"Do you even need to come near my study hall, Kasumi?" Severin asked and tugged my arm, almost splitting my limbs in half. Irritation fluttered in the air, suffocating me to the core. "Didn't I tell you already? I—"
"Did you even think I have the choice?" I asked in a raspy whisper, wary of the other students passing by. Fixating his gaze on him was a mistake, clamoring a geyser on his expression that I almost ran away from him. "I was told to keep my relationship with you!"
My uncle was the one who ordered that! I wanted to add. My cousins relayed that message to me, feeding me with insulting words to tune off my breaking point.
Being betrothed and married to this man always made my stomach churn upside down, shoving me to the deepest sullen spring, unable to abscond from its boiling arch. It was sickening that he was in my presence.
"Not in this royal academy, idiot!" Severin looked like he wanted to strangle me.
He and I would never get along, even though we had been married for three months already.
No. Even if the world collapsed, and he would be the last man, I would never come to like or love my so-called husband.
"Don't idiot me, bastard," I said through gritted teeth, launching friction as if I was rustling some papers. The fountain pen I had in my pocket suddenly wanted to shove on his sapphire blue eyes, letting blood ooze from it until he couldn't see the world again.
Severin's hold tightened, trying to inflict an imprint like a document stamp. But I did not stand there and let him do that as I grabbed him by his collar, coming forth with the strength of a bear's physique. Both of us were flinging deaths against each other.
Dear Moon Goddess, please prolong my patience with this insolent man that I had gotten to marry with. I felt like I wouldn't survive another month with him.
"Severin. Kasumi. What in the world are you two doing?"
As soon as I heard that familiar baritone voice, a wave of chills ran down my spine, and my heart felt as though it had stopped beating, conveying the overwhelming impact of the experience.
Severin and I both turned our heads towards the source of the imposing six-foot-tall wall before us. As we met its gaze, I felt a sharp sensation deep within my core, as if my wolf was reacting to an arrow-like sapphire blue orbs that could penetrate the very soul within my body, indicating the intensity of the situation.
"Father... I..." Severin said, unleashing his handcuff-like hand on my arm. "Why are you here?" Instead of answering him, he asked.
"My next class is around here. Why else wouldn't I be here?" Thaddeus replied, arching his eyebrow.
"Oh... Yes, I remember." That was Severin's answer.
I almost smirked at his foolishness. Of course, Thaddeus, known for tormenting our pack by inflicting threats, was also the head instructor of training the royal academy students and evaluating them to send the result of their physical traits and improvements to their respective packs.
Dumbass... He should have known that was his father's work here in the royal academy.
My eyes caught on Thaddeus, and as fast as the peregrine falcon, my smile vanished, ignoring the tingling sensation swarming my body, averting my gaze when he was also trying to catch my gaze again.
"Don't you have a class with me, Kasumi? So, what else are you doing here?"
Eyes on the floor, finding the speck of dust entertaining, I answered, "I still haven't eaten my lunch, Thaddeus," I lied. I almost licked the dust when I couldn't call him 'Father' since he was already my father-in-law.
It wasn't appropriate that I was calling him by his name when we were still in the royal academy. But I couldn't help it.
Looking up, I anticipated a scolding, but to my surprise, his eyes lit up with a glint of amusement, causing my heart to flip over in response, illustrating the sudden shift in my emotions.
"Make haste. The class is about to start in fifteen minutes." As he walked past us, he casually tapped Severin's shoulder, jolting him awake and emphasizing the suddenness of the action. "Join with her, son."
"Tsk," my bastard husband said, glaring at me. I almost pricked the fountain pen when he looked at me like that.
Severin and I parted ways, not saying anything, walking in opposite directions as we each went our separate paths, portraying the apparent divergence in our choices. As I sat down for lunch, I noticed my heart finally calmed down from the earlier encounter. Despite this, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease as I realized that I would inevitably cross paths with Thaddeus again, as he would be my next class later.
"Why did he have to be my instructor?" I muttered in annoyance, letting the luscious and creamy smooth, velvety texture of creme brulee play and swirl in my mouth.
I trudged towards the changing room, the weight of my footsteps echoing with each step as I made my way in my training uniform, showcasing the heaviness of my mood. If only I were not aiming to become a royal knight and serve the royal lycan family, I wouldn't have to do this.
If only Uncle Hajime did not kill my father... I wouldn't be in this place to expedite things to take what belonged to me in the first place. I should have been in the successorship training to take over the Red Sun pack.
"I will take back what is mine..." I said through gritted teeth, cherishing the tension in my neck and shoulders, eagerness to let out this remorse tonic poisoning my whole being.
The desire to surpass my tormenting cousins and ascend the royal knights' ranks pushed me to enhance my swordsmanship skills tirelessly. I was motivated by attaining the highest position on the social ladder and proving my worth as the true successor of the Red Sun pack.
But I had another problem to deal with. That was—
"Again!" I jolted back to reality as Thaddeus ordered us in a firm and commanding tone, portraying the suddenness and seriousness of the situation. "Check your rhythm and cautiousness," he said as he paced back and forth, meticulously observing the posture of each of us before his piercing sapphire blue eyes finally landed on me, showcasing the intensity of his scrutiny.
His gaze distracted me shaking my confidence before looking away when he caught me looking at him.
Damn it...
The mere thought of Thaddeus being my instructor made my insides grumble with unease, and my heart would skip a beat every time our eyes met. The obstacle of having him as my instructor ever since I enrolled here three months ago made it seem like an insurmountable challenge to improve my swordsmanship skills, illustrating the magnitude of my apprehension.
Horses galloped inside my ribcage when his footsteps marched in my direction. That shattered my fighting stance as soon as he was behind me.
His imperturbable posture submerged me as a mass of debris moved down to a slope. Getting distracted when his sizeable calloused hand was on my shoulder, and the other hand was on my hand, holding the rapier sword. Chills overwhelmed me. With his exhaling breath fanning my ear and his muscular build leaning my back, gradually loosening the brick walls I built, my wolf was in glee at having him beside us.
"Your shoulders are stiff, Kasumi." His low raspy voice hit the core of my thighs, enveloping me with a strange, melodious lullaby while making my heart ill at ease. "Fix your posture."
His hand traced my back, making my eyes widen as my mouth dry from our closeness, and the sensation was unimaginable to the point that I almost collapsed.
"L-Like this?" Even with my meek, shaky voice, I managed to ask him and did what must I suppose to do.
Thaddeus, whose hand was now on my waist, gently pinched it, making me jumpy before looking at him in surprise. "Yes. That's right," he said, lowering his gaze to my lips and my emerald green orbs again. "Good girl," he whispered, a curvy smile flashed on his lips when he left me astounded.
Our training ended feeling my cheeks flared, storming madness of illusion in my mind. I hastened my pace to leave the training ground after changing my clothes.
"Kasumi."
I halted, enveloped with reverberating chills and chattering teeth when Thaddeus called me.
"Damn it..." I murmured, not wanting to turn my head, but his footsteps and penetrating gaze halted me. It was too late to pretend that I did not hear him calling me. "Yes..?"
I almost stepped back when I caught a whiff of his scent and perfume mixing as my wolf almost urged me to lunge at him. The scent of it enveloped my senses, sending my mind into a haze. It was like breathing in a new concoction of antidote, and I couldn't help but feel intoxicated by its power.
Thaddeus smirked when he caught that I was caught off guard at his presence before clearing his throat. "I came to say something..."
My insides clenched, an uproaring drizzle of agitation. "What?"
His sapphire blue eyes shone under the afternoon sunlight before he opened his hand and showed what was inside it. I swallowed a gasp of solitude when an eccentric agate gemstone embellished in a vine-shaped vessel necklace swayed left and right on his hand.
"That's..." I could not form another word, glorifying relief washed me when Thaddeus grinned. "...mine." My voice choked with tears when I took it from his hand, implying to say something, but I couldn't.
My eyes were fixated on it, not wanting to leave another day just to confirm that I was seeing it properly.
"My necklace..." I bit my lower lip, cradling it like an infant. "H-How did you find it? Sev—" I paused when I realized that I almost revealed Severin was why I had lost my necklace.
That bastard... His annoyance with me was palpable to the extent that he threw the necklace away when I was bathing.
Severin and I fought that we almost wreaked havoc on the De Rosa mansion, but fortunately, it did not come that way.
I only revealed that I lost it due to my negligence.
I had a feeling that Thaddeus was aware of Severin and I's argument since he did not say anything, but he stayed in his perusal silence.
"In the garden," Thaddeus answered brusquely, turning his back on me just as my eyes were welling up with a desperate need for reassurance, highlighting the emotional turmoil of the moment.
As Thaddeus disappeared from view, I found myself gazing down at my necklace, tears welling up in my eyes as I took a deep sniff before pressing my lips against the cool surface of the gemstone, revealing my emotional vulnerability.
"Thank the Moon Goddess..." I muttered. "You're back..."
"I heard the royal academy will hold a ball this annual foundation day."My eyes were fixated on my meal, and I had to pursue Madeline, the current Luna of the Blazing Winter pack and Thaddeus' wife, who opened up the focal point of being enrolled or working in the royal academy. I was sitting across from her, so it was easy to match my gaze on her."I heard from Severin that this year's theme is a masquerade party. Is that true?" Madeline asked with a tone that sounded like the melody of the birds chirping first thing in the morning, gazing at Thaddeus sitting by the edge of the table as the usual setup since he was the head of the House of de Rosa.Thaddeus pierced the luscious and tender medium-rare meat on his plate. Each slice and friction of the knife between the plate served anticipation, prolonging a little before scrutinizing the meat."Yes, the student body organization confirmed that this year would be a masquerade party," he replied earnestly while his eyes were on his pla
"Marquis de Rosa, I am happy to be of assistance!" Lady Claire, the notorious seamstress of the capital's aristocratic society, welcomed us with a smile that seemed as warm as the freshly brewed tea after she curtsied before him. "How may I help you, my lord?"Thaddeus removed his hat, gliding a beautiful smile that could have a stunning effect on others. "I am here to get my tailored outfit and for her." He gestured his hand to get Lady Claire's attention to heed on me."Oh, I see." Lady Claire nodded before curtsying in front of me. "Please to see you again, Lady Kasumi. I hope you still remember me."I nodded, smiling. "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Claire." I felt the turmoil in my stomach flushing out of my body when she spoke to me with a respective tone. "And how could I forget you since you were the one who made my dazzling wedding dress, Lady Claire?"I still remember how intricate the tailored wedding dress she made for me was.The wedding dress at that time was shimmering
I was busy admiring my necklace in front of my reflection in the vanity mirror when my eyes flew towards Severin, who had just left the bathroom from taking a bath and saw what I was doing.His lips curled into a scowl as he gritted his teeth. The furrow of his eyebrows and the squint in his eyes revealed his obvious disapproval.His reaction made my eyebrow arch before I spun myself to face him, following him to the wardrobe through gazing at him. "Did you know? I found my necklace again." I tried to initiate a conversation with him since I knew very well that he never expected me to have the necklace again. "The odds are in my favor, no? I did not think that I would ever find my necklace again."My words reached Severin's ears as he slammed the wardrobe door. "I should have thrown it back to the lake when I had the chance..." he muttered. But that was barely a whisper. He intentionally made me hear it as soon as his eyes flung a slap of death in my direction."Boo-boo... You are not
"How do you like your tea, Kasumi? Is it bitter or...?"My eyes pierced at the cup of tea that was served to me earlier. My finger was only tracing the brim of the cup before gazing up to meet her gaze after tasting the tea she had brewed.The scent of citrusy floral-like orange tea filled my nostrils, and a tangy and tart aftertaste played in my mouth. I told that to Madeline with a gentle smile plastering on my lips, letting out this heavy weight that kept on fitting me."I am glad that you liked earl grey tea." Her slender fingers wrapped around the sultry cup. "That is Severin's favorite, in case you are wondering."A mere mention of my husband's name flipped the mood as I felt this gnawing feeling starting to eat me. It suddenly made me lose interest as soon as she said that."I will keep that in mind," I said in a cheerful tone, pertaining that Madeline was trying to impose upon me that I must dutifully fulfill my marital status.However, deep inside, if I were to serve Severin
I found myself in one of the labyrinth gardens of the royal academy as the chirping of the crickets, croaking of the frogs, and hooting of the owls streamed like a river in the silent night as the turmoil of emotions had come to align in the cold wind. My hand crashed against the unforgiving earth, its impact leaving a deep impression as my tears streamed down, merging with the soil below.Frustration... Abomination... Sorrow... Humiliation... Powerlessness...These negative emotions were so condensed that it was hard to rise from the quicksand slowly eating me.Frustration... I desired to return everything to its rightful place. I only wished to return to the Red Sun pack, proclaiming as the heiress. But I could still feel my failure along the way. Abomination... My resentment against my uncle for what he did to Father had reached my heart, letting this poison breach me. He took away the happiness that I was supposed to experience until the day I died, but his selfishness blinded hi
"Hey, you. Here."Severin bestowed a vial as soon as I was on my way to the dining hall to fill my stomach from the morning's dreadful classes. I caught it when it almost hit the floor, maintaining a glare in his direction.This scumbag... He never failed to make my blood boil, as always."Don't miss taking it," he said, squinting his eyes before parting ways with me.When he receded from view, bitterness took over my smile before I scoffed. "Don't miss taking it," I copied his words and tone scornfully as I rolled my eyes.I went to the nearest powder room to check the translucent vial that had pale blue liquid on it.The liquid drizzled my mouth down to my throat, hurling as plain as a parchment. Having to take this was enough to make my stomach churn for the adverse effects I would feel for the next few days.This was way better to endure than having another life form shaping inside me.Yet.At least, not yet.Severin and I both agreed on it. This was the only moment where we had t
"What...?" I pried my eyes open when I felt him withdrawing as I witnessed Thaddeus spinning my bracelet in a constant rotation. I gasped, but his words prevailed over the bracelet he had on his hand. "S-Something valuable?" A perplexed expression furrowed my brow.Was he asking me to offer my body to him?"Nope. That is not what I am thinking." I jolted at my ground, feeling my cheeks flamed, for he answered what was happening inside my head. His grin grew more since he knew what I was thinking. "Information or anything. Something that is not known yet by anyone."That further puzzled me, and I experienced a wave of relief when I realized he was asking for something other than my physical presence."I do not understand..." Or did I? "If you are after information," I paused. "Are you looking for something that would make my previous pack a vassal to you?"That was the only plausible reason I could think of, I think."No.""Then what? Can you be more specific?""Specific, huh?" Thaddeu
Everything went smoothly after that. Still wondering why Severin was there at the moment of my shortcomings was alarming. His dormitory wasn't even in the north. He was residing in the east, where the Emerald Dorm was a dormitory for the students born as royals, aristocrats, and elites were residing there.After my class from Thaddeus, I rested under the tree while watching some students swarming him like a pillar of society."Ah, yes, he is," I murmured, almost rolling my eyes. "Why did they find him attractive even with his cold demeanor?" I couldn't help but ask. However, I had to pinch myself for trying to deny that Thaddeus was attractive. His well-defined features accentuated his mature 39-year-old physique, complementing his captivating demeanor that had the power to captivate any woman. Yes, Thaddeus was 39 years old and a well-known ruthless ruler of a pack.It might look like Thaddeus did not look like one, but I could ascertain how frightened his neighboring packs were. Th