HEO 3

Wolf is a Stoll. His real name is Silver Wolf. In Stoll language, he is called Tenengrabl. Stoll people take their names from animals.

But Tenengrabl was a foreign name to Wolf. He was, above all, Wolf. Wolf Bell, a commoner from the small kingdom of Levenon in Atania. Bell was the surname Wolf himself had chosen.

Wolf kept his Stoll heritage strictly hidden. He wore his silver-tinged blond hair trimmed to shoulder length, like other Atanian boys his age. He didn’t know the Stoll language and had no memories of Stoll.

Unless there was a special reason, such as diplomatic purposes, Stoll people were absolutely forbidden from entering the capital of Levenon, Rosipol. The only Stoll Wolf had ever encountered since birth were his foster brother, Prince Red Eagle, and his mother.

Red Eagle was the illegitimate child of the Stoll king. Illegitimate children of kings were usually sent as heirs or princess consorts to small kingdoms in Atania when they were infants. Red Eagle, too, was betrothed as an infant to Princess Charlotte, the first in line to the Levenon throne, and crossed the North Sea in his nurse’s arms.

The Levenon royal family thoroughly indoctrinated Red Eagle with Atania-style education. Their goal was to prevent the future husband of the Levenon king from prioritizing Stoll’s national interests. As the Levenon royal house intended, Red Eagle grew up as an Atanian.

Wolf grew up alongside Red Eagle in the Levenon palace as his foster brother. Wolf’s mother cared more for Red Eagle than her own son, and their distant mother-son relationship ended with her death. At nine years old, Wolf left the Levenon palace and began living in a boarding house. All of this happened seven years ago.

But.

“Recognized me now? Come in? I’d like to talk for a moment.”

Red Eagle beckoned cheerfully. If Wolf had a pile of novel drafts hidden under the bed, even just a few pages, he would have refused without hesitation.

“Old friend? Forget it, forget it.”

Roy jabbed Wolf’s side repeatedly. After a moment’s conflict, Wolf forced a shameless smile.

“Fooled you, right? I was just pretending not to recognize him for fun. Actually, he’s a close friend.”

“I can see through you, coward! I won’t tell anyone!”

“See you tomorrow!”

Wolf scrambled into the carriage before it pulled away.

“Silver Wolf, it’s been seven years. Truly a pleasure to see you.”

“Indeed, Your Highness. You’re getting married next year, right? My congratulations in advance. I see you’ve disguised yourself to go sightseeing today? Cheerful commoner women are far more charming than those stuffy palace ladies.”

To cover his awkwardness, Wolf deliberately scratched the back of his head and spouted meaningless chatter. Red Eagle lowered his eyes.

“I received word that my mother is gravely ill.”

“Excuse me?”

What a sudden thing to say.

“She wants to see me one last time before she passes.”

Red Eagle’s voice was heavy, his gaze fixed on the ground. Wolf slowly lowered the hand that had been scratching the back of his head.

Something was wrong.

“Your mother’s condition is certainly tragic, but… more importantly, Your Highness. Please tell me this outing is an official trip approved by Levenon royal family.”

“That’s impossible. Look at me now.”

Indeed, the carriage Wolf rode in was an old, cramped two-wheeled cart pulled by a single horse. It might be acceptable for a secret rendezvous with a lover, but it was absolutely not a carriage fit for the official procession of a nation’s prince.

“I asked the Lebenon king to return, but I was refused. But Princess Charlotte told me to go see my mother… Since I won’t be able to set foot in the Stoll lands again after I marry next year…”

Before the speechless Wolf, Red Eagle bowed his head.

“So I disguised myself and slipped out of the palace secretly. With Princess Charlotte’s help…”

“In other words, you ran away.”

Wolf couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out. Red Eagle rubbed his knee with his fingertips.

“The coachman driving this carriage is River Rat, my mother’s messenger. He said he’d escort me to Stoll. Silver Wolf, I want you to come with me to Stoll too.”

“…Huh?”

Wolf blinked. The conversation was taking another unexpected turn?

“Silver Wolf! Please!”

Red Eagle raised his head.

“Come with me, please? You and I are foster siblings, after all.”

“That is true, but…”

He almost said, “But Your Highness and I aren’t exactly close,” but stopped himself. Red Eagle’s attitude was too desperate.

“Your Highness, I honestly don’t understand. I don’t see why I should go to Stoll with you. If you came seeking me out for some urgent matter, please explain it in detail.”

After his mother’s death, Wolf had never once visited the Levenon Palace. Red Eagle was merely a nominal foster brother, a rival who had stolen his mother’s love. If Red Eagle had even a shred of tact, he would understand Wolf’s true feelings.

“I have absolutely no reason to go to Stoll. I heard that my father is still alive, but spending months traveling to meet him… isn’t worth it.”

After a long silence, Red Eagle spoke.

“I’ll say it again, Silver Wolf, you are my foster brother. Take this opportunity to see your father too… I’ve heard he used to beat your mother at the drop of a hat, but…he is your father after all…”

Red Eagle’s voice gradually trailed off. Wolf clenched his fists.

“Yes, I understand. You need a servant your own age to play cards with in the carriage during the tedious journey and to keep you company.”

“No, Silver Wolf! That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Then what is it?”

Red Eagle’s lips moved, but no words came out. No matter how long he waited, only heavy silence followed. Wolf found himself swept up in a strange suspicion.

“Your Highness. Could the reason you can’t answer be…?”

Wolf pointed at his own face with his fingertips and smiled awkwardly. Cold sweat beaded on the back of his neck.

“Surely not because it involves my life? That can’t be it, right? Please tell me it’s not.”

“Of course not. You can rest assured about that matter. So just grant my request!”

Red Eagle thrust his face close to Wolf’s.

“Don’t ask any questions, just this once, please? I’ve never asked you for anything before!”

“Your Highness, please step back a little…”

“Please, just this once. Please? Please!”

Red Eagle clasped both of Wolf’s hands tightly, pleading, “I’m begging you. Please.” Wolf couldn’t move an inch. Why was this kid begging so desperately? When a prince clung like this to a commoner… it really made refusal impossible.

How did this bolt from the blue happen…?

Wolf deeply regretted it. He should have stolen the boarding house owner’s novel manuscript to show Roy. His schoolmates would mock him endlessly, but that was far better than being grabbed by the scruff and dragged off to the stables by that prince.

He should have acted rationally. Red Eagle had covered Wolf’s living expenses—tuition, boarding fees, and pocket money—all this time. He was the benefactor who had looked after Wolf, calling him a foster brother, even though Wolf hadn’t shown his face for years. He owed him a debt.

“Yes. I’ll accompany you.”

Wolf closed his eyes as he spoke. It felt like the gates of hell were opening before him.

“Just one thing to confirm. You brought your expenses, right?”

“Of course!”

Red Eagle’s face lit up instantly as he pointed to the floor. A large chest was visible.

“It’s full of gold coins. We’ll change carriages once we leave the capital. Thank you, Silver Wolf.”

“Please call me Wolf. Your Highness, please promise me you’ll see only your mother and return to Levenon immediately.”

“Of course! I promised Princess Charlotte. I’ll use this journey as an opportunity to study Atania and the Stoll Continent thoroughly.”

“Wow! How mature of you.”

“I feel sorry for my mother, who’s bedridden, but it feels like I’m setting off on an adventure. Silver Wolf…I mean Wolf, isn’t that how all boys are? They yearn for adventure.”

“Of course. I fight dragons every night too. In my dreams.”

Wolf replied half-heartedly while looking out the carriage window.

He snorted.

Adventure? Sounds like something a poet would say.

“This is your first time seeing outside the capital too, right? I felt like my adventure started the moment I left the palace! Even after showing my pass, the guard…”

Lost in thought, Wolf ignored Red Eagle’s words. He’d heard it took three months to reach Stoll from here.

It was October now. Even if they hurried, they wouldn’t arrive in Stoll until late December at the earliest. If luck deserted them, they might face real adventure. Bandits, pirates, swindlers, pneumonia… Wolf shook his head hastily.

Please let this journey end as a simple trip…

* * *

Late November.

Morgan Coast, Southeast Stoll. A deep forest.

Black Weasel stopped chopping wood and turned his head around. By the campfire, Silver lay sprawled out, propped up on his elbow, idling away.

“Silver! Get to work! You chop wood too!”

“No.”

“You slave!”

“Slaves are meant to loaf around.”

“No slave loafs around in front of their master. Do you know how much money you’ve cost us this time?”

“It’s not my money.”

“Right, it’s all my money. But if you don’t chop wood, won’t you lose out too? It’s winter now.”

“…Damn it.”

Only then did Silver rise, and grabbed the axe. He chopped wood piece by piece, mumbling loudly for his master to hear.

“Ahh, this is exhausting. I’m dying of fatigue. Chopping wood and carving logs every single day. My meals are nothing but tough jerky. I barely make it to the village tavern once every three days. Dammit, I need a drink!”

“If you’ve got the energy to yell, put it into your work. The prince will be here before you know it.”

“Red Peacock?”

“You dumb bastard, you already forgot? It’s Blue Eagle, Blue Eagle.”

“Forgot? I was just joking around.”

Silver stopped chopping and looked up at the sky. The November winter sky was clear.

“I wonder if that prince has boarded the ship by now?”

“He’s either already on it or about to board.”

Black Weasel swung his axe down. The thick log split in two.

“The North Sea storms calm down in December. Prince Pink Lark won’t drown; he’ll make it here safely.”

Silver chuckled at that.

“Unlucky bastard.”