The sun was starting to set. Heath kept his stances ready. With one clean and sharp move, he aimed his longsword through the air. His legs slipped off the ground and less than a second later, a smooth acrobatic movement of Heath's tall, sturdy and slender body made several of the wooden puppets on the practice field cut into many pieces. He didn't even pant as he put his longsword back into its scabbard. Ever since he became a Lycan, he felt his body change drastically. His five senses improved significantly and still hadn't stopped improving until now. Especially when he moved, his body seemed to know what to do and immediately obeyed his brain's commands much easier than when he was an ordinary human. He was an Alpha. Did all Alphas feel the same way? Old Duke Rayleigh Almandine, and Young Lord Liam Almandine… Both were extremely powerful Alphas, doubled by the experience and everything they had endured during their lives. Even if Heath was an Emperor of this continent, he
"This cane is my father's," Liam said suddenly. Heath, who was sitting by his side on the sidelines of the training field looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Grandpa Ray is a pure-blood Lycan. My grandmother, Grandpa's mate is a Half-Elf. They gave birth to my father. But unexpectedly, my father was born more like a normal human," Liam said quietly. "He's an Alpha, but he's much weaker than you," Liam continued, looking at his brother-in-law. Heath furrowed his brows deeply. "What are you trying to tell me by sharing all this?" asked the young man. Liam shrugged his shoulders. "I just want to say, I grew up in a good environment," said Liam. "Both my parents and my family were quite normal and they loved me, raising me with all the kindness they could give me in this world. Especially my father. He… was not a monster like my grandfather and me." Heath was getting more and more clueless. "I understand what love and family are. I understand what it means when someone lives for
Liam stood in front of a painting of his father and mother in that short hallway in the castle.The cane in his hand had an engraving on the wooden handle, which read, "Theodore Almandine".The cane in his hand was the same cane his father held in the painting. He remembered his father's words when he was a child when he asked about the Mate of an Alpha Lycan."Mate?""Our mate is a woman who was created to be the person we are most compatible with within this world. She will support and perfect us, creating the best and strongest version of us."Liam always remembered his father's words.Harriet was not Liam's Mate. Even though Liam loved Harriet and Harriet loved him, he now knew why Harriet wasn't his mate. That was because even though the two of them were already perfect on their own, the moment they united, they would destroy each other.Liam wanted to laugh at himself when he asked Harriet to suffer with him. He wanted to go back in time and slap himself."Ugh!"Liam coughed. Bl
Miriam stood by Harriet's side, standing on the far side of the main staircase. Her arms were tightly entwined with Harriet's and her eyes stared at the group that had come on horseback and a plain horse-drawn carriage. "From now on, Miriam," Harriet whispered to her sister-in-law. "Every time we go out of our room, we have to wear beautiful jewelry and dresses." Miriam still didn't understand why Harriet had asked her to be so overdressed. They looked pretty, but they were not partying or attending a special event or something, right? When Miriam saw the clothes the Old Duke and Heath were wearing, she was even more surprised because both of them were wearing the regular clothes they wore every day. Not saying they wore simple clothes, no. The clothes the Old Duke and Heath were wearing were clothes fit for royalty even, but not as extravagant as what Miriam and Harriet were wearing. But in the end, Miriam decided to go along with her sister-in-law's words. Heath also told her
Harriet left the discussion with Crown Prince Hyacinth to Heath and the Old Duke, and as a result, she had more free time today. It had just passed noon, and she couldn't go about her routine, fearing it would be discovered that she had a voice in this house. So Harriet thought of visiting her husband, who had recently been immersing himself in the library. Harriet didn't know what the man was thinking. Something changed, that was all she knew. Liam was still as gentle and humorous as ever, but… As Harriet slowly opened the door of the castle's library, she tried not to make a sound. If she stepped inside for a bit, she would be able to see the reading table in the middle of the library where her husband used to sit and read a few books this week. But Harriet could never see what book the man was reading. Every time Harriet walked over, he would hear her footsteps and put away his book, then walk over to Harriet so she couldn't get any closer to his desk. There was something the
Actually, this wasn't the first time Ezekiel had come to the north. Several times, he had come to the Duchy of Almandine for work. In the lands of the Euclase Continent, there was no area that he had not been to. This was thanks to his father, the Emperor, who insisted on having him work all over the continent, assigning him here and there and not giving him any rest since he was a teenager. However, the middle-aged man always kept Harriet close to himself. He never asked Harriet to go anywhere or away from the capital, as if wanting to raise her with his own hands. It was only natural that Harriet's reputation had skyrocketed because of the Emperor's treatment of her. In fact, even if Ezekiel had forced his father to place Harriet in the Western Fort, far from the capital, if Harriet didn't agree and asked the Emperor to stay in the capital, he wouldn't be able to drive Harriet away. The emperor spoiled Harriet by letting her do what she wanted and giving her wealth and power. It
Liam led her around the street, looking for a summer dress Harriet liked. Actually, Liam didn't know much about fashion, but he was used to seeing fabrics and loved to learn new things. The tie Harriet bought him was a new twist on the old fashion of a few years ago, and he was happy to hear Harriet explain it to him."Okay, that's enough." Harriet held Liam, who was about to move on to the next shop."But you saw the long skirt in this shop earlier, right? Why don't you go inside and try it?" Liam asked.Harriet shook her head and closed her eyes. "I won't be looking at anything anymore. So don't make excuses that you want to give me something because I saw it." Harriet firmly stood on the spot, even though Liam had tried to persuade her again.Liam watched as his wife closed her eyes through the whole road they passed after that, and she also asked for them to return to the city roundabout to enter another street filled with restaurants, as it was time for them to have lunch."Are
"Now there are many types of vegetables circulating in the northern market, and the cuisine in this place has really changed a lot from decades ago," Liam muttered quietly. Harriet smiled when she heard his comment. "This is thanks to the Old Duke and the Emperor," said Harriet softly. "You're right," Liam chuckled. "Northern people like alcohol to warm our body up, and the climate here is perfect for making winter wine, or fire water… but I've heard a lot that Northerners who travel to the south really like spicy food," Liam said quietly. "Ah, right. It's still hard to get spices here. The pepper I got the other day was also bitter…" Harriet muttered. "If Northerners had access to warm-climate herbs and spices, perhaps there would be more dishes that would satisfy you, Madam," Liam said softly. Harriet nodded. "Ginger, ginseng, pepper, chilli, paprika…" she muttered under her breath. "Unfortunately, even from the capital to here, it takes a week for a freight carriage… the in