Chapter 32. Asarim

“Really?”

“Sometimes after hunting, we light bonfires in the cabin.”

“That’s great!”

“Well, then we’ll have to speak honestly.”

“Huh?”

“We must speak honestly about everything. In front of the bonfire.”

Theo looked into Yuelina’s eyes while pouring wine into her glass.

To Yuelina, Theo’s blue eyes, which always seemed calm, now felt like flames.

Come to think of it, Theo’s eyes had looked just like that when she saw him this morning.

Eyes burning with desire for something…

For some reason, her heart fluttered at the fact that those eyes were directed at her.

When winter comes, and she’s in front of a bonfire with Theo, what questions would she be able to ask him?

Yuelina thought she might ask Theo something like this:

If it’s okay that I’m your wife.

Theo, too, watching Yuelina’s eyes waver aimlessly, thought:

When winter comes and the moment arrives when he’s in front of a bonfire with Yuelina…

He would make her promise that she couldn’t annul this marriage and wouldn’t run away anywhere.

He also vowed that if she showed even the slightest hesitation, he would make it so she couldn’t leave the Phaenyx territory.

Of course, before winter came, the priority was to make this crow-tit-like cute woman quite fond of Phaenyx.

That level of kindness seemed appropriate to maintain his duty both as a Grand Duke and as a husband.

“Let’s drink the wine then.”

Theo raised his wine glass and looked at Yuelina.

Yuelina also picked up her wine glass. Theo clinked his glass against Yuelina’s.

The sound of crystal glasses clinking rang clearly in the air.

Along with it came the sound of someone’s urgent knocking.

“Your Highness! It’s Ulysse.”

Theo put down his wine glass. Yuelina did the same.

Soon after, the door opened, and Ulysse, with fogged glasses, entered.

He hastily took off his glasses and stood in front of Theo.

Theo’s eyebrows were raised as high as they could go.

It had been a very memorable moment, his first toast with Yuelina.

And to interrupt that.

If it wasn’t about war, he planned to scold Ulysse severely.

“What’s the matter?”

“A, a guest has arrived.”

“At this hour, in my territory, and you say it’s a guest?”

Theo’s voice was as sharp as pointed glass.

Ulysse wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“To be precise… it’s a guest for Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

“What?”

Theo and Ulysse’s gazes simultaneously turned to Yuelina.

Yuelina tilted her head.

“But I don’t know anyone in the principality? Raye and Maelyn aren’t guests, are they?”

“They say they’ve come from Luhae Island.”

“What?!”

At Ulysse’s words, Yuelina jumped up from her seat in shock.

“From Luhae Island? Who? They really came to see me?”

Yuelina’s urgent voice seemed somewhat excited.

Ulysse put on his glasses and continued speaking.

“From the Apan tribe… they said you’d know if I mentioned Asarim. Is this someone you know, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”

Yuelina nodded vigorously.

“Asarim is my friend!”

“I see. I’ve shown them to the reception room for now.”

“Can I go meet them now?”

Ulysse looked at Theo in response to Yuelina’s question. It was a question he couldn’t answer himself.

Yuelina followed Ulysse’s gaze and turned towards Theo.

She desperately grasped both of Theo’s hands.

“Theo, can I go see them now?”

From Yuelina, who had suddenly come close to him, came a strong floral scent.

The hands desperately holding his, conveyed a warm and soft heat.

Feeling dazed, Theo nodded without realizing it.

“It’s the Grand Duchess’s guest, we should welcome them.”

“Thank you!”

“I think I should go with you.”

Yuelina stamped her feet in place.

Her impatient appearance, eager to go outside, looked just like an adorable chick.

Theo tried to hide his bubbling laughter as he nodded to Ulysse.

Ulysse opened the door and guided Theo and Yuelina to the reception room.

However, Ulysse kept glancing at Theo as they went down the stairs, and as they passed through the corridor.

He seemed somewhat anxious.

But Theo didn’t notice Ulysse’s gaze at all.

His eyes were fixed only on Yuelina, who was walking excitedly.

“The Grand Duchess’s guest is a man.”

“What?”

Theo’s expression, which had been fondly watching Yuelina, instantly twisted into a fierce scowl.

Ulysse pretended not to see Theo’s expression and continued speaking to Yuelina.

“He’s quite handsome, isn’t he? Are you close friends?”

“Asarim is the heir of the Apan tribe, and I’m the heir of the Coho tribe, so we took heir lessons together.”

Yuelina smiled brightly, seemingly remembering those times.

She couldn’t hide her excitement.

She was simply happy that a friend from her hometown had come all the way to distant Phaenyx.

So Yuelina didn’t notice Theo’s hardened face.

“If there are two heirs… I suppose only the two of you took lessons.”

“Yes! So we were always together.”

Theo clenched his fist and glared at the back of Ulysse’s head.

A man?

And what? Handsome?

If such a guy had come, Ulysse should have discreetly called him first and asked.

He should have said, ‘A handsome man has come looking for Her Highness the Grand Duchess, shall we send him away?’

If Ulysse had asked that, he would have given him a mine as a bonus.

“Well then, shall we go in?”

Ulysse opened the reception room door wide while keeping an eye on Theo.

Yuelina’s eyes met with Asarim, who was looking out the window inside the reception room.

“Asarim! It really is you!”

Yuelina’s friend Asarim.

Unlike the fair-skinned Yuelina, Asarim had a sun-tanned bronze skin color.

His golden eyes and short hair that looked like it had been drizzled with milk chocolate created an excessively sweet and sticky atmosphere.

Though his build seemed slender compared to Theo, he had a muscular silhouette.

—Yuna!

Asarim smiled brightly at Yuelina.

And he opened his arms wide.

Theo’s eyebrows twitched at Asarim’s action.

Why is he opening his arms?

Does he want to be torn apart?

But Yuelina had no way of knowing Theo’s thoughts.

She threw herself into Asarim’s arms with a bright face.

— Asarim! How did you come all the way here?

— I came because I missed you. I haven’t had a single peaceful day since sending you off like that.

Asarim gently stroked Yuelina’s hair and met her gaze.

His sweet golden eyes, dripping with honey, were examining every detail of Yuelina’s face.

Ulysse quickly pulled out the handkerchief he had kept in his pocket.

He had been sweating profusely for a while now.

No, he couldn’t bear the hot heat radiating from Theo standing next to him.

Yuelina looked at Asarim with a clear smile.

— Asarim, how’s Luhae Island? How are the people? Is everyone doing well? How’s the weather? Is it not cold? How’s Father? How are our friends?

— Hehe. Ask one at a time. I plan to stay here until all your curiosities are satisfied.

Asarim chuckled at Yuelina’s endless questions.

On the other hand, Theo bit his lip.

It was already irritating and hard to bear watching Yuelina nestled affectionately in Asarim’s arms.

But what made his blood boil even more was that he couldn’t understand what Yuelina and Asarim were talking about.

The two had been conversing in the language of Luhae Island since they met.

It seemed like Yuelina had said something lengthy.

Then that guy Asarim let out a nauseating and disgusting laugh.

What on earth was it?

What did she say?

It was at this moment that shadows fell across Theo’s face.

—Yuna, I’m glad you’re still the same.

Asarim placed his hand on Yuelina’s cheek with a fond smile.

Theo’s reason was on the verge of snapping.

—Is something wrong in the village? Has it gotten colder?

—No. The village is safe. The wind isn’t as cold as it is here. Yuna, are you okay?

Asarim’s gaze as he looked at Yuelina became even more affectionate. Yuelina was the same.

Theo couldn’t stand to watch any longer.

He strode forward, approaching Yuelina.

Yuelina turned her head at the sudden large shadow that seemed to engulf her.