Rory had faked illness before—so it didn't take her long to realize that the Wolf King's "severe injuries" were nothing but an act.
At first, she was puzzled. Why would the Wolf King pretend to be so badly hurt?
Now she understood.
He was afraid she had come to return Xarion.
Rory's lips twitched slightly. It couldn't have been easy for him—playing weak, even putting on a pitiful show.
"Father, you've misunderstood. I didn't come to return him." She reached out and took Xarion's hand. "Xarion is very good. And I've already formed a bond with him. Even if you wanted him back, I wouldn't agree."
"…You're not returning him?" The Wolf King looked at her, still a little doubtful.
Rory nodded. "I swear to the Beast God—I did not come to return him."
The moment she invoked the Beast God, the Wolf King's worries vanished completely. He straightened at once, releasing the First Elder's support. "Good! As long as you're not returning him!"
