[Fenrir's POV]
I woke up to a commotion coming from Yata's room, right next to mine. That afternoon, I really just wanted to laze around in bed. Even after trying to cover my ears with a pillow, the persistent noise kept assaulting my sensitive ears, forcing me to wake up, annoyed.
"What is he doing in this heat?!"
Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed. My hair was probably a mess, but I didn't care. I opened my door and shuffled over to Yata's room.
When I opened the door, there he was, hopping around like an overjoyed child who had just discovered buried treasure.
I stood at the doorway, staring at him blankly. "What are you doing?"
Yata turned toward me with a wide grin plastered on his face. It was a suspicious smile, full of mystery, as if he didn't want to let me in on the secret.
"That's a secret," he replied curtly, placing a finger over his lips.
I raised an eyebrow, unwilling to dig any deeper. His odd behavior was too common to surprise me anymore.
I sighed shortly. "Whatever," I said flatly. "But if you keep being noisy while I'm trying to sleep, I'll turn you into roasted bird."
Without waiting for a reply, I turned on my heels and headed back to my room.
As I closed my door, my eyes landed on Aqua and Crimson, two baby spinos curled up cozily in the corner. Their tails were entwined as they slept soundly.
I crouched in front of them, extending my fingers to poke Aqua's chubby cheek.
Aqua stirred slightly in his sleep, letting out a soft groan and shifting his head away, annoyed. To me, though, his reaction was nothing short of adorable.
"You two are so cute."
Sometimes, they slept here, other times in Yata's room, or in their own little space. Loki had given them the freedom to roam the palace, and Aqua and Crimson seemed to relish every moment of it, exploring every nook and cranny without anyone daring to stop them.
After spending a bit of time disturbing their sleep, I let out a small sigh, slipped out of my clothes, and made my way to the bathroom.
I sat on a small wooden stool. In front of me was a wooden tub filled with water, with a dipper resting inside. Using it, I began pouring the cool water over myself.
I felt the refreshing sensation of the water running from the top of my head down to my lower body. The coolness washed away the lingering drowsiness and fatigue.
"Ah... so refreshing," I murmured, letting the water cascade over me.
For a moment, I felt a rare sense of peace flowing through me with each drop of water.
But my thoughts didn't stay still. I was reminded of something that had been bothering me for a long time. Ever since I was freed from Gleipnir—or perhaps since I met Yata—I felt something had changed within me.
I started taking care of myself. Grooming, brushing my hair, bathing every day, wearing perfume, or even putting on nice clothes. None of these were things I had done before.
Once, I was just a wolf girl who didn't care about anything, not even my own body. But now...
I clutched my chest, tilting my head back to stare at the bathroom ceiling, whispering softly to myself, "What's happening to me?"
That question echoed in my mind repeatedly, but I could never find an answer. Even so, a faint smile crept onto my lips in the end.
After finishing my bath, I walked out and strolled along the palace corridors. The cold air filled the long halls, causing the thin violet dress I wore to flutter slightly.
The maids I passed quickly lowered their heads, scurrying away as if trying to avoid me.
I could only watch them with a neutral expression. Why were they so afraid of me? I had tried many times to approach them, but they always kept their distance, as if I were a monster to be avoided.
Honestly, I wanted to befriend them. I wanted to know them, to talk to them, like Yata did so effortlessly. But they always backed away. Eventually, I gave up trying to get close.
I let out a soft sigh, attempting to calm myself. "It's okay," I muttered. "As long as Yata is here, that's enough, I guess."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
But it vanished just as quickly when my nose picked up a scent in the air. It wasn't unfamiliar, but it wasn't pleasant either.
I stopped in my tracks, sniffing lightly to confirm. The scent was faint and scattered, disappearing the moment I tried to catch it.
"This smell again..."
This wasn't the first time I'd noticed it. Occasionally, the scent would linger in the palace, especially in certain corners. I wasn't sure what it was, but my instincts told me it wasn't good. It reminded me of something—a past event—but the memory was too blurry to grasp.
My eyes narrowed, and my ears twitched uneasily. I tried to trace the smell, following its source. My steps grew faster, more determined, but every time I seemed close, the scent vanished as if it had never been there.
Standing in a quiet corridor, I looked around warily. My heart pounded softly, but my gut feeling grew stronger. This scent wasn't random. Something was hiding in this palace, unseen but clearly watching.
"Is this the scent of the Asgardian?" I clenched my jaw, irritation bubbling up at the thought of Asgard.
"Should I tell Yata about this?" I muttered before shaking my head. "No, he's busy with his training. I don't want to bother him."
"But... what should I do now?"
Scanning my surroundings, I saw nothing and no one. It was just me and the silent, empty corridor.
But then, in the distance, I spotted a maid passing by. Her pink hair and round bear-like ears caught my attention. Her steps were stiff and nervous, like a mouse trying to evade a cat.
"She..." I muttered, frowning.
I knew that girl. This scent often appeared alongside her presence. I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Without a second thought, I jogged toward her. "Hey, you!" I called out, my voice sharp.
The maid froze for a moment, her body stiffening. Then, she moved as if to leave, like prey trying to escape a predator.
But I was faster. I closed the distance in the blink of an eye and grabbed her wrist firmly.
"What's your name?" I demanded, fixing her with a piercing gaze.
"E-Emma, milady," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. Her hand was cold, and I could feel a slight tremor in her fingers.
"Don't be afraid, Emma," I said, loosening my grip to make her feel more at ease. "I just want to ask you a few things. Oh, by the way, you can call me Fenrys."
"O-okay." She bowed her head, not daring to meet my eyes. Despite my gentle tone, her fear didn't lessen.
I glanced around to ensure no one was watching us. Then, I calmly took her hand again. "Come with me," I said softly.
Emma nodded slightly, showing no signs of resistance.
I hurriedly led her back to my room, keeping us unnoticed. Her hesitant, dragging steps forced me to stop and look at her closely.
"Is something wrong, milady?" she asked nervously, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes blinking rapidly.
I sighed. Without warning, I scooped her up in a bridal carry.
"Eh? What are you doing, Lady Fenrys?!"
"Be quiet and don't argue."
I bent my knees slightly and dashed down the palace corridors, moving swiftly so no one would catch sight of us.
"I hope what I'm worried about isn't true," I thought grimly.
My gaze fixed forward, my lips sealed. All I could do was hope this was just a baseless premonition.