Chapter 41
A human, huh…
As dawn gradually began to break, Nox’s eyes snapped open. He glanced at Sia’s face, sleeping right next to him while letting out soft, adorable noises, and then checked outside the window.
He was used to waking at the same hour every day, so he woke up quickly, but, as always, he found it hard to leave. He simply wanted to sleep in with Sia like this.
However, Cedric would soon come to his room, so he couldn’t linger any longer. He lightly licked the sleeping Sia’s forehead, then jumped off the bed in a swift motion.
Moving outside without a sound, he headed lightly toward the balcony railing and arrived at his room. The moment he stepped into the bedroom, he shifted into his human form.
From his neck down to his calves, his body was compact with muscle, both sturdy and sleek. In the faint light just beginning to shine, his form cast deep shadows. Nox moved his body lightly and put on his bathrobe.
Right on cue, a knocking sound rang out.
“Pardon me, Master.”
Cedric entered the bedroom carrying water for washing and water to drink. He bowed to Nox, who was already awake.
“Good morning.”
“The same to you.”
“Yes, sir!”
Recently, Cedric’s heart fluttered with anticipation every time he woke. It was because he could be the first to witness the subtly changing emotions of Nox each day.
“Ah, but before you wash up, there is something you should check first.”
He recalled the messenger who had arrived earlier than he himself had woken up. He didn’t know why the palace had sent a messenger at such an early hour, but the messenger had said there was no need to meet Nox in person and, after leaving only a letter, departed right away, saying he had to stop by elsewhere as well.
“I’m not sure what it’s about, but the messenger from the Imperial Palace left in a hurry after dropping off the letter. Since it was still your sleeping time, Master, he just gulped down some water and rushed out while I was still deliberating.”
Normally, a messenger from the Imperial Palace would have insisted on meeting the owner of the estate and received a grand reception in the Emperor’s name.
“A letter from the Imperial Palace, hm…”
Nox did not have a good relationship with the imperial family. More precisely, the bad blood was entirely one-sided. Not just with the imperial family, but with most of the nobility as well.
Without showing any particular expression, Nox opened the letter. As he slowly read through it, his eyes shook violently.
Cedric, who had just set the wash water on the makeshift stand beside him, looked at Nox with a puzzled expression. He had never seen Nox so shaken before, so he grew worried.
“What’s wrong, Master?”
Cedric had been sure they meant to send his master into some troublesome battle they didn’t want to handle themselves, and he was angry even without hearing Nox’s reply.
“Surely, Master, you don’t have to go into battle yourself. Our own territory is already unsettled because of the wolf tribe, so why bother with someone else’s land…”
Nox raised a hand to stop him. Cedric quickly closed his mouth. After checking the contents of the letter several times, Nox slowly sat on the edge of the bed. After he rubbed his face with slow, exasperated movements, he picked up the letter again and read it over. No matter how many times he looked, the contents remained unchanged.
Clenching both fists tightly, he lowered his head. His lips twisted uncontrollably with joy. Cedric stared at him as if looking at a strange creature, watching him laugh silently, his mouth stretched wide.
“M-Master?”
“Cedric.”
“Yes…”
“From now on, assign all of Sia’s duties directly to me. She is not to take orders from you any longer.”
“…Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“Take a look at this.”
Nox handed him the letter. This was something only Cedric could be allowed to see. Cedric skimmed through the letter quickly and clapped a hand over his mouth.
“A h-human, you say?”
“Have you never thought it strange, looking into Sia’s eyes?”
“…Honestly, since her irises are black, I’ve never really managed to look inside them. Ah, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that it’s hard to distinguish, and if I stare too hard, Miss Sia might feel uncomfortable.”
At Cedric’s words, Nox nodded quietly a few times.
“If even you haven’t noticed, then there’s no need to worry about the other staff.”
“Master, please explain a bit more. Otherwise, during breakfast, I won’t be able to take my eyes off Miss Sia.”
Cedric, realizing he sounded unintentionally threatening, belatedly covered his own mouth. Without any change of expression, Nox revealed the secret he alone knew about Sia.
“Sia’s irises are different from ours, as werebeasts.”
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