<Chapter 27>
It has been a week since I started taking martial arts lessons.
Since Ethan, who will be my teacher, hasn't arrived yet, my morning routine consisted solely of waking up early and taking martial arts lessons in the training hall.
After that, I would stop by the kitchen to grab a snack and recharge, then visit Theo and Deon's room to study letters together.
'Ethan said he would arrive this afternoon.'
At Gridwolf Manor, a room and necessary supplies were prepared for Ethan to stay.
The thought of living under the same roof as a wolf with a nasty temper who knows I'm a cat already made me feel like my future was bleak.
'But it's okay because I'm training in martial arts now.'
I bent my arm, flexed, and tapped my forearm. It felt a little harder, maybe.
Theo and Deon, who were flanking me as we headed to the training hall, chuckled.
“Kitty, you have a long way to go before you get muscles.”
"You're still just as soft as ever, Soft Paws."
"Aww..."
My two older brothers patted my shoulders as I quickly became sulky.
“Master Elliot, good morning!”
“Morning, everyone. Good, you're all on time.”
We soon arrived at the training hall where Sir Elliot was waiting. Theo and Deon greeted me and headed to the side to train.
While I was warming up as I had learned, someone slyly approached me. It was Cleed, the fox staying at the manor.
“Miss, your bootlaces are untied. Can I tie them for you?”
Cleed knelt down in front of me. His red eyes narrowed into a smile. Cleed started to carefully retie my loose bootlaces.
“Please leave these kinds of chores to me from now on. It’s my pleasure to be of help to you, Lady.”
“……”
I had heard that foxes were sly, but I didn't expect him to change his attitude so quickly. For someone who is the heir to a fox family to suddenly lower himself like this, he must have something up his sleeve.
“Cleed, you weren't this nice when we first met.”
I snapped at him, but Cleed, unfazed, smiled softly and replied in a gentle voice.
“It was my fault, Miss. I was being presumptuous and playful because I wanted to see your perky wolf ears.”
For some reason, Cleed showered me with compliments, keeping out of sight. He seems to be trying to get on my good side, I shouldn't fall for it.
“But your sharp wolf fangs brought me to my senses, Miss.”
“Ah… wolf fangs?”
“Of course. I misspoke to you, Miss, who clearly has the appearance of a brave wolf. You look so valiant even now, you see?”
Cleed wagged a fox tail that I didn't even notice when he had taken it out. My eyes were drawn to the thick, glossy tail without me realizing it.
“Hmph, it’s not like compliments make me feel particularly good. Because I’m a wolf.”
If I had said the same thing to Ethan, I would have heard a cold sneer, but Cleed whispered in a soft voice.
“As you say.”
“……”
“I’ve made another mistake. Please, will you forgive me?”
Cleed's eyes sparkled sweetly like strawberry jam. His truly golden blonde hair also captivated my eyes.
Just as I was about to unknowingly say it was okay, Sir Elliot casually placed his arm on Cleed's shoulder.
“Cleed, stop flirting with the Lady.”
“Flirting, Sir Elliot? That’s a difficult word, I don’t understand.”
“Don’t pretend to be a clueless ten-year-old only at times like this. I can hear your brain working all the way over here.”
“I’m just apologizing to the Lady, you see? If I’m in the way, I’ll be going now.”
Cleed gave me a slight smile and left without hesitation. Sir Elliot let out a hollow laugh as he looked at my bootlaces, retied in a pretty butterfly shape.
“Foxes, honestly.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“But wolves also wag their tails a lot, don’t they?”
Sir Elliot widened his eyes as if he had been falsely accused.
“Lady, such a misunderstanding leaves a deep wound in the heart of a wolf who has lived for 20 years knowing only pure love.”
“But in the fairy tale books my neighborhood friends read, wolves always….”
“Are sincere in their feelings of affection. That’s what wolves are like.”
I recalled the contents of the books my friends used to read aloud.
“They would say things like ‘I’ll just hold your hand and sleep’… do wolves originally say things like that to someone they like?”
“……Ahem, ahem.”
Sir Elliot coughed for a long time as if he had choked.
But ‘I’ll just hold your hand and sleep’ was a line that always appeared when wolves were involved, so I was very curious. I didn't drop the question and waited for Sir Elliot's answer.
“Master Elliot?”
“Ah, uh… please wait a moment. I feel like I’ll lose my job if I answer incorrectly. Have I ever told you that I’ve dedicated my whole life to taking the position of Sir Jackal’s adjutant?”
“……?”
“Um, well, you see. It is something they say to someone they like… Ah, please don’t tell Sir Jackal and Lady Caris that I answered.”
“Is it a confession of love?”
“Uh… that’s another difficult question. It might not be love… no, you’re still too young to hear such trashy answers, Lady.”
“……?”
“It’s a way of saying ‘I like you’ that can only be used after becoming an adult. An expression of favor.”
Sir Elliot clearly explained it. I nodded, eyes sparkling.
‘Wolves have a strange way of saying ‘I like you’ too.’
I should add that to my ‘Speaking Like a Wolf’ dictionary. My hands are soft, so holding them and sleeping would feel good.
“Lady, shall we start the lesson?”
“Yes!”
Sir Elliot, who was sweating profusely for some reason, taught me diligently again today.
As the lesson was nearing its end, Sir Jackal and Lady Caris arrived. I remembered that they were coming to pick us up to welcome Ethan, who would be arriving soon, together.
My older brothers, who had finished training earlier than me, stuck close to Sir Jackal, who stood like a rock.
Sir Elliot transformed into a magnificent wolf and stood in front of me.
“Now, then, lastly, I will teach you how to howl. You’ll be able to follow along quickly.”
“Um, when is howling necessary?”
“The biggest purpose is to let the wolves know where the Lady is. I’ll demonstrate first.”
Awooooo—!
When Sir Elliot howled, the surroundings seemed to echo with his powerful voice.
I also transformed back into my cat form, took a deep breath until my body swelled, and shouted.
“Nyaooooooo—!”
“……”
For some reason, everyone in the training hall stared with wide, slightly quivering eyes. It sounded completely like a wolf’s voice to me.
“Is it a little strange?”
“Well, even now, we can tell right away that it’s the Lady’s voice… shall we try to fix the first part a little?”
“Awoooooong—!”
“……”
“How about this time?”
Sir Elliot couldn't say anything. Was he surprised that I did the loud howling so well?
From afar, my temporary family members rushed over and surrounded me.
“That was a wonderful howl, Kitty.”
“Soft Paws, howling is originally about letting everyone know who you are, that’s what’s important.”
Judging by how they were comforting me, it seemed like it was different from a wolf’s howl after all. But for some reason, everyone’s cheeks were flushed reddish.
“Ugh… Kitty is adorable.”
“Soft Paws, you’re already overworked, and if you raise your tail straight up while howling….”
“Hmm, that’s because she’s a baby wolf.”
When I answered, the wolf family members groaned and gently stroked me. I don't really know why...
‘I like being petted!’
* * *
From far away, the Webis carriage was coming. Ethan said he would be staying for a long time without setting a deadline, and there were three baggage carriages.
‘It’s not like he’s moving into an empty house, it’s quite a fuss.’
I stared at the carriages with my arms crossed. Next to me, Theo and Deon also sighed.
“All those carriages are full of books, right?”
“Probably those headache-inducing kinds.”
“Ah……”
How could all the luggage be books? I guess there’s a reason why Ethan is so smart. In many ways, I had to get on Ethan’s good side, so I couldn't help but worry.
“Older brothers. Should I do a ‘ppo’ to Ethan? He’s going to be a close friend and my teacher now.”
Theo and Deon looked at each other with questioning expressions.
“Ppo? You mean ‘뽀뽀’ (ppoppo, kiss)? Absolutely not.”
“No, not ‘뽀뽀’ (ppoppo, kiss), but ‘뽀’ (ppo). Isn’t ‘뽀’ (ppo) what you call a quick peck on the cheek as a greeting between close friends, not family?”
“Ugh… too cute.”
The two made strange noises and clenched their jaws.
Could it be that wolves don’t use that word? I became a little worried and watched their reactions.
“Yeah, they do call it ‘ppo’.”
“We used to use that word often when we were baby wolves, but we forgot about it because we’ve been busy living.”
Phew, that’s a relief. Theo and Deon know the word too. As I felt relieved, Theo and Deon said firmly.
“No ‘ppo’, no ‘ppoppo’, and no ‘ppoppoppo’.”
“No way…! I wasn’t even thinking of doing ‘ppoppoppo’ or anything like that to Ethan!”
“What on earth is ‘ppoppoppo’….”
“Soft Paws, anyway, no. You only do that with family or people who will become family.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Wolf standards are so confusing.
While I was thinking this and that, Ethan got out of the carriage. Since I couldn’t greet him with a friendly ‘ppo’, I had no choice but to keep complimenting Ethan and wagging my tail.
…If only my identity hadn’t been exposed.
It was frustrating, but I ran to Ethan with a bright smile. Ethan, who greeted Sir Jackal and Lady Caris in turn, skipped Theo and Deon and looked straight at me.
“It’s been a while, Sir Ethan! I missed you so, so much! You must be very tired from the long carriage ride, right?”
“A little.”
Ethan was still cold. Even when I spoke to him with my ultimate ‘good kitty smile’, he seemed to be busy giving instructions to his subordinates who had followed him and wasn't really listening.
“Sir Ethan, you’re so dependable….”
“Kitia.”
“Yes?”
“Are you trying to skip today’s lesson?”
My heart sank. It seemed Ethan thought that me hovering around him and trying to please him was to skip the lesson. I was trying to gain his favor!
I clenched both fists tightly and whispered softly only to Ethan.
“No, that’s not it. Lessons are fine starting from today. I've admired you ever since I first saw you, you know?”
“……What?”
I was just flattering him as usual, but Ethan’s eyes shook greatly.
As I tilted my head, Ethan turned his face away and muttered.
“What on earth should I start teaching first….”
