Chapter 188: Side Story 44 

Terrun had gone back to the Jertho estate. Said he was going to track down the scent of the Count’s aide. In the end, he was just doing exactly what Ysildus wanted.

[“You actually listened to that?”]

[“Why not? He said I’m the only one.”]

[“…You really believed that?”]

Tenail asked, baffled, and Terrun burst out laughing.

[“Ysildus doesn’t have a single friend. I’m literally the only one he’s got. He’s insufferable and a demon on top of that, but also terrifyingly strong, like, no one could ever keep up with him. Even wolves avoid him. He’s the kind of guy who suffocates the air just by standing next to you. Who’d like that?”]

[“So what?”]

[“Only two people stay by Ysildus’s side: me and Jeremiah. Sure, there might be plenty of skilled knights out there, but I’m the only one he truly trusts. Don’t you get the difference?”]

Not in the slightest.

That was why Tenail decided to ask Luna about all of this. It was also why he didn’t stop Terrun from taking off like the wind.

“Mother.”

“Hmm?”

Dephensores stared at Tenail with a sour look on his face.

“Luna. I don’t think having a young son is all that great. He’s clueless, always butting in…”

“Silence!”

Luna snapped sharply. Her eyes flashed white, and Dephensores immediately turned his head away. The man really didn’t get along with her. Tenail glared at his father, then went to sit beside Luna.

“Mother. I had a question.”

Luna nodded gently, smiling as if to say, Go ahead, ask anything.

“I don’t understand humans. Or young ones either.”

“In what way?”

“I understand that they form bonds and live together. They seem to need each other.”

“They might need help. Or they might be lonely.”

“Ah.”

Loneliness… Tenail understood that. It was what Jeremiah always talked about. 

With a shadowed expression, Tenail asked, “…Jeremiah uses that loneliness to tie down Terrun and Ysildus. And Ysildus, behind his mask, uses both of them. To stay on top. Terrun just goes along with it like a fool, grinning the whole time. That’s what they call friendship? If that’s friendship, then…”

“Oh, Tenail.”

Luna chuckled.

It was the first time Tenail had brought up anything like this. He usually wore a sullen face and acted like he couldn’t care less. But now, he looked as if he’d been hit by puberty all at once, stuck in serious contemplation.

Luna reached out and patted his head. He looked more like a child now than he ever did, even when he was chopping firewood at the cabin.

“Kids should hang out with other kids. That’s how you come to understand what sincerity is. You’re just not used to it yet. Yes, Jeremiah is obsessed with Ysildus and Terrun. What do you think lies deep beneath that feeling?”

Tenail slowly shook his head. That was something beyond what he could grasp, especially since it was about human emotions.

“Jeremiah is afraid. He’s human. He’s completely different from his friends. Wolves live far longer than he ever will. Jeremiah will age, while they stay forever young. He’s not like them.”

“Is that difference really so big?”

“Of course. He’s afraid his friends might forget about him, caught up in their youth. Afraid they’ll never come back. It’s the same reason he used to cling to Alexa.”

“…And what about Ysildus and Terrun?”

“Terrun isn’t that hard to understand. Being used? He doesn’t mind.”

So he’s a fool, then.

And honestly, Tenail couldn’t deny it. Terrun did act like a fool sometimes.

“He’s just happy knowing there’s something he can do for his friends. Even if he complains on the outside, he never turns anyone down. Is it because he’s nice? Do you think he’d say yes to your request? Or a stranger’s? Absolutely not. He gives only to his friends, and that’s where he finds joy.”

It made no sense to Tenail. Even Dephensores looked like he understood. Did he have friends like that once, too?

“Ysildus… he’s something else. Doesn’t he remind you of your father? Arrogant, selfish… and because of the memories etched into his soul, there’s nothing he doesn’t know. If he wanted to, he could bring this world to its knees. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem interested in that.”

Luna smiled gently.

Dephensores’ face had softened too. Stroking his chin, he added, “Still, that kid loves his people fiercely. Look at how he’s grounded himself in the capital, even though the smell of humans probably makes him sick. He stays because Jeremiah wants him to. Because he understands Jeremiah’s loneliness, even if just a little. Same with Terrun. He truly only trusts Terrun. To understand that kind of relationship…”

He glanced sideways at Tenail.

“You’re just too young.”

That was the first time someone had called him ‘too young’ at his age. What a strange day. Terrun called him ‘Grandpa,’ and now his father called him a child.

Tenail sighed. The human world was far too complicated, with too much to learn.

“Where are you going? Heading back out?”

“Terrun told me to come. Said we’re going after Count Jertho!”

Tenail disappeared, leaving only Dephensores and Luna behind. Luna giggled.

“He looked excited, didn’t he?”

“Every kid gets like that when they make their first real friend.”

Dephensores let out a chuckle too.

“Wasn’t it the same for us? Alexandria, Luna, me… and finally… Temperchi. Those were good times.”

His expression melted into nostalgia. They’d had a time like that too, long, long ago.

* * *

Alexa took a deep breath.

She had to kick Ysildus out of bed. She wanted to share the news of her pregnancy in a special way. They had never really talked about children, not even after getting married.

‘Nothing’s changed, really.’

Just like always, she and Ysildus had been together in every moment. Even as they drifted off to sleep.

But now, she couldn’t let that continue. If she stayed near him, she might fall for him all over again. It was still early in the pregnancy so she needed to be careful. Alexa gently stroked her belly, where there was no bump yet.

“Mom will be strong for you.”

Mom…

She never imagined she’d be saying that word like this. Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. While she was trying to steel herself, Ysildus returned. Something seemed to have gone wrong as his face didn’t look good. But when he saw Alexa, he visibly melted.

“Alexa. I thought you’d be asleep.”

“I-I waited. I had something to say.”

She swallowed hard and raised her head. Her eyes sparkled. Ysildus pulled her into his arms naturally, settling her on his lap and resting his head on her shoulder.

“What is it?”

“…Ahem. I think we should start sleeping separately for a while.”

She avoided eye contact.

“What?”

Ysildus frowned.

“Just what I said. You in your bed, me in mine. For a while.”

Whatever happened, she mustn’t make eye contact. Ysildus was a master at making her heart waver. He stared at the back of her neck with a cold, unreadable look.

‘There’s got to be a reason.’

Jena? Wasn’t she irrelevant by now? If not her, then what? Did I do something wrong?

He mentally rewound through everything that happened yesterday, but Alexa suddenly stood up. With her eyes squeezed shut, she pointed at the door.

“Could you… leave, please?”

Her voice was careful. She didn’t even want to look at him, that much was clear.

Ysildus couldn’t find any logical reason for her behavior. He hesitated, then walked out. If he defied her now, she might genuinely get angry. His face still tight, Ysildus marched straight into Essellia’s bedroom.

“Ys-Ysildus?”

Essellia had just stepped out of the bath and was startled. She gave him an awkward smile, then quickly grabbed the door handle behind her to stop someone else from following.

“Mother, something’s wrong with Alexa.”

“What?”

“She told me to get out of the bedroom.”

“…Did you even read the book I gave you?”

Ysildus shook his head, looking grim.

“<An In-Depth Analysis on Marriage: How to Survive the Boredom>.”

“Ah…”

“There must be a reason. Humans are complicated. You have to keep studying, especially if you want to be a loving husband. I’m sure that book had the answer somewhere.”

Ysildus narrowed his eyes. She was right. There was a solution in there.

“Thank you, Mother.”

He broke into a wide, relieved smile.