Chapter 175: Side Story 31 

Ysildus hovered restlessly in front of the banquet hall. He had wanted to arrive with Alexa, but Essellia had beaten him to it. Apparently, she had ‘a lot to catch up on’ with Alexa after not seeing her for so long. 

With that excuse, she had herded all the dark-haired men into a single carriage, Ysildus, Jeremiah, and even Terrun, turning them into a visual ensemble that looked like devoted knights escorting the Ninth Prince, heir to the throne.

On top of that, their strikingly handsome appearances gathered in one place were drawing every pair of eyes in the vicinity.

“You go on in, at least.”

Ysildus shot a dissatisfied glance at Jeremiah.

“I can’t. I’m delicate.”

“What?”

Terrun’s eyes narrowed, as if ready to drag Jeremiah into the banquet hall right that second.

“If I go in alone, everyone will pounce on me. You two have to protect me. We’re friends, remember?”

“Friends…”

Ysildus repeated the word with a bitter taste. The more Jeremiah kept saying that, the more tempted Ysildus felt to give up on being friends altogether. He glared at him with a frosty smile.

People were hovering near them but couldn’t muster the courage to actually approach. Well, not everyone. Pushed out of the banquet hall by Count Jertho, two young ladies twisted their bodies nervously as they eyed the men.

“Jena, that man’s the Young Lord, right? Isn’t he just breathtaking?”

“Ahem.”

Jena blushed. Just one look at the man was enough to make anyone’s heart flutter. She had heard all the men from Thersion were handsome, but this was beyond what she’d imagined. He practically glowed from a distance.

“I heard his fiancée is just the daughter of Count Eneroff. And also… it’s only a rumor, but they say she’s adopted.”

“I heard that too!”

Jena responded with a sweet smile. Honestly, how hard could it be to outshine a girl like that? Thersion was such a far-flung province, so there was no doubt the Young Lord had only accepted her as his fiancée out of necessity. It was clear he had never met a real noble lady before.

So, if she showed Ysildus what a proper noblewoman was like, he would surely fall for her right away. Jena was confident. And Sylvia felt the same.

“His Highness the Prince isn’t lacking in looks either. I mean it… I could really thank the Count from the bottom of my heart. I’ll never forget this grace.”

“If it means becoming Empress, I’d do anything.”

Jena and Sylvia exchanged glances and smiled sweetly. If they could claim the titles of Empress and Grand Duchess of Thersion, they could rule the entire empire. With their heads full of dreams, they approached Ysildus and Jeremiah.

“…Hello.”

Jena greeted them shyly. Everyone around them held their breath.

“Oh, there’s a carriage arriving.”

But her voice was completely ignored. The three men turned away at once. Jena’s hand fell limply to her side. Blushing furiously, she reached out and grabbed Ysildus’ sleeve.

“Wait! Your Grace!”

“…What is this.”

Ysildus’ eyes turned sharp. Jeremiah clicked his tongue. At that moment, Ysildus coldly shook the girl’s hand off. Jena wrapped her reddened hand with her other and trembled.

“Your Grace… I’m Jena. Jena Jertho. Count Jertho sent me…”

Jena spoke with a voice on the verge of tears, another calculated move. She was forcing herself to cry, hoping to tug at Ysildus’ heartstrings.

Of course, Ysildus saw through the act immediately. If there was one thing he understood inside and out, it was fox-like behavior like hers. He let out a faint scoff.

Pathetic little creature.

Just as he was about to bare his teeth, Jeremiah tapped his shoulder.

“Alexa’s here.”

In an instant, the tension around Ysildus dissipated. Jeremiah gave him a push forward.

Throughout all of this, Jena and Sylvia were entirely ignored. Not one of the three men spared them a word. Jena clenched her jaw, head bowed in humiliation.

Ysildus headed for the carriage, leaving Jena behind. Her eyes sharpened as she raised her head.

“…Seriously, she screams country bumpkin. Don’t you think?”

“I hope His Highness the Prince is better than that. Ugh. So stiff, they really must be from the sticks.”

While the two muttered in annoyance… 

Two more carriages arrived in succession, and their doors opened at once.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Thersion stepped out first, easily identifiable by their radiant silver hair and blue eyes. That whole family seemed to share the same striking appearance. Besides the two dressed in ducal garb, three others stepped out of the carriage.

The overwhelming presence of the five made Jena and Sylvia shrink back.

Ysildus, Jeremiah, and Terrun walked toward them unfazed.

“Who the hell is this Alexa woman?”

Jena muttered irritably… 

Just then, a small foot touched the ground. And all five from the carriage instinctively surrounded the tiny figure protectively.

A woman in a dazzling silver dress, her reddish-brown hair half-tied and adorned with pearls. Her face was clear and radiant, perfectly matching her blue eyes.

From her jewelry to her shoes, everything she wore was top of the line.

So the stories about Thersion’s wealth being beyond imagination were true. Clearly, she was living in luxury. Jena swallowed hard.

The woman was stunning, yes, but what caught Jena’s eye more was the luxury.

“All that… could be mine?”

“Jena… I’m so jealous.”

And then someone made a loud slurping sound of envy. The wolves of Thersion picked it up without missing a beat.

“What kind of bullsh*t was that?”

Carlisle was the first to speak.

* * *

Alexa was truly relieved that the banquet had gone off without a hitch. Honestly, when Carlisle had spat out a word like bullsh*t earlier, she thought the whole place was going to come crashing down.

She fluttered her fan lightly. The other wolves had been no less intense. If she hadn’t distracted them, something serious could’ve happened.

“Ysildus, what exactly did you hear earlier that made you react that way?”

She asked in a whisper. Carlisle and Essellia, despite their earlier edge, had blended surprisingly well with the crowd. Luna and Dephensores had disappeared into the garden, while Tenail was wandering among the guests.

Alexa rolled her eyes. Only once she confirmed that the wolves were behaving did she finally relax.

Ysildus pulled her tense, meerkat-like shoulders into his arms.

“Who knows? Probably just something irritating.”

“You don’t know either? That’s a lie.”

Ysildus smiled sweetly.

Jena… that was her name.

He knew there was some strange woman lurking around. And he knew exactly what she was after.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Why not?”

“It’s really nothing. You’ve only just arrived back in the capital. It’s probably just that.”

No way. Alexa narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but Ysildus quickly turned his head away. He actually believed someone like Jena had her own role to play.

Apparently not knowing shame, Jena reappeared.

“Young Lord Ysildus. And Lady Alexa…?”

That fox.

Ysildus’ eyes narrowed. He had already decided how much use she was. Just enough.

“Ysildus, who is she? Do you know her?”

Alexa clung to his arm. Ysildus shook his head lightly.

“No.”

She just needed to stir Alexa’s jealousy a bit and then disappear.

The moment Jena tried to speak to Ysildus and Alexa, she drew the attention of the wolves. The level of alertness that prickled the skin, yet the woman seemed completely unaware.

“I’m Jena. Count Jertho’s niece.”

She smiled sweetly.

“I’ve mustered up the courage to ask Your Grace for a dance.”

She said smoothly.

“A dance?”

Ysildus chuckled under his breath. He could feel Alexa tense at the word.

“Are you a good dancer, Jena?”

Alexa interjected.

“…Oh dear. Are there noble ladies who can’t dance?”

Jena said, as if the question was ridiculous.

“I just couldn’t help noticing you standing all alone. I thought perhaps I could help introduce you into society. Your Grace, would you care to dance a song with me?”

Jena completely ignored Alexa and turned back to Ysildus. At this point, there was no way Alexa hadn’t noticed.

What the hell? This woman’s clearly into Ysildus. Is this… a love triangle? Really?

This genre was entirely new to her. A melodramatic love affair?!