Chapter 76

“Is that really alright?” Odelliana asked softly, her gaze lingering on Matthias.

“If you wish it, Master, then of course,” Matthias replied. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet tension behind it. “But you must promise not to fear me. Or avoid me… after seeing my true form.”

Sometimes, knowing too much about one another could become a burden. Even now, his hesitation made that painfully clear. There was no guarantee she wouldn’t flinch once she saw him for what he truly was.

She already knew that his real form resembled that of a wolf, but imagining it and seeing it with her own eyes were entirely different things.

“No, it’s fine,” she said at last. “I’m already satisfied with how things are. But I do want you to remember this—whatever your true form may be, my attitude toward you won’t change.”

She looked him in the eye, steady and sincere.

“If the fact that you’re beastkin had ever bothered me, I wouldn’t have kept you by my side in the first place.”

She had no desire to pry any further into that part of him. There was simply no need. In this, at least, she had already made up her mind—it was something she would protect, not expose.

“To me, you’re just a seventeen-year-old boy. That’s how I see you, and that’s how I’ll treat you. Nothing more. So I don’t care what you are, or what your true form looks like.”

Matthias nodded slowly. A faint smile touched his lips, warm and a little wistful.

“You’re the only one who sees me just as I am, Master,” he said quietly.

At that moment, their food arrived. The scent of grilled fish and warm broth drifted up from the tray.

While Odelliana took a sip of the cheap liquor, savoring the nostalgic burn she hadn’t tasted in a long time, Matthias began deboning the fish. With precise, practiced movements, he separated the flesh from the bone, setting the meat neatly onto her plate. Every piece was perfectly portioned and cleanly cut—his technique was effortless, almost professional.

She watched him, amused and a little amazed.

Is there anything this boy can’t do? Even the way he handles fish is flawless.

“You always treat me like a child,” she remarked, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think I can’t even debone a fish properly?”

“I just thought you’d enjoy your meal more if you didn’t have to fuss with it,” Matthias said, his tone mild as he passed her the plate.

“If you keep spoiling me like this, I’ll develop bad habits,” she said, half teasing. “Usually, it’s the master who does things like this for the student.”

“But you’re a noble, Master,” he replied without missing a beat. “This isn’t spoiling—it’s what you deserve. It’s the student’s duty to take care of the troublesome tasks so the master can simply enjoy herself.”

Odelliana let out a dry chuckle.

“Noble? That’s rich. I don’t even technically exist.”

“Even so,” Matthias replied calmly, “that doesn’t change the fact that noble blood runs in your veins.”

The grilled fish was tender and expertly cooked, with a chewy texture and savory flavor. Paired with the familiar taste of rum—one she had once grown sick of from overindulgence—it felt like stepping back in time. The warmth of it washed through her, stirring memories she had long buried.

Matthias, meanwhile, showed little interest in eating. He sat with his chin resting in one hand, his gaze fixed on her with quiet contentment.

“It’s good to see you with such an appetite,” he remarked. “You seem to be eating much better than before.”

“You’re not having any?” Odelliana asked, lifting a brow.

“I’d rather you ate more, Master,” he said simply.

By the time the meal ended, Odelliana had made it through nearly half the bottle of rum. For such a cheap drink, it went down surprisingly smooth.

“You’ll get drunk at this rate,” Matthias warned, his tone light but laced with concern.

She almost scoffed. She was certain this watered-down rum couldn’t even touch her. But to her surprise, a faint buzz had begun to settle behind her eyes.

In her original body, Lerrucia could down five full bottles of rum without so much as swaying. But this body was different. Fragile. Pathetically weak. It couldn’t even handle a few sips without flushing or staggering. Everything about it grated on her nerves the more she thought about it. She loved drinking, yet even that small freedom had been stripped away.

She stared down the remaining half of the bottle, tempted, but ultimately pushed it aside. Instead, she focused on the last bites of her meal, letting her gaze wander across the tavern.

This place feels like a marketplace.

The kind where noise traveled quickly, and the loudest, most scandalous bits of gossip always found their way to the surface. She tried to tune her ears to the buzz of conversation, hoping to catch something useful—some scrap of information that might tie into the string of strange events lately.

Just then, two large men seated at the next table gave a knock on the wood and leaned toward her, grinning.

“Miss, you really know how to enjoy a drink,” one of them said. “Looks like it’s just you and your little brother. Why don’t you join us? We’ll buy the next round.”

Before she could respond, Matthias’s gaze snapped toward them with a glare sharp enough to draw blood. His entire expression darkened, jaw tight.

Odelliana reached out and gently stopped him, her fingers brushing his arm.

She looked up at the men and offered a pleasant smile.

“Sure,” she said. “Have a seat.”

“Master,” Matthias said sharply, his voice low with disapproval. His eyes were locked on her, clearly unhappy.

Odelliana gave him a soft smile, her tone patient as she tried to ease his tension.

“It’s alright, Matthias,” she murmured.

Matthias immediately moved to sit beside Odelliana. The two men shot him disapproving looks but said nothing as they eased into the vacant seats across from them.

Judging by their worn gear and casual swagger, they were clearly mercenaries—rough sorts used to wandering from contract to contract.

“So, miss,” one of them began, leaning forward with an easy grin, “where are you from? You here with your little brother? Must live nearby, huh?”

“A bit farther than that,” Odelliana replied evenly.

“Where exactly?”

She arched a brow, unimpressed. “I didn’t invite you over for an interrogation. If you’re going to sit here, at least tell me something interesting.”

The coarse edge in her voice clashed with her polished appearance, and the mercenaries exchanged looks before grinning, apparently amused. They flagged down a server and ordered more drinks and food—ale and a scattered selection of greasy bar fare.

“So,” the second man asked, taking a swig, “what kind of stories would a lady like you be interested in?”

Odelliana swirled the rum in her glass. “Oh, something light. Like that recent string of murders. You know, the ones where all the victims were found without their heads?”

The first man blinked. “That’s a bit darker than I expected.”

“But you’ve heard something, haven’t you?”

He shrugged. “Not much. Just that the three victims were mercenaries. That’s about all anyone knows.”

“Useless,” Odelliana muttered under her breath and clicked her tongue in irritation. She had hoped to pick up a useful lead, but if these men had nothing to offer, there was little reason to keep entertaining them—or sharing a table.

Just as she opened her mouth to dismiss them, one of the men suddenly perked up, his brow furrowed in thought.

“Wait… I did talk to one of the guys before he died. Real briefly. Said he was looking for a woman.”

“A woman?” she asked, interest returning to her voice.

“Yeah. Said he was hired to track her down. And it wasn’t just him. The client put the word out to a bunch of people. Dropped a massive advance—way too much for a simple job like locating one woman.”

The other man nodded in agreement. “The client even gave them a tip. Said she was hiding out here in Eisenwald. That’s why we’ve seen so many mercs crawling into town lately. Some are here for the beastkin hunt, sure, but most are hoping to cash in on the bounty.”

Odelliana glanced between them, a faint smile curving her lips. “So… did either of you take the job?”

“Nah,” the first man replied. “Too many people chasing the same lead. Not worth the trouble.”

“Then you’re lucky.”

“Lucky? How do you mean?”

“Nothing,” she said, her smile sharpening. “Never mind. Did the client say anything else? Any other details about the woman?”

The second man rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. “Supposedly, she’s real pretty. Pale blue eyes, silver hair. Petite. Very skinny…”

His words slowed as his gaze shifted, drifting from Odelliana’s hair to her eyes, then to her face. His brow furrowed slightly.

“And… she’s got a bad leg,” he added. “Can’t use one of her legs. A cripple.”

Both mercenaries suddenly glanced beneath the table.

At that very moment, Odelliana rose from her seat.

“Thanks for the info,” she said.

“W-Wait, you’re leaving already?” one of the mercenaries asked, startled.

“I am. There’s nothing left for me here.”

She signaled a server and handed over enough coins to cover the entire meal and drinks. Then, turning back to the two dumbfounded men, she offered a bright, disarming smile.

“My treat. You two enjoy the rest of your evening.”

One of the mercenaries leaned forward eagerly. “How about we head somewhere else? Keep the party going?”

“No thanks. I’ll pass.”

“Hey, wait—don’t just walk away—”

As they moved to block her, a sleek black blade slashed through the air between them. The steel gleamed inches from their throats.

Matthias stood beside her, expression blank. But the pressure he exuded was suffocating, his murderous intent as palpable as smoke. The mercenaries froze, instinctively recoiling in fear.

Odelliana calmly reached out and took his hand. Only then did Matthias lower his blade and sheath it without a word.

With her cane tapping against the floor, she turned and walked out of the tavern, paying no mind to the stares trailing behind them.

Once they reached a quiet alley tucked between buildings, she stopped and looked around to make sure no one was following. Then she turned to face Matthias, arms crossed.

“Well? Don’t you have something to say?”

Matthias remained silent.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” she asked, her tone sharp. “You’re the one behind the killings.”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes flicked toward the rooftops, scanning their surroundings with practiced ease. Then, without warning, he stepped forward, took her hand, and pulled her into his arms.

“Yes. It was me,” he said.

His voice was calm, almost indifferent—matching her steady accusation.

“Why’d you do it?” she asked.

“You heard it yourself,” Matthias replied.

“I mean, why draw attention like that? That’s not like you.”

“I wanted to send a message.”

He tightened his grip around her shoulders, then reached behind him. As the sword slid free from its sheath, Odelliana felt a chill creep into her spine. Something was wrong.

“But they didn’t get the message,” Matthias said quietly. “Fools never do.”

The air around them shifted. One by one, hidden figures emerged from the shadows. Five large men stepped into the alley, each masked, each carrying a massive weapon.