Chapter 253
Chapter 253
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Principal Wife
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After finishing his conversation with Aria.
As Krash walked down the corridor, Crimson Garden's voice reached him.
Just as she said, he had botched it quite spectacularly.
He had uttered words denying the Valheim name while in Valheim territory.
Like it or not, those words would eventually reach the ears of the family's leadership.
But to Krash, it was hardly a concern.
As mentioned before, Krash didn't hold the Valheim family in high regard.
"Tell them to interpret it however they like. They won't boot me out anyway—not with the imperial ties."
Besides, Krash's presence within the Valheim family was growing day by day.
The feats accomplished by Krash, who was about to turn sixteen soon, were all the stuff of hot topics.
Naturally, even Valheim couldn't treat him like the half-baked kid from before.
What worried him more was Bianca.
Krash decided he needed to see Bianca before heading back to Raheln Academy.
The moment he started to move—
Krash lifted his head at the presence approaching from ahead.
And soon, he came face-to-face with a welcome sight.
"Lilish Sis."
"Krash."
It was Lilish Valheim, his half-sister and second eldest.
She was standing there.
Seeing her after so long, Krash let out a short laugh.
Unlike before, he had grown taller than her at some point.
Perhaps because of that, Lilish approached him with a surprised reaction.
"Kids grow up so fast."
With quite the age gap between them,
she found her little brother's rapid growth fascinating.
"I'm an adult now, not a kid."
"That's right."
Lilish wore an emotional expression.
Then, spotting the necktie Krash was wearing, she smiled faintly.
"You're wearing it well."
This necktie was her gift to him for his enrollment at Raheln Academy.
So, she looked a bit proud.
"You look much better yourself, Sis."
"Thanks to my baby brother. Hearing stories about you has been fun."
Lilish smiled, proud of her brother.
Seeing that smile eased the foul mood from his encounter with Aria a little.
Lilish reminded him what family meant.
"By the way, I heard a bit about the engagement issue."
And Krash realized why Lilish, who was often out and about, had come back to the main house.
It seemed to be because of him.
"I looked into it, but it looks like Valheim has already accepted it."
An unhappy look crossed Lilish's face.
She had seen Krash and Bianca's relationship with her own eyes.
Lilish had thought it would be great if those two sweethearts grew up together and got married.
She couldn't accept it being used for family gains.
"The elders' doing, probably... I'll go give them a piece of my mind."
Lilish rolled up her sleeves, ready to step in.
But Krash shook his head at her.
"It's fine. I expected they wouldn't fully back down. I gave them a warning, so they won't go too far."
"...If you're okay with it, then fine."
Lilish looked regretful as she raised her hand and slowly stroked Krash's hair.
With how much taller he'd gotten, she had to lift her arm quite high.
"Still, if you need help, just say the word."
"Yes, I'll tell you right away, Sis."
Satisfied with that, Lilish nodded.
After sharing some recent updates with her and receiving her send-off, Krash left the main house.
His destination was none other than Green Pine Pavilion.
Having visited only twice in the past year,
Krash carried a bunch of snacks he'd prepared in advance.
"Alicia, I'm going to see Bianca. You spend time with Aliod."
"Thank you."
Unlike before, Alicia, Krash's exclusive maid, readily accepted his kindness.
After bidding Alicia farewell, Krash set off to find Bianca.
'At this time...'
Training, or maybe resting.
Krash checked the training grounds first.
But they were empty, no one around.
Traces of recent use suggested training had just ended.
Krash searched around as he went.
Soon, he heard the last report: Bianca had been spotted near the room he used to live in.
'My old room.'
Krash headed to his room after so long.
The well-closed door was quiet.
Krash gently slid the door open.
Immediately, soft rustling sounds came from inside.
Definitely Bianca's voice.
As Krash entered, he spotted someone on the bed he used to sleep in, far across the room.
Long white hair starting to cover her back, and softly closed eyes.
It was Krash's fiancée, Bianca Hardenharts.
'Did her training and crash here.'
He could see Bianca stirring under the covers.
"Mm..."
She seemed a bit fatigued, her brows furrowing slightly as she grimaced.
Watching her, Krash felt a laugh bubble up, his own fatigue lifting.
Thanks to her stirring, the blanket had come loose.
Peeking through, Bianca's limbs had grown longer, her figure much more womanly now—proof she was in the midst of growth.
Soon to turn fifteen and become an adult, no doubt.
On the ring finger of her left hand was the ring Krash had given her.
Krash lifted the blanket and tucked her in properly.
"Mm?"
Sensing his presence late, Bianca opened her eyes.
With sleepy, hazy eyes, she stared at Krash.
Krash met her gaze steadily.
Then Bianca tilted her head to the side.
Her long white hair flowed with the motion.
"Why are you here?"
"You don't like it?"
"I like it."
An instant reply.
Classic Bianca.
Having answered, she wriggled over and rested her head against Krash's chest.
Krash didn't pull away, instead cradling her head and patting it.
"Warm."
"I'm from the Moon Shadow Clan, so I'm not that warm."
Plus, with the White Dragon King's energy lately, his temperature had dropped even more.
"You're a warm person, Krash."
He couldn't recall ever being called a warm person before.
Krash let out a hollow chuckle.
For some reason, being with Bianca
made his heart naturally relax.
Even after admitting he liked her, this feeling hit anew every time.
Maybe it meant his feelings for her had grown that much deeper.
"You heard?"
"About the princess engagement."
She had heard, as expected.
Krash swallowed a bitter smile at the news that must have troubled her.
"Sorry, it bothered you."
"It's okay. I expected something like that might happen around you."
"Expected?"
Even so, this didn't seem predictable.
As Krash looked dubious, Bianca gazed up at him from his embrace.
"Lots of people are after you."
"...I've noticed lately."
With all the aggressive pursuits coming from everywhere.
He was starting to vaguely understand Arthur's struggles.
"Just me would be fine. Why do more keep coming?"
Bianca pouted slightly, gripping Krash's collar tight.
Still half-asleep.
Krash cupped her cheek with his hand.
A soft sensation met his palm.
Like glutinous rice cake.
"Be careful."
"Yeah, yeah."
Placating her whining wasn't bad at all.
Only later did Bianca fully wake up.
Having escaped sleep at last, she rubbed her eyes.
Then she got up from the bed, plopped down beside Krash, and hugged his arm contentedly.
Krash was tall and large, but Bianca had become more feminine without growing much taller.
She fit perfectly in his arms.
"Why were you sleeping in my bed?"
"Because I missed you."
Her usual honest answer.
Still, a bit embarrassed, the tips of her ears flushed red.
"I'll be fifteen soon."
"I know."
"Next year, I enroll at Raheln Academy."
"You think you'll pass the exam? It's pretty tough."
"It's fine. I'm strong."
Bianca swung her pale white hand lightly.
Her slender wrists made her arms look delicate, but Krash knew she'd gotten much stronger.
As she said, getting into Raheln Academy shouldn't be hard.
"And, and..."
Then Bianca hesitated, bobbing her legs up and down.
She seemed shy about what she wanted to say.
"Marriage, right."
As Krash voiced it, she flinched.
Then she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.
Seeing that, Krash smiled.
To strike back at the arbitrary engagement pushed by Epania's palace and Valheim, that was perfect.
"Let's get married next year."
He'd already planned to marry Bianca anyway.
No reason not to, since they were engaged.
The moment she heard him, Bianca melted against Krash.
Even seeing just the top of her head, he could tell her face was beaming with happiness.
Like a little white chick fluttering its wings in joy.
"That good?"
"Yes, really good."
Bianca inspected her own body all over.
As Krash watched curiously, she poked at her arm.
"I think I need to lose some weight."
She looked slim enough to hear it from anyone, yet dieting.
"Need to?"
"I have to show you when I wear the wedding dress."
Krash chuckled in disbelief and pressed her head down with his chin.
"Don't worry about that. Just eat properly. I'm worried you're too skinny."
"I eat a lot every day."
"Eat more. You need food to grow. Otherwise, I won't recognize you later."
"I'm not that small."
As their aimless, pointless chatter flowed,
Bianca looked up slyly.
Catching the meaning, Krash smirked and pressed his lips to hers.
Satisfied, Bianca smiled loosely and nestled quietly against him.
Next year, when Krash turned sixteen.
Bianca would come to Raheln Academy.
What kind of upheaval that would bring to the academy...
Krash had no idea yet.