CH 25

Ashley got up early the next morning and went out of her bedroom. Her time with the black wolf is almost up, she wanted to spend more time with him as possible. She indeed wanted to stay the night at the stables, but she didn’t want to do anything out of the ordinary to let the Sargent servants think that she’s unusual. She agreed with Clyde when he told her that the most important thing was to send the black wolf to Furt Island. Honestly, she did think that he was right.

As she quickly went down the stairs, she surprisingly saw Clyde there. He smiled at the surprised Ashley and said, “Good morning.” He apparently knew what she was going to do.

They headed to the stables and saw Hank and Jeanne carefully washing the black wolf with soap and water. They sleep on the second floor of the stables, so they were able to start work earlier. 

Ashley quietly watched the black wolf’s body covered in bubbles as it was being washed.

“Good morning, Mister Black Wolf.” Ashley greeted him with a beaming face.

The black wolf looked at her and nodded lightly. At that moment, water mixed with soap and bubbles dripped from his head. It caught sight of it and hurriedly shook its face from side to side. Hank and Jeanne shrieked as they got hit by the bubbles and got wet.

“Whoa!”

“Wait, what are you doing?!” Jeanne protested as her head and arms were covered with foamy suds.

The black wolf whined, “Sorry.”

Clyde laughed while he carried the clean water into the tub while Ashley rushed to get a towel. From then on, Ashley and the others stayed with the black wolf until the day it went to Furt Island. 

The black wolf accepted only small amounts of food and drink, so they made small portions of its favorite salted wine and a thick stewed pumpkin soup. It licked them slowly as it ate them deliciously. Its black fur was also carefully brushed and a hot bath would be made, and its eyes would squint as it was comfortably soaking in water up to its neck.

Jeanne would get teary at times when she thought of it leaving while she was taking care of him. Hank would tease her about it, and Jeanne would get loud and angry. Ashley knew that although Hank was laughing and happy, he’d secretly cry behind the stables.

Both Clyde and Ashley were smiling at the sight. It was sad to say goodbye, but she feels happier to be able to send the black wolf on his way as he wished. 

The custom-made cloaks, hats, and socks that they had asked the maids for have arrived. Ashley and Jeanne happily dressed the black wolf and they looked really good on him.

“You look great, Mister Black Wolf! You look the best!” Ashley’s face lit up as she circled around the black wolf, trying to see it from every angle.

“Looks good, right? The hat I asked for after all was a good style.”

“Yes, yes. It really suits him, but I like the socks I asked for. What do you think, Master Clyde?” Jeanne asked and Clyde nodded with a smile.

“I wasn’t sure how it would turn out at first, but it suits you better than I thought it would. I especially like the cloak in particular.”

As they praised the black wolf, it looked at its own reflection in the mirror with a satisfied look.

—and the day to send the black wolf to Furt Island came. Clyde, who had been preparing the magic circle since the night before and had cleaned himself up, stood in the center of the circle. Hank and Jeanne were positioned at the east and west side, respectively. 

Hank’s face was tense as he asked, “The Queen’s birthday celebration is at noon today, right? It’ll begin very soon.”

“Yeah, it’ll start at noon up until tomorrow morning. It’s a grand celebration, right? I’ll be joining you later once the black wolf is safely transported.” Clyde made himself available for today’s party so that the king would not be suspicious. 

Shortly before the party was about to begin, Clyde will be a little late due to taking care of an urgent business. A messenger would be sent to tell them that he would be there as soon as his work was finished. This purpose was to send the black wolf to Furt Island without anyone knowing. A fake barrier will also be set at the same time as the party starts, and the magic circle will be activated to send the black wolf. Therefore, even if the royal family notices something unusual, it’d be difficult for them to move in the middle of the queen’s birthday celebration. And, by the time they arrive in the Sargent residence the transportation magic would have already ended.

‘Goodbye.’

""

The black wolf will soon die. Although she knows that he’d be able to go to the demon king as he wished, she still felt sad and lonely. She wished it could still live longer and be with him, but that is just Ashley’s selfishness. The black wolf has lived long enough all by itself.

‘Let’s at least send him off with a smile.’ Ashley bent down and hugged the black wolf standing next to her.

The black wolf’s eyes widened in surprise. Ashley did her best to smile as she ruffled its bushy fur, “Take care. Mister Black Wolf.”

“Ah, yes. However, my life will soon be over.”

That’s right.

“…I apologize.”

“It’s all right. I’m grateful for your help. You take care of yourself. Be good to Clyde.”

“What?” She unintentionally blurted out. The black wolf laughed without saying anymore. At the center of the magic circle, Clyde had a wry smile.

“Well then.”

“…yes.”

The black wolf slowly passed by the watching Ashley and went to Hank and Jeanne. It rubbed its body against both of them. Hank hugged the black wolf with a tearful look on his face while Jeanne patted its head with tears in her eyes. It then walked over towards the center and made eye contact with Clyde. They both gave a nod and that seemed to be enough.

“Let’s start.” Clyde said.

“Yeah.” The black wolf replied.

“Let’s do it.” Hank and Jeanne nodded seriously.

The sun rose above directly. Clyde, Hank, and Jeanne simultaneously clasped their hands together and muttered a small incantation. They were putting up the fake barrier to trick them. It  is supposed to make the miasma and the black wolf’s magical power waft through the air so that no one would notice that the black wolf had vanished.

“You can produce miasma?!” Even though they’re human.

Clyde shook his head at the surprised Ashley, “It’s not the miasma itself, but somewhat similar to it.”

“How incredible.” It was too amazing. Ashley was honestly astonished then, she remembered Clyde chuckling at her. 

Honestly, Ashley couldn’t figure it out. The only thing she could sense was in the main barrier was that the smell disappeared. She stared at them intently. Based on their expressions, it was clear that the fake barrier had been set.

Now, the magic circle became white. It was as if a vortex of twinkling lights. Clyde and the black wolf in the center started to glow.

Ashley clasped her hands together in front of her chest, ‘May you arrive safely.’

It was when it happened. There was a small tap on the door. Clyde’s complexion changed. No one is permitted to enter the stables except for those who were there. It means that the knock on the door was the entrance door of the stables. The fact that it could be heard until the back of the stables means that the entrance door was being slammed hard.

“—I’ll go.” Jeanne said in a tense tone as she opened the green door, walking through the courtyard towards the entrance. Then in a small voice, “Who is it?”

“It’s Fernan. Is this Miss Jeanne?”

It was Fernan, the butler. He has worked there since the previous head. She has heard from the Sargent maids that he is trusted by Clyde to the extent that he is allowed to come to the entrance, but is not permitted to enter the stables. Clyde also said that he and the previous head only told Fernan that whatever is in the stables is something entrusted by the royal family. They never mentioned that it was a magical beast, however he thinks that Fernan knows what it is. He is a smart man, so even if he has guessed, he doesn’t show it whether through his words or actions.

That is why Clyde briefly explained this time to Fernan only in advance.

“It’s an urgent matter. I need to speak to Master Clyde as soon as possible.” The voice from outside the door, although restrained, was quite desperate. Ashley had a bad feeling about it because he always had a calm demeanor and a gentle smile.

“What’s the matter?” Clyde, sensing something amiss, asked sharply through the door.

Fernan hurriedly responded, “There’s a huge problem. Master Clyde’s brothers have just arrived and they want to see you immediately…!”