The Beloved New Daughter-In-Law of the Wolf Mansion Chapter 189 - Side story 2

“…Linsy?” 

 

Kendrick squinted in disbelief.

 

He looked back and forth between me and Arsene, then muttered absentmindedly.

 

“Am I seeing things?”

 

That sounded like a mutter, yet also like a question directed at us.

 

Arsene, hearing this, answered without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“You’re seeing things correctly, Father.”

 

When he replied curtly, Kendrick strode up to me.

 

And then he came closer and stood right in front of me.

 

I lifted my head and looked up at Kendrick.

 

Kendrick, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, looked a little more tired than the last time I saw him.

 

However, he was still impressive, maintaining the dignity befitting the head of a clan.

 

“Linsy, is that really you?”

 

Kendrick whispered.

 

My face was clearly reflected in his blue eyes.

 

I noticed Kendrick’s eyes trembling slightly, so I turned my hand back and grabbed it.

 

He smiled and nodded.

 

“Father!”

 

“…”

 

“How have you been?”

 

It was then. 

 

“Oh my!”

 

Kendrick strode over and hugged me tightly.

 

When I was very little, Kendrick often carried me in his arms.

 

It feels like I’ve gone back to that time.

 

“Linsy, how…”

   

“Hehe, it’s a really long story…”

 

Kendrick kept stroking my hair.

 

He, like Arsene, also seemed unable to believe that I was standing right before his eyes.

 

Ethan, who had been watching from the side, wiped away his tears.

 

“Young Madam…”

 

“Ethan, have you been well?”

 

“Of course, while you were away, I took good care of both of them.”

 

“Ahaha, I believed in you!”

 

I hugged Kendrick tightly, who held me tightly in his arms.

 

“I’m sorry for being so late. I should have hurried back sooner.”

 

“…ight.” 

 

“Yes?” 

 

“It’s alright, being late doesn’t matter.”

 

Kendrick continued, his voice slightly hoarse.

 

“Because you’ve come back like this.”

 

I smiled brightly and buried my face against Kendrick’s shoulder.

 

In this regard, father and son were exactly the same.

 

***

 

“Lady!”

 

“Madam Linsy!”

 

“Young Madaaaam, hwaaa!” 

 

The servants of Yeckhart rushed toward me the moment they saw me.

 

“Woah, whoa!”

 

I, I’m falling!

 

I was about to tip over.

 

Suddenly.

 

Arsene caught me from behind, keeping me from falling.

 

“Huh? Thank you, Arsene!”

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

I thought Arsene and Kendrick would stop the overly excited servants from rushing at me.

 

Neither of them stepped forward, just quietly watching.

 

‘I guess they understand.’

 

Because they were all waiting for me.

 

And since they had all taken turns embracing me.

 

He seemed to understand why the servants were running toward me, crying and wailing like this.

 

“Ahaha, how have you all been? How have you been? Mhm?” 

 

I made sure to hug each of the rushing servants, one by one, without missing anyone.

 

Among them, some were sniffling, while others hugged me tightly, laughing wildly and saying how relieved they were.

 

It was then. 

 

“L, Lady…” 

 

From somewhere, a very familiar sobbing voice reached my ears.

 

I instinctively turned my head.

 

“…Betty!”

 

Betty stood there, tears welling up in her eyes.

 

She was clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, holding back her overflowing tears as she looked at me.

 

Seeing that, the other servants stepped back in front of me, clearing a path.

 

I stared at Betty for a moment, then…

 

With a stride.

 

Without waiting for Betty to approach me, I approached her first. 

 

And…

 

“Betty, I missed you.”

 

“Lady Linsy, are you really Lady..?”

 

Betty, my precious friend and the maid who took care of me. 

 

She was looking at me with the same disbelief as Kendrick or Arsene.

 

No, actually, it wasn’t just them.

 

Everyone in the Yeckhart mansion was looking at me with those eyes.

 

As if, the moment I looked away even slightly, I would vanish again.

 

From their gazes, I felt both a sense of relief and a strange unease at the same time.

 

‘It can’t be helped.’

 

I could vanish in an instant, soaring away—but the wolves didn’t have wings.

 

Even if they wanted to chase me, they wouldn’t have been able to.

 

With a bright smile, I ran to Betty and hugged her neck.

 

And then, breathing in the scent of her body I’d longed for, I nodded. 

 

“It really is me.”

 

“Lady…”

 

“I missed you, Betty. I’m back home. I look a little dirty, but…”

 

I had a tumble in the orchard, and it kept nagging at me.

 

If I had known I’d regain my memory upon meeting Arsene, I would have come out wearing cleaner clothes today.

 

Or at least be careful not to roll around on the dirt.

 

Anyway, there was nothing I could do about what had happened, so I smiled awkwardly.

 

“I’m a bit messy, aren’t I?”

 

“What does that matter! That… that doesn’t matter at all. I’m just happy that you’ve returned….”

 

Betty spoke as if on the verge of tears.

 

“I cleaned your room every single day while you were gone.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, every single day, desperately hoping you’d come back…!”

 

She finally burst into tears.

 

Betty was the maid who cared for me and looked after me the most.

 

So, naturally, she was the most attached to me.

 

I patted Betty’s back, which was shaking from crying, in a rather mature manner.

 

“You worked hard, Betty.”

 

“…Oh! Lady Linsy!”  

 

“And thank you.”

 

Betty burst into tears.

 

But none of the beastmen shed tears like Betty.

 

Everyone seemed more happy than sad.

 

Because I’m back.

 

To Yeckhart!

 

“Waaah, our Lady, your beautiful cheeks are all covered in dirt…”

 

“Huh? I’m covered in dirt?”

 

“Your skirt is all torn…! Waaah, I’ll quickly help you change into something nice.”

 

Betty sniffled, examining me closely.

 

No, wait.

 

But I’m covered in dirt?

 

“Arsene! You didn’t say my face was covered in dirt!”

 

“It’s not covered in dirt, just a little on your cheek.”

 

“Th, that’s the same thing!”   

 

“What does something like that even matter?”

 

Arsene shrugged.

 

Oh, you’re such a clumsy wolf…

 

It had been a long time since we last met, and feeling a bit embarrassed that I had come covered in dirt, I rubbed my cheek with my sleeve to clean it.

 

One of the maids, watching me, said solemnly.

 

“No way. I’ll run over and heat some bath water right now!”

 

“Yes, me too! Me too! I’ll help warm the bathwater, too, and I’ll make it the warmest and most fragrant bath in the world!”

 

“While Lady Linsy was away, Lord Arsene bought all that bath fragrance—where is it?”

 

“Wait, let me tell you about it.”

 

“I, I know! Last time, I stored it in the most accessible spot in the warehouse! So it’s easy to grab anytime!”

 

“Okay, let’s go and heat the bath water!”

 

“We need to prepare a change of clothes too!”

 

The maids swarmed over with solemn expressions, and no one stopped them.

 

Betty, sniffling beside me, suddenly lifted her head and spoke.

 

“I’ll prepare new clothes for you! Clean and soft ones.”

 

“Mhm?” 

 

“Lady, we truly welcome your return…!”

 

And she showed the brightest smile in the world.

 

After the servants had warmly welcomed me, I watched with satisfaction as each of them went off to tend to their own tasks.

 

Then Arsene quietly approached my side and placed his hand on my waist.

 

“You bought bath fragrance while I was away?”

 

“I thought you’d like it.”

 

“How would you know when I’ll be back?”  

 

“I bought it every year.”

 

Arsene answered.

 

I turned my head to look at him and poked him in the cheek.

 

“I’m glad everyone was happy to see me, right?” 

 

“Isn’t it obvious? Ethan even sometimes bought snacks to give to you.”

 

“I wasn’t even in Yeckhart!”

 

“It’s the same as when I bought bath fragrance.”

 

I laughed out loud, facing Arsene.

 

At that moment, Kendrick, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.

 

“Linsy, where exactly was the orchard you stayed at while you’d lost your memory?”

 

“The orchard?”

 

“Right, as your former guardian, I should properly thank the owner of that orchard.”