WLYV 39

WLYV

Posted by Bela, Released on October 29, 2025

Chapter 39

Please Be My Partner.

“Actually, he brought up my late mother again. Normally, I would’ve stayed quiet, but this time I got so angry that I talked back to my father.”

Teishar looked at Lorencia with deep pain in his eyes — the girl who was called a monster without even knowing who or what she truly was. There was no doubt he had unconsciously used his power again.

“You did very well.”

“I did… well?”

“Yes.”

Teishar was so distressed he could barely speak. The young sapling, still wrapped in black smoke, was barely alive through its roots. But if that black smoke descended even a little, the roots would surely turn black and rot away.

His heart grew restless. He felt as though he might lose his mind.

He never imagined that the sapling he had so carefully nurtured for days would become so tainted after just one meeting with Brant. It felt like all his sincerity and devotion had come crashing down, like a wall collapsing into rubble.

For the young sapling, the Ishter Empire was no different from a barren desert. The longer she stayed here, the more she would be wounded like this.

In his desperation, Teishar urged Lorencia to settle in the Polloid Empire, but she refused him without hesitation.

“Why are you so kind to me?”

“Well…”

Because you are the child of the goddess Ella — the precious being my father Magus has been searching for nearly twenty years.

That was what he wanted to say. But he felt that once those words left his mouth, something irreversible would happen, so he stayed silent.

Something tight pressed in his chest. When he thought about it, he realized he didn’t want to tell Lorencia that he was simply kind to her because she was precious to him.

Then what could he say to her?

Even if he set aside the serpent’s instincts, his feelings for her were beyond mere affection. But he couldn’t quite define what those feelings were.

“I’m still figuring it out,” Teishar answered sincerely.

“When I understand what it means to be kind to someone without wanting anything in return… may I answer you then?”

“Yes…”

Lorencia nodded with a gentle smile at his serious tone.

“And if you do decide to go to the Polloid Empire, please let me know. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”

“Thank you for thinking of me, Marquis Spencer.”

Teishar felt sad — it seemed the young sapling still hadn’t opened her heart to him. But he believed that one day, she would recognize his sincerity. He was willing to wait as long as it took.

At the same time, he understood why she couldn’t yet open up, and that made his heart ache.

‘Unlike flowers, trees take a long time to grow,’ his father Magus had once said — words he had dismissed as trivial back then. Now they returned to him.

‘The sturdier the tree, the easier it breaks in a storm.’

Lorencia had been hurt by Brant. To think someone had dared call the goddess Ella’s child a monster — Teishar wished he could take her pain upon himself.

“Marquis Spencer, you always give me good advice, but I keep rejecting it. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. But… may I make one small request?”

“A request?”

Lorencia tilted her head. She couldn’t imagine what sort of request he might have — or what she could possibly do for him.

“Only you, Lady Lorencia, can grant this request.”

“What kind of request could only I fulfill, Marquis?”

“I would like to ask you… to be my partner — to let me escort you and dance the first dance with you at your debutante ball. Please don’t refuse.”

Lorencia’s violet eyes widened. Teishar smiled softly at her bunny-like expression.

“My debutante ball? Are you saying… I can even have one? I don’t understand.”

“The Spencer household will prepare everything. All you have to do is choose me as your escort and first dance partner.”

“I’m already so grateful just to be learning my letters…”

“Lady Ameline told me it’s best to hold a debutante ball as soon as possible,” he said lightly.

Lorencia remembered Evan and Ameline telling her the same thing — that it would be better to debut early. But debutantes were usually hosted by their own families.

“But would the House of Pol Heredian just sit by?”

“You needn’t worry about that.”

Lorencia didn’t hesitate for long. There was no reason to refuse someone offering her a debutante ball.

“So I just have to name you as my escort and first dance partner?”

“Yes. I would be honored.”

Teishar gently took her hand.

“Please, name me.”

Lorencia bit her lip in surprise. Looking up at him, then quickly averting her gaze, she felt a strange embarrassment — and her heart thudded hard in her chest.

“Alright… Marquis Spencer, please be my partner.”

“Thank you, Lady Lorencia.”

She looked at Teishar, who was sincerely overjoyed. His crimson eyes seemed to radiate warmth.

“But when and where will my debutante be held?”

“It will take place at the Spencer family’s private villa on the outskirts of the Ishter Empire. The date will be whatever you decide.”

“I can choose the date myself?”

“Originally, I planned to suggest holding it once your literacy studies were complete… but I wanted to be your partner so much that I asked earlier than planned.”

Teishar glanced past Lorencia at the young sapling. Thankfully, the black smoke was slowly dissipating. It seemed that the sapling reflected Lorencia’s emotions.

Then if he could keep her smiling, no more black smoke would rise.

A smile curved on Teishar’s lips at the thought of her growing healthy and strong.

Brant ran out without even greeting Adrian.

When Lorencia had glared at him, he understood it instantly — she was no longer the monster he’d always known since childhood. Her dark gaze, her firm voice, the black smoke rising from her body — the terror that gripped him was something he never wanted to experience again.

He needed to run. That thing was no human.

“Being called a monster so long… I’ve really become one.”

“Count Pol Heredian. Where are you off to?”

Brant froze mid-step and swallowed nervously — the man standing before him made his blood run cold.

“Prince Luans.”

Predatory sharpness glinted in the prince’s eyes.

“Did you meet her well?”

“Yes, of course. I just met my daughter.”

“I see… then she’ll be returning to the count’s estate, won’t she?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s time she learns what happens when she leaves that estate without permission.”

Luans stepped closer, speaking in a sweet tone.

“What’s wrong, Count Pol Heredian? You don’t look well.”

“Well, that’s…”

Should he tell him everything Lorencia had done? Brant hesitated. But as his fear settled, her words came back to him — words she’d made him memorize.

“Tell Prince Luans that Marquis Spencer cherishes me deeply. If I return to the count’s estate now, the marquis will leave for the Polloid Empire — and then everything His Highness plans for the royal hunt will disappear. Once you tell him that, he’ll understand.”

“I was actually on my way to see you, Your Highness.”

“Then speak now. But don’t give me excuses about why you couldn’t bring her.”

Luans smiled, but his green eyes were cold as ice.

Brant quickly judged the situation — it was better to calm the angry prince first than to show anger about being used as Lorencia’s messenger.

“Lady Lorencia asked me to deliver an important message regarding the royal hunt.”

“The hunt?”

Luans’s expression brightened instantly. Brant seized the chance and relayed Lorencia’s entire message — even describing how black smoke had flared around her like flames.

He spoke gravely, but Luans only smiled in amusement. Something about it felt off.

“She’s a monster, Your Highness. You must decide how to deal with her—”

“Count Brant.”

“Yes?”

“I believe I told you already — she is a monster.”

“Ah—well, I was just—”

“So you didn’t believe me or my grandfather when we said so?”

“N-no, of course I did! I was just shocked seeing it with my own eyes, ha ha…”

Though Brant tried to laugh, his body trembled uncontrollably at the memory of Lorencia’s terrifying appearance. He could feel eyes on his back, as if something cold were stalking him, making goosebumps rise all over.

“She said she wanted to send word about the hunt but couldn’t read or write, which frustrated her.”

Luans stroked his chin slowly. He didn’t like what he heard — not because of her words, but because it reminded him that Teishar had gotten close to her.

That monster was his. From the moment she was born, she was destined to belong to him.

And yet Teishar had dared to hover around her.

Fury surged through him.

“That monster… is mine.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“Nothing. Count Pol Heredian, I’ll look after her in the palace for now. Don’t worry, just return to your estate.”

“B-but—”

“After His Majesty’s birthday celebration, she’ll have to return to the count’s estate anyway. Until then, leave her be.”

Brant was surprised — he had expected the prince to hurl insults at him, but instead Luans dismissed him pleasantly.

“…Understood.”

Luans straightened, his chin lifted in pride.

“Lorencia really does love me desperately.”