CH 123

I opened my eyes wide with surprise at what appeared in front of me.

‘This…!’

The power of Arsene, the shadow wolf.

Perhaps because of Arsene’s poor condition, it was so distorted that it was hard to recognize the shape,

‘….The size.’

Its size had also shrunk to the same level as when it first manifested its superpowers. 

“!”

It was obvious to see him running to me and wagging his tail.

I hugged Arsene’s shadow wolf.

As Arsene’s ability grew, the shadow wolf also grew, and it was three years ago that I last held him in my arms.

‘It must have gotten smaller because Arsene was sick.’

Rather, it seemed to have become smaller than when it first appeared. More than that.

‘I don’t think Arsene can use his power right now?’

Isn’t he in a state where it’s hard to even control his own body, let alone use his powers?

Perhaps because of Arsene’s physical condition, the shape of the shadow wolf kept getting distorted.

‘I can’t do this.’

He shouldn’t use his abilities.

Continuing to use this power would have drained energy, slowing the speed at which the body recovers.

I wiped away the tears that had formed slightly with my sleeves.

And with the shadow wolf in my arms, I quickly headed to the room where Arsene was lying.

“Lady? Where are you going?”

The maid I encountered in the hallway asked. I answered, waving roughly.

“Eung, to Arsene’s room!”

“Ah, if you go…!”

The maid seemed to try to stop me, but I was faster than her.

I quickly went to the door of Arsene’s room and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

The door opened, and Chloe appeared with a troubled expression.

“Lady?”

“I have something to say to Arsene. It’ll be just a moment.”

I looked up at Chloe with a shadow wolf in my arms.

Only then did Chloe realize what was in my arms and opened her eyes wide.

“This… this is Young Master’s.”

“Eung, that’s why I have something to tell him. It’ll only take a moment—”

Chloe looked embarrassed, but bowed her head to the sound of footsteps coming from behind and retreated hastily.

Kendrick stood tall and looked down at me as Chloe stepped down.

“Linsy, what’s the matter?”

“Father. It seems that Arsene… continues to use his powers. That’s why we have to stop him from using them…”

I spoke at length, as if making an excuse, and showed Arsene’s shadow wolf.

Kendrick raised his eyebrows as he identified the shadow wolf created by Arsene’s powers.

“This is why…”

“I think Arsene continues to use this power. Maybe that’s why the recovery slows down. So tell him not to use it…”

Kendrick once stroked Arsene’s shadow wolf.

Then, the shape of the shadow wolf crumbled like dust, and then returned.

“There’s no need to talk, Linsy.”

“Yes? But…”

“Because Arsene won’t hear you.”

Kendrick’s expression softened as he said that. Confused, I looked at Kendrick.

“What do you mean—”

“He’s unconscious. He won’t be able to talk to you until he comes back to his senses. So…”

Kendrick continued, staring at the shadow wolf that kept crumbling in my arms.

“I can’t even tell him not to use his ability. But I’ve never seen a child who has lost his consciousness use his power.”

He must be alert to use his powers.

This was a fact that everyone knew, needless to say.

That’s why I thought Arsene would be awake, so I ran to stop him.

‘He’s not conscious?’

Then how the hell is he using his power?

I slowly lowered my gaze to look at the shadow wolf, and the wolf laughed with a long black tongue.

Kendrick stood still in the doorway and said, stroking my hair.

“Arsene’s abilities first manifested when you were in danger.”

“….”

“Because he has an ego, he must remember you clearly.”

The shadow wolf continued to wag its tail as if it understood Kendrick’s words.

“I think Arsene is unconsciously worried about you, so this power is being used.”

I listened quietly to Kendrick, and turned to the shadow wolf in my arms.

The shadow wolf shook its tail even though it was constantly falling apart, as if it was difficult to maintain its shape.

‘Arsene is unconsciously worried about me?’

If you’re in pain, you should worry about your own body—.

When I thought that Arsene was worried about me and used his power, I burst into tears again.

But I bravely wiped my eyes with my sleeve so as not to cry.

Arsene doesn’t cry easily even though he’s sick, so I shouldn’t cry.

I kept my mouth shut for a long time, then asked Kendrick, making eye contact with him.

“Then… I can’t meet Arsene, right?”

“Yes, I’ll call you back when Arsene wakes up.”

“Yes. Thank you, Father.”

I nodded politely and returned to the room carrying Arsene’s shadow wolf.

Then, with the shadow wolf on the bed, I scratched my chin and asked.

“You know, you can understand me.”

The shadow wolf tilted his head for a moment, and soon put his front foot in my hand.

Like he really understands me.

“Arsene— did you show up because he were worried about me?”

The shadow wolf just watched me calmly, wagging its tail without saying anything.

“I hope Arsene doesn’t get sick, really…”

I wish he was born healthy.

Then we wouldn’t have met, but still—.

The shadow wolf bit my sleeve and pulled it, as if he had noticed that I was thinking.

“Ung, I see. I’m sorry. I won’t think anything strange.”

When I apologized and grabbed his front foot, the shadow wolf calmly fell down.

And how long has it been?

All the servants of the mansion went to Arsene, and no one came in or out of my room.

Of course, Betty and the maids brought lunch to the room in the middle.

No one else visited me except then, so I couldn’t guess how much time had passed—.

It seemed quite a long time since the sun had tilted.

All that time, I thought of Arsene and played a joke with Arsene’s shadow wolf.

Then,

“…Huh?”

The shadow wolf tried to pull out the cry for a short time, but he soon dropped his head.

Then he looked at me face down, smiled innocently and waggled his tail,

Soon.

“Huh? N, no!”

From his tail it slowly scattered into the air.

I clutched the shadow wolf’s cheek in confusion.

Arsene’s power was a shadow, so it was natural to disperse into the air.

In fact, I’ve seen the shadow wolf disappear into the air a few times when Arsene achieves his ability.

But why does it feel different today?

The shadow wolf was smiling at me even when his body was breaking.

Then, Kendrick’s words came to mind.

‘I think Arsene is unconsciously worrying about you and using his power.’

Seven years old, when I first met Arsene.

Arsene told me it was okay not to treat him.

I don’t like if you’re having a hard time, so it’s okay not to be treated.

Because he used to be sick.

I don’t know why, but it hurts when I think about it again.

‘…How stupid.’

I was so frustrated that tears fell when thinking about Arsene who hadn’t changed since then.

At the same time that the wolf slowly dispersed into the air, the mansion suddenly became noisy.

A maid knocked on the door and said with a troubled expression.

“Lady. Even dinner… I think you’ll have to eat in the room. Would that be okay? And the Lord says not to come out of the room as much as possible.”

“…Eung, don’t worry about me.”

I said with tears in my eyes.

It was not that I didn’t know what it meant for the mansion to be noisy.

With a dignified nod, the maid smiled and closed the door to my room.

When the maid went out and I looked back, the shadow wolf had already scattered about half.

‘It would be good for Arsene if you disappear quickly.’

Only when the shadow wolf disappears will Arsene consume less energy.

But.

Now that Arsene’s life is in danger, the wolf’s disappearance seems to be extinguishing the flame of a small life.

The shadow wolf licked the back of my hand lightly, meaning not to worry, before it disappeared.

And.

“….”

Soon, it vanished into a few shadows under the glow of the setting sun, as if it had burned up.

I couldn’t bear to ask about Arsene’s condition.