CH 78

We returned to the mansion

Uhh…judging by Leo’s voice and gestures…she was saying that the area around the mansion was her territory, and that if the fenrir wanted to join, it was welcome?

I see…So Leo was declaring this land as her territory.

…But why had she been howling towards the sunset…? Well, seeing Leo’s silvery coat glisten under the setting sun as she howled had been quite picturesque.

“…And what was the fenrir’s answer?”

“Wou-wou…wuff!”

Hmm. ‘I will join. Thank you.’ I think…?

So this fenrir was pretty polite then.

Or that was just the way that Leo interpreted it. Or I was misunderstanding Leo.

“So, this fenrir is now your friend.”

“Wuff. Wou-wou. Wuff! Wuff!”

Leo said that she welcomed the fenrir, who was very grateful.

So that was how their conversation had gone.

Still…was it really necessary for them to howl like that…? Fenrirs and Silver Fenrirs were still quite a mystery to me…

“Ms. Claire. It seems like Leo welcomed the fenrir here as a friend, and the fenrir was expressing its gratitude.”

“…Is that so…? I did hear that wolves and fenrirs are monsters that are terribly territorial. Is it like a ceremony of sorts?”

“I think it is something like that.”

I answered as I looked down at the fenrir that was squeezed between us.

It had dozed off again.

Perhaps the calm expression on its face was due to the relief of having been accepted by Leo.

A few minutes later, the horses were calmed by Leo’s apology, and we were able to go through the gates.

A part of me wondered why we didn’t just walk, as we were so close to the house, but I didn’t mention it.

Then the carriage stopped in front of the entrance of the mansion.

It was as Ms. Claire picked up the sleeping fenrir, and we stepped out of the carriage, that the doors of the mansion burst open.

“Sister! Mr. Takumi! Leo! Welcome back!”

The person who flew out of the doors and rushed towards Ms. Claire while shouting was none other than Tilura, who I felt I had not seen in a very long time.

Likely, the entire mansion had heard Leo and the fenrir’s howling, and so they had known we were here.

“I’m back, Tilura. But you really should be more quiet. You’ll awaken this little one.”

“Hello, Tilura.”

“Wuff.”

“…? Sister. What is that?”

Tilura noticed that Ms. Claire was holding something, but she did not realize what it was.

It would have looked like a dog to most people. This would be especially true for anyone who had never seen a fenrir, like Tilura.

“Hehe. This is a fenrir pup. We rescued it in the forest.”

“This is a fenrir!? It is so cute!”

Ms. Claire leaned forward a little so that Tilura could see it.

Tilura’s eyes shone as she peered at it.

As Tilura said, the fenrir was very cute as it slept blissfully in Ms. Claire’s arms.

“Tilura. You must speak more softly. This pup was badly injured in the forest. And it is surely still tired. I want to let it sleep a little while longer.”

“Yes, sister. I’m sorry.”

“Hahaha. It was running around so energetically, so I’m sure that it’s fine.”

Tilura hushed her voice and apologized after Ms. Claire warned her.

And though I chuckled, I also talked quietly so that I would not be the next person to be warned.

Still, it really had been energetic in the morning.

And even on the way back, it had been scampering around Ms. Claire while everyone else rested.

And so it was probably sleeping because it had run a lot, and not because of anything related to past injuries.

“Still, I must be sure. I do not want it disturbed while it sleeps.”

“It does look very cute like this. So it should be left alone until it wakes up.”

“Yes.”

“It’s so cute!”

“Wuff…”

Ms. Claire was getting more attached to it by the minute. Her gaze had all the gentleness of a mother.

And Tilura seemed like she could hardly contain her excitement as she watched the sleeping creature.

However, Leo sounded just a little upset that Tilura was more interested in the fenrir than her.

Leo. Tilura is still a child.

And so she is bound to be interested in anything new.

But she is still very fond of you, and so you can play together later.

I thought while petting the sulky Leo.

“Lady Claire. It is no good to stand out here. Let us go inside.”

“Yes.”

Said Sebastian, and so we left the carriages to the guards and entered the mansion.

“Welcome back, Lady Claire, Mr. Takumi. We have all been eagerly anticipating your safe return!”

As soon as we stepped through the door, the servants greeted us with their voices ringing in unison.

I had experienced this a few times already, but still did not know why it was necessary. Why not choose just one person to speak…

Besides, it must take a lot of practice to be able to speak with such perfect timing.

…I tried imagining them all lined up and practicing these greetings. It was a little surreal.

“Thank you all. But please hush your voices, as this little one is asleep.”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

Ms. Claire was now cautioning the servants as she had Tilura.

Well, there had been no way for the servants to predict that their mistress would return from the forest with a fenrir. Or that this fenrir would be sleeping.

But one of the butlers apologized on the behalf of the others in a hushed tone.

And then the other servants bowed their heads.

I think a silent bow would suffice for a greeting from now on?

Unless there was some kind of rule for servants of a nobleman’s house…

I would have to ask Sebastian about it later.

…It felt like the number of things I wanted to ask Sebastian about was increasing a lot… Well, it was not a bad thing, as Sebastian loved nothing more than to explain things.