“…… In the end, how long will it take? ”

Doreen crouched in the corner of the prison with her hands on her knees.

She's been locked up here for almost a week.

This is a completely enclosed room that is isolated from the outside world.

There was no one else but her, and no one else could even be heard. When eating, drinking, and taking out the garbage, you must first enter room A in the back room. When the warden confirms that she has entered room A, he will remotely lock the door of room A through a ritual, and then send someone into room B to put food and water in and take away the garbage.

There was nothing in her room except a wooden tray for food, a wooden bowl for water, a small toilet for excretion, and a "bed" that looked like a sleeping bag on the floor of Room A.

Empty.

Only when interrogated will a stranger with a grim face wearing a ring or white gloves push the door in.

Just one glance at them would cause Doreen to lose consciousness instantly.

It was a very uncomfortable feeling.

It's like your head is immersed in ice water and frozen to the point of losing consciousness.

She didn't even know what questions she had answered or when they had left...... It's like you've drunk too much and broken your wine.

When she came to her senses, she felt like her brain was hot, as if she had a fever. It will take hours to recover.

But the good thing is that she is imprisoned in this confinement room, and the fear and anxiety that slowly accumulate in her heart will disappear with the advent of that state.

Doreen was very worried.

Did you leak information about Mr. Ghirlandaio when you were unconscious?

Or is there already a fight out there now? The battle for succession? Or is it a dispute between uncle and nephew?

Will His Highness Dmitry be banished?

After all, he doesn't look very smart......

I heard that Grand Duke Ivan's health is not very good, will something happen to him? Assassinated by Mr. Ghirlandaio, saying that he died of illness and then taking the opportunity to take the throne or something, and His Highness Dmitry would be exiled abroad...... It still feels like it's very possible. However, Grand Duke Ivan is said to be a very good person, and it is better not to die......

Mr. Ghirlandaeo - no, His Highness Girlandaio, doesn't seem to be as discriminatory against werewolves as his brothers. If he can become the Grand Duke of Winter, maybe the situation of our werewolves will be improved a little...... Maybe, right?

But、But I know so many secrets, will I be killed by Girlandaio?

“…… Woo. ”

Doreen thought of this, groaned and buried her face between her knees.

- Feeling cold, me.

At this moment, there was a squeak.

The door, which was so tightly fitted that it didn't even have a doorknob, was opened from the outside. The two winter hands came in, holding the door one mile and one away, looking ahead without squinting.

…… Hey, I haven't locked the door yet, have I?

Doreen shuddered, looking at the door a little strangely and a little scared.

Usually, this door can only be opened when she enters room A and locks herself.

Why aren't you worried about me running away this time?

Is it finally time to be executed?

"—Doreen."

Mr. Gilandaio's voice came from the doorway.

The middle-aged man with a gentle smile on his face and features as deep and handsome as sculptures walked through the two winter hands.

"Ghirlandaio...... Mr. ”

Doreen whispered.

She barely tried to get up from the ground.

But because he squatted for too long, his legs were a little numb, and he stumbled and fell forward.

Before she could fall into Gilandaio's arms, he quickly grabbed her shoulders and helped her up.

…… Is it a delusion?

How do you feel that Mr. Gilandaio's hand is so strong...... It's like a stone statue that has come to life.

But she reacted quickly and broke free to stand up straight.

"—Hold, sorry, Mr. Gilandaio! I'm rude! ”

Doreen made as loud as she could, but it was still too small to be heard.

She was terrified of her clumsiness.

And felt his throat tighten with fear, and his gums and fingertips tingled slightly.

Ghirlandaio revealed a somewhat incomprehensible ...... There was a strange, almost scrutinizing smile.

…… This smile seems to have been seen somewhere.

Yes.

When the teacher chose her, he seemed to have shown this expression......

"Doreen."

"Yes......! I...... I'm here. ”

Her voice grew quieter.

But Ghirlandaeo just patted her on the shoulder and smiled gently: "Don't be nervous.

"By the way, why are you so afraid of me? I guess I didn't do that before. ”

I—What can I say?

Because I don't know if I leaked a secret, I don't know if I will be killed......

Looking at Doreen who was struggling, Ghirlandaio's eyes became deeper and deeper.

As if to break the silence, the middle-aged man with black hair and black eyes slowly spoke:

"Don't be nervous, nothing happened."

"What do you mean ......?"

"Everything is the same as before."

As if inadvertently, Ghirlandaeo said, "That's right. If you were released, would you have any plans for the future? ”

"If I am going to ......"

Doreen was hesitant and couldn't answer anything. I don't know what to say is right.

“…… I do not know. ”

She hesitated for a long time, but finally said so.

It's the truth.

I don't know what the "right" words are, so I have to tell the truth in the end.

At least if you answer incorrectly, you won't regret it too much.

"But if you can...... I want to go to Teacher. ”

"Professor Wolf."

"Yes."

Doreen bit her lip—literally her own lip. She sucked her own blood like a baby sucking milk.

"I want to ask him...... Why give me such a task. Also, what the hell am I to him......"

As she spoke, Doreen's voice grew quieter and quieter.

She became more and more lost.

In fact, there is no need for [Professor Wolf] to give the answer himself.

She had long understood...... I'm just a one-time tool.

- After all, Professor Wolf is not a werewolf himself.

He adopted and raised werewolf orphans only for his own purposes. In this respect, Professor Wolf is no different from other people who see werewolves as tools.

"In that case."

Girlanda Iowen said, "You might as well follow me first." ”

“…… You? ”

Doreen looked at Ghirandaeo in surprise.

But this ...... Is there any need?

I'm just a useless werewolf.

I don't know anyone, I don't have any special skills, I just know how to follow orders...... And nothing can be done.

"Yes, follow me."

Ghirlandaeo said slowly, "I'm going to go to the Underworld first and do some errands. After that, I was also going to see Professor Wolf and ask him about something in person. In that sense, our goal is the same, isn't it? ”

The goal is ...... Congruous?

Doreen looked at Girandaio in a daze.

Under her eyes, the gentle smile of the middle-aged man was reflected.

It seems、Extraordinarily convincing。

"It's like a teacher."

She whispered.

"What?"

"No, there isn't."

Doreen inexplicably had a little more affection for the person in front of her.

Since they are nothing more than tools...... Why don't you use it for those who want to use it.

Thinking so, Doreen felt her mood change a lot.

— where she couldn't see.

Ghirlandaeo held two crystal bells in the palm of his left hand, hanging down.

…… And so it was.

Ghirlandaio nodded thoughtfully.