Chapter 2: The Wolf Prince Looks Back to the Past 2

 

Isaak was only 4 years old when his mother passed away. Though she had extraordinary magical powers, she had a weak constitution.

One year after his mother’s death, his father had welcomed a new wife. 5 year old Isaak didn’t get attached to her. The woman was also not such an amazing person that she’d gotten attached to Isaak either.

After all, Isaak had ended up leaving his parents’ home to live with his maternal uncle.
His uncle, Werner Siebel, was a bachelor known to have a very eccentric personality. He had been close to his older sister’s son and had often looked after him since before.

 

Werner’s home was located in the countryside, far from where all the royal aristocrats lived, and was far from being called splendid by anyone’s standard. Originally, the Siebel family was also one of the higher ranking nobilities, second only to the royal families; but Werner disliked the various constraints in the life of an aristocrat so he had left his parents’ home and lived independently.

It wasn’t a financially-blessed life, but Isaak loved his life with Werner. Although that ended suddenly when Isaak was 12 years old.

 

『Isaak. Sorry, I’ve failed you……』

After Werner came back from another continent, he was brought to a cathedral due to a serious injury. It was even a wonder how he had made it that far with such an injury as it was a fatal wound.

『Someone, somebody! Cast the recovery magic! Hurry!』

Though he was desperately looking around while clinging to that bloodstained body, the adults around him only shook their heads.

『He is already in a state where even recovery magic wouldn’t help him. I’m sorry……』
『Lies! Hurry ――』
『……Isaak. It’s enough that I was able to return. With this, at least I could see you once again, right? It’s unreasonable to ask God for any more than this.』
『Don’t want, Werner. Don’t leave me alone……』
『Baka. You’re not going to be alone. Don’t you still have a splendid father?』

Werner reached out with his wounded arm and ruffled Isaak’s head while grinning widely.

『The time you were with me was fun. Go have lots of fun from now on too. Promise.』

And so, that endlessly bright smile, also became his eternal farewell.

 

Isaak returned to the Lambertz home after 7 years, but was unfortunately unable to fulfill Werner’s last wish and spent his time in depression.

Although his father, stepmother, and younger brother didn’t shun him; his interactions with them were full of reservation as he only felt at ease when he was alone.
Even after going back and forth between the royal academy where all the noble’s children go; everything still remained the same.

Most nobles started attending the academy at 6; but Isaak had been living freely in the countryside until he was 12 and so he was unaccustomed to the environment.

Before he knew it, one day that nickname was attached to him, and Isaak’s mouth distorted in disapproval.

「…… Wolf Prince, huh. Lame.」

 

As usual, he was playing truant during lessons and was laying down in the garden’s lawn.

He was about to sleep when he felt a presence and so Isaak opened his eyes. Looking around, Isaak saw a girl a bit younger than him entering the forest.

「What the hell is she doing ― that girl.」

Curious as to what she was doing in such a place, Isaak was suddenly taken aback. All of a sudden, a tremendous shockwave hit the area.

Isaak immediately casted defense magic to protect himself and the shockwave went away instantly, but he looked around in panic to find the girl.
It didn’t take much searching before he immediately found the girl. The trees in the surrounding area were completely annihilated by the shockwave.

 

「Tsk, oi! Are you alright?」

Rushing over with worry towards the little girl, she merely looked at him with a puzzled expression.

「You…… are who?」
「……Not that, you, are you okay? Or more like, was it you?!」
「Now? That’s right. Because my control isn’t good, that’s why.」
「Ahー……」

（I hurried over for nothing……）

Isaak drooped his shoulders and hung his head in disappointment so the girl peered at Isaak’s expression from below.
Her eyes were large and a bit like a cat’s. Meeting her gaze directly, Isaak jumped back in surprise.

「T, too close!」
「Just now, were you nearby?」

The girl just ignored Isaak’s words and stared at him while getting closer and closer.

「I just said you’re too close!」
「You were nearby, ne? I thought no one was around and completely didn’t notice. I’m sorry.」
「No, your face doesn’t look like you are sorry. But that aside, I said you’re too close!」
「Your hair; it’s a bit burned, ne?」

The girl stretched out her hand and touched Isaak’s bangs.

「D, don’t touch me!」

The sudden contact surprised Isaak so he grabbed the wrist in front of him.  But because he was flustered by the slender wrist, he let go right away. Thinking that he probably handled her too roughly, his spine grew cold.

（Not good!）

「Sorr――」

But the girl doesn’t seem to care about the worries of Isaak’s inner heart; and for some reason her face starts to shine brighter.

「You. You’re strong, ne? You were able to protect yourself with defensive magic?」
「Haa!?」
「I just used all my power just now, you know. And for someone to have almost completely defended against it. It’s the first time.」
「Haa? No, get away from me!」

Isaak pushed the girl’s shoulders to gain some distance between them.
The girl doesn’t seem to care about it and continues to stare at Isaak with the same delighted expression.

「I’m Claudia Rosenheim. Ne, your name is?」
「……Isaak.」
「Isaak? Could it be you are the Lambertz family’s Wolf Prince?」
「You shouldn’t call me that directly.」
「Why? It is cool, isn’t it?」
「Haa!?」
「Because wolves are brave and cool.」
「Gah――」

He was at a loss for words. He hastily responded while scratching his head to Claudia who was tilting her head as she stared at him with a puzzled expression.

「It, it’s different! The wolf grows up to become bad and never gets accustomed to people, right?!」

Hearing that, Claudia gave an apologetic face.

「So you hated it, ne? I’m sorry.」
「Ahー……。That is to say, I’m used to it already.」
「But, not being accustomed to people; I am the same.」

Isaak is surprised at her unexpected words.

「I, because I am bad at controlling my magic powers, everyone is afraid. That’s why I don’t have friends.」
「…… So that is why you came to such a place by yourself.」
「That’s right. I was thinking about practicing.」

From the expressions until now, this one is a bit different and looks a bit lonely; that’s why Isaak instinctively said.

「…… Shall I go with you? For practice.」
「Eh!?」
「I’ll teach you how to control it.」
「……Really?」
「I can at least defend myself against your magic power, right?」

He responded while looking away slightly. Claudia jumped towards Isaak so he was once again surprised when she grasped his hand with both of hers.

「I’m so happy! We’ll get along well, right Isaak?」

Her smiling face was filled with an enthusiastic light that her eyes seemed like real large sapphires.

You could say it was impossible to not have fallen in love.

 

 

TN:

Baka ⇒ Idiot. (Side Note: Actually, baka is used so much in anime and manga that we think it’s okay to say normally like in a fond and friendly way, but it is actually rude so don’t use it. :p)