Chapter 12
“You and your family don’t get along, right? I don’t need all the details. Just tell me what the problem is…”
“Sorry, Cici.”
Eren cut me off with a quiet but firm voice. His expression was blank—there was no emotion at all.
“No matter what, I can’t tell you that.”
I stayed silent, staring at him. I had expected this answer, but that didn’t make the rejection hurt any less.
“If that’s your answer, then I have no choice.”
I sighed and stood up, feeling foolish for expecting anything from him, even briefly.
“I’ll go first today. Just send the medicine to the mansion later.”
“…Cici.”
“Don’t call me by that nickname.”
I immediately realized how childish that sounded.
‘What am I, a kindergartener, telling him not to use a nickname?’
I swallowed my embarrassment and turned my back. Eren didn’t stop me, as if he knew I was upset.
“…Take care,” he said weakly behind me.
I didn’t reply and hurried out of his house.
After Cici left, Eren remained alone in the living room, his expression cold.
“…Berlot, come out. I know everything that’s going on.”
Almost immediately, a door from the inner bedroom opened, revealing Berlot.
“As expected of my sibling, quick-witted as ever,” he sneered.
Eren’s sharp question met a casual shrug.
“I just wanted to see if my little brother is still doing well. Looks like there’s nothing to worry about.”
The two looked nothing alike. Berlot was dressed entirely in black, with only his golden eyes standing out. Eren, by contrast, had reddish-brown hair that shone in the sunlight and green eyes like a summer forest.
‘The only things they share are the surname “Rainer” and that they are both beast-kin.’
“The woman who just left… Cynthia Everglow, right?”
Eren’s expression immediately tightened.
“Don’t take an interest in Cici.”
“How could I not? She’s the girl my brother adores so desperately.”
Berlot smiled like a predator, showing sharp teeth.
“She didn’t recognize me at first. The memory-erasing skills are certainly impressive.”
“…If you’re going to talk nonsense, leave.”
Eren stood coldly, refusing to listen further.
“Seems like she has a wolf with her. Did you know?”
Eren went silent at the sharp question.
“Judging by your reaction… you knew.”
Berlot stepped closer, and Eren’s eyes narrowed.
“I also smell that wolf on your body.”
“…Step back.”
Berlot chuckled at his threatening stance and gripped Eren’s shoulder firmly.
“Well then, do your best so you don’t lose this time.”
On the carriage ride home, I decided to try on the bracelet I bought from Everglow.
‘I hope Michael likes it too.’
I glanced at the neatly placed gift box on the chair.
‘What is Michael doing right now?’
I had never left him alone for this long, so I wondered about his activities.
‘He probably hasn’t caused any trouble while I was gone, right?’
I promised myself I would visit him first thing after returning.
Meanwhile, Michael was unusually calm. He had nothing else to do.
‘…Why hasn’t she come yet?’
Michael glanced at the door silently, having waited for hours. Normally, Cici would come first, so he didn’t need to wait.
‘Has something come up to keep her busy?’
He rested his chin on his paw and perked his ears whenever there was a sound, only to slump back when it wasn’t her.
Eventually, a small commotion came from outside the banquet hall.
“Loyalty!”
“We greet the commander!”
Michael flinched at the voices, recognizing that it must be the young marquis.
‘So it is the young marquis.’
He approached cautiously. His black hair, deep navy eyes, and intimidating aura were almost like his father, the Everglow Duke.
“Seeing you this close… is a first,” he said expressionlessly.
Michael stayed alert, his eyes narrowed.
“You’re curious why I’m here, right?”
“……!”
Michael flinched, caught off guard.
“I came because Cici went out. I won’t get another chance to talk to her alone otherwise.”
Michael’s ears twitched at the mention of Cici’s absence.
‘Alone? Could he mean me?’
He scanned the room, but no one else was there.
‘…Do all humans and marquis enjoy talking with beast-kin so much?’
Elliot continued.
“You don’t need to stare strangely. I know you’re a beast-kin.”
‘…What?’
Michael froze as if cold water had been poured over him.
‘How did he know I’m a beast-kin?’
Elliot explained casually.
“I have beast-kin among my subordinates. They can sense it just from your scent.”
Michael was shocked, forgetting to growl even.
“Enough explanations. Let’s get to the main point.”
Elliot’s gaze turned sharp, his hand brushing his hair.
“I won’t ask who or where you’re from. But with my sister, keep pretending to be an ordinary beast-kin.”
“……!”
