Chapter 43
The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast
Chapter 43
Reuben had to choose.
Whether be humiliated by taking back what Britney said, or keep his honor even if he has to be burdened with a large debt.
Looking at Keivrandâs expression, he didnât think it would work if he asked for the cost to be split.
âMy Britney will marry the Crown Prince anyway.â
Fortunately, Reuben had something to fall back on.
When Britney becomes the Crown Princess, the cost of this wedding will be nothing.
There will be many people who will send money and gifts because they want to build a connection with the Whittle family.
Reubenâs expression changed, then he sat as relaxed as Keivrand was and smiled.
âAll right, Count Green. Of course, for my beloved daughter, I can pay for the wedding.â
âOh, I knew you would.â
Keivrand smiled and pulled out a document from his chest pocket. It was an invoice for borrowing the equipment from the wizard tower, the dresses and accessories Iris commissioned Tilette, and parties and food.
The amount on the invoice was huge enough to make oneâs eyes roll back.
âPlease sign it.â
Reuben pressed down his desire to throw the pen at Keivrand face and signed the invoice.
Keivrand folded the invoice with Reubenâs name on it and put it back in his chest pocket.
âThank you. I wonât forget that Duke Whittle took care of our wedding.â
Keivrand got up first.
âThen, I have a lot of work to do, so Iâll leave first.â
Looking at Keivrand leaving without waiting for him to answer, Reuben realized that Keivrand had never called him âfather-in-law.â
* * *
Keivrand walked down the hall and took out the invoice from his chest pocket.
Under the huge sum was Reuben Whittleâs signature.
According to his knowledge, Reubenâs finances werenât in a position to pay this amount immediately. Heâll have to sell some of his assets or take out a loan from the bank.
Keivrand recalled what happened earlier.
He was kicked out by Celestine when Iris and them were picking out dresses, but rushed back when he was called.
Before he knew it, the room was cleaned up and only Iris and Celestine were inside waiting for him.
Iris then spoke to Celestine.
[Cel, give Keivrand the invoice for the wedding so far.]
Then she looked at Keivrand and said,
[Duke Whittle will protest to you.]
Thinking why Duke Whittle would protest all of a sudden, Celestine filled him in on what happened with Britney.
[Duke Whittle will choose to defend his honor. Since heâs trying to connect Britney with the Crown Prince, it wouldnât be good for people to talk about this.]
It was as Iris said.
âSheâs a smart woman.â
When Iris plans something, she never says, âMaybe.â Her tone and eyes were always full of conviction.
The Iris who blushes in front of him was good, but the Iris who proceeds with confidence was good too, he thought.
There wasnât a single thing about her that he disliked.
Keivrand entered Irisâ room with a grin.
âIrie. I got it.â
He shook the paper and smiled smugly.
In Irisâ eyes, Keivrand looked like a puppy who wanted to be praised for catching a ball.
Thus, sheâll compliment him generously.
âGood job, Kei.â
âGood job, really?â
âIs there anything else?â
âThe reward is lacking.â
âWhat do you want?â
Keivrand sat next to Iris and stuck out his cheek.
She didnât know what to do, so she widened her eyes and stared at his smooth cheek.
âHurry up.â
Keivrand nudged.
Iris narrowed her forehead slightly, then gasped with an âah!â and tapped his cheek with her palm.
âGood job, Kei.â
This time, Keivrandâs eyes got bigger.
âWhatâs this, Irie?â
âHuh?â
âThe reward is too salty. Itâs too salty, I canât even eat it.â
Keivrand grumbled and pressed Irisâ shoulders down on the sofa. Next, he climbed on top and kissed her.
When Keivrandâs lips fell off, Iris spoke.
âIf you wanted a kiss, you should have stuck out your lips.â
âI didnât just want a kiss, I wanted a kiss on the cheek. I kissed you because of the increased fee.â
A kiss on the cheek.
She didnât even think about it. This is because no one has ever kissed Iris on the cheek.
âYouâre the one who planned it. With this massive fee in seconds.â
âSo donât relax, Irie. The fee could increase before you know it.â
She wondered what kind of fee would be more than a kiss.
It looked like Keivrand wanted to show her, however, he wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up on the sofa.
âI took the money from under Duke Whittle like you asked, but Iâm worried about something.â
Keivrand quickly threw away the playful air and returned to his business-like self. Iris couldnât figure out why she felt disappointed.
âIf Duke Whittle is eyeing the Crown Princess seat, heâs not going to dispose of his assets. Heâll take out a loan from the bank. If he pays it back, thatâs good, but if he canât, we might have to take care of it.â
âYou donât have to worry about it. Iâll take care of it.â
âCanât you tell me what youâre going to do?â
âHm, what will I do? Maybe I can tell you if you show me something pretty.â
âShow you something prettyâ¦What can I do?â
She was just joking, but Keivrandâs eyes were serious.
So, she decided to fulfill one of her wishes she had in mind.
âI think youâre pretty when you turn into a wolf.â
âSure thing.â
Keivrand quickly turned into a wolf.
Iris got up and went next to the sofa.
The wolf also moved along with her.
âYou might get angry from what Iâm about to do.â
âI wonât get angry, Irie.â
âWell, good. First of all, sit.â
âHuh?â
âSit, Kei.â
The black wolfâs mouth opened wide. The wolf, with a puzzled look on his face, looked at Iris giving him orders and burst into laughter.
âHahaha.â
The wolfâs laughter was a little different from when he was a human.
Iris thought it was nice to hear his laughter mixed with a little growl.
âOh, Irie. You always surprise me.â
With that said, Keivrand sat still.
Iris reached out her hand in front of him.
âHand.â
The wolf put his big front paw on Irisâ palm.
His front paws were so big that they could cover Irisâ entire hand.
Iris stroked his long claw in wonder.
âAre you going to tell me now?â
The wolf smacked the floor with its tail and asked.
âNo, get down.â
The wolf laid flat on his stomach.
âRoll.â
âAh, Irie.â
âRoll, Kie.â
Keivrand rolled and rolled on his stomach, then he suddenly got up and pounced at Iris.
Despite the huge wolf coming, Iris wasnât scared. Because she believed that his fangs and claws would never hurt her.
As she had expected, the wolf only stood up and put his front paw on her shoulders.
The wolfâs big nose was very close.
âIrie, no one has ever given me orders.â
âCel?â
ââ¦When Iâm a wolf.â
âMother, father?â
ââ¦Except them.â
âYour brother?â
ââ¦Minus him.â
Iris grinned.
Seeing that she was being cheeky, Keivrand licked her face.
âKya!â
While pulling her face back, she was about to falter, but Keivrand, who returned to human form, wrapped his arm around her waist.
Iris felt the fervor in the blue-gray eyes gazing at her.
While looking at herself in his eyes, she realized that she was smiling so happily.
âIâm smiling like this.â
She swept the corner of his eye with her thumb.
âIrie.â
Only after a low-pitched voice called her name did Iris realize what Keivrand looks like right after turning back to a human.
When she realized that she was in his arms, her face heated up.
But she didnât want to push him away.
It was good to be close to him like this.
Normally, when Keivrand looked at her like this with those eyes, he would kiss her and she would exhale a hot breath.
Thinking of dirty thoughts, she felt a strange sensation climbing up the back of her neck.
She thought it would be the same this time.
âTurn around. Iâll get dressed.â
Keivrand didnât do anything and got dressed.
The scorching heat cooled down in an instant, and a cold wind blew through her heart.
âWhatâs wrong with him? Is he mad that I made him do all that?â
She was worried that she had crossed the line, but Keivrand, all dressed, stood in the back and hugged Iris.
Keivrandâs lips slightly touched her neck and fell off.
âIâll hear how youâre going to handle Whittleâs debt later. I thought of something to do.â
Keivrand whispered in a low subdued voice and turned around.
Iris also turned around and looked at his back as he left.
âKei.â
âHuh?â
âAre you angry?â
Keivrand walked back to Iris. His eyes on her were still friendly.
âIrie, Iâm not mad at you.â
Keivrand kissed Iris on the forehead and left the room.
* * *
Keivrand was walking with great stride toward the training field. He felt like he needed to move his body to cool off his chest.
âIâm going crazy.â
When Iris gave the ridiculous orders to him in his wolf form.
He didnât get angry.
Rather, it was fun seeing Irisâ happy expression as she gave him orders.
His heart got hot at the sight of Iris smiling, and he felt unbearable when she looked into his eyes as if she was enchanted.
He never thought there would come a day where he couldnât control himself. His rationality was almost gone, and even if he was afraid, he thought he would be forced to get drunk in the heat of the moment.
He almost put her in bed and dyed her fair skin with his whole self.
âWhatâs going on with my body?â
It was the first time he had been caught up in such a passionate impulse.
A dull heat spread every time Iris rolled around on the bed, but it was controllable.
He was confident that he could stop whenever she became afraid.
But he wasnât confident this time. Once it started, he knew he couldnât stop and he thought he would only be satisfied once he swallowed her.
He didnât want to see her eyes filled with fear because of him. So he became cautious of even mixing with her as a joke.
As soon as he entered the training field, he held a wooden sword and hit a training tree like crazy.
Time passed as he continued to do this.
âBoss. Your wooden sword is broken.â
With Eugeneâs voice coming from behind, Keivrand came to his senses.
His wooden sword was broken and dangling.
With a new feeling and staring at the wooden sword, Keivrand muttered.
âEugene. Itâs something like love.â
He had decided to put off naming this feeling for Iris until later. The moment he names it, itâs likely to explode, and Iris could get caught up in it and get even more hurt.
So without a name, Keivrandâs felt as if his heart would explode this time.
âNo, Iâm in love with Iris.â
== Translatorâs Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etcâ¦in the comment section .