The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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Although Gray and Snow were by my side, the young wolves were unharmed. I had asked the other wolves to protect them.

By now, their eyes were fully open. Admittedly, their proportions made them look quite stubby, but they were already darting around actively.

Furthermore, unlike ordinary dogs, they had already weaned from their mother’s milk. Thanks to that, I was able to separate Snow from her pups. Currently, they were eating soft food mixed with finely chopped raw meat, and soon they might be able to tear into raw meat still attached to the bone.

The funny thing was, despite all that, they still looked like fluffy little puppies.

Even Amelia and Prince Evan, who were somewhat intimidated by the larger wolves, adored the pups.

“Ah, wait…!”

Of course, while their proportions were cute, the pups’ size was close to that of a large dog. If several of them pounced, even Amelia or Prince Evan couldn’t help but tumble backward.

“Haha, it tickles…!”

Seeing Amelia laugh while being swarmed by the puppies, I couldn’t help but think that appearances truly mattered to both people and animals. If the fully grown wolves had rushed at her the same way, she’d have been terrified and turned pale.

At first, Amelia had been terrified when Snow bit at my head. But when it came to the puppies, her expression was noticeably more relaxed.

Prince Evan was no different. Perhaps because he was ten years old and a boy, he didn’t hug the puppies as tightly as Amelia did, but he was earnestly petting the ones that had gathered around him. Though he tried to maintain a serious expression, it was clear he was enjoying himself.

“……”

Watching the two silently, I eventually asked,

“Have you visited here without me before?”

The pups received attention from everyone in the castle due to their appearance, but I had never seen them welcome anyone this enthusiastically. Most of the Delkis people had stoic personalities; they would roughly pet the pups a few times and leave without much fuss.
“……”

At my question, both of them averted their gazes.

…So they had been sneaking in to play with them.

While I could understand Prince Evan acting like a child since he was one, I was a bit surprised that Amelia, who housed an adult’s mind, had done the same.

Well, the pups did look no different from ordinary puppies despite being wolf cubs.

“……”

As I observed the two continuing to pet the pups while avoiding my gaze, I spoke up again.

“If you’re confident you can raise them well, you can each take one home.”

At my words, both Amelia and Prince Evan turned sharply to look at me, metaphorical exclamation marks over their heads.

“However, raising them won’t be easy. While they’ve become friendly with humans because of my ability, training and bonding with them afterward will be entirely up to you.”

If they took the wolves back to their homes, there wouldn’t be much I could do for them.

I could help Amelia occasionally since she lived only a day’s travel away, but the prince, destined to become the crown prince of another country, would have to raise his wolf entirely on his own. Though, considering his future as a Swordmaster, I believed he’d manage.

“B-but is that really okay…?”

The prince glanced at Snow nervously as he asked.

“……These two will definitely have more pups eventually.”

I felt a bit sorry for Snow and Gray, but honestly, I hoped they would pace themselves. While they wouldn’t have litters every few months, even one litter every one or two years would quickly lead to problems. Although wolves in the wild naturally control their population through survival of the fittest, it’s different when humans raise them.

In the wild, natural selection would regulate their population, but that wouldn’t happen with human care.

Until I devised a plan, giving the pups away to trustworthy people seemed like the best option. I wasn’t sure how many people would be willing to take them, though.

“Just don’t let their cuteness fool you. You must make it clear that you’re in charge. While it’s still possible because they’re young, it won’t be easy.”

“…Then I’ll politely decline.”

Amelia immediately refused.

Having already seen me biting Snow’s snout, she likely realized that being “the alpha of the wolf pack” didn’t suit her. In the novel, Amelia solved problems using knowledge and wisdom, not physical dominance.

“Hmm.”

Prince Evan, however, seemed slightly tempted.

“There’s still some time left until your departure day, so let me know your decision by then.”

When I said this, Prince Evan nodded.

*

The baggage we’d brought was packed, and plans for the return journey were finalized.

It seemed that Prince Evan had decided to stop by the Duchy of Grattanmount for a few days, then travel southward step by step, passing through the nearest towns and territories

With the polar night continuing, this was the natural course of action. Even well-armed travelers could be in danger if caught off guard, so they planned to move as much as possible during the brightest moments of the day and stay overnight in villages.

“We’ve packed only the food we’ll need for the journey back. The rest is left for you to use as you see fit.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

When leaving, having too much luggage could also be a problem. Prince Evan had brought a portion of the food supply intended to feed himself and the subordinates who accompanied him for nearly a year. Naturally, it wasn’t possible to bring all that food at once, so additional supplies were scheduled to arrive in intervals.

Even so, the amount he brought far exceeded what was needed for the return trip. Considering safety, it was better to leave behind a portion, which was a welcome decision for Delkis. After all, the more food left behind, the better.

“We’ll only take what we need for the journey as well. Thank you for ensuring our stay here was comfortable.”

“No need to thank me, Your Highness. Considering the annual support we receive from the Grand Ducal House, it’s hardly enough. Please visit us again once our territory is secure, and we’ll do our best to treat you as generously as possible.”

“I look forward to it.”

At my father’s words, Amelia responded with a polite smile.

The two of them then took turns bidding farewell to my older siblings. It wasn’t a mere formality but a genuine exchange of goodwill. Since there was no need for either side to compete over interests, and because they had come to recognize the importance of our family’s work—even if unintentionally—the farewells carried sincerity.

Once the farewells were complete, it was finally my turn.

“Make sure to raise the wolf properly.”

In the end, Prince Evan decided to take one of the pups—a pure white wolf resembling its mother, Snow.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I gave him that response.

That pup would one day become the Crown Prince’s wolf. The thought of a Swordmaster prince roaming around with a wolf at his side was undeniably cool.

Hmm. At first, I thought he was just a bratty kid, but as we got entangled in various situations, my opinion changed quite a bit. Perhaps, in the novel, his bad personality was exaggerated to emphasize the connection between Amelia and the heroine.

Well… there were still ten years to go, so who knows what event might turn his personality that way.

After exchanging light farewells with the prince, Amelia stood in front of me.

Unlike with the prince, where our eye levels were nearly the same, Amelia was shorter than me, so I had to look down at her.

Yet, despite her smaller stature, she didn’t seem small. Was it because of her upbringing as the daughter of the Grand Duke? Amelia had an air of dignity that made her look confident in any situation.

Or perhaps, she truly was confident.

“……”

“……”

Hmm.

I waited for Amelia to speak first, but she remained silent.

Could it be that she felt reluctant about parting ways?

In noble conversations—particularly in formal settings like this—it was customary for the person of higher status to speak first. While it wasn’t a law, not everything about etiquette was legally defined, after all.

So, unless Amelia spoke first, it was a bit awkward for me to start the conversation.

Was she waiting for me to speak first?

As I contemplated this seriously while looking at Amelia, who had her chin slightly raised to meet my gaze, she finally opened her mouth.

However, what came out of her mouth wasn’t exactly what I’d consider a relief.

After taking a deep breath, as if making up her mind, Amelia suddenly turned her head toward my father.

“Baron.”

“Yes, Lady Amelia.”

Although a bit flustered, my father responded promptly. Amelia then said,

“I would like to take Elsie as my personal guard. May I have your permission?”

What?!

“……”

Everyone who had been watching Amelia, including me, was left gaping.

I was among them, completely stunned.