Chapter 264

At the time, he had already given orders that if it was ever determined that he might pose a danger to her, they were to eliminate him immediately without hesitation.

If he was not more careful, he might lose the chance to protect her forever.

He unconsciously scratched at the floor, only belatedly realizing what he was doing and stopping himself. The sight of the ruined carpet made his already troubled mood sink even further.

At some point, controlling his own behavior had begun to feel noticeably more difficult.

It felt as though he carried a blazing fire inside his body. Anxiety, restlessness, and an excitement whose nature he could not identify were always drifting through his blood, while his mind seemed perpetually clouded with gray smoke.

Whenever it consumed his consciousness, his body slipped free of reason's control and began moving on its own.

He swallowed dryly as he recalled the crimson flames that had flashed through his mind when he discovered the Dire Boar.

At that moment, there had been no room for any rational judgment whatsoever. The instant he saw the magical beast's blood-red eyes fixed on her, his body was already kicking off the ground and charging forward ferociously.

That was not the only time he had lost control. Whenever he witnessed servants or soldiers behaving rudely toward her right before his eyes, it was difficult to suppress his killing intent, and sometimes he openly threatened them by baring his teeth or growling. It made a mockery of his determination to be regarded as a docile and harmless creature.

“Your legs seem to have improved quite a lot recently.”

As he hung his head, overcome with self-reproach, a calm voice came from behind him.

He whipped his head around and narrowed his eyes at Tiuran, who was carefully massaging Talia's calf.

Talia had quietly entrusted her leg to the healer and was lying there with her eyes gently closed. In that instant, a surge of heat rose violently from the pit of his stomach.

This was a woman who used to recoil in horror whenever his hand so much as came near her legs. Had she not even refused the maids' assistance because she hated showing anyone her scars?

Seeing the woman who had once reluctantly lifted her skirts only when receiving treatment now lying there comfortably in nothing but short undergarments made his insides twist viciously.

After glaring warningly at Tiuran's profile, he soon prowled over to the bedside.

Sensing his presence, Talia reached out and gently stroked the back of his neck.

“I think it's because I've been walking so much with Khan lately. My muscles must be getting stronger.”

“Even so, don't overdo it. You could end up injuring your joints.”

Tiuran spoke as she applied peppermint oil over Talia's knee.

He stared fixedly at the scars covering her leg. He had seen those scars countless times since becoming a wolf, yet every time they entered his sight, it felt as though his heart were being torn apart.

“You don't have to worry. I'm only getting my regular treatment.”

Apparently thinking he was worried about her injuries, she caressed his ears and whispered soothingly.

The gentle touch sent a tingling sensation all the way across his scalp. Barely suppressing the rumble threatening to escape his throat, he hopped onto the bed and sniffed the ointment the healer had applied to her leg.

The strong scents of peppermint, mugwort, comfrey, and other medicinal herbs filled his nose. It did not seem to contain any particularly toxic herbs.

He glanced at Tiuran's face. He was not especially pleased that the wife who had kept her thorns raised against him for more than ten years had opened her heart to this woman in barely half a year, but he was nevertheless grateful that Tiuran had taken such good care of her. Without this woman, Talia would have had to endure each day by relying on highly toxic painkillers.

She had not completely stopped taking medicine even now. But perhaps thanks to Tiuran massaging her every evening, the frequency with which she took painkillers had noticeably decreased, and she burned sleeping candles far less often as well.

On top of that, eating a balanced diet of nutritious food had begun to put a healthy amount of flesh back onto her once-emaciated body. The problem was that her appearance, now blossoming like a rose in summer, had once again begun attracting men's eyes.

He gazed uneasily at her cheeks, which were tinged with a rosy flush. He was happy that the woman who had looked so sad and miserable was regaining her vitality, but he did not like that there were once again people looking at her with covetous eyes.

“That's all done. I'll help you change your clothes now.”

Tiuran wiped the oil from her hands with a towel, rose from her seat, and turned toward the cabinet.

Just as she opened a drawer and was about to take out some clothes, a knock sounded from outside.

Khan, who had been resting his head against Talia's shoulder, abruptly raised his head. He had identified the visitor from nothing more than the footsteps and the person's scent drifting through the air.

“My Lady, it's me!”

Before permission to enter had even been given, the quarter-dwarf flung the door open and strode into the room.

He glared at the woman's carefree face with open hostility.

Ever since Tiuran had practically assumed the role of Talia's personal maid, this woman had all but stopped coming around. She never set foot here unless Talia summoned her, so seeing her suddenly burst in with an excited expression filled him with foreboding.

“What is it?”

Talia seemed to feel uneasy as well, pulling the blanket toward herself with a wary expression. Paying no attention to her reaction, the quarter-dwarf approached the bed and hurriedly poured out her words.

“Her Majesty the Empress has sent gifts for Your Highness! Just look at these!”

The woman pointed toward the servants lined up in the corridor. Each of them held a chest bearing the seal of House Taren.

“They're all rare medicinal ingredients that help restore vitality and strengthen the womb!”

All the color instantly drained from Talia's face.

He felt every hair on his body stand on end with fury as he glared at the woman's face as though he wanted to tear it apart with his teeth.

This was a woman who had not sent so much as a single letter of consolation after hearing that Talia had lost her child. She had turned a blind eye even when Talia's body and mind had been completely shattered, leaving her little better than a wreck, yet now she had sent medicinal herbs whose purpose could not have been more obvious. His vision instantly turned red.

“If you keep taking these medicines regularly, you'll be able to conceive again in no time.”

“Those herbs must be homunculus seeds or something, then. Enough to get me pregnant without a husband.”

“Of course not! Why would you say something so dreadful!”

Failing to understand the sarcasm, the woman recoiled in horror and clapped a hand over Talia's mouth. The Empress was already plagued by suspicions that she researched forbidden ancient arts.

Apparently afraid that the remark might arouse needless suspicion, the woman glanced over the grand ducal servants and the healer before deliberately giving Talia a stern look.

“They say the conflict in the North is going to intensify further. If that happens, isn't there a good chance His Grace the Grand Duke will have to go to the front and fight as well?”

For an instant, a shadow of fear passed across Talia's face. Seemingly failing to notice it, the woman continued insensitively.

“You never know what might happen on a battlefield, so he'll surely visit the castle before long, if only to discuss the matter of an heir. When he does, you absolutely must conceive an heir to the Grand Ducal House.”

Unable to contain his rising fury any longer, he bared his teeth at the quarter-dwarf. Only then did the woman notice the murderous intent directed at her and slowly begin backing away.

Startled, Talia hurriedly wrapped both arms around him, but this time he could not immediately pretend to be docile.

She had nearly died giving birth to her child. How could anyone possibly urge her to become pregnant again?

Senevier, you of all people have no right to do this to this woman.

Not you too.

Every hair on his body stood on end as he growled viciously. Faced with his murderous ferocity, the quarter-dwarf's face turned deathly pale.

“Please, get that hideous thing away from me! How long are you going to keep doting on a magical beast like that?”

The woman shouted in horror after retreating far from the bed.

“Do you know what people here are saying about you, My Lady? They're whispering that you must have gone mad after losing your child!”

Talia desperately held him back as he tried to leap from the bed. The woman flinched and retreated before his vicious aggression, but then seemed to gather her courage and raised her voice again.

“You're the Grand Duchess, My Lady! Producing an heir is your duty. What are you going to do if you keep behaving so childishly and end up divorced and thrown out?”