Chapter 137 

[“No matter how strong Thersion is, even he has a weakness.”]

[“A weakness?”]

[“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”]

[“Tell me what it is.”]

[“There is a girl named Alexa Eneroff. A human girl that Thersion is always hovering around. She’s the only human among wolves. Wouldn’t you say that makes her a weakness?”]

Recalling the conversation he had with Ruella, Depier let his lips curl into a faint smirk. He had taken Ruella in because she’d literally been sitting on top of the curse of the Red Clan, and he figured she might be of use.

And just as he’d hoped, Ruella had turned out to possess quite a lot of useful information. She was the one who taught him that it was possible to inject dark blood into a human and bestow them with abilities.

And once again, this time, it was Ruella who had provided information about Alexa to the knights who survived the latest expedition and experiment.

It was a testament to someone who’d lived bound in a tower for a long time. Having murdered the previous Emperor, Depier had never been entrusted with the knowledge passed down through the imperial bloodline. There was more he didn’t know about the empire and the royal family’s secrets than he did.

And Ruella was filling in those gaps. It was the reason she, once treated like a beast, was finally being acknowledged as a human.

“Ruella.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ruella slowly raised her head, her face still marred by the scars of torture.

“As you advised, I’ve decided to split the Imperial Knights in two.”

Ruella stared emotionlessly at the Crown Prince’s feet. She had wanted to escape the tower to avoid dying with a rope around her neck, but in the end, she had simply placed that noose in the hands of the Crown Prince instead. Not that she actually believed him when he promised to free her once Thersion was defeated.

Still, Ruella had only one reason for cooperating with the Crown Prince. She had been born a Red Clan member, just like Alexa, and yet Alexa alone had been chosen. That meager jealousy burned within her.

If only it weren’t for her! If only Alexa hadn’t existed! If only Thersion hadn’t razed the Tower and Spire in retaliation for her!

Those ugly, festering thoughts twisted into resentment and the thirst for revenge against Alexa.

That was the only reason Ruella served the Crown Prince: to drag Alexa Eneroff down to the same wretched level as the rest of the Red Clan.

“Ruella, you’ll take command of one half.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Lead them and strike Thersion. I’ve already secured a shortcut. Our allies will open the gates for you and let you pass. You’ll arrive before Thersion does.”

“Yes. I won’t disappoint you.”

Ruella gave a chilling smile. So she was finally getting the chance to face Alexa Eneroff. She would tear that girl to pieces with her own hands.

* * *

Alexa was just an ordinary human, and like any other, she had once dreamed of all the romantic fantasies love could bring. Confessing her feelings under a starlit sky, sharing a kiss in some quiet, secluded place, locking eyes like in the movies.

But reality always has its own plans. And Alexa’s reality tended to be louder, and far more dramatic.

“Aaaaah! Get away from me! I said GET AWAY!!!”

Terrun wrenched Ysildus away from Alexa by the throat. Alexa had clearly been the one to initiate the kiss, yet Terrun looked at Ysildus like he’d committed a grave crime. His face was twisted with rage as he leaned in and hissed profanities through gritted teeth. Jeremiah stepped between them, shielding Alexa.

“Alexa. That’s not something you should be watching.”

“Huh…?”

“I told you the moon is bright tonight. You have to be careful on nights like this.”

“What are you talking about?”

Alexa blinked blankly.

“Alexa, there’s no way you would kiss Ysildus. Right?”

Hearing someone else say it out loud made her cheeks instantly flush. Alexa turned her head away and pressed a hand to her left cheek. Ugh… Her face was burning up. Ahem!

“When the moon is this bright, it’s said that the wolves’ energy surges sky-high. You were bewitched.”

“Huh? That’s not what happen…”

“You were bewitched, Alexa.”

Jeremiah cut her off, speaking firmly. 

Alexa wasn’t the kind of person to be confused about her own feelings, but the way Jeremiah insisted so seriously made her second-guess herself for a moment. She blinked again. No. She wasn’t so foolish as to be oblivious to her own emotions. She shook her head.

“No. Ysildus proposed to me, and I accepted…”

“You were bewitched.”

Jeremiah interrupted her once more. Behind them, Terrun’s angry shouting could still be heard. 

Amid the chaos, Alexa thought she saw something shimmer at the corners of Jeremiah’s eyes. She’d thought he was joking, but his lips were trembling slightly. The color had drained from them, like he was holding something back.

“Just say it was that.”

Alexa gave a clumsy nod. If she didn’t, she had a feeling Jeremiah would break down in tears. Only then did he smile, however faintly.

“That’s a relief, Alexa. Right?”

She didn’t know what was so relieving, but she returned a similarly awkward smile. 

Jeremiah clenched his fist. He knew it was just a band-aid over a bullet wound. He had seen the unmistakable feelings Alexa held for Ysildus. But to be rejected without even having the chance to confess… that was just too cruel.

“Enough!”

Ysildus shoved Terrun’s face away. Terrun roared and tackled him again, and the two ended up rolling on the ground in a scuffle.

“What the heck! Are you both okay?!”

Alexa, who had been standing beside Jeremiah, ran toward them. She crouched next to them, scolding them with a smile tugging at her lips.

It was a beautiful night even if someone’s heart had just been torn to shreds.

* * *

The night that had seemed endless finally came to a close, and morning dawned. Another day passed, and morning came again. Alexa, feeling awkward about facing Ysildus, had spent the day avoiding him. And before she knew it, the day of his departure had arrived.

Her feelings were all over the place. Even though she had known this day would come.

Before leaving, Ysildus came to see her. Alexa quietly tugged on his sleeve.

“You’re not avoiding me anymore?”

“Well…”

Alexa took a deep breath and spoke.

“Take me with you… I want to go too.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. That’s why I came to tell you that.”

Ysildus spoke in a low voice.

“Why? I want to see you off. I want to pray for you too, Ysu.”

Alexa stubbornly shook her head.

“Alexa. I don’t think I could leave if you were standing behind me.”

He spoke gently. He reached out and brushed her cheek as she kept her head bowed. His voice wavered slightly. She must’ve been crying. Ysildus kissed the top of her head.

“I can’t leave you behind like that. So please… don’t come.”

“But still…”

“You don’t have to cry, Alexa. I’ll be back soon.”

Alexa gave a strong nod.

“You said you’d marry me. So I’ll wait. You have to come back.”

“I will. I promise.”

“So let’s say goodbye like this for today. Don’t come out, Alexa.”

With words like that, Alexa couldn’t refuse him. In the end, she nodded, and the head maid and Miss Jane gently wrapped their arms around her. Ysildus closed the bedroom door behind him, leaving Alexa sobbing inside.

“…So cute.”

Ysildus quickly wiped the pained look from his face and smirked. Pretending to be emotional was nothing for him. He never fought losing battles. It was only a matter of when the war would end.

Still, seeing Alexa cling to his sleeve like that… it made acting a necessity. In truth, he had come to take her with him. But now he didn’t want anyone else to see that side of her. Especially not Jeremiah or Terrun.

Loosening his shoulders with a tilt of his head, Ysildus smiled to himself. He could still hear Alexa’s whining behind the door. Truly, it was hard to leave. Having to part with her even just for a while made him want to wipe out the entire nuisance of Temperchi altogether. Clicking his tongue softly, he began to walk.

“Huh? Where’s Alexa?”

“And why are you still here?”

Ysildus answered Terrun’s question with one of his own. Terrun made an ah face and said, “You were taking too long, so I came to get you. His Excellency said if you didn’t show up soon, he’d take Alexa and run off with her.”

Ysildus let out a dry laugh. Carlisle was still obsessed with his title as ‘the strongest, most handsome, and kindest Grand Duke.’ The idea that he would do something to Alexa by force? More likely the sky would fall.

“Terrun.”

“What?”

“I’m leaving Thersion in your hands. Don’t let a single soul cross that threshold.”

Ysildus pointed to the wall marking the edge of the estate. Terrun chuckled.

“Of course. If anyone dares step on that threshold, I’ll snap their neck.”

A low growl rumbled from between his teeth. For the first time in a long while, Ysildus and Terrun stood on the same side, hand in hand.