Chapter 155: Side Story 11 

Ysildus’ resolve was firm.

“He’s bound to return sooner or later anyway.”

Essellia nodded slowly.

“Still, it’s frustrating how he’s doing absolutely nothing, just sitting on his hands. What’s his deal?”

Ysildus muttered, clearly displeased.

“He’s getting on my nerves.”

His sharp gaze narrowed with hostility.

It wasn’t just Terrun he had tipped off to keep an eye on Jeremiah. Several wolves were already shadowing him. According to their reports, Jeremiah really wasn’t doing anything. He was simply preparing to leave, gathering his things, buying supplies, that was all.

And even then, he wasn’t the one moving around. He merely trailed after Alexa, while his subordinates handled everything else.

“If you say so, then I’ll take your word for it.”

Essellia nodded again. Whatever the case, Ysildus would never do anything to hurt Alexa or risk being caught doing something that could end badly. With a careless air, Essellia turned away. Left alone, Ysildus’ expression cooled, his face sinking into shadow.

Jeremiah Temperchi. A troublesome thorn he couldn’t ignore.

* * *

Alexa lingered around Ysildus, pacing. Pretending to flip through a book only to close it again, fiddling with her nightgown as she went in and out of the bathroom, glancing into the mirror for no reason.

Ysildus had naturally come to Alexa’s room, and the two were now alone together.

Maybe it was because of what had happened earlier, but it wasn’t easy for Alexa to meet his eyes. It had been a while since they’d shared such an intense kiss, even though she’d long since started seeing Ysildus as a man. Just making eye contact sent electric jolts through her chest.

No, through her entire body, from head to toe.

‘How am I supposed to lie down next to him like this?!’

What had always been routine now felt awkward. Truth be told, Alexa had made several attempts in the past to get Ysildus out of her bedroom. But like a slippery eel, he always found some excuse to stay.

Still… this can’t go on. If I lay next to him like this, my heart might actually explode. Of all times, why now?

‘How was I supposed to know a kiss could be that sexy?!’

Alexa screamed internally. After a kiss like that, of course her mind would start to wander… and wander further. She shook her head, cheeks in her palms. She was an adult, so why did just thinking about it make her heart pound like crazy?

‘There’s no doubt I’m possessed by some horny demon.’

Alexa chewed her lip.

No matter what she said, she didn’t think she could get Ysildus to leave. But she had to try. While Ysildus sat there calmly reading, Alexa felt like her heart was drying up and about to die.

“Ahem. Ysildus?”

As if waiting for her to call him, Ysildus slowly lifted his head. He’d already noticed she was flitting around nervously. And he already knew what she was thinking.

How could he not, when she kept avoiding his gaze like that?

“What do you say… to sleeping in separate rooms starting today?”

Alexa asked bluntly.

“Hm?”

Ysildus raised an eyebrow. That’s what she’d come up with after all that hesitation? She could’ve said, Kiss me. Hold me. Stay with me. Something sweet like that. But instead… this?

Still, Ysildus wasn’t a fool. He wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity, let alone give one away. That was out of the question.

He smiled softly.

“Alexa.”

“What?”

“We’re getting married soon, aren’t we?”

Alexa paused, then nodded.

“Which means we’ll be sharing a room before long anyway, right?”

“R-right…”

“Then is there really any need to start sleeping separately now?”

Ysildus tilted his head, as if the idea made no sense to him. Alexa shifted her eyes nervously. Now that he put it that way, it was hard to argue.

“B-but still… at least until then…!”

Blushing furiously, Alexa clenched her fists. It was one of the things Ysildus found especially cute about her. He let out a soft chuckle at the sight of her flushed cheeks, as ripe as a peach. If he took a bite, she’d probably burst into tears, wouldn’t she?

He closed his book and rested his head on his arms atop the sofa backrest. Startled, Alexa turned from her seat at the mirror.

“Until then… what? Do you have a reason we need to sleep in different rooms? It’s not like we’re doing anything. Just sleeping. Holding hands.”

Ysildus spoke gently.

“I can’t even sleep anymore unless you’re beside me.”

That… that was…

“Did you sleep well while I was gone, Alexa? Without me?”

She hadn’t.

It had felt strange without him. She’d missed him. She worried about how he was doing, and sighed through sleepless nights. There were days she nodded off in the middle of the afternoon after tossing and turning until dawn. She’d been so sleep-deprived that she was tired all day.

But maybe things would be different now.

Alexa chewed her lip.

“Well? Tell me, Alexa.”

Ysildus asked in a tender voice. People might not notice when someone is there, but they always notice when someone’s not. Ysildus already knew what her answer would be. He knew very well that Alexa couldn’t sleep properly without him.

“I can’t do anything without you, Alexa.”

He looked like a forlorn puppy, completely dejected.

“…Me too.”

At last, Alexa confessed.

“I can’t fall asleep without you either.”

“Then why?”

Ysildus wasn’t going to settle for anything less than the truth. He was expecting a very sweet, very satisfying answer.

Alexa swallowed hard.

She wanted to escape this moment somehow, but she also knew no excuse she could make would sound convincing. She lowered her head and gave a small shake of it.

“…It’s just, I…” She sighed, “My heart races too much. Just seeing you makes it hard to breathe.”

There it is.

Ysildus smiled in satisfaction. That was what he’d wanted to hear all along.

“I get nervous too,” he said simply.

Since Alexa had shown him her vulnerable side, he figured it was only fair to be more honest as well.

“Every time I see you, I get nervous.”

Alexa stared at him with wide, trembling eyes.

“Every time I see you, I want to kiss you. And if you’re okay with it… more than that, too.”

Thank god.

For a moment, Alexa nearly let herself feel relieved. So it wasn’t just her who’d been possessed by lewd thoughts. She wasn’t the only one, after all.

‘Wait… but is this really something to be relieved about right now?!’

Alexa pressed her palm firmly over her racing heart. It felt like it might leap right out of her chest.

“Even so, I still don’t want to be apart from you.”

Faced with such sincerity, Alexa could only shut her mouth. Ysildus always did the things Alexa couldn’t. He acted like it was nothing, with a beaming smile that seemed to say I’m just happy we feel the same way.

“So don’t try to send me away, Alexa.”

He smiled gently. And once again, Alexa found herself giving in to that smile.

She’d thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but she’d slept like a rock.

* * *

Alexa blinked awake, snugly buried under the covers. She and Ysildus had talked about the most trivial things, and before she knew it, she’d fallen asleep. Aside from holding her hand, Ysildus hadn’t done a thing.

But the whole night had been filled with the sweetest kind of excitement.

“Hoo…”

Alexa let out a small breath.

It was starting to feel real, she and Ysildus were truly a couple. They were getting married soon. And at some point… they would do more intimate things, too.

Alexa touched her lips.

Oh no.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Even the sunlight filtering through the covers felt strangely suggestive.

“Good morning, Alexa.”

At the sound of Ysildus’ gentle voice, Alexa peeked her head out from under the blanket. He was smiling at her with that warm, radiant expression.

“Good morning,” she whispered softly.

Something had definitely changed between them after their honest talk the night before. She felt like their bond had grown stronger, more solid.

It was a morning as dazzling as Ysildus’ smile.