Chapter 83 – The Trap Beneath the Calm
After we returned to Velthya’s house, the once peaceful atmosphere shifted dramatically. As soon as the door closed and we took off our shoes, she turned around with her hands on her hips, wearing an expression I’d never seen before intimidating.
"You think just saying sorry makes everything better, huh?" she snapped, her voice cracking through the air like a whip. "I didn’t sleep all night, Sylvia! Not a wink! And it was all because you vanished without a word!"
I lowered my head without saying a word. There was no excuse I could offer that would ease her anger. I stood there at the entrance, like a child caught stealing cookies from the kitchen.
"I know you can take care of yourself. I know you’re strong. But that doesn’t mean you get to disappear like a shadow! What am I to you, huh? A doll you leave behind when you’re bored?!"
One hour.
A full hour of standing there listening to her vent or rather, lecture me with emotion-packed words. I’d thought she would stop after five minutes. Turns out I was too optimistic.
Eventually, one of the maids approached her quietly and whispered something into her ear. Velthya paused, then let out a long breath. Her emotions dropped drastically, as if the maid’s words had cast a calming spell.
"...Sorry for yelling at you," she said as she adjusted her collar. "From now on, you can stay here whenever you want. Just consider this your home too, okay?"
I only nodded silently.
After that, she left me alone in the sitting room, probably to cool off. As for me, I felt more at ease being outside for a while, so I decided to head back to the hunters’ guild.
There, I approached the receptionist’s desk the same one where I had submitted medicinal plants before. The young woman warewolf recognized me and smiled kindly.