Chapter 157: Side Story 13 

Meanwhile.

While the man who claimed to be the representative of the nobility was meeting with Violeta, Jeremiah went to find Alexa. He couldn’t return alone like this. He had to try something, anything.

“Alexa, are you busy?”

“Ah, no. I think this should be okay. I’m heading to work at the infirmary, but it feels like I look too flashy.”

“No, Lady! The ribbon is an absolute must!”

Alexa fiddled with her ribbon. The maid was so adamant that Alexa could only nod, as if there were no other choice. What could she say to a maid who proudly declared Alexa as her pride and joy? If wearing that ribbon could preserve that pride, then so be it.

And truthfully, she couldn’t deny that the ribbon looked good on her.

Jeremiah quietly watched as Alexa finished getting ready.

He observed Alexa and the maid as they chatted and hurried about the room. Bathed in sunlight, Alexa looked dazzlingly beautiful once again. Even though he knew she was someone he could never have, when she looked like this, when it felt like he could reach out and touch her…

While Jeremiah was lost in thought, the maid lifted her eyes sharply. Her gaze, fixed on him without the slightest hesitation, was filled with a cool warning. Whatever it was Jeremiah was feeling for Alexa, if he dared to reveal it, she would not stay silent.

Jeremiah let out a quiet chuckle. Even so, if he ever found himself in real trouble, he knew she would be one of the first to reach out a hand to him.

That’s the kind of people wolves were.

“Alexa. Can we talk for a bit? It won’t take long.”

Jeremiah smiled brightly.

Alexa tilted her head, puzzled, then nodded. Jeremiah returned a warm smile to the ever-watchful maid. Once she stepped back, just as he’d hoped, he was left alone with Alexa.

“What did you want to talk about? I can’t be too late.”

“I know, Alexa. I won’t take up much of your time.”

“Is something wrong?”

Alexa’s large eyes were filled with kindness and affection as she looked at him.

“It’s nothing. I just had something I wanted to ask.”

He pretended to be calm, but in truth, Jeremiah’s heart was pounding hard enough to burst.

“…Alexa. We’ll always be friends, right?”

Alexa blinked, slightly confused, then nodded.

“Of course.”

“If I were sick or struggling… you wouldn’t turn your back on me, right?”

“Obviously. What kind of question is that?”

Did Alexa realize just how important this question was to Jeremiah? To her, it might have just sounded like a silly thing, something to brush off. But to him, her unwavering answer brought unexpected comfort.

That firm, reassuring promise, that she would never turn away from him.

The wolves weren’t the type to offer such words. That was why Alexa, the only one bringing him solace right now, made Jeremiah smile faintly.

“You wouldn’t leave me alone if I were hurting, would you?”

“Jeremiah, is something wrong?”

Alexa asked, her expression turning to concern. But Jeremiah just shook his head.

“No, really. Nothing’s wrong. I think I’m just scared to go back to the capital alone.”

He gave a light shrug.

“Oh my, scared?”

Alexa burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I just thought you three weren’t afraid of anything. You, Ysildus, and Terrun. Always huddled together, scheming.”

“Us?”

Jeremiah blinked. He was oddly pleased that Alexa had grouped them together like that as a trio. It felt nice to be referred to as ‘us.’ A strange feeling. 

Though he spent time with them, Jeremiah had always carried the lonely thought that he would eventually have to leave and be alone again. Maybe that’s why he found himself drawn to Alexa and letting his guard down.

After all, Terrun and Ysildus, and this entire Thersion, were all chasing after Alexa.

Jeremiah smiled in relief.

“That’s enough.”

He spoke gently. Really, that was enough.

* * *

Alexa leaned her head against the window of the carriage, lost in thought. Terrun watched her, puzzled by her expression. Because of the agreement they were currently honoring, two young men, including Jeremiah, were huddled together in the same carriage.

Ysildus hadn’t joined them today, saying he had other matters to attend to.

Normally, Ysildus would’ve dragged Terrun off with him, but today he had insisted Terrun stay behind to watch over Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a good guess as to what was on Alexa’s mind. She was probably replaying what he had said earlier.

‘That would be nice.’

Jeremiah sighed. Even if it was just a little, he hoped he was part of whatever thoughts were running through her mind.

As he suspected, Alexa was thinking about her friend. According to the future she knew, Jeremiah was supposed to become Emperor without issue. But now that so much had changed, perhaps that outcome was no longer guaranteed.

‘Hearing that made me uneasy.’

Alexa let out a sigh. In novels, whenever someone said something like that, something was bound to happen. She’d thought everything was over, but Jeremiah was now weighing on her heart.

‘Was I being too complacent?’

She had thought that the fall of the Emperor would be the happy ending… 

‘Ah. There’s no such thing as an ending.’

That realization hit her.

This wasn’t a novel, it was reality. The reality Alexa was living in. And in this world, nothing would truly end until she died. Life would continue on, and new events were always waiting around the corner. She had overlooked that.

Alexa swallowed dryly.

She felt like a fool. A complete fool.

This was the medieval era, and politics here were anything but simple. Life and death came easily. Jeremiah, Ysildus, Terrun… everyone she loved could leave her at any time.

The ominous words Jeremiah had left behind had planted the seed of anxiety in her. And they had brought her face-to-face with reality.

Until now, Ysildus, Thersion, and the wolves had only let her see the good things. Told her only pleasant stories. As if this place were a fairytale.

And Alexa hadn’t disliked that. This soft, warm reality, like being wrapped in a cozy blanket, was nice. But in the meantime, the people she cared for were living out the real world outside.

‘I knew that already…’

So why had she thought Ysildus’s war would be the final battle?

‘Jeremiah… nothing’s going to happen to him, right?’

From now on, she truly couldn’t see even a step ahead. Not even a little. Only now, when she couldn’t make any guesses about Jeremiah’s words, did she finally realize what that meant.

* * *

Neimir parted his lips. He couldn’t even breathe properly. Where was this suffocating atmosphere coming from? Every time he entered this castle, it felt like something was pressing down on his entire body. It was why he’d run away from Thersion Castle in the first place.

Whenever he made eye contact with anyone here, he felt like he couldn’t breathe. As if some massive beast would rip his throat out at any moment. Paralyzed by fear.

“Ugh. What is it with money, seriously.”

Whether in Korea or here, it always ended in chaos.

Neimir ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Even just going to a restaurant and ordering a meal made him feel like he had to walk on eggshells. It felt like the entire castle was rejecting him. Like he was some unholy being that had no right to exist here.

He chewed on his fingernails anxiously. He’d taken the job for a large sum of money, but… Who even was Jeremiah? Kill the prince, they’d said? It wasn’t like he had ever killed anyone before. Heck, could he even find the guy in the first place?

“This is driving me insane!”

He felt completely trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place. They say life’s a boomerang, and now it felt like he was paying for having stolen Yu-hee’s money and run. 

“God, I really screwed up. Okay? I really, really messed up! But this? Isn’t this going too far? How could you do this to me, Yu-hee?! Let me live, please!”

As Neimir muttered and pressed his head against a wall in the alley… 

“Are you the one? The person who accepted the job?”

“Gah!”

Neimir spun around in shock.

“Wh-who are you?!”

“I’m someone sent to help you.”

The man removed his hood and gave a friendly smile. That primal fear that came with anyone from this castle, that heavy, suffocating pressure, wasn’t there. For some reason, Neimir felt like he could cry as he approached the man.

It finally felt like he’d met an actual person.

“You’re…!”

Neimir spread his arms and threw them around the man in a hug.

“God has finally answered my prayers!”

“Haha. Looks like you’ve had a rough time.”

Neimir burst out laughing. Yeah, it wasn’t over yet, not for sure. Surely the merciful Lord had given him a chance to repent.