CH 52

Moreover, the fact that a double-entry bookkeeping was in existence was only something that Carlisle and Essellia knew about. They stole that double-entry bookkeeping from Duke Duffels and didn’t present it to the Emperor. It was to exploit the route taken by Duke Duffels. Unless what Duke Duffels did violate the rules of Thersion. 

Quite a few things were worth mentioning. Though of course, the most eye-catching of them was the diamond mine. After confirming the rumors, Alexa became a more attractive prey in his eyes. It’s alright to have her beside Ysildus. 

Carlisle pursed his lips, “Thank you, Alexa.” 

Visten was taken aback when he noticed the slyness hidden in his soft and gentle words. But Alexa just smiled. 

At that moment, dadadaddadada –! They can only hear the sound of running it makes with his big front paws. 

“Looks like Ysildus is coming.” 

Carlisle signed with his chin that she could take her leave. Ysildus was coming back now after enjoying an enjoyable snack time and walk. He was busy eating and playing when Alexa slipped away in the middle, so he couldn’t follow after her. Alexa was practicing separating from Ysildus these days. It was inconvenient to have Ysildus only following Alexa around, but she also thinks that it wasn’t good for Ysildus. 

No matter how much she practiced distancing herself from Ysildus, as soon as he noticed that Alexa was gone, he would wander around the mansion looking for her. Alexa said goodbye and left the office. As soon as she left the office, Ysildus spotted Alexa in the distance. Ysildus barked, raising his paw and pricking up his ears. 

“Arf! Arrrrrff!” 

He then sprinted towards Alexa. She petted Ysildus, who lifted his front paws and twisted his whole body to greet her. 

“My cutie! Were you that happy to see me? Oh my! Have you finished your snacks?” 

Alexa was eventually sitting in the hallway and playing with Ysildus who was doing aegyo with both his hands and feet. At that moment, Terrun came and stuck out his head from the same place. He came after Ysildus. No one has the quick intuition as Ysildus when it comes to Alexa. Terrun also found Alexa by chasing after Ysildus. Terrun ran towards Alexa wearing an expression that he had finally reunited with his family whom he was separated from. 

‘That’s weird.’ 

Alexa looked back and forth between the human and the animal. I can understand that Ysildus is like that, but why is Terrun…? 

‘Alexa! I’m hungry!” 

Terrun smiled brightly and shouted. Ah, were you looking for me because you were hungry? 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Essellia called for all the maids, including the Head Maid. Maids aren’t separate people in Thersion. Most of the vassals holding titles in Thersion were those who have strong wolf blood. Bloodshed will only occur if they keep colliding in one place. That’s why they brought in those with weaker wolf blood as maids and made them work. 

“Head Maid.” 

“Yes, Grand Duchess.” 

“What do you think of that child, Selina?” 

“I think… it would be just fine to kick her out right away. That child will cause trouble one day. The butler said that we should just kill her before she does. But, Grand Duchess, it would be too late after the accident had already happened.” 

“Why do you think so?” 

“Only Alexa is weaker in this mansion than Selina. Alexa is more fragile than you think. If Selina hurt Alexa… that would be an irreversible accident.” 

Essellia touched her forehead. She also agrees with the Head Maid. This place is not a battlefield. They didn’t have to carry a danger that might explode. But Carlisle’s will is more important than those relevant facts. 

“The Grand Duke will keep Selina inside the mansion.” 

“Ah….” 

The Head Maid pondered to herself. Carlisle’s order is absolute than any disobedience. Unless one wants to be crushed under his huge front paws. 

“Then I guess we shouldn’t leave Selina alone and keep monitoring where that child goes. Isn’t it best to prevent accidents before they happen?” 

“I understand, Grand Duchess.” 

Essellia clicked her tongue in disapproval. Although she didn’t reveal it to others, Alexa’s life now is tied to Ysildus. But to think that he still left Selina alone. 

‘What on earth are you thinking?’ 

Essellia pulled from the Head Maid behind her who was massaging her shoulders. 

“I have to go hunting.” 

Essellia is also an aggressive wolf. It seemed like it would be better to go hunting than to worry about human beings like this. Perhaps this dirty feeling will go away after hunting prey and seeing a lot of blood. 

Essellia bared her teeth and let out a cry. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The homework Karrolf assigned Alexa this time was to research information about the werewolves’ mating and breeding season. It was also a big problem Thersion is suffering the most. It was because the birth rate in Thersion is gradually declining. The Head Maid protested against this homework and said that it was a too risqué field for Alexa to study. But Karrolf reiterated that it was only biological research. 

But of course, to Alexa, [‘Tell me anytime if you find it too difficult or hard to understand. I can’t push you too hard.’] And he even said it to her with so much kindness. 

In fact, Alexa had the answer to this problem. The novel also dealt with Thersion’s declining birth rate. It should be around the time Ysildus had yet to mature and the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess were absent. The fertility rate in Thersion continued to decline. Even the direct descendant was born only after 150 years. 

The biologists and doctors in Thersion had a lot of trouble as a result. This problem was connected to none other than the werewolves’ ‘ether’. Their beginning was the wolf god, Depensores. Wolves were able to preserve their lineage for a long time even after the wolf god died, because of the repeated marriages in an isolated place. 

And thanks to that, the ether of the wolves flowing through their body got tangled up in a mess. Preventing the marriage between closely related cousins and promoting exchange through nearby villages in Thersion is the way to solve this problem. Selina noticed this fact and suggested having a village unification festival. Selina said that she had a ‘sponsor,’ and that she got various information from them, so she solved Thersion’s problem. Even until the novel came out, the identity of the sponsor was never revealed. In any case, thanks to that, Alexa knew the solution. 

“An intermarriage….” 

Alexa knew why Karrolf gave her this homework, so she decided not to just do any simple research and wrote a more elaborate and meticulous report. 

When he heard what Alexa said, Terrun asked her, “An intermarriage? What is that?” 

“Hmm….” 

How should I explain it to Terrun? Actually, what was inside Alexa was an adult who had already gone through all hardships, but Terrun is not just a child – he’s really just a baby. Alexa hummed and thought of a way to explain it to him in the most sound and easy to understand. 

“Let’s say something about getting married with someone in your family.” 

“Like… with mom?” Terrun said with a profound expression. 

What is this? Why does it feel like this? Is this the same feeling as being asked, ‘Mom, how are babies born?’ 

Alexa swallowed her saliva. And then she spoke as calmly as possible. 

“Right, but is that okay or not?” 

“No.” 

“Let’s say you had a sister. Can you marry your sister or not?” 

“… No…?” 

Terrun tilted his head. Morals of wolves are different from humans, and it made her realize that this is a make-believe world set in medieval times. Anyway, if they learned why their ether got tangled, intermarriage may be banned this time. 

“You can’t. That’s bad.” 

“Bad?” 

Terrun made a shocked face. This 16-year-old grown-up boy has a mental age of only 10-years-old, which is amazing and difficult at the same time. Alexa nodded, thinking that she had chosen the easiest words to explain it to him. 

Fortunately for Ysildus….

“Kiing?” 

He is still a beast now, so he doesn’t ask such embarrassing questions. Ysildus, who was diligently playing as a carrot farmer, ran towards Alexa. He shook the carrot and threw it away, then he excitedly ran again. Alexa looked at Ysildus and turned her head away. She found the history and background about intermarriages in a booklet and organized it in an orderly and calm manner. 

And about the ‘ether,’ which was said to be possessed by all living creatures in the past. Alexa was a former student of natural sciences, and there was only one format in writing a report about solving these problems – presenting problems, discussing solutions, and devising alternatives! At the end, Alexa wrote the conclusion that communication between other villages should be activated to prevent further entanglement of the ether. 

‘Selina, I don’t feel sorry for you now.’ 

Alexa thought as she wrote a period on a report under the pretext of homework. This is no longer Selina’s business. This is what Alexa has to do now. Although she still had no intention of becoming the female lead, she was thinking that she might be able to become an assistant for Thersion. And there was one more thing. 

‘Selina shouldn’t be the female lead.’ 

Someone else should be the female lead. For Thersion, which had gained a place in Alexa’s heart before she knew it.