The reason Ed wanted to become a sheep was simple.
At an age full of curiosity, Ed had lived in the wolf territory, the fox territory, and even the sheep territory. Out of all the adults he’d encountered, the most fascinating one was Remi.
“May I ask why?”
Karen, confused by Ed’s answer, asked with a perplexed expression, unable to understand.
“Hmm, because I like sheep!”
Ed spoke with a determined look, clenching his fist while holding a pen, as if he genuinely wanted to become a sheep.
Watching him, Karen let out a quiet sigh, glancing around at the empty space as if searching for help. A successor to the great noble Louvre family, and yet so innocent and naive—this couldn’t be allowed.
Of all the animals he could aspire to be, why a sheep? Even for a child, it was better to crush such unrealistic dreams early on.
“Young master.”
That’s why Karen, who usually taught lessons with a gentle smile at other noble houses, rarely wore such a serious expression on her first day.
“A wolf cannot become a sheep.”
Karen had already rehearsed how to console Ed if he was hurt by her firm words.
Her pupils wavered as she looked at Ed, who wasn’t responding. Should she have softened her tone?
However, Ed’s darkened expression wasn’t due to being upset by her words.
“Well, of course not.”
“…Excuse me?”
“How could someone change the species they were born as?”
What was this boy talking about?
“Th-then, what do you mean by wanting to become a sheep…?”
“You know, like when people say they want to be a bird flying in the sky or something.”
“Ah, I see.”
Karen felt a bead of sweat forming on her forehead despite the lesson having just begun. She pulled out her handkerchief, tapping her forehead unnecessarily, trying to regain her composure.
Karen, who had been conducting the lesson with her back to the door and entirely focused on Ed, didn’t notice Remi peeking through the slightly open door, observing how Ed was doing. Nor did she realize that Ed’s answer of “I want to be a sheep” was influenced by his awareness of Remi’s presence.
‘I thought he’d be naive since I heard he knows so little, but he’s just like his father and uncle when they were young!’
Karen, who followed in her mother’s footsteps as a tutor in the wolf territory, recalled the stories her mother used to tell her.
> “The young masters of the Louvre family… were the most difficult children I ever taught.”
“Were they troublemakers?”
“No, well… it’s hard to explain. Maybe one day, Karen, when you become a tutor like me, you’ll understand.”
Ah, Mother. So that’s what you meant back then.
Karen now understood why her mother often returned home from the Louvre estate looking dazed and bewildered.
Regaining her focus, Karen dove into the lesson. Meanwhile, Ed occasionally glanced regretfully at the door Remi had closed before leaving.
‘I could’ve talked with her a bit more.’
Ed had been thinking that if he indirectly expressed his affection for Remi, she might stay longer in the estate for his sake.
When Karen had first asked the question, Ed had naturally wanted to answer “Tower Master.”
If a beastfolk were to dream, they should dream big. Since he was bound to become the leader of the wolf territory anyway, why not aim to take the Tower Master’s position too? It was his goal and dream.
He hadn’t been this ambitious back when he was wandering from place to place before settling in Morton’s household, but his aspirations had grown while talking with his uncle.
“For now, I guess I should start by learning to read. The continent uses a common language across all territories. This book…”
Quickly turning his gaze away from the door, Ed focused on the lesson.
Surprisingly, the lesson was much more enjoyable than he’d expected.
***
Since returning to the estate, Billy had been buried in work. Now, he finally had a bit of leisure time.
Slumping onto the office sofa and basking in the warm sunlight, Billy was about to close his eyes for a nap when a knock interrupted him. He squinted his eyes open as the sound reached him.
“Master, a letter has arrived from the sheep territory.”
The one holding the letter was Billy’s secretary, Devon.
“From the sheep territory?”
“It was sent from Morton’s household, and they requested a prompt reply.”
“Hmm…”
Without even bothering to sit up straight, Billy reached out, tore the envelope carelessly, and unfolded the letter.
The contents were absurd.
> To the esteemed head of the Louvre family.
The opening was ordinary enough, but the following greetings were unnecessarily long-winded. What was supposed to be a formal greeting was, in reality, a lengthy string of excessive flattery and praise for the Louvre family.
Frowning, Billy skipped the greetings and went straight to the main point.
> I haven’t heard much about Remi lately, and as her brother, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.
Though I granted her permission to go, thinking she’d be a good guardian for the child, it’s already been two years since she came of age.
I can’t help but worry that she might live a hard life in the wolf territory without even getting married.
Speaking of which, Master, you’re also at the prime age for marriage. Have you found a suitable match yet?
Below that, the letter was filled with flattery and praise for Billy, ending with a request for “a prompt reply.” The sender was none other than Raymond Morton.
Billy, who read the letter in one go, crumpled it up without hesitation. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the trash can next to his desk.
Though long-winded, the message boiled down to this: “Would you consider marrying my sister? If not, please send her back so we can arrange a match with another family.”
“Last time it was a zebra, and now it’s a wolf?”
Whatever the species, all he cared about was using his sister to his advantage.
The secretary, who had read the letter alongside Billy, nodded seriously with a contemplative expression.
“Well, it is true that, at twenty-three, it might be time for you to start considering marriage.”
“Are you agreeing with this letter, Devon? Are you saying I should marry the Morton lady?”
“No, not at all. Even if there is such a thing as love that transcends species, I’ve never heard of a wolf and a sheep getting married.”
“…Keep this a secret from the Morton lady. There’s no need for her to know.”
With that, Billy, who had been slouched on the sofa, sat up straight.
He had intended to take a long nap, but the letter had ruined his mood entirely.
***
I carefully brushed the fluffy fur of Mimo for the first time in a while.
“Ed wants to become a sheep?”
It was an absurd thought, but wasn’t he still a child? It was entirely within the realm of possibility for him to think that way.
And because he liked sheep, no less!
It seemed the time he had spent in the sheep territory had left a significant impression on him.
I couldn’t recall anything particularly pleasant happening during that time, but if Ed went as far as to mention it during his lesson, there might have been something I didn’t know about.
“Mimo! We have to set a good example.”
Mimo looked at me as if to ask what I was talking about, then yawned and tried to climb onto the cushion. I grabbed her to stop her, determination shining in my eyes.
I’d done nothing but laze around since arriving at this estate. This was my chance to transform into a diligent sheep!
I resolved to set a good example for Ed and reinforce his positive perception of sheep.
The very next day, I put my plan into action.
The library, located at the far end of the second floor, was a place I had never stepped into since arriving at the estate. Its interior was impressively spacious.
The shelves, packed tightly with books, filled the library with the faint scent of paper.
As I wandered, glancing at the classification labels on the shelves, I stopped in front of one.
“Popular Fiction.”
I stood still, staring at the section for a moment, then quickly moved on to another area as if snapping out of a trance.
“Got it!”
I grabbed about five books that I thought Ed might find interesting and was just stepping out of the library when—
“What’s ‘got it’?”
Startled by the sudden voice from beside me, I flinched and pressed myself against the wall. In the process, I dropped all the books I was holding.
As I bent down to pick them up, Billy, who had gotten to them first, glanced at the titles and tilted his head.
“The Path of the Righteous Wolf,” “The History of the Wolf Territory,” “Etiquette for Carnivorous Beastfolk“?
“I thought it’d be nice to read these in front of Ed.”
I tried to smile casually as I reached for the books, but Billy didn’t seem inclined to hand them over.
“They look heavy. I’ll carry them for you.”
“That’s really not necessary…”
“Shall we go?”
“…Alright.”
In the end, we walked down the hallway together, side by side, all the way to my room.
The tension naturally rose as we walked together.
While flipping through the books I had borrowed, Billy spoke up.
“These are indeed books Ed would benefit from reading.”
“Right?”
“But Ed isn’t here right now. He’s gone on a field trip to the Tower.”
“What?”
“He left this morning… You must have been asleep until lunch, huh?”
His additional remark, delivered with a smile, made my face flush with embarrassment.
“You decided to set a good example, Remi Morton!”
Resigned, I took the books and headed into my room, only to hear Billy call out from behind me.
“Oh, Ed will be back tomorrow.”
Until then, I’d stay glued to my room.
Spending time with wolves without Ed around? No thanks.
“And the Morton lady has something to do with me in the meantime.”
…With you?
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