The Beloved New Daughter-In-Law of the Wolf Mansion Chapter 191 - Side story 4

Early in the morning. 

 

Jennifer, the wolf beastman who ran an orchard near the Tamar lands, was startled. 

 

Knock, knock.

 

Because no one was expected to visit in the morning, yet someone knocked.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

Could it be Annie? 

 

Annie was a bird beastman found near the Tamar lands, who had lost her memory.

 

Jennifer originally intended to send Annie back to the territory of the bird beastmen, but…

 

‘C, can’t I stay here?’

 

‘Mhm?’

 

‘I feel like I need to stay here, please!’

 

Since she couldn’t send Annie back when she said she didn’t want to go,

 

‘W, well, if that’s the case… then go on.’ 

 

Jennifer gave the memory-lost girl the new name “Annie” and provided her with a job.

 

It was also good for Jennifer, as she happened to need someone to work in the orchard.

 

It was only last night that she learned that Annie was actually the Yeckhart’s “Young Madam.”

 

Jennifer knew that the Yeckhart’s Young Madam was a bird beastman. 

 

And that she had luscious red hair.

 

But why didn’t she think that way when she first saw Annie?  

 

It was probably because the Yeckhart’s “Young Madam” had flown away and disappeared forever.

 

That story was already famous among the beastmen.

 

So Jennifer didn’t consider the possibility of someone who disappeared like that returning.

 

Still, if it was a red-haired bird beastman, it would have been reasonable to be suspicious at least once, yet it was strange that no doubts had arisen at all.

 

In any case, Annie was a good friend to Jennifer.

 

So, when she regained her memory.

 

‘I’ll come back, Jennifer. Okay? I’ll definitely come back…!’

 

‘Ugh, I got it, just go already, An… no, no. Please go, Lady Linsy!’

 

‘D, don’t call me that! Okay? Jennifer, just call me Linsy. Don’t use honorifics with me—I really, really loved it when you treated me like a friend….’

 

‘Everyone’s probably waiting!’

 

‘But I still have to thank you before I go! Of course, I’ll come back later to properly thank you. It won’t take long, so just wait a little, Jennifer!’

 

Jennifer, feeling a twinge of regret, had no choice but to let her go.

 

After all, she knew well how deeply the Yeckhart family had grieved after losing their Young Madam.

 

Jennifer was also a wolf who served under the head of the Yeckhart family.

 

She couldn’t have been unaware of the state of the Yeckhart family. 

 

But Annie was actually Lady Linsy, who had disappeared that day!

 

It was a good thing.

 

‘Then, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?’

 

But why does her heart feel so heavy?  

 

Annie woke up early every morning, scrubbed the floors, and cleaned the windows.

 

She would dust the curtains and wake Jennifer.

 

‘Jennifer, it’s morning!’

 

‘Are you up already? I told you I’ll clean!’

 

‘I’m doing it because I want to.’

 

And after having breakfast with Jennifer, she would go out to water the fruit trees in the orchard.

 

Back then, Jennifer was truly happy with Annie.

 

Annie had a positive energy that made everyone around her happy.

 

But now, Annie was nowhere to be found. 

 

“Come on, Jennifer. Come to your senses, Annie has gone back home.”

 

She had come by last night with Arsene to greet me and then returned to the Yeckhart mansion.

 

So the person knocking at the door now couldn’t be Annie.

 

It had to be someone else.

 

‘But no one’s coming, though?’

 

Jennifer lingered, walking to the doorway and slowly opening the wooden door.

 

Kiiiek.

 

The door opened, and Jennifer looked up to see who was standing there.

 

And what she encountered was…

 

“Are you Jennifer?”

 

“….”

 

“The owner of Jennifer’s Orchard?”

 

The leader of the wolf clan.

 

The strongest and most resilient gray wolf.

 

The master of Yeckhart, the leader of all wolf beasts, and the king.

 

“I’ve come to repay your kindness.”

 

It was Kendrick Yeckhart.

 

***

 

“If you want, you can come to the Yeckhart mansion anytime to see Linsy.”

 

“Yes, yes…”

 

“I’ll give it to you.”

 

Kendrick gestured, drinking the tea Jennifer had brought him.

 

Then, his subordinate standing next to Kendrick quickly handed Jennifer a gold plaque.

 

“This is…?”

 

“When you visit the Yeckhart mansion, just show this to the gatekeeper, and they’ll let you through without question. But no one else can use it—only you, Jennifer.” 

 

Kentrick pointed specifically at Jennifer.

 

Jennifer, the kind-hearted orchard owner, nodded, her expression bewildered.

 

“And this is my gift.”

 

Kendrick pointed to the pile of gifts stacked in a corner of Jennifer’s house.

 

Jennifer gaped, staring out the window.

 

Not only inside the house, but even in the yard, there was a pile of gifts that all looked expensive at a glance.

 

“T, this is all?”

 

“I never forget a favor.”

 

Kendrick, having finished all the tea Jennifer had served, stood up from his seat.

 

Jennifer, the wolf beastman who had unexpectedly found herself alone with the wolf leader, still bowed her head with a dazed expression. 

 

“Th, thank you. But I truly didn’t do it expecting any reward…” 

 

“Who would take care of someone who had lost their memory for years, expecting a reward?”

 

“…!”

 

“People like that usually get worn out and give up within a month at most. But you cared for her for years.”

 

Kendrick turned to Jennifer. 

 

“If it’s a burden, think of it as a gift for living a good life.”

 

“S, Sir Kendrick!” 

 

“Thank you for taking care of that child.”

 

Tears were welling up in Jennifer’s eyes now.

 

In fact, until the night before parting with Annie—no, Linsy—she couldn’t quite grasp the reality of saying goodbye to her. 

 

Having lost her husband early and living alone without children, Annie had come into Jennifer’s life like a gift.

 

Every night, they talked together, sitting at the same table for delicious meals.

 

Jennifer had thought Annie was like a friend, like family, like a daughter.

 

She couldn’t quite grasp the reality of having parted with Annie.

 

But when Kendrick Yeckhart, the guardian of Annie—no, Linsy, personally came and delivered countless gifts.

 

Only then did she realize she was leaving her.

 

Jennifer looked up at Kendrick with tearful eyes and said,

 

“Thank you, Sir Kendrick.”

 

And then, carefully holding the Yeckhart pass Kendrick had given her, she said,

 

“Please make sure to tell Lady Linsy that I hope she’s been well. That I truly enjoyed being with her, and thanks to her, every day was so much fun. Also, tell her not to wear thin clothes since it’s chilly, and not to run around since she often falls on the dirt….” 

 

Jennifer’s story was filled with affection for Linsey.

 

Kendrick, who had been listening to her with pleasure, said as soon as Jennifer finished speaking,

 

“I think it’s best to tell you that in person.”

 

“…Yes?” 

 

“Given Linsy’s personality, she’ll probably come to thank you in person.”

 

He nodded at the gifts.

 

“This is a personal gift from me as her guardian, and a personal thank you. It’s separate from Linsy’s.” 

 

Kendrick, her father-in-law and one of the people who knew Linsy Yeckhart best in the world, said with a smile. 

 

“Linsy will probably come to you again, to say thank you.” 

 

“…!”

 

“So we can talk about this then. Or you can come to the Yeckhart mansion.”

 

Kendrick said.

 

“But if you really want me to deliver it, I will.”

 

Jennifer, who had been staring blankly at Kendrick’s words, waved her wrinkled hand.

 

“N, no! Then Annie… no, I mean, when Lady Linsy comes, I’ll tell her myself.” 

  

Jennifer smiled brightly.

 

“Thank you so much for coming all the way here.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

“Would you like another cup of tea?”

 

“I’ll have to decline—I drank too much. Still, it was really good tea.” 

 

Kendrick left Jennifer’s house with his men.

 

“We’ll see each other again sometime.”

 

He left Jennifer with a brief greeting and trudged across the yard. 

 

Suddenly left alone with a huge pile of gifts, Jennifer blinked, clutching her pass.

 

The remaining Yeckhart soldiers, who were there to protect Jennifer’s “gifts” just in case, laughed as they watched her like that.