6. Obsession (Part 5)

Alexander and Stefan had learned boxing together since they were young. Stefan’s bare-knuckle punches that Alexander had taken head-on had left his lips busred.

It looks like it hurts.

His lips moved slowly, spitting out an apology.

“I’m… sorry.”

This only prompted Stefan to strike him again.

Bam!

A resounding crack echoed. This time, even Alexander couldn’t withstand it, swallowing a groan.

“Brother!”

Eirin clung to Stefan, wailing.

“I asked him to teach me about the intimacies between men and women.”

She could no longer bear to see Alexander hurt. Perhaps out of a sense of guilt for touching his friend’s sister, or some sense of responsibility, Alexander had simply continued to accept the punches without a word after his apology. His eyes were reddened where the veins had burst.

She wasn’t afraid now of being scolded by Stefan for writing a racy novel. Up until now, she had been terrified of being found out, but that paled in comparison to the thought of his beloved Alexander being hurt.

“It was me. I-I asked him to teach me. Okay, brother?”

Stefan’s fist, about to strike Alexander again, paused at Eirin’s unexpected words. Gritting his teeth, Stefan questioned her.

“You asked him to teach you?”

“Yes, so please…” 

“Why? Why on earth would you do something like this? Eirin, don’t tell me…”

Stefan continued with a fiery gaze.

“You’ve fallen for Alexander, and since he refuses to marry, you resorted to this just to be with him?”

Eirin hesitated at those words.

That’s not it.

To be precise, it’s not exactly like that. 

It’s true that he is reluctant to marry, and it’s true that she has fallen for Alexander. She now looks forward to their meetings more than the novels.

But, but—— it started out differently. Everything happened because of the novel.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“I told you, Alexander has no intention of marriage! Why, why on earth would you do this? You should have met someone else.”

“Brother, don’t get so angry. This isn’t something to get so angry about.”

Just for meeting him at night, there was no need to hurt Alexander further. If that were to happen, Stefan, who had inflicted the injuries, and Eirin herself, who had led the situation this way, would be unforgivable.

“Not something to get angry about?”

Eirin’s words only seemed to further enrage Stefan.

“As the daughter of a noble house, if you were caught spending the night with a man you won’t even marry, it would be a tremendous disgrace. It’s not just the family’s honor, but you would never be able to marry anyone!”

“I don’t care!”

Eirin shouted, almost screaming.

She had no intention of marrying someone she didn’t love anyway. And as long as it wasn’t Alexander, she didn’t want anyone else.

“I don’t care, brother. I’m fine with it.”

But Stefan was not convinced.

“Why would you do this, Eirin?”

“I wrote a novel…”

Suddenly, Alexander’s coughing interrupted the heated exchange between the siblings.

“I… *cough*”

Likely due to the split lip, or the blood having backflowed into his airway, he let out a harsh cough. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Alexander then cleared his throat and spoke firmly.

“I will marry Eirin.”

At those words, Stefan and Eirin’s gazes instantly turned to Alexander.

They were speechless at the unexpected words. There was a long silence. 

What was he saying now?

Seemingly exhausted from the punching, or perhaps simply shocked by the unexpected statement, Stefan slowly climbed off Alexander’s body.

“Alexander, what are you saying?”

“I mean what I said.”

Free from Stefan, Alexander wiped the blood from his still-aching lips as he muttered. His neat lips were now a mess, making his speech slightly imprecise, but his intention was clear.

“If Eirin will have me, I’ll marry her. That way, there’s no need to worry about her honor or the family’s disgrace.”

Marry… me and Alexander?

Eirin’s eyes widened. Just moments ago, even until just before Stefan barged into the room, Alexander had been adamant about not wanting to marry. 

So why was he now saying he would marry me?

Before Eirin could comprehend Alexander’s intentions, he spoke first.

“Stefan, this way you won’t have any objections either.”

“But you’ve never wanted to get married.”

“Not until now. I’ll marry Eirin.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Alexander’s words were firm. Stefan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Stefan and Alexander were complete opposites in personality. Unlike the always relaxed and easygoing Alexander, Stefan could be blunt and stubborn, especially when it came to family or friends, despite being a notorious womanizer.

However, they also had many things in common. They had both been raised in isolation at boarding schools from a young age, and had even fought together in the horrific war.

Even as they rolled in the gutters, the two had relied on and maintained their friendship.

It was precisely because of this that Stefan, more than anyone, knew Alexander was unlikely to marry lightly.

“Are you serious?”

There was still doubt in Stefan’s voice.

“Yes, if Eirin is willing.”

“She will not refuse. I can’t let my sister live with her honor as a tarnished lady.”

Eirin didn’t know how to respond.

She loved Alexander.

She loved being with him and enjoyed his company. If they could be together forever, how wonderful that would be.

But this was not the kind of marriage she had wanted. Seeing the hesitation on Eirin’s face, Stefan brushed back his disheveled hair and spoke.

“If you and Eirin don’t marry, I’ll have to challenge you to a duel, for sullying my sister’s honor.”

A duel?

Eirin’s face paled at Stefan’s words.

If Stefan and Alexander dueled, one of them would end up dead from the other’s hand. She couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t lose her brother, nor the man she loved.

“What will you do, Eirin?”

Stefan asked, but there was no need to answer. The solution was already clear.

With the marriage decided, Stefan left to call for a doctor to tend to the injured Alexander. As soon as Stefan exited the room, a sob escaped Eirin’s lips.

“Alexander, are you alright?”

Eirin barely held back her tears, seeing Alexander’s face covered in blood. The bruising around his eyes and the blood at the corner of his mouth – Eirin, who had never seen so much blood before, hastily retrieved a clean linen and began wiping his stained face.

“Ow.”

As the cloth touched him, Alexander winced in pain, and tears finally spilled down Eirin’s cheeks.

“Why did you do that?”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“You should have fought back against Stefan. I’ve heard you’re even stronger than my brother. Why didn’t you fight him? I know he’s my brother but why did you let him do this to your face… It was me who asked you to teach me, you’re not at fault at all.”

With her vision blurred by tears, Eirin felt Alexander’s hand rise to her face.

“Stefan was just worried about you. He’s right, I shouldn’t have touched you in the first place.”

At his words, Eirin shook her head.

“I begged you to teach me about the intimacies in my novel. It’s my fault, not yours.”

Scratched by Stefan’s nails, a long gash had formed on Alexander’s delicate cheek. Thankfully it wasn’t deep, but the sight of his injury pierced Eirin’s heart. 

As she wiped his wound, she bowed her head, swallowing her sobs.

“Don’t cry, Eirin. Even if you don’t love me, we’ll make a good enough couple.”

“You could have just said it was because of my novel. Why did you do that?”

“You writing a risque novel – I promised not to tell anyone.”

But I didn’t swear not to get married.

With his face a mess, he murmured.