Chapter 154: Side Story 10 

Ysildus narrowed his eyes and watched Alexa smile at the flower. The small blossom that Frey had given her was still in her hand. Though wilted now, the flower that had adorned the pocket of Alexa’s white coat all day long had not left her grasp.

‘That insolent little wolf b*st*rd.’

Ysildus clenched his jaw.

Anyone who so much as held a fraction of Alexa’s attention was, to him, as good as an enemy. He already wasn’t satisfied with receiving her full attention, so how could he stand having to share it with some worthless nobody? Alexa was simply too full of love.

He knew that was Alexa’s nature. And not wanting to be hated by her, he kept still…

…but there were moments when jealousy and rage burned so fiercely in his chest that it was almost impossible to hide.

Of course, he had never once shown any of it in front of Alexa. She was delicate, like glass. If he ever let those feelings slip, she might get scared and run away.

‘And that’s the last thing I want.’

With a sly smile tugging at his lips, Ysildus spoke.

“You like flowers, huh?”

“Huh?”

Only then did Alexa lift her head to look at him.

“Are flowers prettier than me?”

Ysildus tilted his head, like a mischievous puppy from his younger days. Alexa blinked in confusion.

“Prettier than you?”

She echoed the question absentmindedly, her dazed gaze already captivated by him. Her heart thumped, again and again. She swallowed without realizing it.

Yes, the flower was pretty. But Ysildus… Ysildus was prettier. Just who did he get it from…? Ah, of course, he was the perfect combination of Essellia and Carlisle’s best traits.

“You’re prettier, Ysildus…”

Alexa dropped her gaze as she said it. It was always easy to say these things to Terrun, but with Ysildus, even the most obvious compliments became difficult. She nibbled at her lip.

“But don’t people usually prefer to be called handsome?”

Ysildus tilted his head the other way.

“Or cool, maybe.”

He leaned down and kissed the back of her hand. Pressing his lips firmly against her skin, he burst into soft laughter.

‘What’s he planning now…’

As Alexa tensed and curled her fingers in anticipation… 

“I like any compliment that comes from you. Say more, Alexa.”

Ysildus whispered sweetly, too sweetly.

“C-Compliment…?”

She thought about it, she always did, but for some reason, whenever she stood in front of Ysildus, her mind went completely blank. He had a knack for flustering her with just a few words. Her eyes darted away. And when he smiled like this, it was hard, strangely hard, to meet his eyes. The problem was, he was smiling almost all the time. Especially when looking at her.

‘Ugh… he’s just too pretty, that’s why.’

Alexa took a slow, deep breath and said,

“What kind of compliment?”

“Anything’s fine. Or just tell me what you think of me.”

With a lazy ease, Ysildus pulled her toward him. Before she knew it, they were sitting side by side, their knees touching. His movements were so natural, so fluid, that Alexa didn’t even realize she’d shifted her seat.

She just sat there, face flushed red, turning her head away like she desperately wanted to escape this situation. No matter how many deep breaths she took, her pounding heart wouldn’t calm down. Her mouth was dry. So dry…

“Hmm?”

Ysildus nudged, coaxing her. Alexa turned her eyes slightly and looked at him.

With a soft, teasing smile, Ysildus gently rubbed her palm. He was just playing with her fingertips, barely anything, and yet it felt like her heart was about to explode. Her lashes trembled.

“What do you think of when you look at me?”

He asked with deliberate provocation, his lips moving ever so slowly.

He’d do anything for Alexa. Anything, if it meant capturing her gaze and holding it only for himself.

Her eyes were locked on his lips. That soft red tongue peeking between them made her cheeks flush impossibly hotter. Her mind was spiraling, and that look on his face kept leading her astray.

‘I-I want to kiss him…’

Like this thought now, which was flooding her mind.

Blushing as red as her own hair, trembling all over, Alexa looked unbearably adorable. Ysildus’s smile deepened. The wildflower in Alexa’s hand, long forgotten, seemed irrelevant now. Ysildus gently took it from between her fingers.

He clicked his tongue lightly as he looked at it, then carefully set it down on the window sill. He didn’t like anything stealing Alexa’s attention. But he never wanted to hurt her heart, either.

Eyes shut tightly, Alexa was taking deep breaths. Ysildus let out a soft chuckle and tilted his head to kiss her.

Chup.

“Kyah!”

Startled, Alexa’s eyes flew open wide.

“I want to kiss you.”

“W-What?”

“That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it? No?”

“N-No!!”

But her trembling voice betrayed her. Ysildus narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer. Alexa tried to pull away, but all she did was press herself against the carriage wall.

Flustered, she placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Really not?”

Ysildus asked gently. Alexa hesitated, then lowered her eyes.

“…Yeah. Actually… I did think about it. A little.”

That sweet and honest confession made Ysildus laugh. And as his laughter faded, he leaned in and kissed her. Not just a soft, fleeting kiss, but one that lingered, entangled, curling her toes without her even realizing it. The kind of kiss that made your heart race wildly, made your ears burn with heat.

Alexa gripped his shoulders tightly.

Clatter.

Each time the carriage rocked, Alexa shrank into herself in embarrassment, and Ysildus laughed softly against her lips.

She really was the most lovable partner imaginable.

* * *

Bright red like an overripe tomato, clutching the little flower in her hand, Alexa stepped down from the carriage and found herself under Essellia’s watchful gaze.

Judging by how much she was shaking…

Essellia turned to glare icily at Ysildus.

“Head maid. I think Alexa could use some hot chocolate. With marshmallows.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The head maid led Alexa inside, leaving only Essellia and Ysildus behind. Terrun and Jeremiah had already arrived earlier and returned to the mansion. Crossing her arms, Essellia gave Ysildus a piercing look.

“What did you do to her?”

The look in her eyes said: What the hell did you do to my girl to make her look like that?

Ysildus simply shrugged.

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“Alexa’s very satisfied with the work she’s doing right now. She finds it fulfilling. If you’re getting in her way…”

“Of course not. Her happiness is my happiness.”

As proof, there was that d**n flower Alexa had held so dearly as she walked in. Ysildus was doing everything he could to protect what she held dear even if it came from another man.

“Then that’s fine. But… do you plan to keep following her around like this?”

Which, in blunt terms, meant: Are you just going to keep bothering her and ignore your own responsibilities?

Ysildus tilted his head.

“How could I? Thersion is in the middle of a storm. I can’t leave everything to Aunt Violeta.”

“…Well, at least you’ve still got your head on straight. I was starting to think Alexa had completely melted your brain. Of course, she is adorable, but you do need to handle your own business.”

Which was yet another way of saying: Stop bothering her and get to work.

“I should send Jeremiah back. That way we can stop wasting time on these pointless mind games.”

“Hm.”

Essellia nodded slowly.

“The Ninth Prince is a pitiful child. He didn’t even receive proper care from his own mother.”

“And that’s exactly why he draws Alexa’s attention.”

Annoyingly so.

Jeremiah was sly, constantly trying to provoke Alexa’s sympathy to get her to look at him. If he was a human being, he should act like one. Ysildus criticized Jeremiah without once considering how he himself looked in the process.

“That’s what they call internalized species hatred, isn’t it?”

Ysildus responded without a shred of shame.

“One fox is enough for Alexa, and that’s me.”

Utterly shameless. And entirely proud.

……

T/N: And utterly possessive