The falcon flew at a low altitude, moving so fast that the trees around them blurred past. The distance between Russell and the sprinting wolf closed rapidly.

Focused on running, One-Eye didn’t notice the presence closing in from behind. The falcon was nearly level with the wolf’s pace when Russell spotted One-Eye’s back directly below.

He shook the arm the falcon gripped as a signal, and the bird released its hold.

Russell dropped, landing slightly lower than he’d aimed, just below the wolf’s nape. He grabbed onto One-Eye’s hide with both hands and braced his legs.

Startled, the wolf’s stride faltered. Regaining balance, One-Eye began jumping in place, desperately trying to shake off the human clinging to him.

When that failed, he lunged against a nearby tree, trying to crush the intruder.

“Ugh.”

Russell barely twisted in time to avoid getting crushed between the wolf’s body and the tree, but the impact sent a shockwave through him.

Russell refocused. The longer he drew this out, the more his stamina would work against him.

Concentrating his energy in his right palm, he summoned a flash of magic.

A burst of lightning from his hand struck the wolf’s heart, sending tremors through One-Eye’s body.

Taking advantage of the momentary paralysis, Russell climbed swiftly up toward the nape.

Drawing his dagger, he gripped it tightly as a yellow glow emanated from the blade. He plunged it with all his strength into One-Eye’s throat.

Yowl!

One-Eye let out a dying scream, his body collapsing, but in a final burst of energy, he threw himself violently, launching Russell into the air.

Russell slammed into a tree, the impact dizzying him. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to focus.

The wolf, jaws open wide, was lunging toward him. In a split-second move, Russell summoned every ounce of his remaining strength.

He dragged his body down to the ground, narrowly avoiding the charging wolf and unleashing his magic in a powerful strike aimed at its heart.

With a loud bang, his vision blurred, and the weight of the dead wolf collapsed on top of him.

Struggling for breath, Russell’s mind wandered.

‘No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.’

Even in this moment, he couldn’t stop pondering how Cecilia had managed to deceive Grand Duke Jericho.

During the days he’d waited in the trees for the wolves, this thought had consumed him. Never before had he thought of anything other than the hunt, let alone about a woman.

The weight pressing on him lightened. The falcon had come down to help him, trying to lift the wolf’s weight off its master.

“Milord!”

The hunters rushed over.

Harrison approached Russell, his face serious.

“Are you alright, Milord?”

“I’m fine. Just a bit winded.”

Harrison extended a hand, which Russell took as he stood. His back throbbed, but thankfully, no bones were broken.

“Any injuries?”

“None, sir.”

“And the wolves?”

“All taken care of. Once their leader fled, the pack crumbled in no time.”

“A great victory, Milord.”

“Well done, everyone.”

The hunters let out triumphant cheers.

Entering the Great Rock Village, Russell and the hunters were met with a warm welcome.

“As expected of our lord!”

“We can finally sleep easy.”

Young villagers eagerly volunteered to transport the wolf carcasses. Some would be given to the village, and the rest taken back to the castle.

That evening, the village held a grand feast in celebration.

Amid the lively atmosphere, Russell’s mind wandered back to Cecilia. He recalled their first meeting at Grand Duke Jericho’s estate.

Back then, she had seemed like a child who couldn’t survive without someone’s care.

But the woman he had met again at the castle was different.

He couldn’t quite grasp the difference, but it gnawed at him.

‘Could she have been wearing a mask all along? But is that even possible?’

Grand Duke Jericho was no fool who wouldn’t notice a charade from his young niece. Besides, she had never lived outside the grand ducal estate.

Raised among the grand duke’s people from infancy, could she truly deceive them all?

‘Impossible. No one could pull that off.’

The more he thought, the less sense it made.

The mounting questions only pulled his mind back to Lagos Castle.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

The next morning, Russell spoke to Harrison.

“I’ll head back to the castle. Finish things up here and return.”

“Shall I have Finn and Thomas accompany you, Milord…?”

“No. I’ll go alone.”

Russell loaded just enough provisions for a few days onto his saddle and set off.

Watching his distant figure, Andy murmured,

“What’s gotten into the boss? Has he got something good hidden back at the castle?”

Harrison’s expression turned thoughtful.