Chapter 190: Side Story 46 

Ysildus narrowed his eyes.

He, too, needed a moment to fully comprehend the situation. After a beat, Ysildus let go of Alexa’s arm. Alexa, sobbing uncontrollably, wiped at her bleeding nose.

“A nosebleed… a double nosebleed… ughhh, this is so embarrassing… huuuhuuu… Why is this happening to me… huuuhuu… This isn’t what I imagined at all…”

The more she wiped, the more her tears seemed to smear. Huge teardrops rolled down Alexa’s cheeks as she cried in anguish. Ysildus watched her in silence.

In truth, pregnancy among wolves wasn’t a simple matter. The closer one was to the direct bloodline, the harder it became. Perhaps because they were such a long-lived species, many didn’t even bother considering having heirs. It wasn’t uncommon for some to never marry.

Ysildus’s own birth had been considered an anomaly. People in Thersion had assumed Carlisle would only sire a child right before his death. That was why Alexa’s pregnancy hadn’t even crossed anyone’s mind.

It wasn’t as though there had never been direct-line wolves who married humans. But none of them had ever borne children. There was a reason for that. 

Wolves lived long lives, but compared to them, humans were painfully short-lived. The wolves’ leisurely ways, combined with humanity’s brief lifespan, created a synergy of misfortune – no children, and a shared early death.

But Ysildus and Alexa had been different from the start. Who would’ve thought a child would come so soon?

A rush of complicated emotions surged within him. It was only natural because it was all so sudden.

And yet, watching Alexa sniffle as she dabbed at her nosebleed… she was adorable. Precious. A teasing impulse bubbled up in Ysildus. He let out a soft chuckle and opened his mouth.

“So… why the nosebleed?”

“Huh?”

Alexa blinked, her lashes heavy with tears.

“Ah… is that what you’re into?”

Ysildus spun elegantly in place. Alexa, catching his meaning, let out a loud shriek.

“That’s not it!!”

“Oh really? You seem pretty into it. Should I get you one in every color?”

Alexa waved both hands furiously.

“No! I’m fine with what I have!”

“But the nosebleed says otherwise. You must’ve imagined something.”

Alexa hurriedly covered her face. As if that could undo the evidence of her betrayal, though it was clearly too late.

“I’m dying to know what you were imagining.”

Ysildus tapped her cheek.

“Come on, Alexa. What exactly were you picturing?”

Alexa trembled. She felt like a rabbit caught with nowhere to run, cornered by a wolf baring his fangs.

“I wasn’t imagining anything.”

“Oh, but you were.”

“I wasn’t! Why do you keep doing this? Is that really what matters right now?”

She choked out the words. Thinking about it now, she had just told him she was pregnant, but Ysildus had reacted far too calmly. In fact, it seemed like he was more focused on teasing her, which left her feeling hurt.

Then Ysildus grasped Alexa’s hand. He brought her small hand, one that fit entirely in his palm, to his lips and whispered, “Thank you, Alexa.”

“…Huh?”

Alexa tilted her head, her previous words forgotten.

“Thank you. For giving me this gift.”

Ysildus quickly reined in the whirlwind of emotions inside him. He still felt disoriented, and it hadn’t fully sunk in yet, but the joy was real. A child, one who shared both Alexa and his own blood, was on the way.

Especially the part about ‘a child who looks like Alexa.’ That alone sent a flutter through his chest. How adorable would they be? He’d give them everything and there was nothing he wouldn’t do.

He pressed a kiss to Alexa’s cheek.

“I’m truly happy.”

He smiled like a flower in full bloom. Alexa stared at him blankly. It was the first time she’d seen Ysildus smile like this, with his entire heart. Her own heart dropped with a thud.

“You’re… happy?”

“Of course, Alexa. Aren’t you?”

“… I am.”

Alexa responded in a small voice.

“At first, it didn’t feel real, but now… I’m truly happy. It’s a child who takes after you.”

“No, they’ll take after you.”

“Either way.”

Alexa gave him a gentle, playful pat on the shoulder.

“I’m happy, Ysildus. I’m so glad this child came to us.”

She stroked her lower belly with her hand. Ysildus kissed her forehead. At the tender warmth of his touch, Alexa smiled softly.

“Me too. I know we’ll do well.”

“Mm.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Mm…”

“I love you.”

“… Me too.”

Alexa echoed in a whisper. This wasn’t the scene she’d imagined. She’d pictured something sweeter, more romantic, moments that made her smile just thinking about them.

But this was enough. Because every moment with Ysildus was already special.

* * *

“She’s pregnant?”

“That tiny body is carrying a baby… is that even possible?”

Carlisle raised the question, his lips twisting slightly in what seemed like displeasure.

“Father…?”

“She needs to gain weight. I mean, the baby’s going to share your nutrients, right? But you eat so little! How on earth…”

“That’s enough.”

Essellia cut him off.

“Alexa can take care of herself. No nagging.”

Carlisle ran a hand through his hair. But he didn’t say anything further.

“Congratulations, Alexa. Well done, Ysildus.”

Huh? Well done?

Alexa blinked. What did he mean, “well done”?

“Alexa, is there anything you want?”

Essellia quickly shifted her attention.

“No, I already have so much.”

“Then what about the baby? What would they want? Maybe it’s time we remodeled the townhouse in Thersion.”

“…Excuse me?”

Alexa’s eyes went wide.

“I mean the townhouse in the capital. It’s been ages since we’ve been there… it must be terribly outdated by now. And now that the baby’s coming, we need to make it a more comfortable environment for you, don’t you think?”

“Uh, um…”

That thought had never even crossed her mind.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go back to Thersion? I mean the estate.”

“Well…”

“If you’re planning to stay here longer, then the townhouse needs to be renovated.”

Essellia spoke with firm conviction. The sudden shift in topic left Alexa flustered. She turned to Ysildus with a confused expression.

“Do whatever you want. Do you want to stay here longer?”

“Mm, yeah.”

She nodded simply.

“I haven’t finished my studies yet. Since I’m here, I want to finish everything I set out to learn. And I want to show the baby a wider world.”

Her eyes sparkled beautifully.

“The capital and Thersion are completely different. So are the things you can learn. I want our baby to experience everything.”

“Alright, then we’ll do that.”

“Really?”

“Really. What else do you want?”

To be honest, Ysildus hadn’t had any particular thoughts about the baby. Like most wolves, he wasn’t especially prone to paternal instincts. What moved him was the fact that the child would resemble Alexa.

If there was something Alexa wanted, then that’s what they’d do.

“Hmm… I hope they have lots of friends. I never had any growing up. But now I have you, Terrun, and Jeremiah.”

“Friends…?”

At that, Ysildus and Essellia’s eyes met. They suddenly realized Alexa didn’t have a single proper friend in the capital. Unlike wolves, humans were especially vulnerable to loneliness.

“Friends are important.”

Ysildus nodded slowly, deep in thought.

* * *

After sending Alexa home first, the wolves convened an emergency meeting. Violeta spoke up first.

“We should host a tea party.”

She’d spent the most time in the capital and learned a bit about human customs.

“The noblewomen here really love those.”

“Hmph. Humans really are strange creatures.”

“What else besides tea parties?”

This time, Terrun eagerly raised his hand.

“Going out together is great for making friends!”

“Agreed.”

Tenail nodded in approval. Several ideas were exchanged.

“But… what kind of friend should we invite?”

Silence fell over the wolves once more. After all, what did they even know about humans? One by one, all eyes turned to the only silent one among them – Jeremiah.

“Oh, come on. Why is it always me?”

Jeremiah let out a long, weary sigh.

……

T/N: Jeremiah, you’re the only human there hahahaha