~Chapter 10~
How did Zeno know about that?
Now that I think about it, there were a few strange things. His fast healing was one, and every time I healed him, I felt like my own energy was being drained more than usual.
Of course, it’s normal to use energy for healing, but I wasn’t usually this exhausted.
‘I need to find that tree branch quickly.’
In the northern forest, there existed more than just magical creatures. There was also a special lifeform.
Ordinary people wouldn’t notice it, but anyone with supernatural abilities couldn’t miss its presence.
A tree with holy power—it was an object that could help awaken someone’s abilities.
Isabelle had come to the North by chance and learned about the forest’s existence.
I wasn’t sure how she ended up in the forest with Cedric, but anyway!
Isabelle discovered a tree infused with divine power and awakened even greater strength.
So, I had to find it before Isabelle did. Even if things went wrong, I needed a way to save myself.
‘Maybe I can get some help from it.’
Isabelle had already awakened her powers. Her ability was the rarest and most valuable in the empire.
If I hadn’t remembered, it might’ve been different. But now that I knew, I wanted to find that tree too. I had already confirmed its existence when I came here with Cedric.
Zeno and I walked forward, the snow crunching under our feet.
“Are you sure you know where it is?”
I didn’t expect Zeno to know the location as well as I did. Back then, I had found it by accident, but I couldn’t quite remember where.
That’s why we were heading into the forest together. Zeno promised to repay me and led the way. I told the butler and the knights that we were going for a walk nearby.
Aritha had offered to come with us, but I refused, saying the wolf was too sensitive and would act up if anyone else came along.
I never thought I’d be riding a wolf to the same forest I once rode a horse to.
“Did we come this far in last time?”
Luckily, there was no snowstorm, so the forest was quiet. The sound of the wind blowing was a little scary, but with Zeno by my side, I didn’t have to worry about being eaten by wild animals.
Before long, I saw a tree glowing faintly between the others.
“There it is!”
“Woof!” (See? I told you I don’t lie.)
Zeno raised his head proudly. I patted him lightly and ran towards the glowing tree.
“Hmm.”
But there was a problem. I didn’t know how to use the tree’s power. Was I supposed to say some kind of spell to awaken it? Or maybe just touch it? I wished someone had told me!
‘Maybe I can take it back and use it as a way to ask Cedric for a divorce.’
I could give him something useful for the North and ask him to divorce me since I wasn’t helpful.
It seemed like a pretty good plan.
I stroked my chin and stared hard at the tree branch.
“Woof, woof.” (What are you waiting for?)
“I don’t know how to awaken it. Do you know how? Or should I just take it with me?”
At my honest question, Zeno shook his head. I felt a little insulted, as if I had just been mocked by an animal.
Thunk.
“Ahh!”
Zeno suddenly pushed me, and I reached out my hand to stop myself from falling. But instead, I ended up leaning right onto the tree branch, touching it.
In an instant, the tree shone brightly, and I felt my whole body become filled with energy.
It was as if my eyes opened, and all my worries disappeared.
“Woof, woof, woof!” (You finally awakened. It’s thanks to our contract.)
“…Awakened?”
I blinked slowly at my hand, confused by Zeno’s words.
“Hey! Who said you could make me awaken on your own!”
“Woof, woof!” (You were looking for it to awaken anyway!)
“Well, that’s true, but I wasn’t ready for it yet. Also, I already have powers…?”
“Woof!” (Even if you have powers, there are some you haven’t fully awakened. That’s what just got unlocked.)
I had accidentally awakened my supernatural ability.
***
“When are we going back to the forest?”
I frowned as I looked at Zeno lying lazily beside me.
He seemed to have gotten even more shameless recently.
“Woof…” (What’s the matter? You have to take responsibility after making a contract with me.)
“Oh, right, you mentioned a contract? I never made a contract with you.”
“Woof!” (Doesn’t the tree’s power feel familiar to you?)
The holy power in the tree—it was Zeno’s power.
So, does that mean Zeno is a divine beast? Animals aren’t supposed to have divine power. That’s when I realized why his power felt similar to mine.
…If he had been in danger of disappearing, he might have planted his power in the tree.
That would also explain why his body was so small. He must’ve shrunk because he lost so much of his strength.
“…So, my powers are similar to yours?”
“Woof.” (You’ve finally figured it out.)
Zeno stretched his body and let out a long yawn.
I let out a sigh, leaning my head back. It was nice to have such a big garden now.
Birds flew overhead, and cute animals played around. It was warm enough that I could walk outside in light clothes.
There were also plenty of secret places hidden by the lush trees—perfect for having private conversations away from prying eyes.
If this place didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have been able to talk comfortably with Zeno.
“Grrr…” (Can you take this off now?)
“No. You’re a wild wolf, so it’s dangerous.”
“Whimper, whimper.” (Come on, take it off. This collar doesn’t even make a difference.)
Despite Zeno’s pleas, I shook my head firmly.
I couldn’t risk him acting strange again like before.
“Whimper, whimper.” (Master, look at me.)
“…”
“Whimper, whimper.” (Are you really not going to look at me?)
Zeno’s desperate attempts to get my attention began.
He tried whining, barking, and even showing off, but I completely ignored him.
“Whine, growl.” (Are you seriously not going to look? You won’t regret it?)
His mood kept changing, and he was causing a commotion right beside me.
But I knew if I gave in now, I’d probably lose control over him in the future.
Even though I thought I’d already established my dominance over him earlier, Zeno didn’t seem to care, so I had to be careful.
“No.”
My tone was firm but calm, short, and straightforward, just as I remembered a famous dog trainer saying.
Zeno flinched slightly.
“Growl…” (Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be?)
He warned me again.
But if I gave in now, I might have to go through this whole process again later.
‘He keeps calling me “Master” but doesn’t seem scared of me at all.’
I was the one who made the contract, so why was I the one having to deal with this?
Zeno, frustrated by my complete indifference, suddenly stood up and fled.
He ran so fast that I could barely keep up while holding onto his leash.
“H-Hey! Z-zeno!”
I was about to trip over as I tried to keep pace.
Finally, I had no choice but to let go of the leash, and the moment I did, I stumbled forward, and everything went dark for a second.
Before I could even scream, I found myself in Zeno’s arms.
The solid feel of his chest and the scent of grass surrounded me.
Blinking in shock, I quickly scrambled to get out of his embrace.
My face turned red from embarrassment as I realized what had just happened.
Zeno, still lying on the ground, looked up at me with half-closed eyes, looking smug.
“Who told you to run like that!” I raised my voice in embarrassment and frustration.
“…Claire?”
Just then, a familiar voice spoke from behind me.
My heart sank.
“Huh. So that ‘wolf pup’ the servant mentioned was actually a person?”
No way.
It couldn’t be.
Cedric couldn’t be here.
I was too terrified to even turn around.
I stayed frozen in place, hoping I was wrong, but my body slowly turned against my will.
The blue eyes staring back at me were full of a dangerous intensity.
‘I want to disappear right now.’
I thought things like this only happened to heroines in stories. But wait, could this be some kind of protagonist perk because I got tangled up with the male lead, Cedric?
With a sigh, I closed my eyes and slowly turned around.
When I opened them again, there he was, standing right in front of me.
“So… well…”
I couldn’t even get a proper sentence out as I looked at him.
Was this how quickly wars ended? I hadn’t expected him to return for at least two months.
But there he was, right in front of me. And at the worst possible time, too.
“More importantly, why are you here, Your Grace? When did you arrive?”
“Does that matter right now?”
His voice was sharp. Zeno, growling protectively, moved closer to me, as if trying to shield me from Cedric.
‘No, please, don’t interfere.’
Couldn’t he see what was happening? Now wasn’t the time to be clueless.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. Why now? No matter what I said, Cedric wouldn’t believe me.
I wouldn’t believe me either if I were in his shoes.
Cedric’s gaze hardened as he looked at how close Zeno and I were standing. The icy glare in his blue eyes made me feel like I was about to freeze.
“Explain yourself, wife.”
Cedric strode over and pulled me away from Zeno. There was something different about him compared to his usual self.
“Explain to me what I just saw.”
He grabbed my hand and looked down at me with a cold, piercing stare.
I hadn’t even done anything serious enough to get divorced yet, but it felt like today, it was going to happen. And for the same reason I wanted to divorce him in the first place.
