Chapter 108

“They’re merely flowers. To humans.”

Berdin slowly approached me.

I instinctively stepped back. The intense energy emanating from him made it difficult to breathe.

This… this isn’t a power a human can possess.

“But to shapeshifters…”

The way Berdin’s gaze bore into me made my chest tighten.

“It drives even their souls to madness. I worry you might lose your soul, Shuvelia.”

Berdin’s abhorrent words made my anger rise.

“Worry? What nonsense when you orchestrated all this? You’re the one who distributed Turba to the shapeshifters!”

Berdin smiled, spreading his silk-gloved hands wide. He looked like a saint trying to save pitiful creatures.

“I’m trying to help the shapeshifters. I’m only trying to restore the rights of those who live in the capital, treated like beasts.”

“That’s just sophistry. How can they reclaim their rights by taking such medicine?”

Berdin looked up at the sky with a regretful expression.

“Originally, they lived freely in vast nature. But longing for the human world, they became half-beast, half-human. Their pure wildness disappeared, and they eventually fell to become human slaves.”

Berdin turned his gaze to stare directly at me. Even in the darkness, his golden eyes shone brilliantly.

“Turba gives freedom to shapeshifters.”

This human is insane.

How can he calmly spout such nonsensical, deranged words?

Staying with him any longer would be a waste of time. I needed to quickly go to Karden and tell him the truth.

I should transform into a fox and escape now…

“GRAAAWRR!”

Just then, a chilling monster’s howl echoed from the night garden.

Startled, I looked around, but Berdin spoke calmly.

“Oh my, some shapeshifter attendants must have lost their way in the palace garden. They must have gone berserk after smelling the Turba scent.”

“Don’t tell me you orchestrated this, too?”

“Well, I don’t know anything about it. Perhaps the Turba flowers became ball decorations due to a palace oversight. They do resemble lilies, so it’s an understandable mistake.”

Dark red anger surged to the top of my head. My fists clenched under my dress, trembling uncontrollably.

Dizzy and hot, my heart was beating madly.

It felt like the eyes of a beast crouched in a deep corner were slowly opening.

Along with anger, an intense power began to surge up my spine.

Berdin slowly approached me. The terrible Turba scent emanating from him stung my nose.

His gaze slid stickily over my body from top to bottom.

The moment I received that gaze, chills ran up my spine.

His lips, redder than a woman’s, curled up at the corners seductively.

“Beautiful. The red-eyed fox…”

“What do you…?”

My eyes have turned red?

I couldn’t move, as if my entire body had frozen. Berdin leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“You truly know nothing. About what your power really is.”

His secretive voice penetrated my ear.

The blood that had been heating my veins grew cold.

“You know about my power?”

I was so confused that maintaining my expression was difficult.

Under the cold moonlight, Berdin’s hand reached toward me.

His eyes, which had been persistently watching me, darkened dangerously.

“If you want to know the truth, follow me, Shuvelia.”

“What is this truth you speak of?”

“The ominous existence of the Ulpes tribe. Aren’t you curious about what your true power is?”

He already knows a lot about me.

Since when?

He knew I was from the Ulpes tribe from when we first met at the Royal Library.

No, perhaps even before that…?

I glared at Duke Berdin, but couldn’t remember.

Shapeshifters have a keen smell and never forget a scent once they’ve smelled it.

That’s why it was even more frustrating. What exactly was his identity?

“Only I can tell you your truth.”

Wouldn’t a tempting devil’s smile look just like that?

I wanted to know. What was the real identity this person spoke of?

An instinctive danger alarm rang loudly in my head.

I shouldn’t stay in front of him any longer.

He is dangerous.

At that moment, a woman’s sharp scream echoed in the wind along with the smell of beasts.

“KYAAA!”

A woman’s piercing scream echoed from the deep inner garden of the palace.

The scream was buried under the music flowing from the grand hall, but it reached my ears clearly.

I glared at Berdin.

“I reject your dance.”

Grabbing the hem of my dress, I ran with all my might toward the source of the scream.

Though not as fast as when I was a fox, my running speed as a human was faster than most men.

Cold wind brushed my cheeks and my long hair fluttered wildly.

The palace garden was wide and deep. Past the rose-lined path was a circular fountain.

Once again, a woman’s scream echoed. My body reflexively dashed toward it.

In front of the fountain bathed in moonlight, a massive gray wolf appeared.

It was a wolf that inspired suffocating pressure and fear. The acrid smell of blood stung my nose. In front of the wolf, a soldier lay fallen, bleeding.

Torn clothes were visible under the wolf’s feet. Could it be a wolf shapeshifter?

In front of it, I saw a noble lady crouched and trembling.

The gray wolf’s eyes had already turned red. The wolf bared its sharp teeth, about to pounce on her.

There wasn’t even time to transform into a fox.

I can’t use my full power in human form!

I shouted as if spitting blood.

“S-Stop!”

At that moment, something unbelievable happened.

The gray wolf, which was about to tear the woman to death, suddenly stopped.

Grrrr. Drool dripped between its sharp teeth.

The wolf slowly turned its body toward me. Its red eyes flashed, focusing on me.

Has the attack target changed to me?

I need to transform and attack now.

At that moment, the wolf’s eyes, which had been flashing with killing intent, suddenly became docile. Then it lowered its tail.

The massive gray wolf bowed its head before me like an obedient large dog.

“This can’t be…”

The gray wolf looked up at me as if looking at its master. Why is the wolf obeying my words?

Fear ran down my spine.

“Y-You… what are you?”

The noble lady asked, trembling.

Disheveled hair, a splendid dress covered in dirt. The face that looked up was none other than Cade.

Cade trembled in fear with a dazed expression.

“Controlling beasts, how is that possible? No way… are you a monster?”

No. That can’t be.

I needed to explain the situation, to clear up the misunderstanding. For some reason, I couldn’t utter a single word.

When I unconsciously walked toward Cade.

“KYAAAA! Stay away, monster!”

Cade screamed as if having a fit.

“You misunderstand. This is…”

“Shuvelia!”

Black hair rippled under the moonlight, and a cloak fluttered.

Karden stood before me, breathing heavily.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

His gaze quickly examined me.

After confirming I was unharmed, he was relieved but immediately questioned me in a rough voice.

“Shuvelia, why are you here? It’s dangerous, go back immediately!”

“Ah… that’s not it.”

Karden drew his sword and pointed it at the massive gray wolf in front of me.

“What is that? A demon beast?”

The gray wolf’s eyes flashed with killing intent again.

“Grrrr!”

When Karden drew his sword, I finally came to my senses.

“Wait, Your Grace! It’s not a demon beast, it’s a wolf shapeshifter!”

“A shapeshifter?”

Karden froze momentarily upon hearing my words.

Not missing that moment, the wolf’s front paws lunged for Karden’s throat.

“Watch out!”

Just then, a dagger flew from somewhere and hit the wolf’s hind leg.

“KYAANG!”

The wolf screamed and collapsed to the ground.

When I turned around, it was Berdin. He gave a relaxed eye-smile.

“You’re not hurt.”

“…There was no need to throw a dagger!”

When I shouted in protest, Berdin approached the fallen wolf with a calm expression.

The wolf, hit in the hind leg by the dagger, was trembling and bleeding.

“This is the only way to stop a shapeshifter in a berserk state. I avoided a fatal wound, so treatment will help.”

The palace knights urgently surrounded us.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

“Move that wolf, and take the lady over there to a safe place.”

“We obey your command.”

The soldiers moved the wolf and supported Cade to take her to the ballroom.

Cade trembled like a person in shock.

“Monster… monster.”

Cade’s face contorted with fear when our eyes met. She grabbed a soldier’s arm and left the garden in obvious flight.

I could only look down at the ground.

My fingertips kept trembling, so I clutched my dress hem and gritted my teeth.

Karden… didn’t see it, right?

He couldn’t have, please.