Chapter 2
The Regulus Clan.
One of the five great families that ruled the continent, dominating the southwest. It was difficult to compare them directly to the Ginevere Clan, which held sway over the northwest, as black panthers and wolves were fierce beasts with distinct territories. Consequently, the Regulus Clan had always kept a wary eye on the Ginevere Clan. However, tensions had eased somewhat since Berhan became the head of Regulus.
More precisely, since Berhan heard of my birth.
The reason was simple: Berhan’s son, Kendrick, born a year before me and the heir to the Regulus Clan, was a halfwit.
The problem was that Kendrick was Berhan’s only child.
The stronger the species, the rarer their offspring, and unfortunately, the black panther clan was no exception. Thus, despite Kendrick’s deficiencies, Berhan had no choice but to name him heir.
Instead, Berhan sought to prepare for Kendrick’s eventual leadership in another way.
Through Kendrick’s future spouse.
“Even if the head is a halfwit, a clever spouse would make up for it.”
Berhan aimed to find a spouse intelligent enough to support the unreliable Kendrick. But Berhan, with his long life and discerning eye, had high standards.
I was one of the few who met those standards.
Thus, from that moment, Berhan proposed a political marriage between me and Kendrick to my father. When Father first heard the proposal, he was more furious than anyone. Veins bulging in his neck, face flushed red, wolf ears and tail fully exposed, he roared in rage.
“I will never sell my daughter to that defective cub!”
At subsequent gatherings of clan heads, Father rejected every subtle probe from Berhan without hesitation.
But Berhan was persistent. Even when I grew old enough to attend clan head meetings as the heir, he continued to press his proposal. Once, he narrowly avoided a slap from Father, yet he merely chuckled, eyeing me appraisingly before leaving.
That was how resolute my father had been.
And yet, that same father.
He abandoned me the moment an alpha wolf was born.
All because of an alpha sibling, not even a day old.
Was Father’s refusal to sell me into a political marriage simply because I was his blood? Or because I was the most outstanding among the clan? Or perhaps, his pride wouldn’t allow him to hand his only daughter to the rival Regulus Clan.
My mind was a tangled mess. On top of that, I hadn’t eaten, and nausea threatened to overwhelm me. I wanted to confront Father, but my mouth felt as if it were sealed with cobwebs.
Unable to act, I stood frozen like a statue, not consumed by anger at being discarded but by the hollow realization that the life I had lived, devoted to the father I trusted most, had been trampled in an instant.
‘Was I so easily discarded by Father…?’
With empty eyes, I stared at him. He knew my gaze was on him but pretended otherwise, extending a hand to Berhan.
“Thank you for coming despite the sudden meeting. Let’s discuss the next steps gradually.”
That damned beast, whether black panther or snake, Berhan scanned me again, licking his lips. Grasping Laslo’s hand, he smirked slyly.
“I’m the one who should be grateful for this long-awaited proposal. And since our future daughter-in-law now knows, I hope we can proceed quickly. Kendrick is eagerly awaiting her.”
“…Then we’ll arrange their meeting on a date that suits you,” Father replied.
“The sooner, the better. Of course, schedule it at our dear daughter-in-law’s convenience. We’ll follow her lead.”
As Berhan released Father’s hand, his gaze shifted to me. His brow furrowed ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly unless one was watching closely, as Berhan did with narrowed eyes.
“Then let’s meet in a week. Our clan has a grand festival coming up, so right after it concludes would be ideal. For now, I need to speak with my daughter, so please take your leave.”
“She must be quite shocked. I trust you’ll comfort her well. I’ll await your confirmation of the date,” Berhan said with another unsettling smile before departing.
Silence hung heavy before the study door, now just Father and me. Neither of us spoke easily.
When the clock’s second hand ticked thirty times, Father finally broke the silence.
“Fix your appearance and come to my study.”
Contrary to my faint hope, his words carried no trace of apology, only the tone of someone stating the inevitable.
***
Father’s study was eerily quiet.
The only sound filling the vast room was the ticking of the clock on one wall. In that stifling space, Father and I sat facing each other, waiting for the other to speak. Father, who clearly should have spoken first, stared at the teacup before him with lips tightly shut, prolonging the unwanted silence.
‘…If only we could stay silent like this.’
Having rushed to the study after Mary tidied my disheveled appearance, I had no time to gather my thoughts. Not that time would have helped, my mind was already saturated with the weight of recent events.
Father rubbed the teacup filled with bitter tea, waiting until the steam subsided before speaking.
“…As you heard, we’re proceeding with the marriage to the Regulus Clan.”
His voice was unnervingly flat.
“…I haven’t heard anything, Father.”
Unlike his, my voice trembled, betraying the lifelong teaching to act confidently as the heir.
“Then listen now.”
“I won’t.”
“Do you mean to make me repeat myself?”
His tone was calm, but I knew the oppression laced within it. Father covered his forehead with his hand and let out a long sigh.
“I regret not telling you sooner. It was rushed, so bear with it. But this is undoubtedly a good opportunity for you.”
A good opportunity?
Being ousted as heir and cast out through a political marriage was a good opportunity?
How could this farce possibly be a good opportunity?
I bit my lip until it paled, clinging to the faint chance that Father’s words might hold some way to change my fate.
“As you know, the Regulus heir is a halfwit. Closer to an unevolved beast than a proper heir. He’ll be easy for you to control. If you succeed, the Ginevere Clan will gain influence over the Regulus Clan. That’s your purpose now, not as an heir.”
“…”
“You came to me because you still cling to the position of head, didn’t you? You may not become the Ginevere head, but this is a fine opportunity. Be grateful.”
Father’s words depended on how optimistically I viewed them. A shiny but hollow fruit, a poisoned chalice dressed up as concern, but filled with ulterior motives.
It was as if cold water had been poured over my head in the dead of winter. My tangled thoughts cleared, almost miraculously. To sit here calmly, without letting my wolf ears or tail emerge, maintaining composure in this mess, it was surreal.
“…Father, is this opportunity truly for me? Do I even have a choice?”
He looked at me with disapproval. In another time, I might have been scolded for insolence, but he seemed to reconsider, parting his tightly closed lips.
“…I understand you’re confused. I’ll give you time. But the political marriage will proceed as planned, so focus on how to control that halfwit.”
Don’t entertain foolish thoughts.
The unspoken words echoed in my ears.
Foolish thoughts?
What would he consider foolish?
If I, who had lived like a loyal dog following his every command, rebelled, wouldn’t his stoic expression crumble? If everything was to go his way, wasn’t I entitled to act out just once?
My thoughts veered in a direction I’d never considered before, yet it felt oddly natural. As if this was exactly how I was meant to act. It was like the instinct to recognize a powerful leader.
Realizing this, the stifling atmosphere didn’t feel so bad. I looked directly at Father, still pressing his forehead. My golden eyes gleamed, my first spark since hearing the news today.
“I understand, Father.”
“Good. Leave.”
“Before I go, I have one request.”
“Speak.”
Father, who despised my requests, permitted it with a final show of leniency.
“I’d like to move Mother’s belongings from the main house to my room.”
“…Do as you wish.”
As always, he was indifferent to matters concerning Mother, watching from a step behind.
Everything felt resentful, yet I couldn’t pinpoint the cause.
With his words, I rose from my seat. As I turned to leave, his stern voice called over my shoulder.
“Let me say it again: my word is your priority. Understood?”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“…Yes, Father.”
As always, our conversation ended with him confirming my loyalty, like a master handling a dog.
But if a master discards their loyal hound, it’s only natural for the hound to bare its fangs.
Click.
The study door closed. Completely.
My gaze was no longer that of the obedient hound who entered.
It was the gaze of a wolf moments before hunting its prey.
And that was only natural.
Because I intended to bite Father and leave this damned clan.
