Lisi sat on the bed and continued reading the history book she had been reading earlier. The “First Beastmen Uprising” had ended in failure, but Benedertem had not given up. Barely surviving, he hid in the shadows and quietly gathered those who would help him. Benedertem said, “Beastmen are also human, and transforming into a beast is not a curse from the gods but an innate talent. The Pope persecutes beastmen out of inferiority because he did not receive the gift the gods bestowed.” And Benedertem also said, “The gods’ gift was not given only to beastmen — it was given to mages as well. At first it was the beastmen. If the beastmen are extinguished, where will the Pope’s gaze turn? The Pope has no magical talent either, so the destruction of mages is a foreseeable future.” Most mages scoffed, but the unbelieving mages sympathized with Benedertem’s intent. With that crooked lie he used to incite the talented, Benedertem instigated the “Second Beastmen Uprising.” It was a war of death that stained the Amas Sea in the east red. Click — at the sound of a door opening, Lisi closed the book and set it on the bedside table.
“You can keep reading, Lisi.”
Kay said this as he undressed in front of the wardrobe. When his firm back muscles were revealed, Lisi quickly lowered her gaze. He changed into a robe, strode over, and sat down beside her. Naturally, he lifted the tips of her hair and kissed them.
“Your scent is pleasant.”
“Thanks to you.”
For some reason Kay looked a little embarrassed. He seemed to have something he wanted to say but found it difficult to bring out, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
“I’m in a bit of trouble.”
As if she had been waiting, Kay said.
“Tell me.”
“My parents are extremely angry.”
A chill ran down Lisi’s spine. She showed no expression and said,
“That’s only to be expected. You married them without telling them.”
“They didn’t pay me any attention and didn’t seem interested in what I did, so I didn’t think they’d become this furious. I think they’ll come here in about two days.”
“I see.”
“They’ve never met a woman I was with nor introduced anyone to them, so I can’t predict how they’ll react.”
Lisi stared at him. Kay tilted his head to the side.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Have you really never met a woman?”
“No. Why would I lie about that?”
“But…”
Before she realized it, Lisi reached out toward his cheek. She gently stroked his soft cheek and the stubbly jaw with her fingertip and said,
“You’re so handsome.”
Kay’s eyes widened. He stared at her, then grabbed her wrist as if to reel her in.
“Am I handsome?”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?”
“No. Do I look handsome to your eyes?”
Lisi found it absurd. Of course he looked handsome. He was so perfect. She nodded because she had no words, and he averted his gaze. His earlobe looked a little red — Lisi decided that must be her imagination. When he turned his gaze back to meet hers, Kay said,
“I want to kiss you. May I kiss you?”
There was something feverish in his eyes and voice that stimulated not only Lisi’s hearing but her sense of touch as well. Embarrassed, she rolled her eyes away and replied,
“So far you’ve been doing it without asking…”
He swallowed the last words. His lips explored Lisi roughly. His weight knocked her backward, and his scent intoxicated her.
On the bed, the quilt, he, and Lisi became entangled. Even in the daze from the fierce kissing, Lisi could not understand why Kay suddenly became so excited.
‘Could it be… because I said he was handsome? No, that can’t be. He must have heard that many times…’
The longer the kiss lasted, the more breathless she became. The pounding heartbeat that felt like it would burst didn’t irritate her because it synced with his. She couldn’t tell whether the thudding against their pressed chests belonged to hers or to his. The sensation of skin against skin was dizzying. She dug her nails into his back and breathed shallowly. She felt his muscles tense tightly, then suddenly he broke the kiss and pulled her into a tight embrace. Her face was pressed against his chest so she had difficulty breathing, but Lisi did not dislike being held so fiercely. His arms felt safe.
“I’ll try to stop it as much as I can, but because of my parents, there might be times when you get hurt, Lisi.”
He abruptly returned to the original topic. Lisi was amazed that Kay continued speaking so calmly even in this state. She had no idea how hard he was struggling to keep his reason.
“Kay. I’m not a flower made of glass. A few harsh words or a slap won’t make me hurt.”
At the words Lisi whispered like a murmur, strength went into Kay’s arms. He buried his face in the crown of her head.
“Then you mustn’t, Lisi. I don’t want my wife to become accustomed to such things.”
“But I’m already used to them.”
“New skin grows, Lisi.”
His palm stroked Lisi’s back gently.
“I will make sure that the newly grown, soft flesh does not get even the smallest wound.”
Even if it were only words, that was fine. Lisi chuckled as she buried her face against his chest.
“Do you want me to become a delicate lady who whines and cries because I’ve grown weak?”
For some reason, Kay heard Lisi’s laugh as if it were a sob. Wanting to give her all his warmth, he answered,
“If you want it. If you want it, Lisi.”
+++
Brittany crumpled up the wedding invitation and threw it down, then picked it up and read it again. No matter how many times she looked, the name at the top of the host list, “the Countess of Nellacernis Jenal,” did not disappear. The name below it, “Jereshien Green,” didn’t even catch her eye. The Countess of Nellacernis Jenal. A goddess of society so famous even the Empress wished to befriend her. Brittany could not believe that she was the one hosting Iris’s wedding.
‘Why? Why would she do that for that girl’s wedding?’
Brittany could not fathom what was in the Countess’s heart. Even if the Countess did not particularly favor the Green family, she was a woman who shone by her own reputation. So why would she roll up her sleeves for Iris’s wedding, which was full of bad rumors? Brittany threw the invitation aside again, huffed, and headed for Duchess Dennis Whitlow’s room. Dennis was looking over a catalog of a famous designer whose designs were featured in the booklet. At a nod from Dennis, the designer quietly left the room.
“Mother. I’m going to see Iris.”
“What?”
“You got Iris’s invitation, right? We’re going to the wedding anyway, so I thought I’d go early.”
Brittany wanted to see with her own eyes what was going on at the Green Count House and how Iris was being treated. If Kayvrant had been deceived into treating Iris as precious, she would help him come to his senses. It would be too late after the wedding.
“Why go early? What good will that do?”
“Exactly because it’s not a good thing. I should go first and check. Find out how she spun Kayvrant around.”
“Brin. Don’t poke where you shouldn’t. Thanks to the gold mine Kayvrant gave us, life has been comfortable lately. What if Kayvrant cancels the marriage and asks for the gold mine to be returned?”
“Would he really do such a mean thing? If anything, if we go later and find out Iris is loose and foolish, they might blame us.”
“Hmm.”
Brittany grabbed Dennis’s arm and shook it, displeased.
“So come on, Mother. Let’s go quickly. We are Iris’s family, so no one will say anything if we arrive a few days early, right? We can take this chance to look around the Green Count estate.”
+++
The Green Viscount and his wife arrived at the Green Count estate. Helerina Green, who had once been mistress of the house, scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. Almost nothing had changed since she lived here. Her gaze next turned to the pair who had come out to greet them, Lisi and Kay. The first thing that caught her eye was, naturally, the large-built Kay. He bore an awkward smile, which Helerina disliked. Smiling like that in front of one’s parents — he must have done something terribly wrong. Then Helerina turned her gaze to Lisi. Lisi stood with her hands neatly folded in front of her, elegant yet polite, and looked at the visiting viscount and his wife. Her expressionless face was like a doll, no — a statue painstakingly carved by a god. Silver hair the color of pale pink flowed over one shoulder, half tied back; large eyes beneath greenish brows and pale purple irises; a high nose paired with full, crimson lips. A delicate neck and smoothly sloping shoulders descended from a small face. Even in a plain dress, she shone.
‘They call her the Flower of the Whitlow Ducal House…’
Indeed, such a title suited her. In looks, there was not a single flaw to point out. She seemed like a woman who had never done a hard day’s work and had been raised to be treated nobly. Perhaps Duke Whitlow truly had adored his youngest daughter and kept her from the world. After exchanging greetings, they moved to the main house. In front of the drawing room, Helerina looked up at Kay and said,
“We would like to speak with Lady Whitlow separately. You should go and tend to your duties.”
“That cannot be, Mother.”
Kay refused firmly while holding Lisi’s hand. Helerina wondered what it might feel like to have one’s hand held, but she could read nothing on Lisi’s statue-like face.
“Kayvrant Green. You married without telling your parents, and now you won’t even yield this much?”
“It was my mistake not to inform them of the marriage. But this is a separate matter. You call my wife Lady Whitlow; how could I possibly let only my wife enter?”
Helerina’s anger surged. She felt a tightness in her chest at the ominous thought that Kay might have forced Lisi into marriage by giving the gold mine. Unlike Kay, who seemed completely enamored with Lisi, Helerina could not read Lisi’s feelings at all.
“Kayvrant Green.”
“My dear.”
Helerina’s scolding tone was cut off by Wyvern. Wyvern, who had been quietly observing Lisi since earlier, lightly placed a hand on Helerina’s arm and said,
“There is merit to Kay’s words; it would be better to go in together.”
“But…”
Wyvern smiled faintly as Helerina protested. Helerina realized that Wyvern had taken a liking to Lisi. It was not merely because of the pretty appearance. Helerina believed her husband was not someone who judged by appearance alone.
‘What is it that pleases him?’
Helerina did not dislike Lisi either. She simply disliked this situation — the thought that Kay might have bought Lisi. Wyvern went into the drawing room first, and Helerina followed. The Green Viscount and his wife and the Green Count and his wife sat facing each other on the drawing room sofas.
“Lady Whitlow.”
Helerina intended to get straight to the point. Lisi, who had been quietly watching, spoke for the first time.
“Viscountess Green. Please call me Iris. You may call me Lisi.”
Her tone was polite but firm. Helerina was certain Lisi was not merely a flower grown in a greenhouse. Lisi added with a faint smile,
“And please treat me comfortably.”
That smile was so bright and kind that Helerina thought she would have liked a daughter like Lisi. Jereshien Green was too coarse, after all.