CH 38

The Grand Duke grabbed Ysildus’ neck who jumped in the air. He stared at Ysildus who was showing his teeth and glaring at him. 

“You rude thing.” 

“… He’s your son. You look exactly the same.” 

The Grand Duchess snatched Ysildus from the Grand Duke’s hand. It was a rough hand though not as much as the Grand Duke’s. Patting his head and Ysildus biting her fingers, the Grand Duchess turned to Alexa. 

“This child is like Terrun… who is this human child?” 

The Grand Duchess asked instead of the silent Grand Duke. The Grand Duke bent over his waist and stared at Alexa, who was small, with curious eyes. 

“How old are you?”

“I’m 16.”

Alexa walked forward past Terrun and answered clearly. 

“16 years old? But you’re this small?”

“I am not small!” Alexa replied in a fit of anger.

Aren’t you afraid of the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess? In the distance, she could see Visten beckoning for her and saying that she shouldn’t do that. 

However, Alexa didn’t feel that the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess were scary. Wasn’t it Alexa who turned their fates around? She somehow felt a sense of kinship with them. 

Terrun scratched on her back in order to hide her behind him, but she didn’t budge. 

“No way.”

The Grand Duke sniffed Alexa. 

The Grand Duchess looked at her disapprovingly as she rummaged through her pockets and found a caramel candy she had left while they were traveling. Those tiny and cute things are not like Carlisle. The Grand Duchess put on a friendly face and asked her. 

“Would you like some candy?”

“Yes?”

Alexa blinked her eyes. Essellia, who seemed to be a span and a half taller than her, was smiling with her eyes squinted. In her arms, Ysildus pant and was exhausted. The Grand Duchess’s hand was covered with scars from Ysildus’ teeth, but she didn’t seem to care. 

Alexa took the candy. The Grand Duke snorted from the side. Alexa looked up at them and thought: I still felt that we shared the same fate, but the feeling of being a prey in front of a top predator cannot be erased. 

The Grand Duchess smiled brightly. 

“You’re cute. Like a rabbit.” 

I feel like you will eat her again. Terrun pulled Alexa back. 

“No!”

“What?” The Grand Duchess asked without erasing her smile. “What is it?”

“You can’t do that to Alexa! It would be better to hold me!” 

“Terrun!!” Visten screamed in surprise. It was Violetta who stopped Visten. 

“That will be fine, but.” The Grand Duke looked at Terrun with an unfamiliar eye. Before he left, the young wolf Terrun who was still growing up, had grown up now. The Grand Duke looked at him with interest, “Is it yours?”

Terrun tilted his head. Alexa wasn’t a thing to say she’s mine, she’s yours. Alexa is Alexa. She cooked egg fried rice as good as Violeta, it was sweet and warm. She also smells good. Alexa was the only one who tamed Ysildus. Alexa is…. 

“She is Ysildus’ master.” 

Alexa tugged at Terrun’s clothes to say no, but she couldn’t erase the words he had already said. 

“Ysildus’ master?” 

The Grand Duke burst into laughter. This was the first time he had ever heard of such an interesting story. This wasn’t the first time the Grand Duke had paid attention to Alexa. It all started from Clouster. 

Clouster had told him of Duke Duffle’s treason, and that the Emperor was thinking of betraying Thersion. As he had heard from the Grand Duchess, he was able to fully realize how far humans could be selfish. 

Listening to Clouster’s words who suddenly informed him of the treason and persuading the Emperor, Carlisle eagerly asked him for the name of the person who saved Thersion. To his question, Clouster confided that the name of the person was Alexa – the human girl who was staying in Thersion now. His interest was piqued even more because of Terrun and Ysildus. 

The Grand Duke pushed Terrun with a slight touch. 

“Are you my son’s master?” 

“I’m not… I….” 

Alexa rolled her eyes. Come up with a suitable excuse! 

In fact, it’s correct to say that she was Ysildus master because he was a dog, but… Ysildus is Thersion’s successor and a wolf. The word ‘master’ is deemed to be a disgraceful remark for him. 

However, the Grand Duke opened his mouth quickly before Alexa could even answer his question. 

“Master? Alright, then since you’re my son’s master, it only makes sense that you’re staying here in Thersion.” 

Carlisle spoke with excitement and straightened his back. It was hard for Alexa to look up at Carlisle even if she bent her neck for a long time. 

Terrun couldn’t hide his wariness and stood in front of Alexa, and even Ysildus jumped off Essellia’s arms and blocked Alexa. 

The Grand Duchess smiled at the actions of these cute little creatures. She heard a lot about Alexa from Clouster and Violeta – about what Alexa did for Thersion. Moreover, there was a separate letter that came from Karrolf. 

Who is Karrolf? He was a person who became a nobleman using his medicine techniques and rose to the ranks of a Viscount. He was a person who adorned himself with arrogance but didn’t think that he was above others with his rank. He pays respects to the high-ranking Visten, but actually talks informally. Moreover, the words of a doctor like him couldn’t be ignored. Like there was no doctor in the sky that was as handsome as him…? 

That kind of person had sent a letter full of admiration for Alexa. In particular, Alexa used Gavis to save children and worked hard on Thersion’s hygiene. She had no reason not to be interested, even as the Grand Duchess. 

“Then, Grand Duke. Carlisle, do you have any objections to Alexa staying in the castle?” 

“Of course, she’s the wolf’s master.” 

Fortunately, there was no need for Visten to sacrifice his life for Alexa, so he patted his heart. 

The Grand Duke passed by the children. The knights lowered their swords as he did so. 

On the way back here, the great force emanating from them in a ruthless manner thanks to the slaughter of the human knights Thersion was affiliated with, subsided. 

Ysildus strolled about and sat on the floor. Then as if he thought of something, he got up and started running. The Grand Duchess stared at her son whom she hadn’t seen for a long time. Though Carlisle was on the side of having an extremely thin paternal love, it wasn’t the same to Essellia. It’s nice and cute to see Ysildus after a long time. 

The place where Ysildus ran to was the place where the ball rolled. Opening his mouth, Ysildus ran back with the yarn and clung to Alexa. 

“What… you want to do this now?” 

“Kiiing…”

Will you not do it when I’m like this? Ysildus looked at Alexa as if telling her that. Couldn’t do anything about him, Alexa took the ball and threw it far away. Ysildus ran with wadadada and came back again with the ball in his mouth. As the other wolves’ ruthless energy dissipated, he seemed to become excited and forgot to be wary. With his ears bent back, he hopped, ran and rolled with his feet. 

Alexa cleared her throat as she gently stroked Ysildus, who tapped her thighs with his front paws as if praising her. Even the Grand Duke who was turning his back looked in their direction with interest. 

“Kid, good job…” 

After Alexa patted Ysildus on his head, he was in a good mood, so he spun around and lay flat on his stomach. He pants and looks at Alexa. The latter laughed awkwardly as she watched Ysildus show her his hidden personal talent. 

‘Oh, why!’ 

Doesn’t it look like I was really Ysildus’ master? Her hands stopped while she was thinking about something else. Alexa quickly continued stroking Ysildus when he twisted his body in discontent. Following Alexa who sat on the floor, Terrun also sat down. 

The Grand Duchess who was watching them exclaimed. The appearance of her son acting cute is unfamiliar, as well as Terrun’s actions.

Then the Grand Duke said, ““Your son listens very well to his master.” 

His remark made Alexa’s face blush in embarrassment. His son’s master? 

‘What kind of combination is this?’ 

Anyway, the meeting between the Grand Duke and Alexa went smoothly, contrary to their worries. There was only one person who wasn’t happy at this moment, and that was Selina. 

‘She wasn’t even a wolf, so why is she always…?’ 

Looking at Alexa with fierce eyes, Selina turned around. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

As soon as the Grand Duke arrived, he went to soak himself in the hot spring water in the deepest basement of the Thersion Castle. His marble-like solid body disappeared into the red, hot spring water. This place was exclusive only to the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess. 

The Grand Duchess who followed after him also took off her gown and immersed herself in the bath to erase the strong smell of the war. They felt relieved at once. 

The Grand Duke leaning against the rim groaned. His tense muscles loosened at once. 

“Alexa, that child. What do you think of her?”