CH 28

Alex narrowed her eyes as she looked at her wrist. However, there was no way Alexa could detect the subtle difference a wolf had noticed. 

“Look at this, Miss Alexa! Isn’t this getting shorter by the day! It’s going to be cold soon. You’ll catch a cold if it goes on like this. I’ll have to get rid of your other dresses and get you a new one.” 

“Yes? No, I’m fine….”

“It’s not alright at all!”

Ysildus leaned his head against Alexa’s belly. He then jumped off her lap. 

‘Why does he seem like he understands us?’ 

Alexa was startled when the Head Maid suddenly raised her hand. Selina, who was standing in front of the door, stepped aside. The maid glanced at the quick-witted Selina and gently pulled Alexa by her wrist. 

“Come on, let’s go. Seriously, what would I do if you catch a cold with this fragile body?”

The maid made a fuss and shook her body. She was becoming upset when she thinks about it again – imagining her face burning with fever as she breathes heavily! Though that face would surely be also lovely…. 

Pressured under the look of the Head Maid, Alexa said with a timid expression, “Then, just a couple of clothes…?”

“No, Miss Alexa! Then that wouldn’t be enough! What you should wear tomorrow and the next day. You don’t even have clothes to wear for your study tomorrow and clothes to go for a walk!”

But the dressing room was full of dresses I have yet to try….

“I still have a lot of clothes, Head Maid.”

“Oh my, how can you wear something that was already short on you! I will dispose of this dress. Selina?”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

“Take them all.”

“Pardon??”

Selina walked away without time for Alexa’s question. Ysildus pulled Alexa’s skirt while she was lost for words.  

“Arf! Ang! Arf!”

Just what on earth does this puppy knows…. 

Alexa couldn’t beat the Head Maid after making a fuss, and trudged after her in the end. I should try my best to stop her…. With the thought that it won’t work on the Head Maid. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Selina swallowed her saliva.

The woman named ‘Ruella’ said that everything in the castle could be hers if Selina did her best. She couldn’t quite wrap her head to what exactly it was like to live inside the Grand Duke’s castle, but it made her greedy when she saw Alexa’s dressing room. It was full of gorgeous clothes. It was completely different from the old clothes Selina was wearing. 

Ruella gathered information about Alexa before letting Selina enter the castle. Alexa was also a commoner with no last name like Selina. Moreover, Alexa and Selina have the same red hair and blue eyes. Ruella said that Alexa’s appearance of having red hair and blue eyes had something to do with it. 

[‘It has been said since ancient times that children with the same appearance as you will be blessed with good fortune. Don’t worry, God will take care of your future.’] 

What could that mean? Selina touches the dresses with her trembling hands. It would be nice if I could wear a beautiful dress like this just once. 

“Get your hands off it.”

Selina jumped away and turned at the heavy voice that suddenly echoed from behind. 

“Is it because you’re weak? You smell like a wolf though.” 

It was Terrun. Terrun, who seemed like a young child in front of Alexa, raised his eyes at her. It was only in front of Alexa that he acts cute and a pitiful child. Otherwise, the vulnerable Alexa would be the one scared. 

“Oh, are you stupid? And do you really want to die?” Terrun asked calmly. 

Walking slowly, Terrun looked at Selina like a big wolf. His sharp front paws were covered with the way he trudged slowly. Selina stepped back with a horrified face. 

“N-no… I’ve been ordered to clear things out here….”

“But your eyes were full of greed.”

“I would never!” Selina slumped down.

The boy who apparently looked like an easy target on the streets, now looked terrifying. 

Ruella didn’t tell me th, this was such a dangerous place. 

Selina should have already known that when they hired her without hesitation even after being noticed that she had stolen from them. Is this what Ruella’s strange look in the eyes meant? 

[‘It’s up to you to survive.’]

So that was what she meant! 

“Tch, no matter how much you say this is for Alexa, how dare just anyone enter the castle like this.”

Terrun grunted and raised Selina’s body. 

“Get out of here.”

“Yes!”

Selina nodded her head with tears in her eyes.

Terrun stared at Selina’s back with curious eyes. Looking like Alexa and having the same age as her – that must have what deceived the butler’s heart. As Terrun was about to close the door and leave, Alexa’s voice came from the end of the hallway. 

“Terrun!!! Come here! Let’s go sightseeing together!”

Terrun’s sharp eyes changed to a weak, friendly and nice. His expression of threatening Selina softened. He then turned his head around. 

“Yeah! Let’s go together!”

He smiled brightly like a child and ran to where Alexa is. There were many detestable wolves living in the Grand Duke’s house. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Despite Alexa’s stopping her, and fright, the Head Maid bought dozens of dresses. Alexa had no energy left and fell asleep as soon as she came back, having tried on so many clothes. It was all according to the Head Maid’s intention. Sleeping next to Alexa on his back, Ysildus snuggled up and opened his eyes. Flash! 

With his ears upright, Ysildus looked around. He then tapped Alexa with the bridge of his nose. Seeing Alexa wasn’t moving, Ysildus jumped off the bed. 

“Kiing…”

Ysildus tiptoed with his front foot and opened the door with his snout, then walked down the hallway in leisure steps. Ysildus found the place by following a smell. It was an empty kitchen. It was strange but he always felt hungry these days. 

Ysildus sniffed and looked around. He made sure Alexa was sleeping, and if that is so, no one could stop me! Ysildus howled very happily. Awoooo! 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Was there a thief here last night?”

“I don’t think so. What the hell is this?”

Hearing that the kitchen was a mess, there was a crowd inside. Most of them had come to help and solve the problem, and there was also the Acting Head of the family, Visten, among them. 

What kind of uproar is this from early in the morning? It was difficult to find the culprit because the kitchen was mixed with all kinds of smells. 

“I want you to investigate all the people who got out of their bed last night. Butler, search all the people of the Grand Duke’s masion….” 

Continuing to talk, Visten ran through the crowd and down the kitchen. He then found a very important clue. 

“This…?”

Five circles of red sauce. Visten can’t possibly not know what this means. The five circles were straight past the kitchen door. 

“Phew…”

Visten rubbed his throbbing brow. 

“Is Alexa still sleeping?”

“Yes.”

“What about Young Master Ysildus?”

“He’s yet to wake up….”

Have you ever seen such a detestable wolf? He must have been sleeping next to Alexa with a very calm face, right? 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The sunlight shining through the window woke up Alexa. She got up on her feet. She felt very refreshed, perhaps because she fell asleep early yesterday. She could also see Ysildus sitting quietly beside her, waiting for her to wake up. He must have been hungry, but it makes me proud that Ysildus is waiting for me obediently…. 

“Did you sleep well…? Ysu?”

Alexa, who was trying to praise Ysildus, paused. 

Round belly and wavy fur. His mouth is definitely full of sauce. Alexa lifted Ysildus up. as she lifts him up, he innocently blinks his eyes and acted innocent. Alexa was screaming since the morning. 

“Ysu!!! What on earth did you eat?! This naughty puppy! Do you have to get scolded so you’ll get a hold of yourself! Huh! You’re so grubby!”

“Arf?”

Ysildus tilted his head as if he knew nothing. Struggling with his front paws, his drooped eyes looked towards Alexa. It is said that a dog has done something wrong when he became so obedient like this. Alexa put down Ysildus and slapped him on his chubby butt. 

“I’ll spank you! Spank!” 

“Arf!”

But he thought that Alexa was playing with him so he chased after Alexa’s hand and spun around. Oh, my head. Alexa let out a long sigh. 

Visten, who went to arrest the criminal, knocked on Alexa’s door. 

“Alexa? Are you awake?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come in?”

“Look at that. They came to get you!”

Alexa grumbled and opened the door wide with Ysildus in her arms. The kitchen staffs who were standing in front of Visten stared at Ysildus loss for words. It looks like they were saying, ‘He was the culprit.’