I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 81

 

Meanwhile, in the peaceful valley of Roden, the hometown Kyle still longed to return to and the place where all his misfortunes began, life carried on as usual.

Alexander Roden, the leader of the Black Wolf Pack and the master of the land, summoned his only remaining son, Abel, to his office.

“Have the preparations for the festival been completed?” he asked.

The autumn festival, traditionally overseen by the leader, had been entrusted entirely to Abel this year.

It was his first official duty as the successor, providing him an opportunity to prove his competence in his new role.

“Yes, everything has been prepared without issue,” Abel responded in a dependable tone.

Satisfied with his son’s answer, Alexander nodded quietly.

The three-day autumn festival was a time for everyone to take a break from work, gather in the streets to share food with neighbors, and offer thanks to the god of the land and harvest.

Originally scheduled to take place two weeks later, but Alexander had pushed the festival forward.

His intent was to solidify Abel’s position as the new successor and to quell any dissent that had arisen from the abrupt change in leadership.

“Ensure the borders are secure during this festive period, particularly the northern boundary,” Alexander instructed.

His concern was that the Erbe pack might exploit the lax security during the festival to launch an attack.

“I’ve already dispatched additional troops to the northern front earlier today. You needn’t worry,” Abel replied.

The heavy military presence in the north had left the eastern and southern fronts somewhat weakened, but this was a necessary compromise.

The Erbe pack, always a looming threat, posed a far greater danger than the passive black bears of the northwestern mountains, the tigers of the eastern Canyon, who seemed to have given up their territorial ambitions, or the peaceful lions of the southern plains.

Reassured by Abel’s proactive measures, Alexander’s anxious expression softened.

After receiving all the reports, Alexander leaned back in his chair and let out a small sigh.

Across the table, Abel quietly observed his father.

Alexander’s face was weary, his complexion pallid, and his once vibrant blue eyes, known for their sharpness, now lacked their usual intensity.

His once-imposing figure had visibly diminished. These changes had been apparent for months, and Abel knew exactly why.

It all began after his older brother, Kyle, was stripped of his position as successor and exiled to an unknown and possibly perilous place through a magical portal.

While the family outwardly smiled more often in public, laughter had vanished within the household. The Roden family, long upheld by the tradition of the eldest inheriting the leader’s role, had faced an unprecedented disruption.

For the second consecutive generation, the successor was replaced, and the eldest son was cast out with nothing.

This instability within the leader’s family naturally led to uneasy murmurs among the people, even among those who supported Abel. Thus, the leader and his family had to project unwavering strength and resolve to maintain trust.

This was why they remained composed even when Kyle reappeared unexpectedly during Abel’s engagement ceremony. Showing any signs of agitation would have only sown confusion among the onlookers.

Suppressing a sigh, Abel bore the weight of the situation in silence.

He understood his father’s façade of indifference masked deep sorrow.

Alexander may have resented Kyle at times, but not always—before being a leader, he was a father.

Kyle had once been his greatest joy and love. Sending his son to an uncertain fate, possibly even to his death, through that portal was akin to killing him with his own hands.

After finishing his conversation with Alexander, Abel left the office, his face clouded with concern.

He was, after all, the root of it all. Though he once was a brother who respected Kyle as the rightful heir, things had changed.

Kyle, after all, had lived his entire life preparing to be the leader, enduring their father’s harsh discipline as the eldest and the successor.

Out of pity for his brother, Abel had deeply respected him. Yet, as Kyle grew increasingly selfish, cruel, and merciless toward the weak, Abel began to doubt his suitability as a leader.

‘I wouldn’t act like that,’ he had thought.

This thought evolved into a hope he should not have entertained: ‘Wouldn’t I make a better leader than him?’

Hope turned to ambition, and ultimately, Abel usurped his brother’s position to become the successor—a man worthy of Zelda, the woman he loved.

He felt no regret for his actions, only lingering guilt toward his brother and his parents, who had lost their eldest son because of him.

Leaving his father’s office, Abel headed toward his mother’s bedroom.

His mother, Eliza, had been unwell for a long time and rarely left her chambers.

When he knocked and entered, Eliza, sitting on the bed, greeted him warmly.

“You’ve come,” she said with a gentle smile, her brown hair and soft features mirrored in Abel.

Once the strongest and most valiant woman in the pack during her youth, Eliza’s health had declined significantly after Abel’s birth.

An illness she suffered during her recovery left her frail, confining her mostly to her room ever since.

Abel had grown up by his mother’s side, nurturing a deep affection for her. Approaching her bed, he sat on the chair placed nearby and asked gently, “How are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine,” she replied with a smile.

However, Abel couldn’t take her answer at face value. His gaze shifted to the corner of the room, where a box containing his mother’s embroidery supplies rested.

Embroidery was one of the few hobbies she enjoyed alongside reading during her time confined to her chambers.

Yet, ever since Kyle’s disappearance, she hadn’t picked up a book or worked on her embroidery.

Most days, she simply sat in her room, staring out at the garden beyond the terrace.

Today had likely been no different before Abel arrived.

Knowing this, Abel couldn’t hide the gloom from his face despite her reassuring words.

Sensing his concern, Eliza reached out and took his hand, offering silent comfort.

“Did you prepare well for the festival?” she asked.

When Abel nodded, her eyes shone with pride as she encouraged him with her gaze.

Warmed by her approval, Abel clasped her hand in return, silently vowing to make the festival a success. Completing this first official event as the new successor would not only validate his role but also bring joy to his parents.

A confident smile spread across his lips as he looked at his mother.

…But Abel had no idea. The real threat to his success wasn’t coming from the Erbe Highlands in the north, where their focus remained, but from the eastern gorge of the tigers, whose borders had been left vulnerable.

 

***

 

“Hey, Rabbit, step out for a moment. I need to talk to your boyfriend when he wakes up,” said Fabian Erbe, barging into the tent without warning.

“What do you need to talk about?” Brody, who had been watching over Kyle tirelessly since last night, asked cautiously, eyeing Fabian warily.

“None of your concern,” Fabian replied indifferently.

Annoyed by his curt response, Brody glared at him and retorted, “If you don’t tell me, I’m not leaving.”

“Oh, really?”

Fabian quipped before striding over, grabbing the backpack over Brody’s shoulder, and hoisting her up.

“Ahhh!”

Brody shrieked as she was lifted off the ground, but Fabian ignored her protests, carried her outside, and unceremoniously dumped her there before shutting the tent flap.

Now left outside by Fabian’s brusque actions, Brody waited for their conversation to end.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have complied so easily—especially with someone she had considered an enemy until just yesterday.

But she had already confirmed that Fabian bore no ill will toward Kyle.

Initially skeptical, she had witnessed Fabian carrying the ailing Kyle to the highlands and ensuring he received treatment.

His care for Kyle made it clear that his feelings were those of a family member looking out for his nephew.

Recognizing this, Brody had willingly stepped aside, understanding Fabian’s desire to speak privately with Kyle as his uncle.

Curious, Brody moved closer to the tent and perked her ears to listen.

After a moment, she could hear the faint sounds of two men talking inside. It seemed Kyle had regained consciousness.

Brody, relieved by this, stepped away from the tent flap, placing a paw on her chest as she exhaled.

She had been worried since last night, as Kyle had been burning up with fever.

After taking medicine upon their arrival here, he had slept so deeply it was as though he were dead. Seeing him awake now eased her anxiety.

Recalling the explanation the doctor had given for Kyle’s condition, Brody scratched her head awkwardly with a paw.

“So, the reason he went wild the other night was because of those scented candles in the inn room…”

It all made sense now.

She had thought it strange how he had suddenly lost all reason and acted like a feral beast.

Kyle Roden wasn’t the kind of man who would behave like that under normal circumstances.

Now understanding the cause of his behavior that night, Brody let out a wry laugh.

“Yeah, no way Kyle would ever act like that while in his right mind.”

The mystery that had been bothering her was finally solved, leaving her feeling lighter. But even as she cleared her throat, an unusual heat rose to her face.

Regardless of the circumstances, the events of that night remained an embarrassing and vivid memory for her.

Thank you, arwendolyn for the kofi!

With this the novel has already been sponsored to chapter 149. Only 3 more chapters till its end🤣. Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about this…

Anyways, my finals have already started, but I don’t plan on slowing this novels updates because of your enormous support. Thank you all so much🤍🤍