Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 183

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Side Story 3, Episode 5
“Yes, Your Majesty. Soleia did come looking for me, but….”
That was when it happened. With the thunderous sound of rushing footsteps, a dozen or so Knights and Maidservants with flushed faces came tumbling into the Alley.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!”
“Your Majesty, have you seen the Prince, by any chance? Your Majesty?”
Felix, who had been calling out for the Prince and Princess at the top of his lungs, accidentally addressed Auredhian and was greatly flustered.
“Your Majesty? Why are you here? Oh my, Your Highness! There you are!”
Marienne and Roxanne, who had arrived late, caught their breath and made embarrassed eye contact with Yerenika, offering awkward smiles.
“My apologies, Your Majesty…. It’s just that they’re so quick….”
Her clear sky-blue eyes narrowed as if trying to comprehend the situation.
“…Deb, Jena.”
Decarve and Aizena, who had each claimed one of Diego’s legs and were watching the adults’ exchange with great interest, drew in sharp breaths. Their mother was pushing their father aside and approaching.
She wore a gentle smile, but both children knew that when Mother smiled like that, a stern command would come exactly three seconds later. With Diego, their last line of defense, easily pushed aside, Yerenika spoke in an ominous yet affectionate tone.
“By now, you should be having dinner and brushing your teeth, yet here you are dressed like that. Who wants to explain to Mother why?”
* * *
“Sniff… I wanted to play with Mother and Father….”
Auredhian suppressed his laughter and deliberately adopted a stern expression. He was about to use the excuse of asking what had happened to hand his wife over to the head Maidservant and begin disciplining the children. Decarve, watching his father’s expression, continued with sniffles.
“And I was curious about the outside… and it wasn’t very cold today….”
“I see.”
“Yes….”
The youngest, unaware of the hardship her older siblings were enduring, pressed her chubby cheeks against her father’s shoulder and slept peacefully without a care in the world. Auredhian patted the youngest daughter’s back and lowered himself to meet the children’s eyes.
“I’m not scolding you for going outside, Deb. Didn’t I tell you that if you want to go outside the Imperial Palace, you must always take either Radin or Selbier with you?”
“Yes… but Radin and Selbier are too, sniff.”
“Too what?”
Aizena, with tears glistening in her eyes just like her brother, answered in a creeping voice instead.
“They’re not fun… They’re so stoic and don’t respond well.”
The brother and sister, both with noble silver hair and eyes with slightly upturned corners giving them an aloof impression, took turns sniffling.
“We’re sorry….”
Watching them grasp his clothing and gauge his reaction, he was reminded of his wife in her old days, always causing trouble. Auredhian could not help but let out a soft laugh. Yerenika would become very embarrassed whenever people said the children resembled her, but that was precisely why Auredhian loved them all the more.
“Then let’s make a promise with Father.”
Auredhian whispered softly while observing his wife from a distance, receiving a detailed explanation of the situation from Roxanne and Marienne.
“You won’t do this again from now on, right?”
“Yes….”
“If you worry so many people like this next time, even Father won’t let it slide. Do you understand?”
“I won’t do it again… I promise.”
Decarve rubbed his eyes and whimpered. Aizena nodded while scrunching her face to hold back tears.
“Then that’s settled.”
Auredhian ended his admonishment by gently stroking each child’s head. He had tried his best not to let his wife notice, but Yerenika had been watching the entire time.
“There he goes again, letting it slide like that. I can’t stand it….”
[Why don’t you greet me while you’re at it?]
A languid voice interjected suddenly. Yerenika turned around with delight.
“Lari!”
It was a reunion she’d postponed while trying to make sense of this absurd procession. She beamed and threw herself at the enormous wolf. As she clung tightly to his soft silver fur, Raulus chuckled and nuzzled his former summoner affectionately.
“What is this, all of a sudden! You really scared me. How can you just descend without any warning?”
[Your children were running about so fearlessly like wild colts, I thought I’d come down and spoil them for a while.]
“So it wasn’t because of me—it was because of the children? Now you don’t even want to see me anymore?”
[I’ve lost interest in grown-up crumbs.]
Raulus snorted even as he rolled through the snow with the crumb who still seemed utterly insignificant in his eyes. Snow clung thickly to her delicate rose-pink braided hair and his silver fur.
“Lord Raulus.”
Auredhian was not the sort to watch such a scene for long. He immediately separated Yerenika from the enormous wolf.
“It’s been a while. I see you still don’t acknowledge my existence.”
[You lack charm. You’re only half as cute as the children.]
“Spare me the unnecessary remarks. Please let her go now. Yeni will catch a cold.”
[Look at that. There’s no fun in playing with you at all.]
Despite his words, Raulus promptly picked Yerenika up properly in his jaws and even brushed the snow from her cloak with his nose.
[You mustn’t get sick, little one. If you fall ill, he becomes sharp, and when he becomes sharp, Laduere grows pale, and the Temple’s prayers become terribly sorrowful.]
“This much won’t make me sick. You’re being overprotective.”
Auredhian proceeded to demonstrate the very definition of overprotection, carefully brushing the snow from her hair, straightening her crooked hat and adjusting her scarf perfectly.
“We shall return to the Temple at once, Your Majesty. We apologize for the trouble we’ve caused. And to the Empress as well.”
“Not at all. You’ve worked hard being dragged around all day.”
Even as her husband held her fast, Yerenika waved to the devoted priestess and the reformed black mage.
“Soleia, Diego—don’t torment her too much!”
Soleia, true to form, completely ignored the plea.
As Raulus prepared to return to the Imperial Palace, a small whisper reached his ears.
“Lari, I know you’ve been sending telepathic messages to Uni.”
Never expecting she would discover this, Raulus froze in surprise. Decarve and Aizena, who had been sleeping on his back, bumped their heads together and whimpered softly. Raulus gently nudged Yerenika, who was tenderly stroking the children’s foreheads.
[What? How long have you known?]
“From the very beginning. She’s my daughter—how could I not know?”
Yerenika shrugged. Raulus replied as if slightly deflated.
[Ugh, I promised the little one we’d keep it secret.]
“I’ll keep it secret. I’ll pretend I don’t know. Though Edi probably already knows anyway.”
Auredhian, adjusting the saddle from a distance, turned his head. Despite being far too far away to hear, he somehow sensed they were talking about him—his instincts remained as sharp as ever. Yerenika smiled softly and stroked Raulus’s silver fur.
“Stay for a few more days this time. I’ve been lonely because you haven’t come down in so long.”
[I’ll visit often from now on. That little one speaks, after all. Deb and Jena were adorable when they were small, but this one is even cuter.]
“So you’re only going to love Uni in the end?”
Raulus snorted.
[How could that be? Still, you remain my most insignificant summoner. You were the first to receive the title of crumb.]
“…Was that nickname really grand enough to be called a title?”
[Of course. It’s a term of endearment filled with affection.]
The enormous wolf nudged her shoulder with its snout and rose to its feet. The three siblings remained fast asleep, not stirring even as Raulus moved.
[Go on. He’s calling for you. I’m going to take these little ones ahead, so come slowly. I’ll just dump them in bed, right?]
“Yes, and please tuck them in well. See you later.”
Raulus snorted dismissively, but I knew exactly what would happen—he would lay each child carefully in bed and even sing them a lullaby. The enormous silver wolf bolted across the snowy square of the night.
Yerenika watched him disappear for a long moment before turning away. Auredhian gestured to her. She approached and nestled into his embrace, letting out a breathless laugh.
“I was really startled. I thought something was odd, but I never imagined the children would follow us out.”
“Neither did I. I should have told Deb this morning.”
Out of habit, a gentle kiss descended upon her. Yerenika wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck and tilted her eyes upward with a smile.
“All our adorable little troublemakers are gone. We should be safe at least until tomorrow, right?”
“…Yes.”
Strong arms encircled her waist. Auredhian pressed his forehead against hers for a moment, lost in thought, then whispered in a low voice.
“It seems rather late to head back. What do you think?”
The snowfall, which had seemed to be easing, began to thicken once more. The soft flakes would soon become a blizzard, erasing all traces of today’s footprints and spreading a pristine white expanse anew. Yerenika brushed the white snow from his hair and murmured softly in return.
“Then shall we stay the night and head back early tomorrow? Now that I think about it, I don’t think we’ve ever been on a date on a deep winter’s night.”
The way she emphasized the word “night” was endearing. Instead of answering, Auredhian pressed his lips to her pale nose. Shortly after, a horse carrying the two of them galloped through the snowy streets of the Capital at night. Their destination was precisely the opposite side of the Capital. Soon, their figures melted away like wisps among the swirling snow. The midwinter commotion born from Decarve’s sleeping habits concluded as peacefully as this.
【Side Story 3: A Winter’s Pursuit】
完

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————