The Forgotten Field - Chapter 173

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 173
Watching carefully from above, I turned my gaze toward her when the Wolf Beast showed no particular aggression.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“…I was just trying to show that Khan isn’t dangerous.”
She mumbled awkwardly.
I was about to make a sharp retort, but fell silent when I noticed her neck flushed red.
Suddenly, the realization struck me that it had been nearly two years since I’d faced her this close.
She too seemed conscious of this fact, her voice trembling as she murmured.
“Khan would never hurt me. So stop making a fuss and put me down.”
I glanced at the still-tense Dire Wolf before setting her down at a slight distance.
She immediately stepped back from me. Yet she showed no intention of moving further, scrutinizing me slowly from a distance where our breaths could touch.
My stomach stirred at the peculiar light gleaming in her eyes.
Though she seemed somewhat anxious, she didn’t appear as hostile as before.
There was no sign of her suffering at the sight of me. Rather, she kept her gaze fixed intensely upon me without blinking, as if trying to see me in greater detail.
I too stared intently at her face, framed by wet golden hair.
Her blue eyes, now free of sorrow’s shadow, gleamed with an enchanting light in the summer sun. Her cheeks, tinged with color, seemed slightly fuller than when I’d last seen her.
She looked exactly like this when she was carrying my child.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a sensation as if I’d swallowed fire and ice simultaneously constricted my throat.
My face contorting slightly, I was drawn by an intense impulse to reach toward her again.
At that moment, the beast that had been ambling closer shook itself vigorously.
Drenched by the tremendous spray of water that poured down like a downpour, I glared at the Wolf Beast with a menacing gaze. The creature, as if nothing had happened, wagged its tail cheerfully toward its mistress.
“As you said, let’s return to the castle for now.”
Talia, equally soaked as I was, released a quiet sigh and turned away. The Dire Wolf naturally pressed close to her side.
Watching this scene with an exasperated expression, I soon released a heavy sigh and quietly followed in their wake.
As we approached the Main Palace, Lucas and the Servants who had been waiting for our return rushed toward us.
“Did you also enjoy swimming, brother?”
Lucas, scanning me from head to toe, drenched as I was, muttered in disbelief.
I said nothing in response and walked past him into the Main Palace.
Talia, who had entered the Great Hall first, was drying the Wolf Beast’s body with a large towel before the kitchen hearth. I approached and took the towel from her hands.
She was a woman who had lived her entire life being attended to by others. She had likely bathed herself with her own hands only a handful of times. The sight of her tending to a mere beast twisted something inside me.
“Leave the care of this Wolf Beast to the Servants and retire to your chamber. I wish to hear an explanation from you regarding what has transpired during this time.”
“No. Khan dislikes anyone but me touching him.”
“Did you not just claim that this Wolf Beast poses no danger to others?”
I pointed out coldly.
“If that is true, there should be no problem with leaving him in the Servants’ care for a time.”
Talia found no words to counter and glanced down at her Wolf Beast.
Reading the anxiety in that gaze, I asked sharply.
“Do you yourself lack certainty that this Wolf Beast is harmless?”
“That’s not it!”
Talia denied loudly, and suddenly her eyes flashed with displeasure.
“And stop calling him a wolf beast all the time. I told you his name is Khan. How would you feel if someone kept calling you ‘human, human’? If you’re going to address him, use his proper name.”
“….”
He swallowed the sigh that had risen to his throat.
Most of the Eastern Territories nobility would feel insulted if they learned that the Grand Duchess, born of the Osyrian People, had given Khan Tribe naming conventions to a monster. Yet she made this demand knowing full well.
Feeling a measure of fatigue at his wife’s insistence on stirring discord over something as trivial as a name, he tossed a towel to the waiting Servant as though discarding it.
“Take good care of that wolf beast.”
As he attempted to lead her out of the Kitchen, Talia suddenly grabbed his arm with both hands.
“I told you his name is Khan. Say it properly—Khan.”
Barcas furrowed his brow upon seeing her desperate expression.
He could not fathom why she clung so desperately to the beast’s name, yet if the matter held such importance for her, he saw no reason to refuse.
He murmured as though exhaling a sigh.
“Khan.”
Her face brightened immediately. Talia pulled him toward the wolf beast, her voice animated with excitement.
“Would you like to touch him? His fur is incredibly soft and fluffy.”
Barcas turned his gaze toward the beast sitting obediently with its hind legs planted firmly before the hearth.
The wolf beast, its hindquarters pressed to the ground and its front paws planted firmly, resembled a loyal hunting hound. Yet within those blue eyes fixed upon him, he could discern an intensity of hostility.
“Go on, touch him.”
Oblivious to the killing intent emanating from the beast, she urged him cheerfully.
Propelled by the peculiar anticipation gleaming in her eyes, he extended his hand toward the wolf beast. Though it seemed obvious the creature would bite, he could not bring himself to refuse her request.
He kept his nerves alert, ready to withdraw his arm at any moment, and carefully stroked the still-damp, wet face. The wolf beast’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. Yet unexpectedly, it neither bared its fangs nor growled. It seemed to be desperately suppressing its rage for the sake of its master.
“How is it? Docile, isn’t it?”
She spoke with evident pride.
He swallowed a bitter smile and carefully withdrew his hand.
It was abundantly clear that this monster possessed formidable aggression. Yet it appeared to possess sufficient intelligence and self-control to discern the situation.
‘…But there’s no knowing when or how it might turn.’
When it was a juvenile, it could have been controlled by any means, but now that it had reached maturity, it would not be as easily managed as before.
Barcas, his expression lost in thought as he gazed down at the enormous wolf beast, soon turned his body away.
“Shall we retire to the Chamber now?”
The woman, who had been looking up at him with eyes full of expectation, dimmed her expression.
Had she hoped he would show more active interest in her pet? Though a corner of his heart grew uncomfortable at her dejected expression, he maintained his composure and exited the Kitchen.
“It would be best if you changed out of those wet clothes first.”
Finally arriving before the Bedroom they shared, Barcas gently pushed her inside and spoke in a measured tone.
“Call for a Handmaiden to help you change into fresh garments. I shall attend to myself as well and return to you shortly.”
She stood at the threshold, sending him a puzzled look before nodding.
He immediately moved to the Adjacent Room and cast off his soaked armor and gambeson made of Wyvern leather.
In the meantime, Servants brought water for washing and fresh clothes. He quickly bathed and dressed himself in a clean tunic and Eastern-style linen trousers.
After changing even his mud-caked boots for new ones and returning to her Bedroom, Talia, impeccably dressed in an ornate blue gown, greeted him with elegant grace.
He stood frozen at the threshold, scrutinizing her carefully. It was the first time he had seen her adorned in such finery since the day she had come to share his bed.
Did she dress this way ordinarily? Or perhaps….
“Why are you standing at the door? Come in and sit.”
Talia, perched upon a chair cushioned with plush padding, cast me a gaze of perfect composure.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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