Throughout the story, Raoul was overcome with shock and terror.

Every time the name ‘Trian’ appeared, his fine hair stood on end.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“It’s not something to worry about.”

“Without even getting your consent, suddenly…! It’s completely unreasonable!”

Sebastian had long been forgotten between the two of them.

Raoul carefully examined Diana’s cheeks, neck, and exposed skin without touching her.

“Surely he didn’t hit you…?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m really fine.”

Her blue eyes rippled like a massive wave had washed over them.

Before she could continue, Raoul buried his face in Diana’s nape. His trembling movements were so pitiful that she felt like she should hug him.

“Wait…, Sebastian is here too, we should talk first?”

“Don’t say his name. I hate it.”

Raoul, overwhelmed with anxiety, couldn’t control his strength.

Like a puppy with separation anxiety, he lunged forward recklessly, causing his supporting elbow to bend involuntarily.

“Ah, w-wait a moment!”

Just as Raoul cupped the back of her head with his hand, Diana’s body fell backward.

‘Is Raoul really a puppy?’ As Diana lay looking up at the ceiling, the young boy’s anxious emotions poured out unfiltered.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Diana…”

“Mmm.”

“I want to carry you on my back every day.”

Another incomprehensible statement. The look in his eyes was so serious that she couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not.

Diana blinked rapidly as she gazed at his reddened eyes. ‘Is he getting angry on my behalf? I’m grateful, but it’s a bit troublesome right now…’

Watching them tumble about, Sebastian, who had been admiring the scene, asked with sparkling red eyes,

“Can I speak now?”

Diana pushed Raoul’s shoulders away and sat up abruptly.

“Yes!”

“That was fun. If I weren’t hungry, I could watch more.”

Sebastian rubbed his round belly and chuckled weakly.

Puzzled by his sudden complaint of hunger, Diana tilted her head and asked,

“Wasn’t the dinner from earlier not enough?”

“You mean that premium salmon? It was soft and melted in my mouth. But, I’m a divine beast… I can’t survive without spiritual energy.”

“…Then why did you follow me? I can take you back to the temple even now. If I tell my father, he’ll prepare a carriage.”

“That won’t do! Meeting you was fate!”

“It was probably just a coincidence.”

Raoul, wary of Sebastian, half-shielded Diana’s body.

“It’s fate! Anyway, don’t worry too much. I can conserve some spiritual energy by sleeping! When I wake up, let’s go look for spiritual energy together!”

Without waiting for an answer, Sebastian transformed back into a cat.

The annoying ball of fur settled at the head of the bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep, purring loudly.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well… It’s not something I can decide alone.”

Diana averted her gaze and mumbled evasively.

If Sebastian could detect spiritual energy, it would be timely luck for Diana.

‘I can’t just let him go!’

“Above all, he’s a divine beast. If it’s real, shouldn’t we follow the will of the gods?”

Divine beasts were animals blessed by the goddess, living for hundreds or even thousands of years.

They intervened in human affairs as companions to saints, giving birth to heroes and changing history.

Diana looked down at the sleeping Sebastian and thought,

‘Perhaps the goddess is intervening to help Raoul.’ This kind of story twist was more than welcome.

The only person who didn’t like the current situation was Raoul.

“I told you to go to sleep, didn’t I?”

“No…”

Raoul’s gaze fell on Sebastian, lying on the cushion.

“I told you not to put him on the bed, so I sent him back to his original spot.”

“Who knows when he’ll wake up and threaten you.”

“I’ve said enough for him to understand.”

“If that logic worked, there wouldn’t be any criminals in the world.”

Diana was a bit dumbfounded. This shameless boy was acting as if he had completely forgotten the stinging and flustering incident that occurred last spring.

‘Why is Sebastian not allowed, but you are? Because I like you?’

She considered whether she should say something stern even now, but soon gave up the idea.

What was the point of bringing up past events unnecessarily?

Above all, Diana’s feelings were different.

Although she felt wronged, that night was a tingling memory for Diana.

No matter how much she denied it, thinking about it made her heart flutter.

‘How annoying. Don’t look so charming at just 13 years old.’

Raoul, who had been guarding the bedside sitting in a chair, quickly averted his gaze when his eyes met Diana’s.

As the moonlight gently illuminated his soft jawline, his white skin shone as clear and transparent as freshly fallen snow.

The eyelashes protruding beside his high nose bridge were also enough to captivate one’s gaze.

The fluttering gray hair looked as light and soft as an angel’s feathers descending from heaven.

‘Is this what perfection looks like?’ She didn’t even realize her mouth had fallen open as she stared, entranced.

“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep…?”

Raoul asked as he tucked in the blanket.

The wolf that had been on edge until just now was gone, replaced by a gentle lamb.

‘If only he would grow up like this, he’d be the perfect male lead.’

Raoul rubbed his neck, avoiding her embarrassing gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that…”

“I can’t sleep because you’re watching me.”

“I won’t look. I’ll face the other way.”

‘Is he really planning to keep watch all night?’ The bedroom chair was plush and comfortable, made of premium materials, but it was still just a chair.

“Go to sleep quickly. I’ll keep watch.”

Finally, Diana pushed aside the blanket and patted the space next to her.

“If you’re so worried, Raoul, you lie down here too.”

Raoul blinked blankly for about 3 seconds, as if buffering, then flushed red and waved his hands.

“…What’s wrong?”

“…That’s not allowed.”

Raoul buried his face in the blanket and mumbled slowly.

What reason could there be for a 13-year-old boy and girl not to share the same bed?

Diana was genuinely curious. Above all, her bed was extravagantly noble. Therefore, it was wide enough that the two of them couldn’t touch even if they stretched out their arms.

Diana asked with a puzzled expression.

“Why not?”

“Only married couples can lie together in bed.”

“…It’s the same for humans. But we’re 13, you know?”

“Even at 13, there can be brides.”

“At 13?”

“Lycans have a culture of early marriage… We use the same bed for life with the bride chosen at a young age. Even children aren’t allowed on the bed.”

“My goodness? How early is early marriage?”

“Usually everyone has a partner by my age. Because the chances of dying are high if there’s no bride during awakening.”

“Ah… Right. There’s the awakening. Are you okay, Raoul?”

Diana remembered the three upcoming hurdles and asked worriedly.

“I’m fine. Even with a bride, imprinting happens after the adult awakening. Becoming a couple before that is just because Lycans are impatient. They don’t want to lose their chosen mate.”

“Then there’s no problem with awakening without a special ceremony, right?”

“…As long as there’s a companion decided in your heart, there’s no problem at all.”

Raoul blushed and held Diana’s hand tightly.

“So I’m fine.”

The first awakening is a very dangerous and difficult process that pushes young Lycans to the brink of death to awaken the blood of their ancestors.

Raoul had overcome it well on his own even before the regression, so there shouldn’t be any major issues, but she still wanted to take care of him.

‘Back then, I didn’t even know how Raoul went through his awakening and grew up. I could only guess.’

Diana pointed to the back of her neck and asked,

“A pattern appears here after going through awakening, right?”

“…That’s right. How do you know?”

“I read it in a guide book before.”

Raoul seemed pleased. An invisible tail wagged behind him as he rested his face on the headboard.

“There are three awakenings in total. Did you know that too?”

“Yes. After the first awakening, there’s the adult awakening and the final awakening, right? I’m a bit worried since all the processes are said to be deadly difficult and the timing varies for everyone… It’s not something I can help with.”

Raoul stared at Diana intently and said seriously,

“You can help.”

“Really? How?”

“Just… be there.”

What’s that supposed to mean? In the end, it means I can’t be of any help. Diana let out a small sigh and took the hand resting on the headboard.

“I’m worried… You have to go through such difficult things three more times…”

“It’s okay. Everyone who’s a Lycan goes through at least the adult awakening, if not the final one.”

“…Still. I’m worried about everything. I don’t want Raoul to be in pain.”

“I won’t be in pain because you’re here.”

Raoul held Diana’s hand as if in prayer and whispered. His calm voice was just like a sleeping pill.

In her sleep, Diana pulled on Raoul’s arm and said over and over again.

That she was human, so it was okay for her to lie in bed. But there was one fact that Diana didn’t know.

The fact that 99% of Lycans are male, so all brides are of different species.

The fact that imprinting is a terrible curse created to prevent the brides captured in ancestral times from escaping.

‘My mother was human too, Diana.’

It was also because of his mother that he never completely gave up his small hope for humans.

Now it’s because of you…

“I’m anxious because you’re too good of a bride candidate… I wish you only looked pretty to my eyes.”

Raoul swallowed the rising possessiveness and buried his forehead in the soft cloth.

The thought of wanting to hide Diana away and keep her all to himself was an embarrassing jealousy.

‘I’m sorry for saying such foolish things. I’ll become an even more wonderful person so no one can take you away, so please wait for me a little longer.’

Until the morning sun rose, the two shared each other’s dreams with their foreheads touching.

In Diana’s dream, there was a friendly wolf like a puppy, and in Raoul’s dream, there was a small, pretty rabbit snuggled close.