Chapter 104: The Wolf king.

ASTON

The entrance to the mansion lit up as a figure approached.

Aston Fenrir stopped before the enormous silver doors.

The security system scanned his face.

IDENTITY CONFIRMED. WELCOME HOME, YOUR MAJESTY.

With a soft mechanical sound, the doors slid open.

Before Aston could step inside, a soldier rushed out.

"YOUR MAJESTY!"

He dropped to one knee.

Behind him, several other soldiers hurried over and bowed deeply.

"Welcome home, Your Majesty!"

Aston glanced at them.

He had been away for years , and yet the mansion in Ignora remained as orderly as ever.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed through the entrance.

A man in a black uniform rushed toward Aston.

The moment he saw the familiar face, his eyes reddened.

"MY KING!"

Luigi dropped to his knees so quickly that the soldiers behind him exchanged startled glances.

He bowed his head, his shoulders trembling.

"Your Majesty... I thought something had happened to you!"

His voice cracked.

"If you hadn’t called to tell me you were in Ignora, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself! I searched everywhere. I sent people across the planets, but there was no trace of you!"

He wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? You disappeared without leaving a single clue. I thought...."

Aston reached down and tapped his back.

"I’m fine."

Luigi’s shoulders shook.

"Your Majesty..."

"I’m standing right in front of you. Why are you crying?"

"I’m not crying!"

Luigi immediately wiped his face.

Aston glanced at the wet sleeve.

"Of course."

Luigi lowered his head in embarrassment.

The soldiers around them fought desperately to keep straight faces.

Nobody wanted to laugh at the king’s personal guard.

Especially not when Luigi was capable of making their lives miserable afterward.

Aston stepped past him.

"Did you get it ready?"

Luigi immediately straightened.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is prepared exactly as you ordered."

"Good."

Aston continued toward the inner corridor.

"Let’s go."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Luigi hurried after him.

The security room was located beneath the mansion.

Unlike the luxurious upper floors, this area was built with reinforced walls, multiple security barriers, and equipment capable of detecting even the smallest changes in spiritual energy.

Aston stopped before the final door.

A scanner descended from the ceiling.

FACIAL RECOGNITION IN PROGRESS.

A red beam passed over his face.

ROYAL BLOODLINE CONFIRMED. ACCESS GRANTED.

The door opened.

Inside stood a transparent testing capsule surrounded by several monitoring screens.

A man in a white medical uniform immediately stepped forward.

He was Aston’s personal royal doctor, brought all the way from Haxia by Luigi.

The doctor bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty."

Aston nodded.

"Begin."

The doctor exchanged a brief glance with Luigi before approaching the testing equipment.

"Your Majesty, please enter the capsule."

Aston removed his outer coat and stepped inside.

The transparent door closed.

Machines hummed to life.

Blue light swept across his body as the capsule began analyzing his spiritual energy, beast core, and mental consciousness.

Numbers appeared across the surrounding screens.

BERSERK RATE: ANALYZING.

POLLUTION RATE: ANALYZING.

SEA OF CONSCIOUSNESS: SCANNING.

Luigi stood before the monitors, gripping his hands nervously.

He had seen the king’s condition a month ago.

Eighty-eight percent.

Eighty-eight percent!

At that level, even the strongest beast warriors would struggle to maintain their sanity. Aston had been dangerously close to losing control of his beast consciousness.

That was why he had risked everything to get close to Elena Astronova.

The SSS-Class Saintess had been considered one of the few females capable of soothing a powerful male like him.

Yet Aston had disappeared for weeks.

And now...

Luigi swallowed nervously.

The capsule finally released a soft chime.

TEST COMPLETE.

The door opened.

Aston stepped out.

He looked composed, but his fingers slowly curled into fists.

He could feel it.

The violent agitation that had once clawed at his consciousness had weakened considerably.

The unbearable pressure inside his body had also diminished.

The doctor stared at the results on the screen.

Then he looked again.

And again.

His mouth fell open.

"Your Majesty..."

Aston raised his eyes.

"Speak."

The doctor swallowed.

"Your Majesty, your berserk and pollution rate is currently at forty percent."

Silence.

Luigi stared at him.

"...What?"

The doctor repeated himself.

"Forty percent, Sir."

Luigi rushed toward the screen.

"Let me see!"

He stared at the numbers.

BERSERK RATE: 40%.

POLLUTION RATE: 40%.

His eyes nearly popped out.

"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!"

He spun toward Aston.

"Your Majesty! You were at eighty-eight percent a month ago! EIGHTY-EIGHT!"

He held his head.

"That’s why you were trying everything to get close to Elena Astronova! We were practically counting the days until your consciousness collapsed!"

His voice grew louder with every word.

"But now you’ve disappeared for weeks, and suddenly you’re at forty percent?"

He grabbed Aston’s sleeve.

"Your Majesty, what happened? Did you find an SSS-Class female? Did you meet a Saintess? Even if you did, this recovery is almost impossible!"

Aston looked down at the hand gripping his sleeve.

Luigi immediately released it.

"Sorry, Your Majesty."

Aston raised one hand.

The doctor bowed at once.

"Your Majesty, I shall prepare a detailed report on the results."

"Leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The doctor turned to the young Guide nurse standing beside the equipment.

"Come with me."

The nurse had been trembling from the moment Aston entered the room.

She had barely dared to raise her head.

When Aston’s gaze landed on her, her cheeks immediately turned red.

He gave her a small nod.

The poor girl looked as though her soul had just left her body.

"Y-Your Majesty..."

She bowed so quickly that she nearly stumbled over her own feet.

Then she hurried after the doctor.

The door closed behind them.

A few seconds later, a furious voice echoed from the corridor.

"NEXT TIME, YOU ARE NOT COMING WITH ME!"

The nurse’s frightened response was barely audible.

The doctor continued scolding her.

"DO YOU THINK HIS MAJESTY IS A MALE YOU CAN DREAM ABOUT?!"

Luigi’s mouth twitched.

He slowly turned toward Aston.

"Your Majesty, even the Guide nurse has fallen for you."

Aston didn’t respond.

Luigi sighed.

"Being handsome really is a terrible burden."

Aston gave him a cold look.

Luigi immediately straightened.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Your handsome face is a matter of national importance."

"Luigi."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Do you want to be thrown out?"

Luigi closed his mouth.

For approximately three seconds.

Then curiosity won.

He leaned forward.

"Your Majesty..."

Aston ignored him and picked up his coat.

Luigi followed him.

"Who is she?"

Aston stopped.

"Who?"

"The female you met."

Luigi’s eyes sparkled.

"Come on, Your Majesty. You don’t disappear for weeks, return with your pollution rate cut in half, and expect me not to ask questions!"

Aston remained silent.

Luigi gasped.

"Wait! Don’t tell me you’ve actually found someone who can soothe you!"

A faint smile appeared on Aston’s lips.

"Vivian."

Luigi blinked.

"...Vivian?"

He repeated the name as though trying to remember which influential Saintess carried it.

Then his expression changed.

"WHAT VIVIAN?!"

Aston turned his head.

Luigi pointed at him in disbelief.

"THE LOVE-SCAM VIVIAN?! THE WOMAN YOU TRICKED INTO PARTNERSHIP?!"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Aston’s face darkened.

"Watch your mouth."

Luigi immediately shut it.

Aston stepped closer.

"I never tricked her. She married me voluntarily."

Luigi stared at him.

Then he nodded with exaggerated seriousness.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Voluntarily."

He raised one finger.

"And she loves you very much. Not your money, your royal status, or your enormous mansion."

Aston’s expression grew colder.

Luigi quickly raised both hands.

"I’m only stating the facts!"

Aston walked toward the door.

Luigi followed, muttering under his breath.

"But seriously, Your Majesty, how is that possible?"

Aston didn’t answer.

"Vivian hasn’t awakened, has she? How can an unawakened female soothe an SS-Class Wolf King?"

He frowned.

"Even the most talented SSS-Class females struggle with males of your bloodline. Are you absolutely certain she’s the one who helped you?"

Aston stopped walking.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Do you think I would want to marry an ordinary female?"

Luigi fell silent.

Aston turned toward him.

"Her words carry an extraordinary aura. With a single command, she separated two SS-Class males who were fighting in their beast forms."

His eyes darkened slightly as he remembered the scene.

Vivian standing between him and Caelan.

Her voice cutting through the violent spiritual pressure.

STOP!

And somehow, he had obeyed.

So had Caelan.

Aston’s smile deepened.

"Tell me, Luigi. Does that sound ordinary to you?"

Luigi stared at him.

Then slowly rolled his eyes.

Whatever you say, Your Majesty.

He had no intention of arguing with a king who had fallen so deeply that he was practically glowing whenever he mentioned the woman.

Still, one thing bothered him.

Vivian was not awakened.

She had no publicly recognized rank.

And yet she possessed an ability that could affect two SS-Class males.

What exactly was she?

Luigi decided not to ask...For now.

Aston entered the sitting room and settled onto the sofa.

He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment.

Vivian.

He had left her in Ignora with no proper home, no money, and no reliable family to protect her.

And now she had gone to live with Sentinel Vega.

Aston’s smile disappeared.

Vega.

That name alone was enough to make him uncomfortable.

The Sentinel had rejected Elena Astronova, yet he had accepted Vivian as his personal soldier.

Worse, he was allowing her to live under his protection.

Aston’s fingers tapped against the armrest.

Vivian had no home.

She had no reason to return to him.

And if Vega treated her well, what reason would she have to leave?

The thought irritated him more than it should have.

He opened his eyes.

"Luigi."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Luigi appeared beside him instantly.

"Find Vivian...FOR ME.."

Luigi blinked. "Her residence?"

"She doesn’t have one."

Aston’s expression became displeased.

"She was living in a damaged house in Ignora. Now she’s staying with Vega because she has nowhere else to go."

He paused.

"Send her a house."

Luigi stared at him.

"...A house?"

"One of my mansions."

Luigi’s mouth fell open.

Aston looked at him.

"Did you not hear me?"

"I heard you, Your Majesty!"

Luigi hurriedly nodded.

"Of course. One mansion coming right up."

He hesitated.

"But, Your Majesty... how exactly do you intend to give it to her?"

Aston frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Luigi cleared his throat.

"You can’t exactly send a royal mansion to her and write, ’Love, your husband, the Alpha King.’"

Aston’s eyes narrowed.

"Why not?"

Luigi nearly choked.

Because she’ll think you’re a lunatic!

He wisely kept that thought to himself.

"Your Majesty, Vivian doesn’t even know your real identity. If you suddenly send her a mansion, she’ll become suspicious. AND RIGHT NOW LUCIEN IS BROKE!!"

Aston considered this.

Then he said, "Tell her she won a house lottery."

Luigi stared.

Silence.

Then....."HAHAHAHA!"

Luigi burst out laughing.

Aston’s expression turned murderous.

Luigi immediately covered his mouth.

"I’m sorry, Your Majesty!"

He struggled to control himself.

"A house lottery? Really?"

Aston folded his arms.

"Do you have a better idea?"

Luigi swallowed his laughter.

"Actually, yes."

He straightened his uniform.

"Leave it to me, Your Majesty. I have my ways. I’ll make sure she accepts the house happily and doesn’t suspect a thing."

Aston studied him.

"Don’t make trouble."

"Never, Your Majesty."

Luigi smiled innocently.

Inside, however, he was already imagining how he would explain to the royal financial department why one of the king’s private mansions had suddenly become a prize in a nonexistent lottery.

I’m going to need a very convincing story.

Before he could say anything else, Aston’s communicator vibrated.

Luigi glanced at the incoming notification.

His expression immediately changed.

"Your Majesty..."

Aston looked up.

"What is it?"

Luigi hesitated.

Then he bowed his head.

"There’s another matter you need to know."

Aston’s gaze sharpened.

"Speak."

"It’s about the royal palace."

Luigi took a breath.

"Your father’s mistress is holding a grand celebration. She’s preparing to officially crown her son as the new Prince Royal."

Aston’s face went cold.

Luigi continued carefully.

"Several Fenrir elders have already accepted her proposal."

A dangerous silence filled the room.

"Several?" Aston repeated.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Luigi lowered his voice.

"Especially the elders whose family resources you cut off."

Aston’s fingers stopped tapping.

Those elders had enjoyed the Fenrir family’s wealth for years. They had used royal resources to strengthen their own factions while quietly undermining his authority.

When Aston discovered their schemes, he stripped them of their privileges.

Apparently, they had found a new master to serve.

His father’s mistress.

And now they wanted to crown her son as Prince Royal.

Aston slowly rose from the sofa.

The gentle expression he had worn while speaking about Vivian disappeared completely.

The air around him grew heavy.

A faint, chilling pressure spread through the room.

Luigi lowered his head.

He knew that expression.

The king who had spoken about sending a mansion to his wife was gone.

In his place stood the Alpha King of the Fenrir bloodline.

Cold, Merciless, and thoroughly displeased.

Aston adjusted his cuffs.

"Prepare my transport. We are leaving today."

Luigi immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Aston’s eyes gleamed.

"Since they have forgotten who rules the Fenrir family..."

He paused. "...I’ll remind them."