The last thing he expected was to meet the Knights like this – well actually, he didn’t think this day would come this soon. Occasionally, they would ask him for help containing the attackers but other than that, they hadn’t actually spoken to him ever since he became a Knight.

So, this would mark the first time he would meet them like this, as a member of their team.

“The uniform looks good on you,” Hero breaks the awkward silence with the kind comment.

No matter what good-natured Hero said, the strange air surrounding the Knights never dissipated. “…Thanks,” Daehyun mutters in response.

The five Knights – including Daehyun, sat around the round table in the strategic room. The four had their eyes on the youngest Werewolf, not quite sure how or where to start.

When Daehyun had enough of it, he initiated the conversation himself. “Can you all just come out and say it?” Even though he was the first to speak, he was still dreading the moment when these Knights would look at him and question his position as the Princess’ new Knight – 

Well, that’s what he thought this conversation was going to be about anyway.

“Why did you return to the castle?” Seeing that Daehyun was blunt, Yongguk decided he shouldn’t hold back either.

Here it is.

So, they really didn’t want him back – Daehyun kept his thoughts silent. 

“We thought you would have been long gone after you sprinted so fast out of here,” Bronze continues when Daehyun doesn’t respond to Yongguk’s question.

Daehyun reaches up and scratches the back of his head. Normally, he wouldn’t sit through this but if he upsets them – would his title of being the Princess’ Knight get taken away? He couldn’t risk that happening – he didn’t want that happening.

“Hey,” Yongguk calls for the Werewolf’s attention once more. “I’m still waiting on hearing your motive.”

Did they think he only returned because he wanted to be a Knight? 

But then again, at the time, he didn’t even know it was possible for that to happen.

As the questions continued on, Daehyun only remained silent as his inner turmoil consumed all of his attention. He knew they wouldn’t accept him but for them to be so straightforward about it, he didn’t know how to take it, let alone, respond to it.

And the bigger question is – 

When did he become so attached to the point that he feared leaving her side?

Daehyun finally looks up to meet their eyes. “If you all think I came back just so I can get this position, you’re all wrong.”

His answer causes the Knights to stop and stare at him.

“What?” The word left Yongguk’s lips quickly due to the Werewolf’s strange statement.

“Isn’t that what you all are thinking?” Daehyun questions back, not yet understanding how off topic he actually is. 

“No.” Yongguk sighs. “That is not what we are talking about.”

Hero couldn’t help but laugh. No matter how tough Daehyun acted, the kid was filled with uncertainty with himself. “I don’t think we are on the same page.”

Unlike Hero, Yongguk wasn’t too amused. They had more important things to worry about than the Princess’ decision – even though there may be some problems with it. 

“The day the attack happened, you returned,” Yongguk begins again, trying his best to clear up the situation. “Why did you return? Did you know about the attack beforehand?”

Daehyun stared around the table, silently scolding himself for making a mistake that could have been a lot more embarrassing if they didn’t catch the lack of relevance in his words. 

“That day, in the forest – they cornered me.” Daehyun finally caught on to what the Knights wanted from him since the beginning. “They wanted the black Werewolf back and castle destroyed.”

“Anything else?” Yongguk attempts to delve further.

Daehyun thought back and slowly the conversation he had that day comes back to mind. “He said I was an experiment that went wrong.” 

“Experiment?” The word suddenly gathers the Knights’ attention.

“Yeah, uh – “ Daehyun looked down and tried his best to remember the memories that flashed in and out of his mind after hearing the Werewolf’s voice. “All I can remember is a syringe and dark room – maybe that’s what he was talking about.” 

The voices.

“I don’t know how many there were when I was out the three days.” Daehyun’s memories had stopped there and it doesn’t seem like he would remember anytime soon. 

“Well, that proves you were injected with their enhancement drug.” Hero leans back in his chair and breathes out. How complicated does this situation get?

“If you’re seeking answers, there’s a possibility they’re still there,” he casually offers an option. He turns his head elsewhere, not paying attention to the looks he was receiving. “What?” He eyes them back from the side. He couldn’t read their thoughts but the looks upon their faces weren’t exactly giving him a good feeling. “Me?” He asks in shock upon deciphering their silent thoughts.

“They cornered you, right?” Yongguk explains in just a few words.

“Yeah, but –“ Daehyun wasn’t very one for the idea. He was always against being used in their plans.

“This has to do with the safety of the King – ” Hero adds in order to provide that push.

“So?” Daehyun retorts.

“ – And the Princess.”

Daehyun thinks for a moment as they wait for his answer. “Fine,” he says under his breath.

Hero looked on silently, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips once more. Daehyun was a lot easier to read than he expected. There was something different about him and Hero had no doubt that it has something to do with the Princess.

It seems like she always had that effect on people. 

Even if it seems that the boy was knighted without proper reason or it was done impulsively, Hero could see that Daehyun was serious about protecting the Princess. Princess Haewon had seen something in him that other people couldn’t.

Her judgment of people might not be so wrong.

***

Like how Werewolves think about humans, among the humans, Werewolves also have a bad name. For reasons I couldn’t exactly say for certain, we hate and judge them for worse. But if I were to say what I truly think, everyone will strongly deny it.

Our hate is fueled by fear and envy.

Humans envy the power that Werewolves possess. They are jealous of the strength and speed Werewolves are born with. Humans know how feeble their race is in comparison to Werewolves and when they think of the exceptional abilities Werewolves hold in their hands, they desire it but they know they can never have it. So, in order to quell their envy, humans try their best to exploit it for their own use. Because by doing this, even though they don’t personally have these abilities, they can still say they own it – in the end that is better than not hav