<Episode 28>
“Master Eden. I've finished tidying up. The books you brought for Kittia's lessons are set aside over there.”
“Thanks, Cale.”
The middle-aged wolf beastman bowed his head at Eden's words. He was an attendant that Hogwood assigned to Eden for his long stay at Gridwolf.
After Cale left, Eden checked the neatly organized room one more time before flopping down on the bed. It was a plush bed, clearly showing how much thought Gridwolf had put into it for him.
‘Time….’
Eden took out the pocket watch from his vest pocket and checked the time.
He'd planned to take a quick look around the study where they'd have their lessons and check on Kitty before dinner.
There were about thirty minutes left.
Normally, he'd spend time getting to know every corner of a new room, but for some reason, he just wasn't feeling it.
It wasn't that he was super attached to his dad, but leaving the familiar Wyvern Manor to live at Gridwolf was definitely a big change.
He had every right to be in a bad mood, but surprisingly, settling into the mansion had been smooth. Perhaps it was because of the voice that tickled his ear like a feather.
“Eden! Long time no see! I missed you sooooo much! You must be tired from the long carriage ride, right?”
It was hilarious to see a cat jumping around and sucking up to him to survive in a wolf family. She didn't seem to realize that acting like that was the least wolf-like thing she could do.
‘Maybe I should teach her how to act like a wolf.’
If he wanted to stop her from constantly saying things like she'd always liked him, he'd have to teach her.
A wolf, who could tell right from wrong by the time they started babbling, would never say such things just to flatter someone.
‘What on earth did Theo and Deon, who kept calling her their little sister, teach her?’
Since Gridwolf had accepted the cat as one of their own, he wanted to teach her enough so she wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.
He'd never taught anyone before, but the thought of an animal he taught getting weeded out was mortifying.
And he couldn't stand the thought of that weak, fluffy white cotton ball being taught by someone else.
Because if the one who'd come running to him, saying she liked him and missed him, started doing that to someone else, he'd be annoyed.
Eden sighed and got up from his seat. His steps, as he left the room with the books he would use as teaching materials, were a little lighter than usual.
* * *
I sat in the private study set up for my lessons with Eden, chin in hand. Heavy thoughts weighed on my mind.
‘Eden doesn't even seem to like me liking him.’
I'd come to the study early, waiting for Eden, who'd even shown up early for the tea party, and I let out a huge sigh thinking about the bleak future.
To think I'd get caught being a cat by the wolf who would be my teacher…
‘But he seemed to like it when I said, "I missed you." And "magnificent," too.’
Does that mean he can't tell when I'm laying it on thick? I decided to tone down the flattery for now and clenched my fist.
Anyway, I had to learn a lot from Eden if I wanted to get revenge on Jerian. And figure out what I was going to do after I left Gridwolf as an adult.
I puffed out my cheeks, trying to psych myself up.
“You look pretty unhappy, and we haven't even started the lesson yet.”
“……!”
Surprised by the prickly voice, I turned around and saw Eden looking at me. I smiled brightly and shook my head.
“You're a terrible liar.”
“Ah… Really?”
“No. I don't care enough to know.”
“……”
“But judging by your reaction, you are unhappy with the lesson.”
Eden was smart, and if I just stood there, I'd get caught in his trap. I tried hard not to let my guard down.
“I was just dozing off and got a little surprised when you showed up early.”
“You’re good with words.”
Eden placed the books in front of me. Thanks to the hard practice with Theo and Deon so far, I could read the title on the cover.
“‘Economics for Children’?”
“Economics. So you did learn to read.”
When I slightly opened the book, there were so many words. At my current skill level, it would probably take me months just to read this book.
Judging by the book's condition, Eden probably read stuff like this all the time... What am I going to do?
“I don't expect you to understand everything. But since I'm your teacher now, I'm going to make sure you get the basics down in every subject.”
“Is this what you consider basic, Eden?”
“Yep.”
Mom, my revenge might be a little delayed…
Whether I was intimidated or not, Eden kept talking.
“Let's say you can read the words. I'll ask you something else.”
I nodded obediently. It'd be great if he gave me math problems. I could do up to ten digits in my head, no problem.
But instead of giving me calculation problems, Eden asked a completely unexpected question.
“You have one piece of salmon jerky. But what happens if I give you one more?”
Salmon jerky, yay!
“I’d be a little happier thanks to you.”
Because I got too excited, my cat ears and tail popped out. Eden suddenly turned his head away as if looking for something.
So he still doesn't like seeing me as a cat. I was a little bummed, but I waited bravely for the next question.
“You had two pieces of salmon jerky, and I ate one of them.”
This time too, it was a question whose meaning I didn’t understand, but it wasn’t difficult to answer.
“You must have been really hungry, Eden. I'm glad I had two pieces of salmon jerky.”
“……?”
“Before I came to the mansion, I was starving all the time, so it's okay! I'm happy to share.”
Imagining getting closer to Eden and munching on salmon jerky together, a bright smile spread across my face.
“……Hey, look out the window for a moment.”
This time too, I shifted my gaze out the window as Eden instructed. Judging by the breeze blowing from the side, it seemed Eden was cooling down his face.
‘Did my answer tick him off that much?’
But Eden didn’t seem like he would teach me the model answer.
After some time passed, Eden neatly arranged the books and pushed them towards me.
“Besides this, I'm going to teach you how to grow up to be a proper wolf.”
“Ah… Really?”
“It's annoying to watch you act so much like a cat.”
“But I haven't been acting like a cat! My ears and tail look just like a wolf's.”
Eden looked at me as if I was being ridiculous. I felt like my whole body was freezing in his blue eyes.
“You said you liked me earlier.”
I nodded.
“Wolves don't just throw around their feelings. You especially shouldn't lie about liking someone.”
“B-But, I really do like you, Eden…”
“Did you already forget what I just taught you?”
“……”
Mean wolf, I hate you!
I barely managed to hold back the pout I wanted to make like a goldfish.
“Then, what about saying you want to bite someone?”
“That kind of talk is common.”
“Do wolves really bite?”
“If it’s something really cute.”
I grinned and said cheekily,
“If you ever want to bite me because I'm working too hard, go right ahead.”
“……”
Eden turned his head away, avoiding my gaze. Judging by the cold atmosphere, I guess I’m not cute in Eden’s eyes.
Worried that Eden might get mad, I carefully took his hands.
“Umm, Eden…”
Squish—
“I left something behind. Read the book.”
Eden suddenly got up, leaving me alone with the hard book. I was bummed because I'd tried to get closer to him, but it felt like I'd just made him dislike me.
As Eden opened the study door, Theo and Deon entered the study.
“Huh, Eden, you… Do you have a fever? Your face is red.”
“From the long carriage ride.”
“But why are you all droopy?”
Bang—
Eden slammed the door shut and left. The two older brothers, who had been silently staring at the door for a while, seemed to realize something and hurriedly approached me.
“Kitty. What did you talk about with Eden?”
“He just told me what he’s going to teach me in the future.”
“It’s a relief if that’s all you talked about. It’s not too late yet.”
Theo said, popping a cream cookie from a small box into my mouth.
“You're still a baby wolf, so you might not know, but wolves are naturally a bit obsessive.”
“Right. Don't give Eden any reason to think you two have something special going on, okay? He might get obsessed with you.”
Obsession? It was a hard word, like 'family register'.
“Umm, what is obsession?”
“Hmm, obsession is… It’s not a bad thing, but it can be a little annoying for the person on the receiving end.”
Deon continued, putting another cookie in my mouth.
“It’s like, if I like someone, I want that person to only like me too? Like wanting to do everything for them, and wanting them to only look at me all day long. And getting upset if that doesn’t happen.”
Since they said it was a wolf thing, it didn't really click with me.
“Is it obsession when you and Theo give me cookies?”
Theo and Deon smiled gently and shook their heads. It was the same motion as if they had rehearsed it.
“Kitty, does it bother you when your big brothers give you cookies?”
“No.”
Even if it did bother me, it'd bother my big brothers more. I shook my head, and the two wolves' eyes crinkled softly.
“Then it's not obsession. We give you cookies because we don't want your cute, soft hands to get all sticky. Plus, we don't like that Eden guy giving you snacks...”
“So, don't call that Eden guy 'big brother,' okay? Our relationship is different from his, right? Tell your big brothers, quick.”
Of course, a temporary family and a teacher are different. I nodded right away.
The two wolves were very satisfied with my answer and fed me more cookies.
“Obsession is really hard to get.”
“Actually, we’re still young too, so we don’t really know what obsession is.”
“But since you and we are all wolves, we'll figure it out someday, right?”
“Okay! Someday, I'll definitely figure out what obsession is and become a great wolf!”
Theo and Deon, wearing meaningful smiles, languidly stroked my head as I made my resolution.
