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n

nRecalling the past for a moment, I turned my head and glanced at Thane sitting in a calm manner.

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nCompared to that time, he was now reliable, but I felt emotional for no reason because I remembered the young Thane, who was crouching and trembling alone in a desolate prison.

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nIt was even more so because of the season of winter, which wasn’t yet over.

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n“Thane, how are you?” I opened my mouth at a brisk pace.

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nAt my question, he slowly began to lick his lips, but there was no voice coming out of those gaping lips.

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nInstead, his bubbly lips form words in a slow but definite shape, letter by letter.

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n‘I missed you, Erita.’

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nI couldn’t help but smile softly at the answer he made.

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n“I missed you too.”

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nHis eyes blinked slowly at my words, and a bright smile emerged.

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nI was happy with the bright smile that appeared on Thane’s innocent face, and I asked brightly as I clasped my palms together.

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n“Oh, would you rather have something to drink?”

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nThane used to love cocoa. I’ll make you some cocoa after such a long time.

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n‘What do you think? Are you okay with that?’

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nAt my words, Thane quickly nodded his head. He liked the sweet and warm cocoa more than expected.

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n“Wait a minute. I’ll get you a delicious one right away!”

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nHis answer made me get up and walk to the side table next to the sofa immediately.

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nThere was a kettle and a few clean cups that I often use when I read books.

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nI tilted the water bottle, poured water into the kettle, and floated the kettle on a magical flame.

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nAfter a while, the water boiled, and hot water was poured into the cup along with the cocoa powder I had taken out.

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nIf I tell him to drink it alone, Thane would never drink it, so I prepared mine, too.

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n“Come on, here. It’s hot, so be careful.”

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nPutting the sweet smell and steaming cocoa in front of Thane, I took my seat again.

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nHe looked down at the dark cocoa and gently touched the cup. I sipped my share slowly without rushing.

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nAfter a moment of silence, it was me who spoke first.

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n“Wasn’t it hard to come all the way here? The security of the mansion must have been quite tight.” At my words, Thane shook his head gently.

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nThe innocent look on his face meant that it wasn’t really hard.

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n‘It wasn’t difficult. I didn’t get caught by anyone.’

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nI laughed as if I were out of breath at the answer that his lips had made.

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n“Actually, they have to be like my father or older brother to recognize the presence of Thane.”

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nOur house knights should train a little harder.

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nThane’s ears flinched at what I added playfully, and soon lay down with no energy. He seemed to think that he was being reproached.

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n“It’s a compliment, a compliment. Even if it looks like this, my family’s knights are pretty good. I mean, Thane, you’re superior.”

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nThen, as if relieved, Thane’s ears, which had been lying limp, gently rose and chimed.

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nPerhaps the tail behind his hood was equally flinching.

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n“But what brings you here? I told Yurgen to contact me if you came.”

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nIn my words, Thane’s blue-grey eyes shook. After hesitating for a moment as if to think about an answer, he slowly opened his mouth.

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n“Yurgen said that Erita has something to give me…”

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nThere was a pause in the middle because it was a long speech unlike usual, but there was no problem in conveying its meaning.

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nHe seemed to have heard what I have said before in front of Yurgen.

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n“Ah, yes!”

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nThen I remembered the box I had left on the side of the desk. The item I was going to give to him today, but brought it back because I couldn’t meet Thane.

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nI hurried to my desk and picked up the blue box. Thane’s eyes were fixed on the box.

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nSame as before, whenever I gave him a gift, he would look at it with a persistent gaze as if to find out what was inside.

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nEven though that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t see what’s inside a bit later.

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nThere was a time when he asked the reason, but he didn’t ask again after that because he closed his mouth and shook his head.

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n“Did you come this evening just because I said I have something to give you?” At my question, Thane gently avoided my gaze and nodded his head slightly.

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nHe looked embarrassed when making eye contact.

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nThane being big and innocent was still the same as when he was a young wolf.

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n“I didn’t buy this like the usual, I made it myself…”

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nAt those words, Thane’s gaze, who had been staring at the edge of the floor, rose in an instant.

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nAt the same time, the tail, which had been quietly hidden in the hood, slipped out to the floor and began to flutter.

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nIt was the behavior that appeared when Thane was exceptionally happy.

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n“Hey, Thane… if you don’t like the gift, promise me that you’ll definitely tell me. Okay?”

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nI made it with the thought of him, but if Thane didn’t want it, I had no intention of forcing him either.

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n“Tell me Thane, if you don’t want it, I don’t want to force you either. Do you understand?”

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nThane, who’s blinking as if puzzled by my words, nodded at my question again. Then I handed him the blue box I was holding.

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n“Come on, it’s yours.”

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nThe box, which was a little smaller than the palm of my hand, seemed even smaller when Thane accepted it.

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nMaybe because of what I just said, Thane didn’t open the box for a moment and just stared at it.

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nI just waited without any pressure…

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nHow long has it been?

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nThane’s hand moved slowly and opened the lid of the box.

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nClattering~

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nThe object inside was soon revealed.

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nA bracelet with dark blue jewels about the size of a thumb. Thane turned his finger over the silver ring with a discreet touch without a word.

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nBut inside the box, he didn’t take it out and just touched it for a while, then he raised his head and glanced at me.

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nHis expression was filled with joy and confusion at the same time.

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nProbably because Thane didn’t like jewelry that much. In particular, he hated anything that was tight in arms, legs, and neck.

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nIt was because of the indelible reflex that Thane had suffered from his neck, wrists, and ankles.

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nHowever, there was a reason why I had to prepare a bracelet even though I knew Thane didn’t like it.

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nI carefully chose my words and spoke, “Thane, I know you don’t like this. But will you trust me for a moment though?”

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nThane, who was staring at me, immediately nodded his head.

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nFortunately, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood or afraid. I reached out slowly and took the bracelet out of the box that Thane was holding.

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nThane’s gaze was quietly following my hand. Biting my slightly dry lips once, I carefully opened my mouth.

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n“Wait, wait, wait! Can I put this bracelet on for you?”

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nThane’s body trembled at my words.

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nEven though four years had passed, I was deeply upset that the memories holding him still had not been opened.

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nI tried hard to hold back the harsh words that were about to pop out, and stroked Thane’s wrist very slowly.

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nEven the touch was not smooth in the place where the red scars that had been crushed still remained.

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n“I’ll give it a try. If you don’t like it, you can throw it away afterwards.”

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nI patted Thane’s wrist with a slow, gentle touch.

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nAfter such a moment of silence. Thane reached with his opposite hand and grabbed the hem of his robe.

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nI stared at Thane with his gesture like he had something to say.

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nAfter hesitating for a moment, he cautiously opened his mouth.

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n‘…Please put it on me.’

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nFortunately, Thane’s slow, sweet answer was words of consent.

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n“Yeah, I’ll do it.”

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nI blinked and smiled broadly. Then a faint smile appeared on Thane’s face.

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n“Then I’ll put it on you.”

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nI lifted the bracelet with a slight trembling hand. My heart pounded at the thought of what followed.

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nA fragment of the past that’s not even certain whether it remains in Thane’s memory.

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nFor that, I began to study magic and artifacts harder, and eventually made this bracelet.

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nI carefully fastened the bracelet around Thane’s wrist.

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nThe bracelet, which was supposed to be a little bigger, suddenly changed to a size that was perfect for Thane’s wrist.

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nThe jewel in the middle of the bracelet glowed bright for a while and then faded.

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nThane, who looked down at the bracelet unknowingly, didn’t seem to know what the bracelet was for yet.

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n“It doesn’t hurt or bother you, does it?”

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nThane nodded his head in response. At Thane’s affirmation, I breathed a sigh of relief and swept over my chest.

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n‘I was afraid that you would react harshly, but I’m glad.’

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nI gently stroked Thane’s wrist with the bracelet on.

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nThane’s voice that I’ve never heard before.

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nHis vocal cords were injured in the arena and could not be treated even with dozens of potions or even with the treatment of high potions.

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nThane said he was only five years old when he was caught in a dumping ground.

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nHis vocal cord, which was savagely cut as if being mutilated, took his voice forever.

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nWhen I brought Thane, he was sixteen, and the wounds over ten years in the arena were already too late to undo.

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nIt was the young Thane, who must have been most upset, who comforted me, who had burst into tears when I said that I couldn’t heal him in any way.

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nA young wolf who had been abused by people like that and hid its sharp claws with a gentle touch.

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nI couldn’t say anything, but the clever wolf comforted me with his clumsy handwriting, which had not been long since I taught him.

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n‘…Tears, I hate it. If you laugh, it’s fine.’

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nThen he immediately turned into a wolf and lay around my feet.

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nEven though he was older than me because he couldn’t eat properly, the child who only came to my shoulder was not even that big.

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nWhen I remembered the crooked handwriting again in my mind, I felt warm again.

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nTime passed like that, and it was a day, a little over a year after I met Thane.

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nI still remembered the day when I happened to see Thane, who comforted me, holding Yurgen and crying.

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nI couldn’t help Thane, who was crying out loud saying that he wanted to call my name.

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nLooking at him from behind the door, I promised that I would definitely bring back Thane’s voice.

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nAnd now, I am finally able to fulfill my promise.

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n“Thane.” I opened my mouth with the same tone of voice that had been slightly hesitant.

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n“Can you call my name, please?”

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