Chapter 17

"Ahhh‼"

The one who let out a pitiful scream was a beastkin with white curly hair and animal ears.

He looked to be about my age, but he was a head taller and more robust.

The moment he saw me, his face contorted, and I could see his eyes darting anxiously behind his long bangs.

The wolves, wagging their tails, ran up to the frozen young man and gathered around him.

"What's wrong?"

"Is that lady scary?"

"Did you get a shock? Are you scared?"

The wolves looked at me and the young man in turn, as if asking these questions.

"Excuse me―――――"

"Y-Yes‼"

When I called out to the young man, a stammered response came back.

He was still acting suspiciously, but he seemed to have calmed down enough to have a conversation.

"I am Letitia, who has come to this summer palace today as the Empress of King Glenread. May I ask for your name and your position?"

"......Yes!! My name is Edgar, and I, I am in charge of the wolf keepers!!"

......He stumbled. He bit his tongue hard.

Edgar seemed to have noticed, as his animal ears drooped and his tail wilted.

Seeing his clearly dejected appearance, I understood that the animal ears and tails of beastkin express their emotions.

"Wolf keepers, huh. I had heard about them, but they are quite impressive."

I decided to ignore Edgar's blunder and move the conversation forward.

―――――――Wolf keepers.

The ancestor of the royal family of this country, the Kingdom of Wolfwald, is said to have been a wolf spirit.

Perhaps because of this legend, the royal family has tamed and kept wolves through the generations.

The vast grounds of this royal castle are said to have been originally for raising and letting the wolves roam freely.

In place of the busy royal family, people like Edgar, called wolf keepers, take care of the wolves on a daily basis.

I have heard that the wolves, trained by them, become excellent beasts with sharp fangs and loyalty to humans.

Indeed, the wolves surrounding us now did not bite us, and they seemed to be following Edgar's instructions.

"Do you manage all these wolves, more than ten of them, by yourself?"

"Y-Yes!! N-No, that's not it!! There are other wolf keepers, but, today, it's my job to take the wolves out for a walk!!"

"So, this front yard of the mansion is part of your usual walking route, and you just happened to run into me, right?"

"I'm very sorry for the trouble!!"

Edgar bowed his head vigorously.

He seemed to be genuinely serious, but......

"What are you doing?"

"Why are you bowing?"

The wolves, as if concerned for the young man, buried their noses in his bowed head, creating a very heartwarming scene.

"......Please raise your head. I was indeed a bit surprised, but I didn't suffer any inconvenience. I was actually happy to see the wolves up close, as I had heard about them. The wolves are very beautiful and impressive―――――――"

"I understand!!"

Edgar raised his head abruptly and shouted.

"Two ears reaching up to the sky!! The softness of the moving nose!! I never get tired of looking at them!!"

Edgar began to speak animatedly.

It seemed he became quite talkative when it came to things he liked.

His tone was passionate, but when he met my gaze, he seemed to deflate instantly.

"S-Sorry...... I was rude to speak so much on our first meeting."

Edgar's animal ears drooped, and he hung his head again.

He was taller than me, but his dejected posture made him look like a large dog, which was rather cute.

"Don't worry about it. I like wolves too, so I can understand your feelings."

......Well, wolves, or rather, dogs.

I was confident I could lavish praise on my beloved dog Jiro from my previous life to the point where others might be put off.

"You like wolves......? I, I'm not doubting you, but it's rare."

"Is it?"

"Y-Yes. I think it's rare. Wolves are, after all, carnivores and can be frightening. These wolves, of course, do not attack people without permission...... But most people, especially those from other countries, tend to fear and avoid wolves......"

But, Edgar looked at me cautiously.

"But I'm sure you're different, Your Highness. Otherwise, the wolves would have been more agitated. Wolves are sometimes like mirrors. They tend to be wary of people who show fear and caution......"

Edgar smiled softly while gently petting one of the wolves.

"I'm really sorry for startling such a kind-hearted Empress. I'll make sure to use a different walking path from now on, so please don't worry."

"......Change the walking path?"

So, he won't pass by this mansion anymore?

......I have to stop this.

"Please don't. I was fortunate to be able to see the royal wolves up close. If possible, could I continue to visit the wolves when I have the time?"

"R-Really......? It would be convenient to use the familiar walking path, but are you sure it's okay?"

"Has there been any problem with you using this front yard so far? The wolves seem well-trained, and as long as they don't damage the yard, I don't see any issues."

"......Thank you so much!!"

Edgar's tail wagged happily from side to side.

It seemed to speak more eloquently than his hesitant words.

The wolves can continue to use their favorite walking path, and I can see them up close.

I've secured a valuable opportunity for healing, and everything is perfect.

......If possible, I'd like to become friends with the wolves and pet them to my heart's content.

That was my desire, which was boiling over.