Chapter 35. I Was The First

* * *

Theo sat at his study desk, continuously downing strong whiskey.

A bitter-sweet alcohol scent lingered in his mouth.

His whole body felt hot, but when he thought of Asarim, it turned cold.

No matter how much he drank, he couldn’t get drunk.

Theo kept pondering.

Should he call the Shadow to secretly eliminate him? Or should he set fire to the entire third floor where the guest room was?

The end of his deliberation always led to erasing Asarim’s existence from this world.

But the reason he couldn’t act wasn’t because he was afraid of becoming a murderer, nor did he feel guilty about killing someone.

It was because of one person, Yuelina.

What if, by any chance, something happened to Asarim and Yuelina left for her hometown to hold a funeral?

Or what if she said she couldn’t live in the Phaenyx Principality anymore because it was too dangerous after the accident?

Theo let out long, heavy sighs endlessly.

His intense emotions wouldn’t easily subside. The more he thought about it, the more furious and resentful he felt.

That ridiculous mindset of Asarim, who dared to define himself and Yuelina as fiancés.

His attitude of trying to gauge whether Theo himself was a good person was also deplorable.

Above all, the most horrifying thing was that, as Asarim said, if Yuelina had been in the village, if she hadn’t come to the principality, the two of them might have gotten married.

It was also unpleasant to be constantly reminded that he was infinitely inadequate as Yuelina’s partner.

That’s when it happened.

There was a sound of something tapping, tap, tap, at the window.

Theo turned his head to look towards the window.

He immediately stood up.

It was because Yuelina was standing on the terrace in thin clothes.

Theo opened the window without hesitation and took Yuelina’s hand, leading her inside.

“Why were you standing out there in the cold?”

Theo quickly draped the robe he had placed on the sofa over Yuelina’s body.

Yuelina, wrapped in Theo’s robe, looked like she was covered in a large blanket.

Yuelina gazed at Theo while rubbing her cheeks, which had turned red from the cold, with the back of her hand.

“You’re still, not asleep.”

“…That’s right.”

“I’m glad. I was worried you might be sleeping.”

Yuelina smiled brightly.

At that moment, Theo realized that this was the first time Yuelina had come to his room on her own.

Suddenly, fatigue washed over him, and his stiff body began to tense up again.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“We parted so hastily earlier… I felt bad about not giving you this.”

Yuelina handed Theo something wrapped in a dry cloth.

Theo received the object Yuelina was giving him.

“I’ve mentioned it before, right? ‘Yas’, the tea leaves we brew in the village when our bodies are cold.”

“I remember.”

Theo certainly remembered those tea leaves.

He had gone to the market to dry those leaves, and that was when he first held hands with Yuelina while walking.

Although he hadn’t tasted it, it must be a very precious and excellent tea leaf.

He slowly opened the cloth to check the contents.

The well-dried leaves emitted a bitter and sweet smell simultaneously.

“Fortunately, it seems to have dried well. I wanted to give it to you first.”

Yuelina’s gentle voice penetrated Theo’s ears.

First.

I was the first.

So, not that damned friend, Asarim.

Asarim, who said they were always together because he was the successor of the tribe.

Asarim, who looked like an annoying minstrel poet, leisurely singing songs and attracting women.

It meant that he, not Asarim, was the first.

The corner of Theo’s mouth twitched.

Of course, Yuelina didn’t mean it that way, but that’s how Theo interpreted her words.

“And thank you for being kind to Asarim today. Was it uncomfortable because Asarim was rude?”

“Not at all. He’s your friend, so he should be comfortable while he’s here.”

Theo smiled kindly, forcibly bestowing a non-existent broad-mindedness.

Yuelina was moved by Theo’s benevolent attitude.

She was convinced that Theo, with his sturdy physique, must also have a heart as vast as a wide river.

“Well then, Theo. I should go now, you need to rest.”

“No,”

Theo grabbed Yuelina’a sleeve as she was about to leave.

When she turned her head, her white and soft hair that swayed touched Theo’s arm and fell away.

The sweet and bright floral scent naturally made him feel good, and he couldn’t come to his senses.

“Shouldn’t we have a cup of tea?”

“Oh, is that okay? It’s quite late.”

“I’d like you to show me how to drink it too.”

Yuelina hesitated at Theo’s words.

The method of drinking the tea was simple — just steep the tea leaves in hot water.

But Theo was busy with the principality’s affairs, and he enjoyed alcohol more than tea, so he might not know.

She slowly nodded and stood in front of the table where the teapot, which maintained its temperature with a magic stone, was placed.

“The water in this teapot…”

Yuelina continued speaking in a clear pronunciation, like a teacher instructing a child.

Pour the water from the teapot into the teacup.

Then put in three or four tea leaves and steep for a few minutes.

When the color changes, remove the leaves and then drink.

Theo listened quietly to Yuelina’s voice. He was almost disappointed that her explanation was coming to an end.

But brewing tea leaves was too easy and simple a process.

Yuelina handed the finished tea to Theo.

The steaming tea was just a mouthful for him. However, Theo sipped the tea very slowly.

“How is it? Is it okay?”

“Hmm–”

“Does it not suit your taste?”

Yuelina also tasted the brewed tea.

It was at the right temperature to warm the body, and although the scent was weaker than in the village, it was definitely the ‘Yas’ leaf.

Theo watched Yuelina as she smacked her lips, trying to gauge the taste.

Yuelina’s small and red lips, moistened by the tea, looked luscious.

They must be soft and warm.

Now he couldn’t even tell if his body was hot because of the tea or because of Yuelina in front of him.

“It works well. My body has warmed up.”

“Since you wear thin clothes, it would be good for you to drink this tea often, Theo.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Then I’ll really go now. Once again, thank you so much for today.”

Yuelina bowed lightly with a kind smile.

Theo silently followed Yuelina as she headed towards the terrace window.

“Don’t come out. It’s cold.”

“I’ll escort you.”

“No! I’ll go quickly!”

“No, I need to see you enter your room.”

“I’ll watch you go in and then leave.”

“That won’t do. I’ll watch.”

“Since I came, it’s right that I watch!”

Theo paused for a moment.

He felt a sense of déjà vu from the conversation with Yuelina.

But what fool would coldheartedly send his wife away alone?

To Theo, Yuelina seemed too small, slender, and fragile.

What if she stumbled and fell on the windy bridge?

“I’ll go with you.”

Theo had no intention of backing down from this argument.

* * *

It was a quiet night with the moonlight hiding its traces behind clouds.

The servants of the mansion were also resting in their rooms, except for the minimum necessary personnel.

Especially the Black Mansion, which was solely Theo’s space. It was always quiet in the middle of the night.

Even with an unexpected guest, nothing would change.

But then the door on the left corridor of the third floor opened with a creak.

He, concealing his presence, walked slowly down the corridor, muffling his footsteps.

His silhouette briefly reflected in the window of the corridor.

Just then, the wind picked up speed, pushing away the clouds, and the bright moonlight began to softly illuminate the corridor.

The soft moonlight and cold wind seeped through the gaps in the window.

He paused for a moment to look out the window.

The lush forest and mountain range looked just like spring.

But the wind was different.

A wind carrying thin, sharp blades knocked relentlessly on the window.

The man, after looking at the scenery outside, stared at his own reflection in the window.

Short dark brown hair and sparkling golden eyes.

Slanted eyes matching large pupils, and a pointed, high nose bridge.

His smooth skin, well-tanned by the sun, looked even more splendid in the moonlight.

And he also noticed the reflection of another man behind him.

Jet-black hair like a piece torn from the dark night sky, and calm blue eyes reminiscent of the eve of a storm.

A towering physique that far exceeded the average size.

The man leaned against the wall, arms crossed, quietly staring at him reflected in the window.