Elze woke up in bed with a stifled scream.
“Hah!!”
She couldn't see ahead. In the pitch-black darkness, Elze felt around frantically with her hands.
At that moment, something large grabbed Elze's wandering hand tightly and hugged her. A sense of security as if she had entered a strong protective shield, enveloped Elze.
Elze took a deep breath. Her vision began to brighten, and objects around her began to come into view.
"Ah..."
And then she met the vivid purple eyes that were before her eyes. There was no harshness there, and the pupils were neither narrow nor elongated.
“Erzenes.”
The voice calling out with concern was heavy and warm. Elze unconsciously reached out and touched his face. It was only after feeling the copper-colored skin beneath her hand that she realized it. Elze cautiously called out to him.
“Shan...?”
His eyes widened, and then he frowned slowly. A wrinkle formed between his eyebrows, and a large hand rested on Elze's forehead. Shan asked softly.
“Are you okay?”
Elze took a moment to collect her thoughts in his arms. After her head had completely cooled and her mind was clear, she slowly answered.
“...Just, a little dream.”
Shan said, examining Elze's face.
“I came here just in case, but there was no answer...”
Shan was staying in a different room from Elze. After returning to the dorm, he kept thinking about Elze's strange behavior earlier, so he went to Elze's room.
But no matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer. Shan opened the door and came in, and saw Elze suffering, and woke her up. Thanks to Shan, Elze was able to wake up from her strange nightmare.
“Thank you. You must have been very tired.”
In contrast to the dangerous and dizzying him in the dream, the current him brought stability to Elze. It was when Elze was sighing in Shan’s arms. There was a feeling of something very empty. She could feel the texture of Shan’s clothes on her skin.
Elze looked down slightly because she was curious, and only then realized that she was wearing only her underwear and a see-through slip.
“...!”
And then Shan's eyes met hers.
Erzenes was never afraid or scared of anything. She was always confident, and she was a woman who trusted and loved herself.
Everyone was afraid of Shan and was fascinated by him, but she was different. She was not shaken at all. Shan had never met anyone who looked at him with such clear and vivid eyes. It was a relationship that started out as a political marriage, but as time went by, Shan was falling for her as if he was being sucked in.
At some point, Erzenes became the center of Shan's world. He was focused on everything about her, and he picked up even the smallest thing that fell from his mind.
Unlike the women who clung to him relentlessly, Erzenes ran away from Shan. Shan was tormented by the urge to chase after her and capture her.
Shan couldn't figure out what she was feeling. But he didn't have time to worry. He was already strongly attracted to Erzenes.
The reason he went to the Kingdom of Britain was purely for Erzenes. She was the first person he ever thought of doing something for someone, and felt joy because of it. If possible, he also hoped that this trip would restore their relationship.
Even when he encountered bandits in the forest of Renando, he didn't want to show his murderous side in front of Erzenes, so he just subdued them all. In the meantime, he spied Erzenes swinging her club and the first thing he thought was how cute it was, so this could be considered serious.
Then, when he saw her being captured by bandits, Shan seriously thought about it. Should he kill all the bandits he had saved here and there?
Something beyond anger enveloped Shan. They say that when you are too angry, you cannot speak. Shan felt keenly what that meant.
The thief could have easily been subdued before he could even lay a finger on Erzenes. However, reason and emotion were separate. Even though he barely, really barely, suppressed his rage, he was overcome by a murderous spirit that could not be hidden. The thief, who was hit by the ferocious energy, fell to the ground with his legs giving out. Only after confirming that Erzenes was fine, did Shan regain his strength.
The bandits were sent to the territory owned by Erzenes, and it was settled for now. He wanted to kill them all without her knowing, but he held back. That was not what Erzenes wanted.
And finally, they arrived in Britain.
After arriving in Britain, Shan casually asked Erzenes if she would like to go sightseeing with him. Erzenes, with his cheeks unusually flushed, was walking around the streets excitedly, and Shan happily followed her. It was nice to just see her happy.
Then they met the priests of Ines.
"May God be with you."
Because there were so few of them, it was the first time Shan had seen the priest of Ines. For some reason, he felt a sense of discomfort as soon as he saw them, and his expression became distorted.
But Erzenes was visibly shaken when she saw the priest. Shan had never seen her so confused.
"Are you okay?"
"...Go back."
As soon as he heard the half-hearted answer, Shan immediately took Erzenes back to the dorm. She entered the room weakly.
Shan also entered his room, but Erzenes was still on his mind, especially since he knew he had never seen her like that before.
In the end, he went to her room. He didn't have any particular intention, he just wanted to check if she was okay. However, no matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer. Shan opened the door without hesitation.
"Ugh..."
Erzenes was having a nightmare. Seeing her drenched in cold sweat and writhing in agony, Shan hurriedly woke her up.
Erzenes woke up, struggling and screaming. Shan caught her and held her in his arms.
And the large blue eyes looked up at Shan pitifully.
He was breathless. A sense of maddening fulfillment surged through him like a tidal wave. His heart was so full it felt like it was going to burst. His head was spinning from the intense emotions that made his body shiver.
He was holding her in his arms, gasping for breath, shivering like a deer soaked in rain, and clinging to Shan as if he were her lifeline. The moment of complete possession made Shan tremble.
But Shan immediately suppressed his feelings. It was because of an instinctive thought that he should not show what he was feeling right now. He did not want to show his dark, gloomy, and violent self.
So he pretended as if nothing had happened. He brushed back her sweaty, damp hair and whispered words of concern. And then Erzenes flinched.
"...!"
Shan's eyes slowly turned downward. White was fixed on his eyes. It was the soft white flesh reflected in the slip.
The things he had worked so hard to hold down were truly useless. The moment he saw her white, bare skin, what had been barely blocked came rushing out uncontrollably. As his body was squeezed tightly, his mouth became parched, and a hot heat spread through him.
His reasoning became clouded as if someone was shaking his head. His most animalistic instincts were surging and rising.
What would it feel like to put your lips on that white flesh? What would it feel like to touch it with your hands, knead it, bite it, and swallow it?
Shan knew how lovingly she would blush, how shyly she would moan... and how at some point she would become ecstatic and dizzy.
He couldn't bear it anymore because he already knew. He wanted to hold her as preciously as possible in the world, but he also wanted to eat her roughly. It was a chaos that he couldn't even understand.
Shan felt like he was going crazy.
The moment their eyes met, Elze flinched without realizing it.
He had the eyes of a beast ready to pounce on her at any moment. Although she was wearing a thin slip and underwear, Elze felt naked in front of him.
Memories of the dream came flooding back. The man who had been holding her so casually just a moment ago felt unfamiliar. The moments that had been densely mixed with him dug into Elze. Her insides were hot, so Elze let out her breath. If she didn’t let out her breath, she felt like she would burn to a crisp.
She groped her hand and pulled the sheet. The white sheet rustled as it was pulled in. As Elze covered her body with the sheet, his gaze was obscured. The tension that had been tense just a moment ago was relieved.
Suddenly, she remembered a saying she had heard on the battlefield. When you look into the eyes of Shan Cirxus, no one can escape. No matter how brave the knight, the haughty nobleman, or the proud lady, they are all captured as if by a demon.
At the time, she thought it was just a bunch of exaggerated rumors, but now she sees that it wasn't an exaggeration at all. No, it was a statement that didn't contain the whole truth.
“Shan...?”
Elze cautiously called his name, but Shan didn't answer.
His hand gently cupped Elze's cheek. His fingertips brushed her earlobe, then slowly stroked her neckline. Elze and Shan couldn't take their eyes off each other. A hot sensation warmed the space between them.
His thumb touched Elze's lips. He felt the firm tip of his fingernails along with the firm pressure. It was a strange feeling to lightly touch the tip of her tongue.
While his fingers slowly rubbed her lips, Elze could not move and accepted it. Her waist shook. His fingers dug a little deeper, coming closer to her lips almost touching. He stopped after leaving a distance of a fingernail. Elze's eyelashes fluttered.
“...”
Shan, who had been looking into Elze's eyes, closed his eyes tightly. He exhaled roughly and pulled his face away, then grabbed Elze's shoulders with both hands and buried his face in them.
"Ha..."
And then he was silent for a long time. He finally spoke in a hoarse voice.
“...I’m sorry. If I stay here any longer...”
He slowly lowered his body. However, his hoarse voice was still filled with excitement, and his eyes still had the same hot heat. With a look that hadn't yet cooled down, Shan said in a low growl.
“I don’t think I can stand it.”
He said that and immediately got up from his seat. He stared at Elze for a moment, then ran outside as if running away from something.
Elze left alone on the bed, sat blankly, staring at the door he had closed and left behind. Then she muttered softly.
"What..."
Elze couldn't figure out what it was. The place he had touched felt hot as if it had been on fire.
There was no one in Aquis University who did not know Astin Targayel. There were two reasons for his fame.
The first was his intelligence. He had brilliant ideas that impressed the professors, the logic behind them, and his constant efforts. Since his admission, Astin has never once failed to be ranked first in the class, and he even occasionally helped professors with their research in their labs.
The second was stupidity. Astin, who was openly bullied at Aquis University, went to school while enduring the bullying to the point of being stupid.
It is natural for a brilliant person to have a group of envious people. As if it were a natural law of nature, even within Aquis University, some hated Astin.
Unfortunately, the fragile Astin was a perfect target for bullying. He had many nitpicks to fall for: his always worn-out clothes, his status as the son of the failing Targayel family, and so on.
The bullying of Astin was subtle. It was done in a way that was not noticed by the professors and staff but was openly known to the students of the entire school. Children of noble families would have dropped out of school without enduring it for even a day. Or they would have transferred to another school and escaped somehow.
But Astin foolishly held on. He clung to it as if he had nothing else to do. And the bullying directed at Astin continued today as well.
“Ahahahaha!”
There was a loud laughter and a thud. Astin's small body rolled across the floor. The books fluttered and scattered in all directions, making a sound like they were being torn apart.
“Ugh, ugh...”
Astin crouched, panting for breath. His glasses were crooked and far off the bridge of his nose, but he didn't have time to put them on properly.
A pair of large shoes stepped in front of the struggling Astin. The shiny shoes trampled the messily spread-out books and rubbed them without mercy. The moment he saw the books quickly turning black and torn, Astin, who had been crouching, quickly reached out and grabbed the crumpled books.
“Stop, stop...!”
But instead of protecting the book, he was only ridiculed. The shoe that had stepped on the book kicked Astin’s hand away. Astin bit his lips hard to hold back a scream. The owner of the shoe looked down at Astin and grumbled.
“Oh my! How rude of me to do this? I have committed a mortal sin against our Lord Astin, who leads the Ravens of Targayel.”
The crowd surrounding him burst into laughter as he spoke. He became even more sarcastic at the laughter that seemed to agree with his own.
“Oh, by the way, Master Astin has no talent for swordsmanship?”
It was a sound that poked Astin where it hurt the most. Astin's eyes widened. But Astin endured it. In the end, he didn't fight back. They snickered when they saw Astin, who couldn't say anything and just held back.
After they left, chattering away, Astin picked up the books that had fallen to the floor. One of them was so tattered that it was almost unusable. It seemed like he would have to buy a new one.
As Astin silently picked up the books, thinking about their price, a small hand suddenly intervened. The small, slender hand picked up the books one by one and handed them to Astin. Astin’s eyes widened when he saw the owner of the hand.
“Your Grace...?”
The woman who gave him the book was Heyla Wade, the daughter of the Wade Dukes, one of the four great families of the Baluar Empire.
Heyla was studying law at Aquis University and was the only one who secretly cared for Astin, even though they were fellow countrymen. She frowned as she looked in the direction they had disappeared.
“They are students of the swordsmanship club. How ignorant they are.”
Those who bullied Astin were mostly from the swordsmanship club. There were also students from the administration who disliked Astin, but they were just out of place.
However, the swordsmanship students persistently harassed Astin. There were many reasons, but the biggest one was the fact that Astin was named after Targayel, a famous sword. Heyla questioned Astin with a frustrated face.
“Astin Targayel. Why can’t you say a word to them?”
“I'm sorry.”
“I also know that it was their doing that you fell from your horse during the jousting competition the other day.”
“...”
Astin's face darkened. He had not thought she knew about the jousting incident. At Aquis University, even students in the administration department had to take a few physical education classes as a liberal arts subject. Astin had taken horseback riding classes, and there were some of the same people who had been harassing Astin so persistently.
The course of the riding lessons included a simple horseback riding competition. Since it was a light and informal event, there was no great danger involved. However, the group that was bullying Astin deliberately provoked Astin's horse during the horseback riding competition, and Astin, who was not good at horseback riding, ended up falling off his horse.
It was a dangerous act that could have resulted in death or disability. However, it was not easy to determine whether it was intentional. Furthermore, they were all high-ranking nobles of Britain. Even if it was an affair within the university, it was impossible to ignore the pressure coming from outside.
Even though Astin knew about this fact, he did not raise the issue. In the end, it was just swept under the rug with only a simple warning.
Heyla said, raising her voice.
“Even though this is not Britain, and even though they are children of a noble family from Britain! They have no right to treat you like this.”
Astin smiled bitterly as he watched Heyla being indignant. It was natural that Heyla did not understand. She and Astin were in different situations.
As a prominent Duke family from the Baluar, Heyla had absolutely no reason to suffer such bullying. If she did, she could have contacted the family directly and put pressure on the school.
Of course, there was no need to do so, as no professor or student wanted to offend the Wade family.
But it wasn't Astin.
Targayel, once renowned for his swords throughout the continent, is no more. Who will uphold the Targayel family, who has been abandoned even by the Baluar royal family? They were so weak that even Elze was sold to the war hero Shan Cirxus in a political marriage.
Heyla saw a shadow fall over Astin's face and said in an earnest voice.
“Astin, I want to help you.”
Heyla's heart was sincere. She had helped Astin several times before. But only to a small degree.
Astin didn't want to try to gain Princess Heyla's sympathy by explaining his circumstances in detail. It wasn't something she could solve anyway.
Even though it was Aquis University, it was ultimately within the Kingdom of Brittan. He didn't know what kind of disadvantages would come from making this issue public to the Britain nobles. He didn't know that it would harm Heyla for no reason. Astin politely declined Heyla's offer.
“Your Grace, thank you for your concern. However, I will try my best to graduate quietly without causing any trouble.”
To Astin, their harassment was a secondary issue. He could tolerate that level of sarcasm and mockery.
The most important thing for Astin right now was to graduate as quickly as possible. He couldn't stay in college forever, relying on his sister's sacrifice.
Astin felt that all the money he spent at Aquis University was a debt he owed to his sister. Knowing how his sister had sent him here, he couldn't waste a single penny.
Austin's top priority was to save as much as possible, graduate from college quickly, and then somehow settle down.
“If my actions have offended you, my Lady, I sincerely apologize.”
“...”
Princess Heyla quietly bit her lower lip at Astin's apology. Perhaps Heyla thought that if she said this much, Astin would accept it. A variety of emotions could be seen on her face. Heyla clutched the hem of her skirt and muttered softly.
“I am disappointed in your attitude.”
Princess Heyla turned around and walked away, her back seemed to be swept by a cold wind. Perhaps she would never help Astin again.
Astin fiddled with the crumpled corner of the book as he watched the back of Princess Heyla disappear. No matter how hard he tried to straighten the crumpled corner with his hands, it would not return to its original shape.
“Sister Elze...”
He wanted to see his sister. He could invite his family to the upcoming academic festival. But Astin couldn't invite Elze. He didn't want his sister to see him in such a pitiful and difficult situation.
His eyes felt hot and soon tears welled up. Astin quickly took off his glasses and wiped away his tears. His heart ached. Bullying and such, he had always treated it as if it was nothing, but...
Somehow, today, Austin felt a little more tired and worn out.
Shan and Elze remained silent as if they had made a pact with each other about what had happened in the bedroom that day.
There was no time to worry about the strange nightmare. Elze's mind was already in turmoil because of what had happened that day with Shan.
The way he looked at her, the way he acted... Every time she recalled the memories, she felt strange.
When they arrived at their destination, Aquis University, the academic festival had already begun. Their journey was slightly delayed than expected, so they arrived on the first day.
The streets were filled with excitement, and the accommodations were overflowing. Fortunately, Elze and her party did not have to worry about accommodations.
This was because Shan had ordered the rooms in the upper-class residence of the Mashangs to be vacated. Elze, who was able to stay comfortable thanks to her wealthy husband, felt good.
As soon as Shan unpacked at his lodgings, a letter arrived. The royal family of Britain had heard of Shan's arrival and invited the Countess of Targayel and her husband.
At first glance, the Prince of Britain was said to be very interested in war. He seemed to want to talk about the Hundred Years' War with Shan. It was obvious that the Elijah mercenary company had entered the country, but the invitation was limited to the Count and Countess of Targayel.
It was inevitable. Most nobles looked down on mercenaries, seeing them as lowly people who only chased money. They wanted at least someone who was qualified to be associated with them, and by that standard, mercenaries were far from meeting the standard.
In any case, the visit to the Britain Castle was scheduled for after the academic festival.
“Ivanna, how about this dress?”
“Oh my, boss! You look good in anything you wear.”
And today, Elze was showing off all the dresses she had brought to Ivanna because it was finally the day she was going to visit Astin at Aquis University.
During the academic festival, outsiders were able to freely enter the university and observe classes.
It was also possible to participate in various events held within Aquis University, the most famous of which was the fencing competition that was open to the general public.
Elze was planning to surprise Astin by meeting him today and asking him what kind of event he was attending. She thought Astin would probably attend an academic presentation or something.
Elze, who imagined Astin dressed neatly and diligently presenting, let out a hearty laugh. She had even prepared a check in advance to give him a generous allowance. Seeing Elze's face, who was so happy that she didn't know what to do, Ivanna braided her hair and said in a pout.
“Do you really like going to see your little brother?”
“Oh, Ivanna! Gently!”
A grumpy hand tugged at her hair without mercy. Ivanna grumbled.
“I’m a little jealous. I think you like Master Astin more.”
Elze spoke affectionately to Ivanna, who was whining like a child deprived of love.
“What’s the point of comparing those things? Astin is Astin, and Ivanna is Ivanna. I like them both so much.”
"Huh..."
At Elze's words, Ivanna snorted, but with a much more subdued expression, she helped Elze with her makeup. Since they weren't going to a party, she wore a simple dress that was easy to move in instead of a fancy dress that required a crinoline underneath.
She wore a wide-brimmed hat to block out the sunlight, and her hair was braided into a single strand and hung down. She wore a light shawl over it, which, although not quite the dignity of a noblewoman, was perfect for going out. If Rosalie had been serving her, she probably would not have dressed like this. Elze was very satisfied with her outfit.
When she finished getting ready, she went downstairs, and Shan waited for her. She was worried that it would be awkward since it was the first time she had met Shan properly since the incident, but when she actually saw Shan, she didn't think much of it. Elze just laughed.
Shan, who met Elze's eyes as she looked at him with a slight smile, looked a little surprised. His eyes widened. He checked his clothes again, thinking that he was wearing too casual clothes, and he said.
“...I’m thinking of walking to Aquis University, but I’m curious about your opinion.”
Shan's blunt words trembled slightly. It seemed that he didn't dislike the outfit. Elze answered readily.
"Great."
At first, she thought about taking a carriage, but since her accommodation was not far from Aquis University and the road seemed too complicated to take a carriage, she decided to walk. Walking was the best way to enjoy the festival atmosphere. Elze was secretly glad to be offered to walk.
Everyone from the knights to Elijah followed as escorts. Since it was a busy festival period, there was a high possibility that something dangerous would happen. It was right to be as fully prepared as possible. Everyone wore plain clothes and followed Shan and Elze at a certain distance.
The streets were crowded with people, so if they were not careful, they would most likely lose each other. Of course, if Shan or Elze fell out, they would be able to find each other easily, but it was best not to fall out in the first place.
The distance between them kept growing wider as they were pushed by people. Elze almost lost sight of Shan once, so she followed him with great care, and then suddenly felt something warm on her hand. It was Shan’s hand. She looked at Shan in surprise, and he glanced at Elze and said.
“I thought I might miss you.”
It was a thoughtless remark, but there was a hint of concern in it. Perhaps Shan was also quite concerned about Elze. Elze couldn't help but laugh.
The streets were a paradise of all sorts of interesting things to tempt Elze. It was a completely different atmosphere from the festival in Baluar. However, Elze held back her desire to see everything and headed straight to the University of Aquis. Meeting Astin was the first thing she had to do.
The large gate of Aquis University was in sight, and people were bustling about. Faculty members were stationed on both sides of the gate, helping to guide people. In her urgency to find Astin, Elze grabbed one of the faculty members and asked him straight away.
“Do you happen to know where Astin Targayel is?”
But after asking, she was like, oh no. How could she know Astin Targayel among the hundreds of students at Aquis University? It was a mistake Elze made in haste.
“Are you talking about Astin Targayel?”
But surprisingly, she knew Astin. She even told her in detail that it was time to go to a professor's lab and where to meet him. Elze, who was surprised by the answer after asking the question, asked how she knew Astin. Then she asked back.
“Is there anyone at Aquis University who doesn’t know him? At least all the faculty members know him. They all love his intelligence.”
Hearing that, her shoulders shrugged. No one would dislike being praised by their younger sibling. Elze felt even more excited as she entered the schoolyard with Shan.
As the faculty member told her, she walked across the campus for a while and came across a quiet place. It was the path leading to the professors’ labs. There were no people around, perhaps because of the academic festival. The campus was so large that she thought no one would notice if something happened, but then she saw a group of people in the distance, along with a light brown-haired man.
It was definitely Astin. He seemed to be with his friends. Elze was about to call out to him happily, convinced that it was Astin. Elze's eyes widened.
“...!!”
Astin's small body flew to the floor. With laughter, one child spat on Astin, and another child pushed his body with a dirty shoe. Astin's glasses fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
It didn't take long to figure out what was going on. Astin was being bullied. And badly.
“Hey, Astin...!”
It was the moment when Elze, who couldn't even breathe properly, was about to step out of her mind. Shan grabbed her arm tightly. Elze was about to shout at him to let go, but he quietly nodded. Then he sent Elze back and strode forward.
"There."
The children turned to Shan at the sound of his voice. Shan folded his arms and asked.
“What are you doing now?”
But the children didn't seem to be afraid of what the adult male was saying. Instead, they looked up at Shan and asked him again.
“You seem like an outsider. If you don’t know the circumstances, why don’t you just go your own way?”
Seeing that, Elze could understand why Shan had tried to stop her. Even Shan was treated like that, so if Elze, a woman, had stepped forward, she would have been ignored even more severely. It was his own consideration for Elze.
Astin, who had lost his glasses, looked up at Shan blankly. Elze was too far away to see, but Shan's purple eyes seemed to be visible. Astin, who recognized Shan, was greatly embarrassed. Shan smiled in front of Astin and said.
“Because I’m an outsider.”
He tried to let them go because they were children, but their behavior became very arrogant. Shan's mood began to get fierce. The children began to look at each other at the ominous omen.
“The Master there...”
Shan nodded and pointed to Astin.
“Because he is my brother-in-law.”
All the children looked dumbfounded at the mention of brother-in-law. And Astin was one of them.
More than anyone else, Astin was embarrassed. Shan reached out to Astin without saying anything. When Astin hesitated and took his hand, Shan pulled him up firmly.
“Go to your sister, brother-in-law.”
Astin's eyes widened. He still didn't know Elze was here. Astin, who belatedly discovered the woman standing far away, froze for a moment and then slowly turned to face her. Elze hugged Astin tightly as he approached her.
“Astin...”
She felt sorry for her younger brother’s small, thin body, which was wrapped tightly in her arms. As Elze hugged Astin tightly, her eyes met with Shan’s. He nodded quietly. Elze nodded slightly and dragged Astin to another place.
Astin is not a knight or a mercenary, so he cannot survive. It seems that Shan is trying to do something that Astin would rather not see.
“...”
After confirming that Elze had left, Shan looked at the children again. The arrogant look they had before had disappeared somewhere, and they were all very timid. They also realized that their situation was not normal.
But one of them, who had been glancing at Shan for a while, cautiously asked a question after seeing the combination of copper-colored skin, black hair, and rare purple eyes.
“By any chance, Shan Cirxus...?”
Shan raised his eyebrows in agreement. The child then continued to look around and muttered in an ambiguous tone that was neither formal nor informal.
“But what does the word ‘brother-in-law’ mean...”
The news of Shan's marriage was not widely known yet. This was because Elze and Shan's wedding was held so quickly and not long after.
The news of Targayel's marriage was known only to the royal families, high-ranking nobles, and those who were well-versed in gossip. Perhaps the rumor had spread to Britain through Shan's arrival this time, but it was not to the extent that even the students in the university dormitories knew about it. The children talked among themselves with shocked expressions.
“No, Shan Cirxus is betrothed to Targayel?”
“What? Is that guy really Shan Cirxus? That’s ridiculous!”
“Yeah, he could be lying.”
After much chatter, they finally concluded that Shan was lying. The children, emboldened by their own conclusion, trembled and raised their voices.
“You have nothing to impersonate, so you impersonate a war hero?”
“Hey, you!”
Shan chuckled. It was really cute how he was shouting so plausibly as if he were a noble. However, that short laugh was over. Shan’s face hardened into a blank expression, and a cold rebuke was thrown.
“Get out.”
Have the noble families ever heard such words in their lives? The children were all bewildered by the rude words they had never heard before. However, Shan had no intention of leniently treating them as children anymore. His eyes hardened coldly.
"I..."
For a moment, the air stirred. A chilling feeling swept over them, along with a chilling sensation that chilled everything. A violet eyes flashed, and a voice so low it was almost painfully scratched deep inside me.
“Don't make me say it twice.”
The children froze as if they had encountered a wild beast in the forest at midnight. In extreme fear, they could neither scream nor run away properly. They were all just trembling miserably as if they had chills, held tightly by Shan’s gaze.
“...Ugh, ugh...”
One of the children peed his pants, soaking wet. Shan frowned and squirmed his energy away. The children who had all fallen to the ground screamed and ran away as soon as they came to their senses.
“Ugh...Ugh!!”
This side was deserted, but the side the kids were running toward was teeming with people. Some of them had wet their pants, but they didn't seem to have time to care about what other people thought. They were busy running away like dogs.
Shan, who was watching the scene, took a deep breath. Then, with his eyebrows furrowed deeply, he spoke softly.
“Liv.”
Liv and the knights who had been hiding suddenly jumped out. Elijah had followed Elze earlier, and the knights remained by Shan's side. Liv, who had confirmed that Shan was quite angry, acted politely as usual without making a fuss.
“Yes, Lord Cirxus.”
Shan glared at the backs of the children running away in panic.
“Those little kids.”
He spoke coldly as if he was chewing something out.
“Find out what kind of kids you all are.”
“Hah!!”
She couldn't see ahead. In the pitch-black darkness, Elze felt around frantically with her hands.
At that moment, something large grabbed Elze's wandering hand tightly and hugged her. A sense of security as if she had entered a strong protective shield, enveloped Elze.
Elze took a deep breath. Her vision began to brighten, and objects around her began to come into view.
"Ah..."
And then she met the vivid purple eyes that were before her eyes. There was no harshness there, and the pupils were neither narrow nor elongated.
“Erzenes.”
The voice calling out with concern was heavy and warm. Elze unconsciously reached out and touched his face. It was only after feeling the copper-colored skin beneath her hand that she realized it. Elze cautiously called out to him.
“Shan...?”
His eyes widened, and then he frowned slowly. A wrinkle formed between his eyebrows, and a large hand rested on Elze's forehead. Shan asked softly.
“Are you okay?”
Elze took a moment to collect her thoughts in his arms. After her head had completely cooled and her mind was clear, she slowly answered.
“...Just, a little dream.”
Shan said, examining Elze's face.
“I came here just in case, but there was no answer...”
Shan was staying in a different room from Elze. After returning to the dorm, he kept thinking about Elze's strange behavior earlier, so he went to Elze's room.
But no matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer. Shan opened the door and came in, and saw Elze suffering, and woke her up. Thanks to Shan, Elze was able to wake up from her strange nightmare.
“Thank you. You must have been very tired.”
In contrast to the dangerous and dizzying him in the dream, the current him brought stability to Elze. It was when Elze was sighing in Shan’s arms. There was a feeling of something very empty. She could feel the texture of Shan’s clothes on her skin.
Elze looked down slightly because she was curious, and only then realized that she was wearing only her underwear and a see-through slip.
“...!”
And then Shan's eyes met hers.
***
Erzenes was never afraid or scared of anything. She was always confident, and she was a woman who trusted and loved herself.
Everyone was afraid of Shan and was fascinated by him, but she was different. She was not shaken at all. Shan had never met anyone who looked at him with such clear and vivid eyes. It was a relationship that started out as a political marriage, but as time went by, Shan was falling for her as if he was being sucked in.
At some point, Erzenes became the center of Shan's world. He was focused on everything about her, and he picked up even the smallest thing that fell from his mind.
Unlike the women who clung to him relentlessly, Erzenes ran away from Shan. Shan was tormented by the urge to chase after her and capture her.
Shan couldn't figure out what she was feeling. But he didn't have time to worry. He was already strongly attracted to Erzenes.
The reason he went to the Kingdom of Britain was purely for Erzenes. She was the first person he ever thought of doing something for someone, and felt joy because of it. If possible, he also hoped that this trip would restore their relationship.
Even when he encountered bandits in the forest of Renando, he didn't want to show his murderous side in front of Erzenes, so he just subdued them all. In the meantime, he spied Erzenes swinging her club and the first thing he thought was how cute it was, so this could be considered serious.
Then, when he saw her being captured by bandits, Shan seriously thought about it. Should he kill all the bandits he had saved here and there?
Something beyond anger enveloped Shan. They say that when you are too angry, you cannot speak. Shan felt keenly what that meant.
The thief could have easily been subdued before he could even lay a finger on Erzenes. However, reason and emotion were separate. Even though he barely, really barely, suppressed his rage, he was overcome by a murderous spirit that could not be hidden. The thief, who was hit by the ferocious energy, fell to the ground with his legs giving out. Only after confirming that Erzenes was fine, did Shan regain his strength.
The bandits were sent to the territory owned by Erzenes, and it was settled for now. He wanted to kill them all without her knowing, but he held back. That was not what Erzenes wanted.
And finally, they arrived in Britain.
After arriving in Britain, Shan casually asked Erzenes if she would like to go sightseeing with him. Erzenes, with his cheeks unusually flushed, was walking around the streets excitedly, and Shan happily followed her. It was nice to just see her happy.
Then they met the priests of Ines.
"May God be with you."
Because there were so few of them, it was the first time Shan had seen the priest of Ines. For some reason, he felt a sense of discomfort as soon as he saw them, and his expression became distorted.
But Erzenes was visibly shaken when she saw the priest. Shan had never seen her so confused.
"Are you okay?"
"...Go back."
As soon as he heard the half-hearted answer, Shan immediately took Erzenes back to the dorm. She entered the room weakly.
Shan also entered his room, but Erzenes was still on his mind, especially since he knew he had never seen her like that before.
In the end, he went to her room. He didn't have any particular intention, he just wanted to check if she was okay. However, no matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer. Shan opened the door without hesitation.
"Ugh..."
Erzenes was having a nightmare. Seeing her drenched in cold sweat and writhing in agony, Shan hurriedly woke her up.
Erzenes woke up, struggling and screaming. Shan caught her and held her in his arms.
And the large blue eyes looked up at Shan pitifully.
He was breathless. A sense of maddening fulfillment surged through him like a tidal wave. His heart was so full it felt like it was going to burst. His head was spinning from the intense emotions that made his body shiver.
He was holding her in his arms, gasping for breath, shivering like a deer soaked in rain, and clinging to Shan as if he were her lifeline. The moment of complete possession made Shan tremble.
But Shan immediately suppressed his feelings. It was because of an instinctive thought that he should not show what he was feeling right now. He did not want to show his dark, gloomy, and violent self.
So he pretended as if nothing had happened. He brushed back her sweaty, damp hair and whispered words of concern. And then Erzenes flinched.
"...!"
Shan's eyes slowly turned downward. White was fixed on his eyes. It was the soft white flesh reflected in the slip.
The things he had worked so hard to hold down were truly useless. The moment he saw her white, bare skin, what had been barely blocked came rushing out uncontrollably. As his body was squeezed tightly, his mouth became parched, and a hot heat spread through him.
His reasoning became clouded as if someone was shaking his head. His most animalistic instincts were surging and rising.
What would it feel like to put your lips on that white flesh? What would it feel like to touch it with your hands, knead it, bite it, and swallow it?
Shan knew how lovingly she would blush, how shyly she would moan... and how at some point she would become ecstatic and dizzy.
He couldn't bear it anymore because he already knew. He wanted to hold her as preciously as possible in the world, but he also wanted to eat her roughly. It was a chaos that he couldn't even understand.
***
The moment their eyes met, Elze flinched without realizing it.
He had the eyes of a beast ready to pounce on her at any moment. Although she was wearing a thin slip and underwear, Elze felt naked in front of him.
Memories of the dream came flooding back. The man who had been holding her so casually just a moment ago felt unfamiliar. The moments that had been densely mixed with him dug into Elze. Her insides were hot, so Elze let out her breath. If she didn’t let out her breath, she felt like she would burn to a crisp.
She groped her hand and pulled the sheet. The white sheet rustled as it was pulled in. As Elze covered her body with the sheet, his gaze was obscured. The tension that had been tense just a moment ago was relieved.
Suddenly, she remembered a saying she had heard on the battlefield. When you look into the eyes of Shan Cirxus, no one can escape. No matter how brave the knight, the haughty nobleman, or the proud lady, they are all captured as if by a demon.
At the time, she thought it was just a bunch of exaggerated rumors, but now she sees that it wasn't an exaggeration at all. No, it was a statement that didn't contain the whole truth.
“Shan...?”
Elze cautiously called his name, but Shan didn't answer.
His hand gently cupped Elze's cheek. His fingertips brushed her earlobe, then slowly stroked her neckline. Elze and Shan couldn't take their eyes off each other. A hot sensation warmed the space between them.
His thumb touched Elze's lips. He felt the firm tip of his fingernails along with the firm pressure. It was a strange feeling to lightly touch the tip of her tongue.
While his fingers slowly rubbed her lips, Elze could not move and accepted it. Her waist shook. His fingers dug a little deeper, coming closer to her lips almost touching. He stopped after leaving a distance of a fingernail. Elze's eyelashes fluttered.
“...”
Shan, who had been looking into Elze's eyes, closed his eyes tightly. He exhaled roughly and pulled his face away, then grabbed Elze's shoulders with both hands and buried his face in them.
"Ha..."
And then he was silent for a long time. He finally spoke in a hoarse voice.
“...I’m sorry. If I stay here any longer...”
He slowly lowered his body. However, his hoarse voice was still filled with excitement, and his eyes still had the same hot heat. With a look that hadn't yet cooled down, Shan said in a low growl.
“I don’t think I can stand it.”
He said that and immediately got up from his seat. He stared at Elze for a moment, then ran outside as if running away from something.
Elze left alone on the bed, sat blankly, staring at the door he had closed and left behind. Then she muttered softly.
"What..."
Elze couldn't figure out what it was. The place he had touched felt hot as if it had been on fire.
***
There was no one in Aquis University who did not know Astin Targayel. There were two reasons for his fame.
The first was his intelligence. He had brilliant ideas that impressed the professors, the logic behind them, and his constant efforts. Since his admission, Astin has never once failed to be ranked first in the class, and he even occasionally helped professors with their research in their labs.
The second was stupidity. Astin, who was openly bullied at Aquis University, went to school while enduring the bullying to the point of being stupid.
It is natural for a brilliant person to have a group of envious people. As if it were a natural law of nature, even within Aquis University, some hated Astin.
Unfortunately, the fragile Astin was a perfect target for bullying. He had many nitpicks to fall for: his always worn-out clothes, his status as the son of the failing Targayel family, and so on.
The bullying of Astin was subtle. It was done in a way that was not noticed by the professors and staff but was openly known to the students of the entire school. Children of noble families would have dropped out of school without enduring it for even a day. Or they would have transferred to another school and escaped somehow.
But Astin foolishly held on. He clung to it as if he had nothing else to do. And the bullying directed at Astin continued today as well.
“Ahahahaha!”
There was a loud laughter and a thud. Astin's small body rolled across the floor. The books fluttered and scattered in all directions, making a sound like they were being torn apart.
“Ugh, ugh...”
Astin crouched, panting for breath. His glasses were crooked and far off the bridge of his nose, but he didn't have time to put them on properly.
A pair of large shoes stepped in front of the struggling Astin. The shiny shoes trampled the messily spread-out books and rubbed them without mercy. The moment he saw the books quickly turning black and torn, Astin, who had been crouching, quickly reached out and grabbed the crumpled books.
“Stop, stop...!”
But instead of protecting the book, he was only ridiculed. The shoe that had stepped on the book kicked Astin’s hand away. Astin bit his lips hard to hold back a scream. The owner of the shoe looked down at Astin and grumbled.
“Oh my! How rude of me to do this? I have committed a mortal sin against our Lord Astin, who leads the Ravens of Targayel.”
The crowd surrounding him burst into laughter as he spoke. He became even more sarcastic at the laughter that seemed to agree with his own.
“Oh, by the way, Master Astin has no talent for swordsmanship?”
It was a sound that poked Astin where it hurt the most. Astin's eyes widened. But Astin endured it. In the end, he didn't fight back. They snickered when they saw Astin, who couldn't say anything and just held back.
After they left, chattering away, Astin picked up the books that had fallen to the floor. One of them was so tattered that it was almost unusable. It seemed like he would have to buy a new one.
As Astin silently picked up the books, thinking about their price, a small hand suddenly intervened. The small, slender hand picked up the books one by one and handed them to Astin. Astin’s eyes widened when he saw the owner of the hand.
“Your Grace...?”
The woman who gave him the book was Heyla Wade, the daughter of the Wade Dukes, one of the four great families of the Baluar Empire.
Heyla was studying law at Aquis University and was the only one who secretly cared for Astin, even though they were fellow countrymen. She frowned as she looked in the direction they had disappeared.
“They are students of the swordsmanship club. How ignorant they are.”
Those who bullied Astin were mostly from the swordsmanship club. There were also students from the administration who disliked Astin, but they were just out of place.
However, the swordsmanship students persistently harassed Astin. There were many reasons, but the biggest one was the fact that Astin was named after Targayel, a famous sword. Heyla questioned Astin with a frustrated face.
“Astin Targayel. Why can’t you say a word to them?”
“I'm sorry.”
“I also know that it was their doing that you fell from your horse during the jousting competition the other day.”
“...”
Astin's face darkened. He had not thought she knew about the jousting incident. At Aquis University, even students in the administration department had to take a few physical education classes as a liberal arts subject. Astin had taken horseback riding classes, and there were some of the same people who had been harassing Astin so persistently.
The course of the riding lessons included a simple horseback riding competition. Since it was a light and informal event, there was no great danger involved. However, the group that was bullying Astin deliberately provoked Astin's horse during the horseback riding competition, and Astin, who was not good at horseback riding, ended up falling off his horse.
It was a dangerous act that could have resulted in death or disability. However, it was not easy to determine whether it was intentional. Furthermore, they were all high-ranking nobles of Britain. Even if it was an affair within the university, it was impossible to ignore the pressure coming from outside.
Even though Astin knew about this fact, he did not raise the issue. In the end, it was just swept under the rug with only a simple warning.
Heyla said, raising her voice.
“Even though this is not Britain, and even though they are children of a noble family from Britain! They have no right to treat you like this.”
Astin smiled bitterly as he watched Heyla being indignant. It was natural that Heyla did not understand. She and Astin were in different situations.
As a prominent Duke family from the Baluar, Heyla had absolutely no reason to suffer such bullying. If she did, she could have contacted the family directly and put pressure on the school.
Of course, there was no need to do so, as no professor or student wanted to offend the Wade family.
But it wasn't Astin.
Targayel, once renowned for his swords throughout the continent, is no more. Who will uphold the Targayel family, who has been abandoned even by the Baluar royal family? They were so weak that even Elze was sold to the war hero Shan Cirxus in a political marriage.
Heyla saw a shadow fall over Astin's face and said in an earnest voice.
“Astin, I want to help you.”
Heyla's heart was sincere. She had helped Astin several times before. But only to a small degree.
Astin didn't want to try to gain Princess Heyla's sympathy by explaining his circumstances in detail. It wasn't something she could solve anyway.
Even though it was Aquis University, it was ultimately within the Kingdom of Brittan. He didn't know what kind of disadvantages would come from making this issue public to the Britain nobles. He didn't know that it would harm Heyla for no reason. Astin politely declined Heyla's offer.
“Your Grace, thank you for your concern. However, I will try my best to graduate quietly without causing any trouble.”
To Astin, their harassment was a secondary issue. He could tolerate that level of sarcasm and mockery.
The most important thing for Astin right now was to graduate as quickly as possible. He couldn't stay in college forever, relying on his sister's sacrifice.
Astin felt that all the money he spent at Aquis University was a debt he owed to his sister. Knowing how his sister had sent him here, he couldn't waste a single penny.
Austin's top priority was to save as much as possible, graduate from college quickly, and then somehow settle down.
“If my actions have offended you, my Lady, I sincerely apologize.”
“...”
Princess Heyla quietly bit her lower lip at Astin's apology. Perhaps Heyla thought that if she said this much, Astin would accept it. A variety of emotions could be seen on her face. Heyla clutched the hem of her skirt and muttered softly.
“I am disappointed in your attitude.”
Princess Heyla turned around and walked away, her back seemed to be swept by a cold wind. Perhaps she would never help Astin again.
Astin fiddled with the crumpled corner of the book as he watched the back of Princess Heyla disappear. No matter how hard he tried to straighten the crumpled corner with his hands, it would not return to its original shape.
“Sister Elze...”
He wanted to see his sister. He could invite his family to the upcoming academic festival. But Astin couldn't invite Elze. He didn't want his sister to see him in such a pitiful and difficult situation.
His eyes felt hot and soon tears welled up. Astin quickly took off his glasses and wiped away his tears. His heart ached. Bullying and such, he had always treated it as if it was nothing, but...
Somehow, today, Austin felt a little more tired and worn out.
***
Shan and Elze remained silent as if they had made a pact with each other about what had happened in the bedroom that day.
There was no time to worry about the strange nightmare. Elze's mind was already in turmoil because of what had happened that day with Shan.
The way he looked at her, the way he acted... Every time she recalled the memories, she felt strange.
When they arrived at their destination, Aquis University, the academic festival had already begun. Their journey was slightly delayed than expected, so they arrived on the first day.
The streets were filled with excitement, and the accommodations were overflowing. Fortunately, Elze and her party did not have to worry about accommodations.
This was because Shan had ordered the rooms in the upper-class residence of the Mashangs to be vacated. Elze, who was able to stay comfortable thanks to her wealthy husband, felt good.
As soon as Shan unpacked at his lodgings, a letter arrived. The royal family of Britain had heard of Shan's arrival and invited the Countess of Targayel and her husband.
At first glance, the Prince of Britain was said to be very interested in war. He seemed to want to talk about the Hundred Years' War with Shan. It was obvious that the Elijah mercenary company had entered the country, but the invitation was limited to the Count and Countess of Targayel.
It was inevitable. Most nobles looked down on mercenaries, seeing them as lowly people who only chased money. They wanted at least someone who was qualified to be associated with them, and by that standard, mercenaries were far from meeting the standard.
In any case, the visit to the Britain Castle was scheduled for after the academic festival.
“Ivanna, how about this dress?”
“Oh my, boss! You look good in anything you wear.”
And today, Elze was showing off all the dresses she had brought to Ivanna because it was finally the day she was going to visit Astin at Aquis University.
During the academic festival, outsiders were able to freely enter the university and observe classes.
It was also possible to participate in various events held within Aquis University, the most famous of which was the fencing competition that was open to the general public.
Elze was planning to surprise Astin by meeting him today and asking him what kind of event he was attending. She thought Astin would probably attend an academic presentation or something.
Elze, who imagined Astin dressed neatly and diligently presenting, let out a hearty laugh. She had even prepared a check in advance to give him a generous allowance. Seeing Elze's face, who was so happy that she didn't know what to do, Ivanna braided her hair and said in a pout.
“Do you really like going to see your little brother?”
“Oh, Ivanna! Gently!”
A grumpy hand tugged at her hair without mercy. Ivanna grumbled.
“I’m a little jealous. I think you like Master Astin more.”
Elze spoke affectionately to Ivanna, who was whining like a child deprived of love.
“What’s the point of comparing those things? Astin is Astin, and Ivanna is Ivanna. I like them both so much.”
"Huh..."
At Elze's words, Ivanna snorted, but with a much more subdued expression, she helped Elze with her makeup. Since they weren't going to a party, she wore a simple dress that was easy to move in instead of a fancy dress that required a crinoline underneath.
She wore a wide-brimmed hat to block out the sunlight, and her hair was braided into a single strand and hung down. She wore a light shawl over it, which, although not quite the dignity of a noblewoman, was perfect for going out. If Rosalie had been serving her, she probably would not have dressed like this. Elze was very satisfied with her outfit.
When she finished getting ready, she went downstairs, and Shan waited for her. She was worried that it would be awkward since it was the first time she had met Shan properly since the incident, but when she actually saw Shan, she didn't think much of it. Elze just laughed.
Shan, who met Elze's eyes as she looked at him with a slight smile, looked a little surprised. His eyes widened. He checked his clothes again, thinking that he was wearing too casual clothes, and he said.
“...I’m thinking of walking to Aquis University, but I’m curious about your opinion.”
Shan's blunt words trembled slightly. It seemed that he didn't dislike the outfit. Elze answered readily.
"Great."
At first, she thought about taking a carriage, but since her accommodation was not far from Aquis University and the road seemed too complicated to take a carriage, she decided to walk. Walking was the best way to enjoy the festival atmosphere. Elze was secretly glad to be offered to walk.
Everyone from the knights to Elijah followed as escorts. Since it was a busy festival period, there was a high possibility that something dangerous would happen. It was right to be as fully prepared as possible. Everyone wore plain clothes and followed Shan and Elze at a certain distance.
The streets were crowded with people, so if they were not careful, they would most likely lose each other. Of course, if Shan or Elze fell out, they would be able to find each other easily, but it was best not to fall out in the first place.
The distance between them kept growing wider as they were pushed by people. Elze almost lost sight of Shan once, so she followed him with great care, and then suddenly felt something warm on her hand. It was Shan’s hand. She looked at Shan in surprise, and he glanced at Elze and said.
“I thought I might miss you.”
It was a thoughtless remark, but there was a hint of concern in it. Perhaps Shan was also quite concerned about Elze. Elze couldn't help but laugh.
The streets were a paradise of all sorts of interesting things to tempt Elze. It was a completely different atmosphere from the festival in Baluar. However, Elze held back her desire to see everything and headed straight to the University of Aquis. Meeting Astin was the first thing she had to do.
The large gate of Aquis University was in sight, and people were bustling about. Faculty members were stationed on both sides of the gate, helping to guide people. In her urgency to find Astin, Elze grabbed one of the faculty members and asked him straight away.
“Do you happen to know where Astin Targayel is?”
But after asking, she was like, oh no. How could she know Astin Targayel among the hundreds of students at Aquis University? It was a mistake Elze made in haste.
“Are you talking about Astin Targayel?”
But surprisingly, she knew Astin. She even told her in detail that it was time to go to a professor's lab and where to meet him. Elze, who was surprised by the answer after asking the question, asked how she knew Astin. Then she asked back.
“Is there anyone at Aquis University who doesn’t know him? At least all the faculty members know him. They all love his intelligence.”
Hearing that, her shoulders shrugged. No one would dislike being praised by their younger sibling. Elze felt even more excited as she entered the schoolyard with Shan.
As the faculty member told her, she walked across the campus for a while and came across a quiet place. It was the path leading to the professors’ labs. There were no people around, perhaps because of the academic festival. The campus was so large that she thought no one would notice if something happened, but then she saw a group of people in the distance, along with a light brown-haired man.
It was definitely Astin. He seemed to be with his friends. Elze was about to call out to him happily, convinced that it was Astin. Elze's eyes widened.
“...!!”
Astin's small body flew to the floor. With laughter, one child spat on Astin, and another child pushed his body with a dirty shoe. Astin's glasses fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
It didn't take long to figure out what was going on. Astin was being bullied. And badly.
“Hey, Astin...!”
It was the moment when Elze, who couldn't even breathe properly, was about to step out of her mind. Shan grabbed her arm tightly. Elze was about to shout at him to let go, but he quietly nodded. Then he sent Elze back and strode forward.
"There."
The children turned to Shan at the sound of his voice. Shan folded his arms and asked.
“What are you doing now?”
But the children didn't seem to be afraid of what the adult male was saying. Instead, they looked up at Shan and asked him again.
“You seem like an outsider. If you don’t know the circumstances, why don’t you just go your own way?”
Seeing that, Elze could understand why Shan had tried to stop her. Even Shan was treated like that, so if Elze, a woman, had stepped forward, she would have been ignored even more severely. It was his own consideration for Elze.
Astin, who had lost his glasses, looked up at Shan blankly. Elze was too far away to see, but Shan's purple eyes seemed to be visible. Astin, who recognized Shan, was greatly embarrassed. Shan smiled in front of Astin and said.
“Because I’m an outsider.”
He tried to let them go because they were children, but their behavior became very arrogant. Shan's mood began to get fierce. The children began to look at each other at the ominous omen.
“The Master there...”
Shan nodded and pointed to Astin.
“Because he is my brother-in-law.”
***
All the children looked dumbfounded at the mention of brother-in-law. And Astin was one of them.
More than anyone else, Astin was embarrassed. Shan reached out to Astin without saying anything. When Astin hesitated and took his hand, Shan pulled him up firmly.
“Go to your sister, brother-in-law.”
Astin's eyes widened. He still didn't know Elze was here. Astin, who belatedly discovered the woman standing far away, froze for a moment and then slowly turned to face her. Elze hugged Astin tightly as he approached her.
“Astin...”
She felt sorry for her younger brother’s small, thin body, which was wrapped tightly in her arms. As Elze hugged Astin tightly, her eyes met with Shan’s. He nodded quietly. Elze nodded slightly and dragged Astin to another place.
Astin is not a knight or a mercenary, so he cannot survive. It seems that Shan is trying to do something that Astin would rather not see.
“...”
After confirming that Elze had left, Shan looked at the children again. The arrogant look they had before had disappeared somewhere, and they were all very timid. They also realized that their situation was not normal.
But one of them, who had been glancing at Shan for a while, cautiously asked a question after seeing the combination of copper-colored skin, black hair, and rare purple eyes.
“By any chance, Shan Cirxus...?”
Shan raised his eyebrows in agreement. The child then continued to look around and muttered in an ambiguous tone that was neither formal nor informal.
“But what does the word ‘brother-in-law’ mean...”
The news of Shan's marriage was not widely known yet. This was because Elze and Shan's wedding was held so quickly and not long after.
The news of Targayel's marriage was known only to the royal families, high-ranking nobles, and those who were well-versed in gossip. Perhaps the rumor had spread to Britain through Shan's arrival this time, but it was not to the extent that even the students in the university dormitories knew about it. The children talked among themselves with shocked expressions.
“No, Shan Cirxus is betrothed to Targayel?”
“What? Is that guy really Shan Cirxus? That’s ridiculous!”
“Yeah, he could be lying.”
After much chatter, they finally concluded that Shan was lying. The children, emboldened by their own conclusion, trembled and raised their voices.
“You have nothing to impersonate, so you impersonate a war hero?”
“Hey, you!”
Shan chuckled. It was really cute how he was shouting so plausibly as if he were a noble. However, that short laugh was over. Shan’s face hardened into a blank expression, and a cold rebuke was thrown.
“Get out.”
Have the noble families ever heard such words in their lives? The children were all bewildered by the rude words they had never heard before. However, Shan had no intention of leniently treating them as children anymore. His eyes hardened coldly.
"I..."
For a moment, the air stirred. A chilling feeling swept over them, along with a chilling sensation that chilled everything. A violet eyes flashed, and a voice so low it was almost painfully scratched deep inside me.
“Don't make me say it twice.”
The children froze as if they had encountered a wild beast in the forest at midnight. In extreme fear, they could neither scream nor run away properly. They were all just trembling miserably as if they had chills, held tightly by Shan’s gaze.
“...Ugh, ugh...”
One of the children peed his pants, soaking wet. Shan frowned and squirmed his energy away. The children who had all fallen to the ground screamed and ran away as soon as they came to their senses.
“Ugh...Ugh!!”
This side was deserted, but the side the kids were running toward was teeming with people. Some of them had wet their pants, but they didn't seem to have time to care about what other people thought. They were busy running away like dogs.
Shan, who was watching the scene, took a deep breath. Then, with his eyebrows furrowed deeply, he spoke softly.
“Liv.”
Liv and the knights who had been hiding suddenly jumped out. Elijah had followed Elze earlier, and the knights remained by Shan's side. Liv, who had confirmed that Shan was quite angry, acted politely as usual without making a fuss.
“Yes, Lord Cirxus.”
Shan glared at the backs of the children running away in panic.
“Those little kids.”
He spoke coldly as if he was chewing something out.
“Find out what kind of kids you all are.”
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