Chapter 36. Just What I Wanted

“Asarim.”

A cautious, low voice called his name.

Asarim turned his head to meet his gaze.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“Yuna calls you Theo.”

Theo unfolded his arms and walked heavily towards him.

Asarim wasn’t particularly small in stature either.

Yet there was about a head’s difference in height between Asarim and Theo.

Asarim looked up at Theo. He showed no signs of intimidation or fear.

“You shouldn’t use my name so casually.”

“……”

“That name can only be used by those I’ve given permission to.”

Theo completely revealed his displeasure.

Yuelina wasn’t here, and he had never cultivated patience in his life.

Asarim didn’t yield to Theo’s pressure and smiled broadly.

“Right, I didn’t want to use your name either.”

Asarim likewise had no intention of forcing himself to be friendly with him when Yuelina wasn’t around.

Just as much as Theo found Asarim uncomfortable, Asarim felt the same way.

From the moment he first saw Theo, he didn’t like him as expected.

Perhaps it was natural that Asarim didn’t like Theo.

He could pride himself on being closest to Yuelina than anyone else.

He lost that Yuelina in an instant. The person who took Yuelina away was said to be the ruler of a country he didn’t even know the name of.

He married Yuelina just because he was that ruler. Asarim didn’t want to accept it.

Even though it had already happened, he couldn’t accept it.

“I asked where you’re going at this hour.”

“Can’t sleep. Thought I might go see Yuna.”

Theo frowned at Asarim’s words.

‘Yuna’

It was the nickname for Yuelina used in the village, he’d said.

In the principality, Delkan was the first to call Yuelina that.

But Delkan wasn’t here now, busy solving problems with the city walls.

So the only person who could call her Yuna was Theo alone.

That was until Asarim appeared.

Asarim burst into a snicker seeing Theo’s twisted face.

Theo had barely spent even one season with Yuelina.

Yet he openly displayed his possessiveness towards her.

He was the one who had known Yuelina his whole life.

Such expressions should rightfully be his to make.

“What? Don’t like that I call her Yuna?”

“When do you plan to leave?”

Asarim shrugged his shoulders.

“I was just going to check if Yuna was doing well before leaving, but seeing you now, I’m not so sure.”

“……”

“Looks like I might have to stay longer than expected?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the heir? Is it okay to leave the village empty for so long?”

“Do you know why I became the heir?”

Asarim stared intently at Theo as he continued.

“Because I wanted to marry Yuna.”

Theo struggled to hold onto his rationality for Yuelina’s sake.

“Watch yourself. There’s a limit to how much I’ll tolerate you as Yuna’s friend.”

He gripped Asarim’s shoulder hard. His strong grip pressed down on Asarim’s shoulder.

Though Asarim frowned, he maintained the smile on his lips.

“I feel sorry for Yuna. She married someone like you who only knows how to use brute force.”

Asarim didn’t back down despite Theo’s warning.

Theo raised one corner of his mouth as he looked at Asarim, full of hostility.

“Wasn’t the marriage what your village wanted?”

“What? That’s nonsense! You’re the ones who threatened us with marriage!”

Asarim’s expression immediately hardened at Theo’s words.

“And you accepted, didn’t you? Because you needed the magic stones. Desperate enough to send Yuna.”

Asarim raised his voice, seemingly indignant.

“I opposed it! I didn’t trust that bastard Delkan either. He must have come to our island with other motives.”

Theo decided to give Asarim credit for his perceptiveness.

Unlike the agitated Asarim, Theo looked at him with a calm expression and smirked.

“Then you should have opposed it until the end.”

“If only Yuna hadn’t wanted it!”

“You couldn’t even stop her from coming here, so why are you throwing a tantrum now?”

Theo frowned.

“Stay quiet while you’re here. Don’t act up.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing you can do here. There’s nothing I don’t know about where you go and what you do in my territory.”

The third floor where Theo had given Asarim a guest room was a space that only Theo’s close associates could use.

There was a separate guest house, but Theo had designated Asarim’s room on the third floor.

It was to keep close watch on what Asarim did and where he moved.

The principality was literally Theo’s space.

Now that Theo was aware of Asarim’s presence, he would know everything about Asarim’s comings and goings in the principality.

While Asarim could freely meet Yuelina, he could never escape from Theo’s grasp.

Asarim gave a bitter smile at Theo’s firm voice.

“So our desperation is your excuse to keep Yuna?”

“Excuse?”

“You’re the one keeping that poor, pitiful girl captive using the magic stones as leverage. Not me.”

Theo’s lips gradually turned downward.

Asarim didn’t miss the chance and pressed Theo further.

“I wondered why marriage of all things, but seeing you, I understand. Who would want to marry someone like you?”

“……”

“Yuna will soon realize too. That murderous look in your eyes. That bloodthirst that would still be hungry after devouring someone.”

“Then does Yuna know about you? About your greed, pretending to be a friend to her face while harboring other thoughts behind her back.”

Asarim shook off Theo’s arm.

“The only reason I’m leaving you alone is because of Yuna. It would be troublesome if I hit you.”

Theo couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“You’re saying what I was about to say. Instead, let’s meet at the training ground tomorrow.”

“Just what I wanted.”

“Yuna shouldn’t know about this.”

“Of course not.”

Theo nodded.

Asarim passed by Theo with a cold expression.

A drop of blood formed on Asarim’s lips as he bit them.

* * *

After finishing her bath, Yuelina dragged her tired body to sit at the table.

Maelyn smiled brightly while showing her a red velvet dress and a purple dress.

“How does Her Highness the Grand Duchess have such beautiful skin? You would shine in anything you wear.”

“You’re the same, Maelyn. You look beautiful today too.”

Maelyn grinned happily at Yuelina’s compliment.

She carefully dried Yuelina’s hair with a towel.

“I heard a guest arrived last night? They say it’s Her Highness’s friend.”

“Did you hear from Secretary Ulysse already?”

“No, I heard it from the maids on my way here.”

“The maids?”

Yuelina tilted her head.

“Yes. They were all praising your friend Asarim, saying he’s very handsome and well-mannered?”

“Really?”

Maelyn continued speaking with a flushed face while brushing Yuelina’s hair.

“Do you think I’ll be able to see him today?”

Yuelina awkwardly nodded her head, reading the expectation in Maelyn’s expression.

Was Asarim handsome?

He certainly seemed popular in the village too.

His lean and tenacious physique and stamina always surpassed the warriors.

He was also good at reading others’ moods and could easily resolve conflicts between people.

But when it came to being handsome and well-mannered, Theo was surely better than Asarim.

Despite his large frame, he maintained perfect posture whether walking, standing, or even sitting.

Moreover, his glossy black hair and refreshing blue eyes were so deep and captivating.

Just then, Maelyn looked at Yuelina with a worried face.

“But I’m a bit concerned. Your friend is too handsome.”

“What kind of worry?”

“I wonder if His Highness the Grand Duke might feel uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

“The maids couldn’t stop praising him! They were giggling about how he looks like a young noble with his pretty features and how his smile is as bright as sunshine.”

“…Ah.”

Maelyn, who had been chattering, shook her head.

Usually, if a wife’s hometown friend was male, and a handsome one at that, it would surely cause jealousy.

But it didn’t seem likely for Theo, the Grand Duke of Phaenyx.

“No, Grand Duchess. I don’t think His Highness the Grand Duke would mind.”

“But isn’t His Highness more pretty?”

Maelyn hesitated at Yuelina’s innocent face.

“Pardon?”

“His Highness is tall and well-built, but if you look closely at his features, they’re all pretty, aren’t they?”

“What?”

Maelyn almost asked where she saw that.