Christine was relieved in a way.

He didn’t know the noble who had killed Adel’s mother.

And it had never been domesticated.

So it had nothing to do with Adel’s mother’s death.

But Adel didn’t seem to think so.

“No, all the wolves in the wolf pen were dead. Their bodies were torn apart, just like Mother’s, with five claw marks left behind. It’s clear that the silver wolf killed those wolves there and fled.”

“Wait, five claw marks?”

“Yes, it’s different from ordinary wolves.”

“It might not be a wolf.”

“The footprint on the ground was clearly that of a wolf. And it has reappeared in the imperial palace recently, after lying low. And a guard was killed. If there are five claw marks on the guard’s body, then it’s definitely the doing of that silver wolf!”

“Is that what happened…?”

“We need to catch it quickly. Otherwise, there may continue to be victims.”

Christine muttered under his breath.

Five claw marks…

Even when he had mutated, he had five claws.

But since he had never been trapped in a wolf pen, he was not the one who had killed the wolves and fled.

So what had killed Adel’s mother and the wolves in the pen?

Perhaps it was also responsible for killing the guard in the palace.

A creature with five claws, like him.

If it was really a wolf, was it one of the wolf tribe that had vanished from the world?

Or could it be something he had done but couldn’t remember?

That couldn’t be!

But Christine had to find out what it was.

To prove his innocence to himself.

And to find the tribe that might still be somewhere.

“I understand, so leave this to me and step away.”

As expected, Adel refused firmly.

“It’s my enemy. So I’ll find it.”

“I’m better suited to investigate this. I have the position and the people to command. A rational decision is needed, rather than an emotional one.”

“But…”

Christine rose from his chair and quietly knelt in front of Adel.

“You’ve dealt with that terrible event ten years ago on your own, that’s enough. Now leave it all to me. I won’t be able to bear it if I don’t do it this way.”

“Chris…”

“Please, Adel…”

His eyes were so desperate as he looked at Adel.

His bloodshot eyes seemed ready to spill tears at any moment.

Suddenly!

The treatment room’s door burst open, and Mia appeared.

Adel was sitting on the bed, and Christine was kneeling in front of her with an earnest face. The two were in a serious mood, and Mia sensed that she had come at the wrong time.

“Oh dear, Jade isn’t here either. I was playing hide and seek with him. Hohoho! Well, excuse me!”

Mia turned to leave quickly, and Christine stood up.

“I’ll find Jade.”

He hurried out of the treatment room.

But once Christine was in the corridor, he paused with a puzzled expression.

“Are you really Vice Count?”

“Is there evidence?”

“Where are the White Ghost knights?”

The young patients surrounded him, asking nonstop with eyes full of curiosity and awe.

That’s when Jade came running, shouting.

“It’s really Vice Count! We had a sword fight, and he was incredibly, incredibly skilled!”

“Nah, he doesn’t look that skilled.”

“Yeah, they said the Count’s body is as big as a house. And his face looks fearsome.”

The children didn’t believe, and Jade’s face turned red.

“It’s true!”

“Liar, liar!”

Amid the children’s uproar, even Mark came out into the hallway.

Certainly, here’s the translation of the passage:

“You scoundrels! If you don’t hurry inside, you’ll have to take a very, very bitter medicine!”

At those words, the children quickly ran to their beds. They looked lively as if nothing had been wrong, though they had been sick all night and their fevers had finally gone down.

Watching them, Mark smiled contentedly and scolded Jade as well.

“You too, Jade. I told you not to keep going to the clinic.”

“I wanted to give this to Adel.”

Jade shook a piece of paper with a drawing on it.

In the picture, a woman with black and brown hair and green eyes looked like Adel. Although her widely smiling face with bright red lips looked witchlike, the crooked writing below, “Get well soon and don’t be sick,” brought a smile to one’s face.

“Then hurry and give her the picture and come out. Don’t forget to wash your hands clean.”

“Yes, Daddy!”

Watching little Jade excitedly run to Adel’s treatment room, Christine felt a tingling in his heart.

The lively noise of the children, Mark’s cheerful laughter, Judy bustling about humming even though she was very busy…

The winter sunlight that seeped into the old wooden hallway felt unusually warm here.

“I think we get married because I want to be that person’s strength as much as they are mine, don’t you think?”

“Is that what it is?”

“Probably.”

Christine seemed to know why Adel had chosen him.

Her life must have been too cold for a long time, so she longed for this warmth.

Maybe he could make her happier than even himself.

“Take care of Adel.”

Mark was taken aback by the sudden words.

“What do you mean by that now…?”

Then Christine made a mischievous face.

“I have to go into the palace, so I’m asking you to look after her in the meantime. What else did you think?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought, my lord.”

Mark smiled goodnaturedly without getting angry. His smile was so gentle that Christine somehow felt annoyed and left the clinic without even saying goodbye.

Even if it was right to give up on Adel, he never could.

Even though he thought he had erased it, he had always missed it on the battlefield full of the stench of blood.

Her laughter, her scent, the house where he had been with her…

“What are you staring at like that?”

Mia, who had somehow come to his side, looked out the window with Mark. Christine’s retreating figure was visible, crossing the garden courtyard.

“Give up, Mark.”

When Mark looked as if to ask what she meant, Mia frowned.

“I’m talking about Adel. A person’s heart isn’t something you can obtain by trying.”

Sneezing and love can’t be hidden; no matter how much Adel tried to conceal it, it was all too visible where her heart was directed.

How could anyone not know when her eyes became so affectionate at just the mention of Christine’s name?

What’s more, the atmosphere between the two a little while ago was something no one else could intrude upon.

“Well, giving up on one’s feelings isn’t something that happens just because you try to give up.”

Mark looked at the clear winter sky and smiled bitterly.

“Mark…”

Mia looked sadly at her misguided sibling, but he himself was spirited.

“Don’t look at me like that, Mia. I’m just going to do my best with my feelings. Even if I get hurt, that’s my part to bear. And hey, I’m a treatment expert.”

Mia rolled her eyes.

“You know I want to smack you as your sister, right?”

“I would have wanted to smack me if I were my sister too.”

“Ha, really!”

Next to the bewildered laughing Mia, Mark laughed out loud.

He already knew too. That Christine’s feelings towards Adel were not onesided.

Last night, the name that the lost Adel had repeatedly called out was ‘Chris…’.

But he didn’t want to tell Christine. Not on purpose.