Ch#172
He watched the scene, forgetting even how to breathe.
Between the lush thickets, glimpses of wheat-colored hair glittered like pure gold under the torrential downpour of sunlight. Those dazzling rays traced the lines of her pearl-like face and clung like spiderwebs to her water-slicked neck and collarbone.
Dazed and frozen, he soon began to push his way through the dense trees. Every time a clear, bell-like laugh rippled through the rustling leaves, a jolt shot down his spine as if he had been struck by lightning.
Feeling his throat burn with a strange thirst, he passed through the azalea bushes obstructing his view. Then, the sight of her waist-deep in the silver-glistening spring water filled his vision entirely.
He came to a halt, swallowing hard against a throat that had suddenly gone tight.
She was clad only in a single, loose-fitting dress of cream silk. The thin, water-soaked fabric clung to her body like a second skin, revealing the delicate framework of her bones and her lush curves without filter.
Before he could even process the anger at such a defenseless display, her voice, brimming with delight once more, rang through the air.
“Good boy. Stay still.”
Stretching her slender arms across the water’s surface, the woman pulled the head of a massive wolf toward her chest.
Only then did he notice the presence of the giant silver beast that had been hidden by the brush.
The wolf, with only its head poking above the water, let out a low rumble and jerked its head back as if resisting its master’s touch. At that, the woman wrapped her arms firmly around the wolf’s neck, grabbed its grey-furred snout with one hand, and began to scrub its bushy neck and face vigorously with a stiff brush.
Evidently displeased, the wolf’s resistance grew a bit more fervent.
As the beast twisted its large, submerged body in an attempt to escape the spring, she threw her arms around it from behind.
“Not a chance!”
A playful, mischievous smile lit up her small, delicate face.
While he watched the scene with the shock of a physical blow to the gut, the woman’s blue eyes—clinging to the wolf’s massive frame—happened to meet his.
Barkas watched with a bitter heart as the smile vanished from her face, replaced by a taut tension.
The woman, frozen stiff as if she had seen a ghost, slunk back to hide behind the wolf.
“I… I heard you weren’t arriving for another four days….”
“I heard there was trouble, so I hurried my return,” he replied, his voice stripped of all emotion.
The woman, who had looked anxious and quite flustered by his appearance, suddenly arched her brows.
“There is no trouble.”
She wrapped her pale, wet arms around the giant wolf’s brawny neck and shot him a wary look.
“I don’t know who’s been talking, but it’s all lies. They’re just making up excuses to kick Khan out….”
“Khan?”
Her voice, which had risen in excitement, faltered as she fell silent.
A faint flush rose to her cheeks.
“That’s his name. Khan….”
She murmured, fiddling with the wolf’s pointed ears.
Barkas let out a breath of sheer exasperation. His head throbbed at his wife’s audacity in giving a common monster a name from the Eastern people.
He gave his instructions in a blunt tone.
“Come out of there first. We shall speak back at the castle.”
The woman, who had been peeking out with only her eyes visible, walked out of the water with the wolf leading the way.
He slowly scanned the massive beast that stepped onto land first.
The grey Dire Wolf possessed an overwhelming physique, hard to believe for a sub-adult not even three years old. Long, sturdy legs coiled with power, a brawny, muscular neck, a developed jaw, and razor-sharp teeth….
Its height from floor to head seemed to reach nearly 6 kubets (approx. 180cm), and its body length appeared to easily exceed 7 kubets (approx. 210cm). It was a startling level of growth, considering it had been the size of a large hound the last time he saw it.
‘They said it was as big as a stallion or an ox… I thought there was some exaggeration involved….’
It was actually more surprising that no incidents had occurred with a beast of this size roaming the estate.
He glanced at the long, thick tail dripping with water, then moved his gaze back to the wolf’s head. His brow furrowed as he met eyes full of hostility staring back at him.
The wolf had lowered its upper body into a crouch, growling.
Sensing murderous intent, Barkas immediately reached for the hilt of his sword. In that moment, the woman, now out of the water, stepped between him and the wolf.
“Don’t do that, Khan!”
She then slapped the snout of the bared-teeth wolf with her palm.
Startled by the dangerous act, he grabbed her wrist with a rough pull, dragging her away from the wolf. He was about to scold her harshly when the sight of her water-drenched body filled his vision.
Barkas inhaled sharply. Before he could even realize it, his gaze slid down the perfect curves of her breasts, her flat stomach, and the small indentation of her navel, stopping at the triangular junction between her thighs.
The sight of her being practically naked caused his blood to boil and a nameless fury to rise within him.
He cast a sharp glare toward the guards standing some distance away with their backs turned. The mere thought that they might have seen her like this made his head throb.
“Where is your outer clothing?”
The woman, who had been frozen, seemed to belatedly realize her state. She covered her chest with one arm and pointed to a tree towering beside the spring.
“I hung it over there.”
He immediately snatched the robe hanging from the branch and wrapped it around her.
“Do you usually walk around in such attire?”
When he threw the question at her in a sharp tone, she replied sullenly, her cheeks flushing.
“I only took it off for a moment to wash Khan. No one else comes near when Khan is around anyway.”
“Someone could be watching from afar.”
“Anyone like that would have been taught a lesson by Khan.”
The woman gave a loud snort, then flinched under his gaze and added hurriedly, “I don’t mean Khan actually hurt anyone. He just scared them so they wouldn’t hover around me.”
She then gently stroked the neck of the Dire Wolf sitting obediently behind her.
Barkas narrowed his eyes, looking down at the wolf wagging its tail at its master. The beast that had shown him murderous intent was now acting as docile as a loyal hunting dog toward her.
Looking at that alone, it didn’t seem like it would be a particular threat to her. However, there was no telling when the innate aggression of a monster might surface.
He warily pushed her behind his back, keeping his hand ready to draw his sword at any moment. At that, the beast that had been acting tame bared its teeth again. Seeing this, Talia raised her voice in alarm.
“Khan! You mustn’t. This person is…!”
Urgently soothing the wolf, the woman’s voice trailed off as she scrutinized his expression. She looked restless, as if fearing he might do something to the wolf.
“Khan usually dislikes men. I think it’s because he remembers almost dying at the hands of soldiers when he was a pup. He’s just doing it because he’s scared….”
“I will reserve my judgment on this beast for later.”
Barkas cut off her desperate defense and glared at the wolf with cold eyes. The monster stared back at him with piercing blue eyes.
Was it angry for making its master anxious? The wolf looked as though it were itching to tear his throat out right then and there.
He gestured to her, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword to respond instantly if necessary.
“Lead the way. I will hear the full story once we return to the castle.”
“Khan, come here.”
She beckoned the wolf with an anxious face. He firmly stepped between them.
“No, you go first.”
“Khan gets anxious when he’s away from me.”
“I cannot allow this beast near Your Grace until I am certain it is truly harmless.”
At that, the woman shot him a sharp, angry glare, shook off his hand, and rushed over to the wolf. Before he could stop her, she pried the beast’s jaws open and thrust her hand inside.
“Look. He doesn’t bite even when I do this. He only acts tough on the outside, but he’s a sweetheart.”
Barkas felt the blood in his body run cold. He wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her up. The wolf, also seemingly startled by its master’s sudden action, scurried back and let out a few coughs.
