Chapter 125 

“This can’t go on.”

Terrun ground his teeth and slammed the table. These days, Ysildus was acting like he had Alexa all to himself, as if he were the only one close to her! But if you measured the amount of time spent with Alexa, Terrun actually had the upper hand. At least in terms of the time he’d spent with her in human form. Back when he was still a wolf pup, he didn’t even count as human… Terrun puffed out his cheeks, indulging in his own narrative.

“You’re right, Terrun. If we leave things as they are, Ysildus will end up taking Alexa away from us completely.”

Jeremiah took Terrun’s side. Not because he genuinely wanted to, though. Unlike Terrun, who still chose sides with innocent emotion, Jeremiah was a cunning human being.

He smiled sweetly. If they were going to go up against Ysildus, Terrun’s help would be absolutely essential. Honestly, someone like Jeremiah couldn’t face Ysildus head-on because there were too many disadvantages. That’s why he needed to move Terrun.

He believed there was still a chance. If he could just open up and confront Alexa with sincerity, giving it his all. But to bare fangs like a wolf and pull Alexa out from Ysildus’s grasp… a little scheming would be necessary.

“Ysildus is probably even hoarding the fried rice Alexa makes for himself. And I bet he won’t let you go on a picnic with her either.”

“What! That’s outrageous! That b*st*rd Ysildus has been like that since we were kids!”

Terrun slammed the table again.

“Sweet Terrun, you’ve held it in for so long, haven’t you?”

“I have! And he doesn’t even know I’ve been holding back… But now he wants to hog Alexa all to himself? I hate that he has her room all to himself too! I was thrilled when the nameplate fell off, you know!”

Terrun grumbled. Jeremiah smiled with quiet satisfaction. If Ysildus was a fox in a wolf’s skin, then Terrun was a true wolf who tried and failed to imitate a fox like him. Sure, sometimes he acted like a bat, swinging between both sides and occasionally resembling Ysildus. But the fact that he could be persuaded with words, that was Terrun’s innocent side.

“I think so too. Do you think you can rescue Alexa from Ysildus?”

“Of course! Isn’t Ysildus about to go off to war soon anyway? We just have to wait for that chance.”

Terrun let out a sly chuckle. The plan among those loyal to Ysildus and Thersion was to strike from below before the imperial family could make any underhanded moves. This wasn’t like the time Thersion had stood alone against the imperial capital.

Now, many nobles were pretending to support Jeremiah while clinging to Thersion. The wolf forces remained under Thersion’s command, but the noble families’ private troops led by Ysildus were to take the lead, reclaiming one fortress at a time. The plan was to open the gates of neutral territories with minimal resistance.

Just thirty years ago, there had been intense localized wars between lords. Those who remembered that bitter history would be sure to open their gates for Thersion, paving the way forward. Strategists, including Ysildus, predicted it would take Thersion just a month to break through to the capital.

That was how lightly they viewed this conflict, and no one voiced any objections. Ysildus volunteering to take the lead was essentially a declaration that he intended to end the civil war quickly. The idea of war was already fading from Terrun’s mind.

For Jeremiah, this war was a matter of life and death, but even he seemed to be growing carefree, perhaps because he was starting to resemble Thersion. Thersion’s wolves were so composed, it was contagious.

Jeremiah ran a hand through his hair and gave a gentle smile. If anything, it was Alexa who had been on his mind more. Alexa Eneroff. Lately, Ysildus’s guard around her had grown so tight that even getting close to her had become a challenge. He acted like a guard dog, not letting anyone near enough to say even a word.

“When is Ysildus leaving?”

“Probably in two weeks? I bet he hasn’t even told Alexa yet. That smug little demon.”

Terrun clicked his tongue and shook his head.

* * *

Did he seriously think about marriage?! Alexa shook her head. It was only the circumstances that made it seem that way. There was absolutely no intent on her part to go that far.

“N-no! Marriage is still too soon!”

Ysildus tilted his head and kissed the back of her hand. His fingers playing with hers grew unmistakably more intimate. Alexa blinked rapidly. Was the way she was feeling right now something Ysildus had planned? 

‘Or was it …something I want?’

The nape of Alexa’s neck flushed bright red. She kept staring at his lips, couldn’t stop noticing the way his hands kept touching hers, and felt shy whenever their eyes met. Her heart tingled with something she didn’t quite understand. But if all of this was happening because she wanted it…

‘Ugh, get a grip, Alexa! You’re being possessed by some lewd little devil!!’

Alexa scolded herself harshly.

“Too soon for marriage? Isn’t that just a matter of perspective, Alexa?”

“Huh?”

“If you wanted it, I’d be ready to marry you this very moment.”

Ysildus smiled softly, like cherry blossoms drifting in spring. His silver hair shone even brighter in the dark, making him look almost otherworldly.

“W-what? Right now? That’s… uh, we don’t even have a venue… or a dress… There’s so much to prepare…”

Swept up in Ysildus’s pace, Alexa stammered out her words in a trembling voice, unable to pinpoint what the actual problem was.

‘This isn’t right, Alexa!’

Marriage wasn’t something to be decided so lightly. There were bigger issues involved, like getting Thersion’s approval, for instance…

“Thersion isn’t an obstacle.”

Just as she was thinking of him, Alexa flinched.

“Do you think my mother and father would oppose you?”

“Hmm…”

Alexa thought of Carlisle and Essellia. Carlisle had been so busy lately that she hardly saw him, but Essellia, she had tried to remodel Alexa’s bedroom and dressing room just because Alexa had woken up.

And Carlisle… had once gifted Alexa an entire annex building for her personal research lab, though she wasn’t using it at the moment. Would they really oppose her? Even she knew that was absurd.

“No.”

“Exactly. So then, do you think anyone else in Thersion would object?”

She thought of the time when she couldn’t dance, and they made both Ysildus and Terrun wear dresses. Yeah… definitely not. Alexa had no choice but to admit it: no one in Thersion would stand in the way of their marriage.

“That too… no.”

“See? There’s nothing stopping us, Alexa. If you and I want it, we could marry right now. That is… if you do want to.”

Ysildus kissed the ring on her finger again.

“Then, you… do you want to get married too, Ysildus?”

“Marriage… isn’t what matters, Alexa. As long as you and I can be together forever, I don’t care about formalities. Just knowing that you’re by my side and I’m by yours is more than enough.”

Alexa melted at his words. She closed her eyes and didn’t resist as his shadow leaned in over her. The large sapphire on her finger sparkled under the moonlight. His hand on her shoulder, their mingled breaths, it all left her mind feverishly dazed.

* * *

You idiot, Alexa… You actually started seriously thinking about marriage back there?! Are you stupid?! Clutching her head, Alexa slammed it onto the table. Sure, anyone can get swept up in the mood, but there’s a limit…! Ysildus is still young, you should be the one staying rational! She heaved out heavy sighs.

“Alexa? Is something wrong? Is this too difficult for you, perhaps?”

Brillia asked with a worried look. Today was the day classes resumed only after Alexa had pleaded earnestly for them to start again. Alexa snapped back to her senses and quickly shook her head.

“No, Teacher!”

This was no time to be distracted. Alexa glanced around and spotted Jeremiah sitting nearby.

“You two… Can I ask you to keep what I’m about to say a secret?”

“A secret?”

Jeremiah scooted closer to her.

“If that’s what you want, Alexa, I’ll keep it no matter what.”

“If you wish it, Alexa, I’ll take it to my grave.”

Taking a deep breath, Alexa nodded. The fact that Jeremiah was here, right now, almost felt like the world itself was lending her a hand. She looked back and forth between Brillia and Jeremiah before opening her mouth.

“Alright. I want to investigate the oath between the Imperial Family and Thersion. I want to find out if I can break it myself. If the blood of the Red Clan runs through me… then maybe, just maybe, I can undo it without lifting the curse.”

“Break… the oath?”

Jeremiah muttered in a daze.

“That’s right, Jeremiah. If I’m the one capable of lifting the Red Clan’s curse, then maybe I can do that too.”

“Hm… It’s not impossible, Alexa.”

Brillia murmured. It was something worth researching. If it worked, it could potentially bring a swift end to the civil war Thersion faced.

“If that happens… Thersion could raise his sword against the Imperial Capital?”

Jeremiah murmured.

“Worried? That Thersion might betray you?”

He paused in thought before shaking his head.

“No. That’s not what I’m worried about, Alexa.”

Thersion would never covet the throne. What Jeremiah feared was… what if he, Jeremiah, stole away the treasure that was Alexa and ran? In that case, Thersion would chase him to the ends of the earth. The greed in Jeremiah’s crimson eyes flared for a moment as he looked at Alexa, then faded.

“Let’s keep going. I really think you might be able to pull this off.”

Jeremiah smiled gently at Alexa, who sparkled like sunlight.