Chapter 3

In Selene's quarters at Wyndham Estate, she leaned against a reclining chair. She propped her head with one arm against the armrest, resting with her eyes closed.

She had not bought Zirion, which effectively disrupted Vanessa's first move in her plotting. Of course, Vanessa wouldn't let it go so easily. She would surely have another countermeasure prepared.

Selene wondered what she should do next.

"Ms. Wyndham, we're done washing him up," a maid reported, interrupting her thoughts.

She nodded and said, "Let him in."

In just a moment, Fenric walked into her bedchamber alone. Selene glanced at him once and looked away awkwardly.

She had bought the wolfman out of pure sympathy. Seeing that he was covered in blood and filth, she had ordered the maids to bathe him. She hadn't expected them to misunderstand her intentions and send him in wearing only an undergarment.

When Fenric saw that Selene wasn't looking at him, he moved closer on his own. His scarred yet strong body leaned forward and loomed over her, causing her to feel flustered.

With one hand pushing against his robust chest, she glared at him and scolded, "How dare you…"

But Fenric's eyes were innocent and bright with no lustful intentions.

"They told me to serve you well, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do… Can you teach me?" he asked candidly.

His even tone made Selene's sharp reaction seem somewhat strange.

"I didn't buy you for that… I want you to be my personal guard," Selene replied.

Fenric responded with a confused look, "A personal guard? What does a guard do?"

"He's a wolfman I caught in the mountains a few days ago." Selene recalled Rex's words.

Perhaps Fenric had lived in the mountains for so long that he was clueless about the ways of the human world in terms of morals and social norms.

So, Selene explained, "A guard means… you'll always stay by my side and kill anyone who tries to hurt me. Do you know how to kill?"

Fenric's eyes lit up immediately, as if he had finally come across something that he could understand.

"I can!" he exclaimed with a grin, revealing his sharp wolfish fangs.

At the sight of that smile, Selene felt a little relaxed. She sighed in relief and lowered her gaze, only to freeze as she caught sight of the scar on Fenric's waist that made her pupils contract.

In her past life, part of the reason why she cherished Zirion so much, besides his looks, was because he had a scar at that very same spot.

Selene had long been searching for the boy who once saved her life. When she was young, she followed her father, Alaric, into the mountains in search of beasts. However, she had accidentally strayed from the group due to her own playfulness.

That night, she encountered a wild boar while seeking shelter in a cave, and it charged at her angrily.

Just as she thought she was done for, a boy rushed over and shielded her. He was not much taller than she was, yet he grappled with the beast fearlessly. In the end, the boy stabbed the wild boar's eye with a dagger, but one of its tusks left a gaping wound in his waist.

He collapsed on the ground and was on the brink of death. Selene cried as she pressed her hands over his bleeding wound. She promised she would save him.

It was all too much for a little girl to handle. As the adrenaline wore off, Selene was so tired and sleepy after the great fright that she accidentally fell asleep.

By the time Alaric's men found her, the boy was gone. All that remained was the dried blood on her hands that was ghastly to look at.

"Ugh…" Fenric's muffled groan of pain snapped Selene out of her reverie.

Only then did she realize that her hand was clamped tightly over his scar.

Startled, she let go. Her thoughts were in absolute chaos. Did this mean that in her past life, she had been mistaken from the beginning? Was Fenric the boy who saved her back then?

"Fenric, this scar on your waist…" She had barely begun speaking when a faint voice reached their ears from outside the door.

"Ms. Wyndham…"

The rain almost drowned out that weak voice.

Selene got up and hesitated for a moment before opening the door.

Out in the yard, Zirion was kneeling before her. The downpour had long since drenched his clothes. His wounds from the whipping had yet to heal. So, the ground was wet with blood and rain.

When Zirion saw Selene emerge from inside, his eyes brightened for an instant before dimming in the next moment.

"Ms. Wyndham!" he cried out in a trembling voice that sounded almost like a plea. Only his face remained clean and unmarred, a stark contrast to the rest of his body.

He asked woefully, "Why don't you want me, Ms. Wyndham?"