By Zephyria 
As everyone has probably guessed by now, the identity of the puppy that was suddenly loitering near the Empress Palace was, of course, Carlisle Graham. Carlisle had smuggled out one of the hunting dogs managed by the Imperial Palace in advance to create a space for himself to hide in, and shamelessly sat down pretending to be a puppy.
Noah couldn’t be so cold-hearted as to pretend not to know the livestock that was particularly affectionate to him, and the wolf in puppy’s clothing followed him all the way to the Empress’s bedroom so smoothly.
He revealed his identity in the dead of night. Only when all the servants, including the gaggle of maids, had gone to bed, and he was alone with the Empress, did he transform back into human form with a magical poof.
Noah wasn’t as surprised as he thought he would be. Perhaps he had half-expected it from the moment the puppy, too big to hold in one’s arms, had been held out to him, filling his heart with such comfort. Noah had only ever experienced such peace and clarity within Graham Castle.
“You probably wanted me to resent you, to hate you… to eventually stop loving you.”
“…Carlisle.”
“It’s come to this after all.”
“……”
“I know you have no intention of complicating things. I’ve heard enough about how dearly the Emperor cherishes you. I also know that you would never betray the Emperor who loves you.”
The unfamiliar, polished appearance of the grown-up young man was strange, but it still made Noah feel at ease. Noah desperately pushed Carlisle away, thinking of Adrian, who trusted only in him. Already loving God instead of Adrian was a sin enough, without even being able to properly confess the existence of the one he loved. If he had simply maintained a suitable relationship as Emperor and Empress, there would have been no need to hesitate, but Adrian Pearson had never once flaunted his power as a ruler in front of Noah. He was always an extremely faithful spouse who cherished and loved Noah.
“It’s a relief you know. There’s nothing more to say then. About last time… the way I…”
I did it to break things off, I’m sorry for saying things I didn’t mean. Noah cut himself off, about to continue. Was there no longer a reason to break things off now? No. Noah would not leave Adrian’s side until the day he died as a human. If that was the case… he should still be cold.
“I won’t ask for more.”
“……”
“Noah. If you told me to give up everything and just be a pet in the Imperial Palace, I would. I wouldn’t dare make things difficult for you.”
“That’s absurd. The Little Duke Graham can’t possibly…”
“I won’t be greedy. Can’t you just let me see your face whenever I want? Every time I remember you pushing me away and leaving, my heart aches terribly, and at the same time, I can’t help but wonder what you’re really like, so I can’t sleep. I don’t know how many portraits I’ve bought that supposedly captured your image. But they all felt lacking… Seeing you with my own eyes, I finally understand.”
“……”
“The rumors about you, that you must have received all the Blessings in the world, are so woefully inadequate.”
If Carlisle had been angry with Noah, shouting and threatening to take him away from the Emperor no matter what, Noah’s response would have been even more forceful. But Carlisle, instead of being angry with Noah for deceiving him from their first meeting, was only trying to appeal to his sympathy.
What he wanted was not for Noah to abandon his position as Empress and become the Duchess, nor for him to be made the official consort of the Empress.
“Just allow me to see you up close, that’s all.”
Noah had been suffering from a severe heartache due to a love sickness that was no different from unrequited love. There was no way that Noah, who yearned for, resented, and desired God with the same heart, could coldly cut off someone else who looked at him with the same feelings.
Of course, if he thought about it rationally, the best course of action for Carlisle would be to firmly refuse, leaving no room for hope.
But Noah was already too battered to give a more resolute response than that.
“I have one condition.”
“Tell me.”
“Adrian must not know, Adrian… never… I can’t hurt him any more than this…”
Compared to the risk Carlisle had taken by defying the Emperor’s orders and sneaking into the Imperial Palace, it might have been an extremely passive permission, but it was enough for Carlisle.
The Grand Duke Graham was officially heartbroken by his first love, unable to even properly approach the Empress, and was holed up in his townhouse in the capital, refusing all visitors under the pretext of illness. He had to spend all day imitating a puppy and lying at the Empress’s feet, so it couldn’t be helped.
Even the Emperor, who was keenly aware of anything related to the Empress, was not wary of a speechless beast. Rather, he was very pleased, delighted by the Empress’s appearance, which had become somehow brighter after bringing the puppy into the palace.
It was a strange thing. He had thought it was simply the sense of liberation he felt from being far away, but whenever he was with Carlisle, his head and heart invariably felt lighter. Just like when he was at Graham Castle.
Noah, who had been withering away, gradually came back to life.
It didn’t take long to find out why. One afternoon, when he was dozing off with Carlisle at his feet, God, looking very angry, appeared before him like a thunderbolt.
“Get that thing out of here immediately.”
God didn’t even greet Noah, who had just woken up and was still half-asleep, and commanded in a low voice.
If it had been the original Noah, who had been thoroughly domesticated by God, he would have obeyed without hesitation and nodded his head, but perhaps because he had regained his vitality after spending even a few days with Carlisle, the question of why came out first. It was the beginning of a rebellion that even Noah himself didn’t recognize.
“There is the power of another God planted inside that thing, a God who existed before me. When that thing is nearby, I can’t see you properly, nor can I read your thoughts as usual. That’s why it’s made me manifest myself like this, isn’t it?”
God readily revealed the reason without being wary. Until then, Noah was as insignificant to him as he was loved, so he didn’t even have the awareness to hide the reason or be wary.
“…Yes, I will. I’ll talk to him nicely and send him away soon. But I’ve grown attached to him… and I don’t know when I’ll see him again if he goes down to the north… Please give me just one month.”
He didn’t know where he got the courage. Noah lowered his eyes and pleaded, obediently placing his head under the hand of God, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
God, seeing the extremely obedient attitude of a being he didn’t consider to be very equal, nonchalantly granted his request.
“Well, that’s not a very long time… Anyway, it’s funny. They don’t even know they were created for me, but everyone has an eye for beauty.”
“……”
“Be loved to your heart’s content, Noah. Being loved and cherished is all the destiny I’ve given you. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of course. How could I not?”
“Good. Well, I’ll come again next time.”
Noah smiled brightly as he saw God off. When Carlisle was by his side, he didn’t have to censor the thoughts that came to mind. He couldn’t stop the laughter that kept bursting out. He hugged the warm body of the still-sleeping beast tightly in his arms.
“Carlisle.”
If only you were by my side… maybe I could escape forever…
He was finally happy.
*
Light shone into his head, which had been as empty as a buoy drifting aimlessly, for the first time in a long time. The Empress wandered around the Imperial Palace with the young puppy in her arms. A month seemed long yet short, and short yet long. Especially helpful was the Imperial Palace library. Taking an animal into the library was something that ordinary nobles wouldn’t even dare to do, but he was the Empress. That was definitely a helpful position.
In fact, what he really wanted to do was go to the Great Temple and search through the books, but the Great Temple was definitely God’s domain. He was worried that God’s influence might become even stronger while he was with Carlisle.
Although he had been deeply drawn to Noah in a short period of time, perhaps because he didn’t know much about Noah, Carlisle simply thought that Noah had always liked reading. Most of the books that Noah sought out and devoured were old theological texts that had been designated as forbidden books. Carlisle, who had grown up as the heir to Graham and had heard and learned various pieces of knowledge, would chatter beside Noah as he read, like footnotes.
No one but the Empress herself could dare to enter the forbidden area of the library, which was filled with forbidden books, so he could freely take on human form and talk to Noah. Carlisle was very happy about that.
“Ah… so the current God isn’t the one who created this world?”
“It might sound a little strange to the people of the Empire, but that’s right. The Graham Clan has consistently worshiped the original God who granted our ancestor, who was a wolf, a life as a human. If outsiders found out, we would be immediately branded as heretics.”
“So that’s why…”
“What is?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. I was just… wondering how a person could turn into a wolf and a wolf could turn back into a person.”
“Haha. Should I tell you something even more amazing? Our clan is actually more like wolves in our true form, and in that form, the power of the original God is stronger, so even the most ordinary sacred objects…”
The young beast, excited by his first love, was completely intoxicated by the rainbow-colored sunlight pouring through the library’s glass windows, the gentle smile of his beloved, and the affectionate voice, and began to reveal all the secrets he had without discrimination.
The deeper he revealed the family secrets that he thought were trivial, the brighter the expression of his love, which he had vowed would be the only one in his life, became, so there was not even a hint of hesitation.
So he couldn’t have guessed.
“Carlisle.”
“Yes, Noah.”
“Thank you. Thank you for coming to me… I don’t know how lucky I am.”
How Noah’s hope to escape from God should be fulfilled. How he himself would ignite Noah’s blind hope.