The Swan Princess

Chapter 21: Lone Wolf

Today, I need a break from court politics. No Odile. No Insun. No prince.

No risk of death or dismemberment.

Today, I will trek through the path away from the castle, until my mind clears and I am ready to return.

The sun shines brightly and warms my loose clothing as I walk along the familiar path away from the drawbridge. Instead of taking the cobblestone road that carriages and merchants travel, I'm following along in the woods, using the same road I used to reach the castle.

The same road I first met Prince Siegfried on, too, my silly mind reminds me.

I'm almost ready to turn back, head cleared, when I hear a rustle next to me.

I stumble back. The source of the sound standing before me is massive. Jet black, covered in shaggy fur, and staring at me with observant blue eye is a haunting, enormous wolf.

Standing on all fours, it's as tall as I am, and the creature's head reaches my shoulders. Its tail is sticking straight up, alert and ready to pounce. It centered its eyes on me, like it identified a challenger.

It backs up one cautious hind leg at a time, as if retreating from an unseen threat. I am transfixed, rooted to the spot.

"Wait," I call out. This animal draws me to it, like a mouse on a string.

It hesitates.

I take one tentative step forward. Then another. Gathering my courage, I take a deep breath, and raise my hand to its side. Shaking a little, I rest my hand on its shoulder. It's a tiny speck of white amongst a massive black expanse.

"I remember you," I breathe. "You were there with the golden wolf, when I was almost assaulted."

An almost imperceptible nod of the head comes from the creature.

Grateful, I stroke my hand along his fur. "Thank you."

He chuffs. Then, my heart races as he moves his head to nuzzle my shoulder. Nervous, I stiffen before leaning in.

"Good boy," I say.

His snout sniffs, and then he twitches, before side-stepping away. He's as quiet as a shadow as he continues moving away from me.

"Wait," I call out. It freezes.

"Are you walking all the way back to the castle, alone?" Maybe I've lost my mind, but I feel like he would understand me. Prince Siegfried used to talk to these animals as a child, right? So he could understand the word "castle." Hopefully.

It spins its head back at me, assessing.

Then, it motions with its head. An invitation to follow.

"Let's go then, fluffer."

It growls, but lightly, and leads the way on the path back home.

***

"You're a handsome beast, aren't you?"

I don't know why I feel the need to fill the gap in conversation. I'm walking with a wolf, after all. But he moves slower than I remember him, walking in tandem with me, so the least I can do is keep him entertained.

He blinks once, as if to say yes.

"I used to have a pet in Joseon. Do you know where that it?"

Another blink.

"He... died in a fire."

Great work, Odette. Amazing conversationalist.

We continue on in awkward silence. I keep stealing glances at him, and, to my amusement, he looks back.

"I used to think that dog was the most I could ever care about something."

Here we go. Something nice and neutral.

"But now... I feel like there's a man that I actually care for more."

His ears perk up. We walk a few more paces before I continue.

"The problem is... I fell so hard for this one man I met."

A branch is in my way, and I brush it aside before continuing.

"Then... he turned out to be this alpha hole, the kind of guy that thinks he's better than everybody. So I ran away from him and that relationship."

The animal has drifted closer now, close enough to brush his fur along my skin.

"So I... started spending more time with this other man. Who's kind, and brave, and seems to really care about me..."

I steady my breath. I'm really here, pouring out my feelings for an animal. At least animals can keep secrets. It's not like this one can really talk back, anyway, so it's cathartic to complain to him.

"I mean, I like this guy so much, and I haven't even seen his face. But then, lately, when I'm tossing and turning in my bed at night, I wonder... why? Is there a reason he doesn't want me to see his face."

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

"I don't think he would be unattractive... I mean, he's built, so he would have to be handsome." The wolf makes a strange sound that sounds like a cough, so I stop.

"Are you okay, beastie?"

It shakes out its fur and continues trotting.

"Alright then. Where was I? Oh, yes. Faceless lover. So, I wonder... what if my feelings are unrequited? What if he doesn't want me to see his face because he doesn't think this relationship is serious? I mean, if he truly loved me, I would know by now, because my—"

I cut myself out. No need to explain the mechanics of my curse to an animal. Nevertheless, the creature turns its head to me, in a clear: continue?

I change the subject. "My mother used to always tell me that you can tell the character of a man by how he treats those lesser than him. Animals, especially. A cruel man hurts anyone beneath him. A kind man brings up everyone to his level."

Wolfie blinks in agreement.

"And Prince Siegfried..." I turn my head. "Do you know who he is?" My new friend blinks. I hope I'm interpreting those correctly as yeses, and not nos, because otherwise, I've just been boring this pet for this entire conversation.

"He was so kind to m — to this swan he encountered yesterday." I let out a sigh. "He also cares about my culture, enough to send Princess's Insun curated books regarding so — my heart is being pulled, involuntarily, in multiple directions right now."

The creature is silent now, eyes closed as he walks. Maybe I've bored him.

"Attraction is complicated," I conclude, "but do I really love either of them?"

The eyelids fly open, and frosty blue eyes fix upon me. "I think, if I'm really being honest, I am falling in love with—"

"NO!"

An arrow shoots down from the sky, hurtling straight toward my beast's heart.