Chapter 48

“Ze…ro?”

Eyes as clear as the untouched sea were looking at Vivian. A creature with beautiful fur closer to sparkling silver than white, and twice the size of a wolf, was sniffing Vivian’s brown hair.

“Is that really you, Zero?”

Vivian asked. In response, the white creature tilted its head and then started wagging its tail furiously.

“Zero!”

Vivian hugged Zero’s neck tightly. The familiar scent from her childhood, the smell of Zero, filled her nostrils.

“Zero! How did you get here…?”

“I feel a bit left out. Only Zero gets a warm welcome.”

At that moment, a familiar voice came from above Vivian’s head. She lifted her head from Zero’s fluffy fur.

“Aitor?”

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

Aitor, with eyes the same color as Zero’s, smiled brightly as he greeted her.

“Aitor!”

Vivian sprang to her feet. As she moved away from Aitor, Zero began to spin in place as if displeased.

“Is it really you, Aitor?”

Vivian looked up at Aitor with wide eyes. Aitor, looking down at her with an even brighter smile, nodded, and Vivian leaped up to hug his neck.

“Whoa!”

As Vivian jumped at him, Aitor staggered backward, losing his balance. But he quickly regained it and held onto Vivian’s waist.

“Vivi?”

Aitor called out to Vivian, who was dangling from his neck. She shivered and released her grip.

“Is it alright to hug a lady like this? Rayden might scold me.”

“I was just so happy to see you…”

Aitor smiled again, showing his white teeth. As Vivian stepped back, Zero inserted himself between them and placed Vivian’s hand on his head.

“Zero.”

Vivian petted Zero’s head, alternating her gaze between Aitor and Zero.

“What happened? Both you and Zero have grown so much.”

“It’s not that we’ve grown a lot; maybe you haven’t grown enough, Vivian?”

Aitor looked down at her with a relaxed expression.

“Are you picking a fight after seeing each other for the first time in a while?”

At Vivian’s words, Aitor shook his head and knelt to match Zero’s eye level. He looked at Zero, who was melting under Vivian’s touch, and spoke.

“Zero missed you a lot, Vivi.”

Vivian also sat down to meet Zero’s eyes.

“Zero. I missed you so much too.”

At Vivian’s words, Zero whimpered and took a step closer to her.

“And I… I missed you a lot too, Vivi.”

Aitor said, lifting the corners of his mouth as he looked at her.

Vivian suddenly felt embarrassed by Aitor’s words. His face, repeatedly hit by Zero’s wagging tail, still bore much resemblance to the Aitor she knew from her childhood.

“Looks like Zero missed you more than me, Vivi?”

Aitor stood up, feigning a hurt expression.

Though they were the same age, Aitor was two spans taller, and his deepened voice struck Vivian distinctly. She stared blankly at him without answering his playful question, so Zero stepped in.

“Woof!”

It was a bark she had never heard before.

Different from the yapping sound she remembered from her childhood, the new sound startled Vivian. As she was startled, Zero wagged his tail and rubbed his face against her body.

“If other wizards saw him like this, they would debate whether Zero is a Teria or not.”

Zero, regardless of what Aitor said, was fully immersed in the joy of reuniting with Vivian.

“Pig.”

At that moment, Zero perked up his ears at the mention of his other name and looked towards the cabin entrance. It was Louis.

“A pig is still a pig.”

At Louis’ words, Zero snorted.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The clumsy Aitor, unfamiliar with royal etiquette in his childhood, was no longer there. Louis raised and lowered his hand to acknowledge Aitor’s skilled greeting.

“You are a bit late.”

“Yes. I was delayed by a small matter.”

Aitor replied respectfully to Louis.

Vivian, alternating her gaze between the two, realized something.

“Louis, did you know Aitor and Zero were coming?”

At Vivian’s question, Louis shrugged slightly.

Seeing this, Vivian realized that Louis had summoned her here to facilitate her reunion with Aitor and Zero.

“Pig. How dare you. Can’t you relax those insolent eyes?”

As Vivian turned her attention to Louis, Zero glared at him, causing Louis to command. But Zero snorted again in response.

“You are the first to treat me so rudely.”

At Louis’ words, Aitor covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

“Usually, that leads to falling in love.”

At Aitor’s words, Zero kicked his hind legs towards his master.

Both Louis and Aitor looked at him in disbelief. After venting his frustration, Zero stopped kicking and went back to sniffing Vivian.

“Anyway, glad you came. You will stay in the capital for a while, right?”

“Yes.”

Vivian’s eyes sparkled at their conversation.

“Do you have a place to stay? Somewhere in the capital?”

At Vivian’s question, Aitor shook his head, and she smiled brightly.

“Then stay at the mansion where I am staying.”

“But…”

Aitor glanced at Louis, trailing off.

“My father isn’t there, and we don’t have many servants. They are all discreet and good people.”

Vivian hurriedly added to persuade Aitor. Louis, seeing this, chuckled and helped her.

“Yes, stay there. It will be more comfortable than here. And since the pig likes Vivian, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“Then, can I rely on you for a while?”

Aitor asked Vivian, nodding at Louis’ words, and she hugged Zero tightly.

At that moment.

“Sis!”

Ian called out loudly as he ran into the cabin. His excited steps froze upon seeing Zero.

“Who… who is that?”

Ian moved hesitantly and hid behind the nearest person, Louis.

“Oh. Ian. Say hello. This is my friend Aitor and Zero.”

Vivian introduced her brother to Aitor and Zero, explaining to Aitor that this was the brother she had mentioned in her letters.

“Hello, Ian. I’m Aitor.”

Aitor greeted Ian, but Ian clung to Louis’ trousers, staring at Zero without moving.

Zero also didn’t take his eyes off Ian. They stared at each other for a long time, as if sizing each other up.

* * *

“Hey. I’m a bit disappointed in you.”

On the way back home in the carriage, Rosie crossed her arms and glared at Vivian.

After talking with Louis, Aitor and Zero had agreed to come to the mansion. Ian, who still couldn’t take his eyes off Zero, was reluctantly put into the carriage heading to the mansion.

“W-what…”

At Vivian’s question, Rosie snorted and wiggled her crossed legs.

“You knew such a handsome guy, and you didn’t say a word to me? He seems to be a wizard too.”

Vivian, who had been momentarily tense at Rosie’s words, let out a small laugh.

“He’s a friend I coincidentally became close to, along with His Highness the Crown Prince, when we were kids. We parted ways when he entered the magic school, and it’s been quite a while since we last met.”

At Vivian’s explanation, Rosie relaxed her fierce gaze.

“By the way, how did you know Aitor was a wizard?”

Vivian asked, and Rosie, with a look that seemed to say, “What do you take me for?” uncrossed her arms and spoke.

“First, the ring on his finger.”

“Ring?”

“Yes. He was wearing a ring given to the top graduate of the magic school.”

“How do you know about that?”

“When I was a kid, a wizard grandpa I met by chance told me about that ring. Its unique shape stuck with me.”

Rosie pointed to her right index finger.

“And that huge dog. It’s a Teria, right?”

Vivian nodded at Rosie’s question.

“I read about it in a book. It’s my first time seeing one in real life, though.”

Given that Rosie’s family was involved in the business of selling items made from magic stones, it was no surprise she knew a lot about wizards.

“Don’t worry. I can keep a secret. I won’t say a word about meeting a wizard in the Emperor’s Forest today.”

Vivian had never been worried about that. Louis likely felt the same. That’s why he had allowed Rosie to accompany them to the Emperor’s Forest. If Louis hadn’t trusted her, he would have found a way to send Rosie back.

“Don’t smile so prettily.”

When Vivian smiled at Rosie, she said. Vivian’s smile widened, causing Rosie to sigh deeply and look out the carriage window.

“By the way, that… Aitor? Is he staying at your mansion for a while?”

“Yes.”

“…Really?”

At Vivian’s confirmation, Rosie grinned and began to hum.

“Sis, is that puppy going to stay at our house?”

This time, Ian asked Vivian.

“Yes, for a while.”

Ian smiled brightly at her answer and began to move his feet in rhythm with Rosie’s humming. The carriage carrying the three happy people, excited by the arrival of Aitor and Zero, sped towards the bustling capital.

* * *

As soon as Vivian left, Zero dashed out of the cabin and ran through the forest. He seemed particularly light-hearted, perhaps because he had returned to his birthplace.

Louis and Aitor watched him in silence for a moment.

“I heard you were injured.”

“It wasn’t a serious injury.”

Louis was the first to break the silence.

“I worry that I might have given you too heavy a burden.”

At Louis’ words, Aitor looked down and shook his head.

“I’m doing it because I want to. While it’s true that Your Highness and Zero are my benefactors, I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”

Louis shifted his gaze from Zero to Aitor.

According to Rayden’s report and the information gathered from spies planted in the Mage Tower, Aitor was an exceptional genius. He had quickly distinguished himself in the magic school and had to endure considerable jealousy from other wizards.

Moreover, since Aitor had entered the magic school on the Emperor’s recommendation, it was easy to imagine that his life there had not been smooth, even without a report.

“Make sure not to take any dangerous tasks. While I have high expectations of you, I do not wish for them to come at the cost of your life.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Aitor smiled confidently at Louis.

“Do you have any business in the capital this time?”

“I was ordered to investigate matters related to the distribution of magic stones.”

“That would be related to the black market, I assume?”

When Aitor nodded, Louis put his hand in his pocket and took a deep breath. The rather cold forest air filled his lungs.

“The Mage Tower must have assigned someone to monitor you as well.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Louis chuckled as he looked at Aitor.

“You tell me not to worry, but it makes me want to worry more.”

Louis said, then called for Rayden. Rayden appeared from behind, as if he had been waiting for Louis’ call.

“While you’re in the capital, move with Rayden.”

Rayden smiled at Aitor and extended his right hand. Aitor slapped it with his own right hand and said,

“Nice to work with you, Rayden.”