded within her kingdom. As a princess, Louisa had not exposed him. She had treated his wounds instead and given him a peaceful refuge in which to recover.

Carter III finally understood why Louisa had spoken to a pet cat of such serious matters. He understood why she had always handled him more cautiously than anyone else, and why the only kiss she gave him before they parted—left upon his lips—had carried far more romance and meaning than he had dared imagine.

As understanding dawned, he looked again at Louisa’s gentle smile and felt a helpless sense of being completely seen. Yet his heart softened all the same.

She was a far more intelligent woman than even he had imagined. She had carried pain equal to his and borne the same kind of… responsibility.

Under what pressure had she secretly cared for the ruler of the enemy Empire of Beast, all while trying to persuade him to accept an entirely new understanding of the world?

And come to think of it, how had she seen through him at all?

Carter III regarded Louisa with tangled emotions. She met his awkward, questioning gaze. Through their eyes, every feeling within him lay exposed before her without reserve.

Louisa gave a soft laugh.

“…What are you thinking?” she asked.

Carter III hesitated. “Nothing, I…”

Louisa seized him by the fur-trimmed collar and kissed him again.

Her eyes were closed. She was gentle and still, and somehow the wordless kiss carried a message that melted into his heart. Carter III cupped the side of her face and bent to deepen it.

Their heartbeats crossed and gradually fell into rhythm. Without words, he understood what she wished to tell him.

*I will explain everything.*

*But we need more time.*

…

“…Your Majesty, where is the white cat? Where did you settle him?”

That afternoon, the maid arrived at her customary hour with tea and refreshments. She looked curiously around the empty state office, then at Queen Louisa, who appeared to be in an excellent mood.

This was where Louisa White ordinarily conducted state affairs, and unauthorized people were forbidden to enter. But Her Majesty was fond of animals. As a princess, she had even carried William to her lessons. The maid had assumed that she might find the white cat here, only to see no sign of him at all.

At the question, Louisa only smiled calmly.

“He has already left.”

“Wh—”

The maid stared in shock.

“Did he run away? Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will gather the other servants and search at once. He cannot have gone far. If we look carefully—”

“No. I let him go.”

Louisa waved a hand with a smile, signaling that there was no need for alarm. Then her eyes narrowed, her expression taking on a trace of mystery.

“That was not a cat I could keep. And… rest assured, he will return.”

*He will return?*

Could a runaway cat truly come back?

And what did Her Majesty mean by a cat she could not keep? Was there any master in the world more exalted than a royal family?

The maid could make no sense of Louisa’s words. Still, she had always trusted Her Majesty’s judgment and said nothing more. She deftly poured the queen’s black tea and arranged the refreshments. After a moment’s hesitation, Louisa set aside the state papers she had only half finished and lifted the cup.

The white cat had gone. One of his ministers was apparently waiting beyond the palace grounds. Besides, he and his companion had crossed the border illegally and could not remain long. If they wished to meet properly, it would be wiser to use legitimate means.

Louisa paused.

She did not show it, but she felt somewhat embarrassed. Because of Carter III, only a little of her magical sight remained for the day.

She was a queen now, and her life differed greatly from her days as a princess. Every moment of sight was precious and ought to be devoted to the gravest affairs. But they had been apart for so long. She had wanted desperately to see every movement of that man again, to record every moment they spent together.

In the end, she had allowed herself one selfish indulgence and used her innate magic for a private matter. Without realizing it, she spent a great deal of power on Carter III, while half of today’s state business remained unfinished.

…Never mind. She would consider it a rare holiday.

Louisa released a long breath and let the matter go.

“By the way.”

She suddenly lowered her teacup.

“What is the girl named Aisha doing today?”

The maid smiled as she tidied Louisa’s desk and searched her memory.

“Ah, you mean Miss Byrd. She should still be studying magic. I heard her innate magic heals, so her professor asked some of our kingdom’s mages to teach her healing spells. She seems very interested herself.”

Louisa pressed her lips together in a smile. “I see.”

Healing magic was indeed the specialty of their kingdom’s mages. Many of the court mages maintained ties with the clergy’s mages at the Grand Temple, and some even held posts in both institutions. Their skill in healing was exceptional.

Her own problem had been resolved. Now… watching the younger generation develop might be entertaining.

Louisa’s smile deepened at the thought. She raised her cup again, took a sip, and said no more.

…

Aisha was indeed studying magic at that moment.

Eric had already taught her the most basic healing spells, but the vast system practiced in the Kingdom of Micks—with its many different forms and effects—still astonished her. Eric had also asked the court mages to teach her a selection of those spells directly. In exchange, he shared magic unique to Wold, along with spells he had improved or invented himself.

The mages of Micks were naturally fascinated by Aisha’s innate magic of healing as well. After teaching her the healing arts that belonged to general magic, they gathered experimental data whenever she used her innate ability.

“Hmm… You did very well. One would expect nothing less from a student of Mr. Eric Green.”

As the magical light at the tip of Aisha’s wand faded, an elderly mage with a head full of white curls praised her with a touch of surprise.

Aisha thanked him with a smile, delighted by the compliment.

Perhaps because her innate magic was itself a form of healing, she learned healing spells more readily than other forms of general magic. In only a few weeks, she had made considerable progress.

“That will be all for today. I will discuss your progress with Eric later, and next week we can decide together how to adjust your lessons,” the elderly mage said kindly. “Enjoy your holiday in Micks.”

The holiday… Sunday…

Something came to mind. Aisha pressed her lips together and smiled.

“Thank you. I hope you enjoy your holiday too.”

This Sunday, she had already… promised to go out with someone.