04

When I woke up, I found myself staring at the ceiling that had become all too familiar over the past few days. The room was dimly lit, with the only source of light being a small window near the top, giving it an eerie prison-like atmosphere, or perhaps something even worse.

The room itself was quite plain, with only a bed and a table tucked away in one corner. The only thin blanket I had been provided with was not enough to fight the deadly cold temperature of the palace. Had I not shifted into my wolf form every night, I would have died of cold till then.

However, this was not indicative of the entire palace. While the palace as a whole had a gloomy ambiance, it was not lacking in luxury. The grand halls were adorned with elegant furniture that spoke volumes about its centuries-old history.

The demon lord had his butler to attend to his needs, so all I had to do was follow the rules and not make my presence known. Even if I occasionally crossed paths with Caspian, he would ignore me completely, like a disregarded worm at a corner.

I was the only maid in the palace, as the servant's quarter was empty. The palace's decor suggested it had never been touched by a woman before.

However, one significant change in my life was that I never went hungry again. Despite being despised by both the demon lord and his butler, the necessary ingredients were always provided in the kitchen.

I no longer had to go hunting or wait countless nights to be fed. But as time went on, I grew more impatient, thinking about the old man who had taken me in after I left my pack.

I had no idea if he had eaten anything since I was captured by the demon lord. Though I wasn't being tortured in the palace as I had expected, I was still not allowed to leave.

I had made several attempts to exit the palace, but Caspian would always mysteriously appear whenever I tried, even though he was nowhere to be seen during the day.

As the days passed, my impatience continued to mount. I had doubts about the old man's ability to survive without food for such a long time. However, I didn't need to worry about the food situation because there was plenty of it available.

My only concern was leaving without being noticed and delivering the food I had preserved over the past few days. This would be enough to sustain the old man for at least two weeks. The real challenge was leaving the palace without attracting any attention.

I wasn't trying to run away permanently, though. After spending a few days at the palace, my health had started to improve. If I ran at my full speed, I could make it back to the palace before dawn. So, I patiently waited for nightfall.

The palace was quiet, and there was no sign of the demon lord or his butler, as usual. I walked cautiously through the hall, afraid that Caspian would suddenly appear like he had on previous days. However, as I reached the massive front door of the palace, no one followed me, causing my heart to race in my chest.

"Am I finally leaving the palace tonight?" I wondered as I stepped outside.

In the past few days, I always attempted to leave through the back door. This time, however, I used the front door, pondering if my success this time resulted from using the front door.+ Perhaps, Caspian never expected me to escape through the front door.

I trembled slightly in the thin white fabric of the maid outfit that Caspian had given me when I arrived at the palace. That was the only thing I had received since coming here. After that, no one came to inquire if I needed anything, not even the basic necessities.

Nevertheless, I wasn't upset or complaining. They had no obligation to take care of my needs. No matter how poorly I was treated, it was my responsibility to stay in the palace in order to survive.

I turned to look at the palace one last time, taking it in. I took a deep breath and transformed into my wolf form. Carrying a satchel filled with food, I began running through the woods. It had been a long time since I had felt so free.

However, as I ran further away from the palace, a strange feeling started to consume my mind. I remembered Caspian's warning on the day I first entered the palace.

"Now that you have entered the palace, don't forget who you belong to. There are many things lurking in the woods that want to harm the master. Don't do anything foolish."

At the time, I didn't fully comprehend the gravity of Caspian's warning. Now that I had taken this drastic step despite his warning, I began to understand what he meant. Being in the demon lord's palace, I would become a target for his enemies.

I shook my head, pushing away the thoughts. "It won't take long. Once I meet the old man, I will return to the palace as soon as possible. What could happen in such a short amount of time?" I tried to reassure myself.

I paused, sensing something following behind me. I had felt it since leaving the demon lord's territory. I looked around cautiously, trying to locate the enemy.

Finding my pursuer didn't take much time. Frowning, I fixed a glare on the bushes and cautiously set the satchel down.

I raised my claws, attempting to strike whatever was hiding behind the bushes. I was taken aback when a small animal emerged from the bushes, surprising me.

I became overwhelmed, gazing at the creature sitting in front of me, crying. The puppy dog eyes in its gruesome face somehow made it appear adorable, rather than intimidating like others of its kind.

Nevertheless, I was astonished to realize that the monster pup sitting before me was the same one that the demon lord had taken from its mother to train as his pet.

The monster pup approached slowly, nuzzling its head against my leg, just as it had done with its mother. I wondered if it was missing its mother, causing it to follow me since I had transformed into my wolf form.

But I didn't have time to waste with this creature. So, I gently pushed it away. I picked up my satchel again, attempting to leave it behind. However, the pup started following me once more.

I turned towards the monster pup, growling, trying to chase it away. But I felt weak against its helpless gaze. I sighed, unable to understand how this creature managed to escape at this late hour and why it wanted to come with me.

"Will the demon lord punish me if he finds out his pet escaped with me?" I pondered. Still, I couldn't ignore how adorable the monster pup looked at that moment and decided to bring it along. I would return to the palace soon anyway.

All my worries vanished as I caught sight of the rundown cottage I shared with the old man, causing me to quicken my pace. However, as I approached the cottage, I sensed something unusual.

A powerful whiff of blood assaulted my senses, sending a shiver through my insides. I came to an abrupt stop before the cottage, finding the wooden door wide open. Darkness cloaked the interior. Without hesitation, I entered, and as the satchel tumbled to the ground, its contents scattered across the floor.

The monster pup clung even closer to my leg, now nuzzling with an increased sense of fear. It growled, fixated on the darkness within the room. Stepping further into the cottage, a sinking feeling gripped my heart. Bloodstained every corner and there was no trace of the old man.

I aimlessly wandered around the empty room, desperately hoping to find the old man somewhere, in need of help. I couldn't understand what could have transpired. The old man no longer had his wolf, so why would someone take him away? Could it be one of those creatures the demon lord had under his control? I pondered.

I stared at the monster pup and shoved off the possibility. These creatures were tamed by the demon lord and had never ventured beyond the demon lord's domain previously.

"Who could it be?" I seethed with rage coursing through my veins. Exiting the cottage, I sprinted, following the ominous trail of bloodstains.

The marks vanished as I delved deeper into the woods. "A trap," I growled under my breath, the realization dawning that whoever attacked my home had deliberately lured me there.

Suddenly, a mocking male voice echoed through the trees, interrupting the eerie silence. "My, my! What a pretty wolf you are!"

I whirled around, my instincts on high alert, scanning the shadows for the source of the voice. The words hung in the air, taunting and unsettling.