Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: 31-1. The Wolf's Love is Surprisingly Heavy.
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Pine Granasia woke up in her bedroom, dressed in her pajamas.
"Ugh... my head... it hurts..."
She clutched her head, blaming the excessive drinking from the night before. As she recalled yesterday's events.
"...What a shame."
The white-haired woman stared at her reflection in the mirror, thinking, 'I guess I'm still far from matching that Saintess in looks.'
"I thought Licht would fall for it."
When she wasn't wearing her Masterpiece, the nobles around her had eyed her with greedy lust.
"Maybe he's different from those male leads in books after all."
She'd especially thought her fierce, imposing figure would help. Even without any experience with men, most novels portrayed it that way.
A confirmation bias born from distorted, limited information.
In truth, though she was drunk, all her actions had been calculated. The reason was simple.
"The Heavenly Demon advised it, so I gave it a shot... and it almost worked."
The Heavenly Demon—master to the hero who donned the Black Knight helmet and one of the Ten Heroes—had egged her on, too.
"...He really is immune to women. Licht."
Pine had felt jealousy toward the Nameless Saintess and drank to make it seem impulsive, nearly succeeding.
"If only his guards weren't there... I could've gotten under his skin."
She let out a soft sigh of regret.
Looking back at yesterday's situation, here's what had happened.
"I have no intention of taking my disciple. Girl."
"How can I believe that?"
"Kuhuhu! This one's quite the catch!"
The Heavenly Demon bared her fangs in a grin as she spoke the truth, yet Pine refused to believe her.
It might have been the fresh, budding aura of first love emanating from her.
"Then will you believe me if I give you some advice?"
From her perspective, this girl who hadn't realized her own feelings and was lashing out with jealousy was clearly on track to earn the hatred of the man she liked.
"That boy has no ties to women. You can tell at a glance."
So the Heavenly Demon advised Pine, who perked up her wolf ears and tail in interest.
"Really?"
Her speech switched instantly to polite honorifics. The Heavenly Demon found it absurd. Their feelings had ripened this much already.
"Even that so-called Saintess never shared love with Licht, in the end."
Her oblivious disciple had charmed two women without so much as a word about it. Still, there was some reassurance.
"I prefer you, girl."
"Why...?"
"I heard you nursed my disciple back to health with utmost devotion."
The princess before her eyes seemed better than the Nameless Saintess, whom Licht kept mentioning during training or who was the source of his first heart sword. No matter how she thought about it, there seemed to be a rift between her disciple and this Saintess—like longing for someone unreachable.
Or perhaps it was one-sided, with him fearing to approach.
After all, her pathetic disciple had been running from his feelings in his heart until he drew his first heart sword, Restless Rain.
"Friends in poverty and hardship are, by nature, the best companions during one's darkest times."
"..."
"So, I hope you'll stay by my disciple's side from here on."
"What if friends in poverty become a wife from one's hardship days?"
The Heavenly Demon closed her eyes softly. She regretted not being there for Dennis during his suffering at the hands of the Head, hoping it never happened again.
"Got it. I'll believe you."
Pine Granasia finally set aside her jealousy toward the Heavenly Demon. From what she'd seen, Licht always kept his distance from women.
"Kuhuhu! Disciple, you're a naughty husband-to-be!"
He seemed to cherish the Nameless Saintess, but that was it.
They didn't sound like lovers. Hadn't he blushed just at the sight of her figure?
Pine wondered. What kind of person could make him risk his life to fight Magic Hat, always watching out for her even then?
Someone who overlapped with his trauma, for whom he'd shouldered the dishonor of second place to obtain the Mana Rose.
And why he held back words whenever she came up.
Everything made her burn with curiosity.
A beautiful white-haired woman. Anyone hearing this would think she was the spitting image of Pine Granasia.
'...Jealous.'
And now she knew physically. With their mana circuits shared, she could feel his heartbeat.
It raced more when he was with her than with others. A bit of a cowardly cheat, but Pine still had hope.
Hope that she could become as precious to Licht as the Nameless Saintess.
After all, she'd risked her life to save him. If he kept staring only at the Saintess and sacrificing himself, wouldn't that feel a bit unfair?
"Hehe, so sweet..."
The kind, gentle man who'd handed her a slightly chilled chocolate drink when she was drunk.
It cleared her head with its coolness, but the thought struck her: This guy's pretty sly.
He'd even draped his own coat over her before going out, worried she might get cold. And it was still early summer.
Back then, Pine had thought such a clueless, overly kind Licht might ruin his life if he got tangled with the wrong woman.
"It was an unforgettable first love."
But when she heard his drunken truth—that he'd had a crush on the Nameless Saintess—her chest tightened.
'Why... am I like this...?'
A constricting pain. A heart turning cold like ice. A sharp ache like a knife wound. In a fit of impulse, she lashed out.
"Next time... tell that Saintess to come heal you... I'm not doing it..."
Her tongue fully slurred from the unplanned words, and she breathed hotly, on the verge of tears.
And in the conversation that followed, hearing that he treated her so kindly only because they were 'friends'...
'Friends do this much...? If Licht saw me as someone as precious as the Nameless Saintess...'
For a moment, a flame of jealousy ignited in Pine's cold, quiet glass heart.
Was it Lumen's sleep-talk that had her completely drunk? Or his heartbeat? Or her own? She wasn't sure.
"Pine. Hold on, you're too drunk."
Perhaps because her heart was pounding wildly.
"...If I do this, will you treat me as preciously as I treat you? Licht?"
Just like in the books, she tried to kiss him. Romance novel heroes always melted at a heroine's kiss.
She'd even read scenes where they turned to other women despite fiancées.
Pine hadn't noticed it herself, but that day, she'd suddenly wanted to leave her mark on Licht's lips.
A complete possessiveness. A desire to make him hers.
Scar or no scar, she wanted to try.
"You're already precious to me, Pine."
"I know it's true, but I can't believe it. Licht."
One fact few knew: wolves are born hunters.
Highly intelligent and cunning ones at that. Not dumb villains or playboys from fairy tales.
Monogamous. Romantic creatures who devote body and soul to love.
"I want to be even more special to you. Like that Saintess..."
Even knowing his words were true with her innate sharp eyes, Pine refused to stop advancing.
If it cost the empire's sole princess her first kiss, the Black Knight could have it.
She wanted to become even more precious to the man Lee Soo-hyun.
More than the Nameless Saintess.
Seeing his cute, blushing resistance to the kiss,
"Ugh... Licht... Books say guys fall for this..."
A predator's thought arose: Make him think only of me.
"Princess Granasia!! His Majesty Locke summons you!!"
That was when it happened. A sudden summons from her father derailed Pine Granasia's perfect plan.
One more breath closer, and their noses would've touched—but it failed. He pulled away and fled.
Even that looked like a scared puppy to her, somehow endearing.
'...Fire the guards?'
Regret and irritation mixed. The drunken Pine from last night bit her lower lip behind his back.
After bathing with rose-scented salts, Pine prepared to head to the academy as usual.
"...Mana Rose."
Her eyes caught the blue rose in the vase. The catalyst Licht had used to save her.
"Thinking about it, it seemed like something meant for the Saintess."
Her gaze narrowed. He'd pretended to lose in the grade exam on purpose to get it, yet used it on her.
"I win against the Saintess."
Recalling the man who'd tried to cast healing magic on her even as thorns pierced his palm, she took the flower from the vase.
"...His first gift to me."
She remembered when he woke in the infirmary, telling her to take the Mana Rose.
Its faint blue glow dimmed from mana use, the rose crumpled from his tight grip. Her lips curved up slightly.
It wasn't much as a gift flower for a woman, but it didn't matter to Pine.
Because he gave it, it was more beautiful than any in the world.
"I want to treasure it."
Glass magic bloomed from the princess's hand holding the rose.
In an instant, the Mana Rose's stem was trimmed, its surface coated, transforming into a hair accessory.
"Hehe, looks good."
She smiled at her reflection, the blue rose adorning her white hair. She wondered what Licht would think.
"After classes today... we have to go to the palace together. Licht."
She had to meet her father, Emperor Locke, but what could it be?
To her, he was a doting father who cherished family.
"Surely Father... will like Licht too...?"
He'd even brought back her mother, Bellin Granasia, and saved Pine's life.
"Yeah, it'll be fine. He's an amazing guy."
No way he'd dislike him. With that thought, she stepped out the door.