The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast - Chapter 43

Reuben had to choose.

Whether be humiliated by taking back what Britney said, or keep his honor even if he has to be burdened with a large debt.

Looking at Keivrand’s expression, he didn’t think it would work if he asked for the cost to be split.

‘My Britney will marry the Crown Prince anyway.’

Fortunately, Reuben had something to fall back on.

When Britney becomes the Crown Princess, the cost of this wedding will be nothing.

There will be many people who will send money and gifts because they want to build a connection with the Whittle family.

Reuben’s expression changed, then he sat as relaxed as Keivrand was and smiled.

“All right, Count Green. Of course, for my beloved daughter, I can pay for the wedding.”

“Oh, I knew you would.”

Keivrand smiled and pulled out a document from his chest pocket. It was an invoice for borrowing the equipment from the wizard tower, the dresses and accessories Iris commissioned Tilette, and parties and food.

The amount on the invoice was huge enough to make one’s eyes roll back.

“Please sign it.”

Reuben pressed down his desire to throw the pen at Keivrand face and signed the invoice.

Keivrand folded the invoice with Reuben’s name on it and put it back in his chest pocket.

“Thank you. I won’t forget that Duke Whittle took care of our wedding.”

Keivrand got up first.

“Then, I have a lot of work to do, so I’ll leave first.”

Looking at Keivrand leaving without waiting for him to answer, Reuben realized that Keivrand had never called him ‘father-in-law.’

* * *

Keivrand walked down the hall and took out the invoice from his chest pocket.

Under the huge sum was Reuben Whittle’s signature.

According to his knowledge, Reuben’s finances weren’t in a position to pay this amount immediately. He’ll have to sell some of his assets or take out a loan from the bank.

Keivrand recalled what happened earlier.

He was kicked out by Celestine when Iris and them were picking out dresses, but rushed back when he was called.

Before he knew it, the room was cleaned up and only Iris and Celestine were inside waiting for him.

Iris then spoke to Celestine.

[Cel, give Keivrand the invoice for the wedding so far.]

Then she looked at Keivrand and said,

[Duke Whittle will protest to you.]

Thinking why Duke Whittle would protest all of a sudden, Celestine filled him in on what happened with Britney.

[Duke Whittle will choose to defend his honor. Since he’s trying to connect Britney with the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be good for people to talk about this.]

It was as Iris said.

‘She’s a smart woman.’

When Iris plans something, she never says, ‘Maybe.’ Her tone and eyes were always full of conviction.

The Iris who blushes in front of him was good, but the Iris who proceeds with confidence was good too, he thought.

There wasn’t a single thing about her that he disliked.

Keivrand entered Iris’ room with a grin.

“Irie. I got it.”

He shook the paper and smiled smugly.

In Iris’ eyes, Keivrand looked like a puppy who wanted to be praised for catching a ball.

Thus, she’ll compliment him generously.

“Good job, Kei.”

“Good job, really?”

“Is there anything else?”

“The reward is lacking.”

“What do you want?”

Keivrand sat next to Iris and stuck out his cheek.

She didn’t know what to do, so she widened her eyes and stared at his smooth cheek.

“Hurry up.”

Keivrand nudged.

Iris narrowed her forehead slightly, then gasped with an ‘ah!’ and tapped his cheek with her palm.

“Good job, Kei.”

This time, Keivrand’s eyes got bigger.

“What’s this, Irie?”

“Huh?”

“The reward is too salty. It’s too salty, I can’t even eat it.”

Keivrand grumbled and pressed Iris’ shoulders down on the sofa. Next, he climbed on top and kissed her.

When Keivrand’s lips fell off, Iris spoke.

“If you wanted a kiss, you should have stuck out your lips.”

“I didn’t just want a kiss, I wanted a kiss on the cheek. I kissed you because of the increased fee.”

A kiss on the cheek.

She didn’t even think about it. This is because no one has ever kissed Iris on the cheek.

“You’re the one who planned it. With this massive fee in seconds.”

“So don’t relax, Irie. The fee could increase before you know it.”

She wondered what kind of fee would be more than a kiss.

It looked like Keivrand wanted to show her, however, he wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up on the sofa.

“I took the money from under Duke Whittle like you asked, but I’m worried about something.”

Keivrand quickly threw away the playful air and returned to his business-like self. Iris couldn’t figure out why she felt disappointed.

“If Duke Whittle is eyeing the Crown Princess seat, he’s not going to dispose of his assets. He’ll take out a loan from the bank. If he pays it back, that’s good, but if he can’t, we might have to take care of it.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”

“Can’t you tell me what you’re going to do?”

“Hm, what will I do? Maybe I can tell you if you show me something pretty.”

“Show you something pretty…What can I do?”

She was just joking, but Keivrand’s eyes were serious.

So, she decided to fulfill one of her wishes she had in mind.

“I think you’re pretty when you turn into a wolf.”

“Sure thing.”

Keivrand quickly turned into a wolf.

Iris got up and went next to the sofa.

The wolf also moved along with her.

“You might get angry from what I’m about to do.”

“I won’t get angry, Irie.”

“Well, good. First of all, sit.”

“Huh?”

“Sit, Kei.”

The black wolf’s mouth opened wide. The wolf, with a puzzled look on his face, looked at Iris giving him orders and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha.”

The wolf’s laughter was a little different from when he was a human.

Iris thought it was nice to hear his laughter mixed with a little growl.

“Oh, Irie. You always surprise me.”

With that said, Keivrand sat still.

Iris reached out her hand in front of him.

“Hand.”

The wolf put his big front paw on Iris’ palm.

His front paws were so big that they could cover Iris’ entire hand.

Iris stroked his long claw in wonder.

“Are you going to tell me now?”

The wolf smacked the floor with its tail and asked.

“No, get down.”

The wolf laid flat on his stomach.

“Roll.”

“Ah, Irie.”

“Roll, Kie.”

Keivrand rolled and rolled on his stomach, then he suddenly got up and pounced at Iris.

Despite the huge wolf coming, Iris wasn’t scared. Because she believed that his fangs and claws would never hurt her.

As she had expected, the wolf only stood up and put his front paw on her shoulders.

The wolf’s big nose was very close.

“Irie, no one has ever given me orders.”

“Cel?”

“…When I’m a wolf.”

“Mother, father?”

“…Except them.”

“Your brother?”

“…Minus him.”

Iris grinned.

Seeing that she was being cheeky, Keivrand licked her face.

“Kya!”

While pulling her face back, she was about to falter, but Keivrand, who returned to human form, wrapped his arm around her waist.

Iris felt the fervor in the blue-gray eyes gazing at her.

While looking at herself in his eyes, she realized that she was smiling so happily.

‘I’m smiling like this.’

She swept the corner of his eye with her thumb.

“Irie.”

Only after a low-pitched voice called her name did Iris realize what Keivrand looks like right after turning back to a human.

When she realized that she was in his arms, her face heated up.

But she didn’t want to push him away.

It was good to be close to him like this.

Normally, when Keivrand looked at her like this with those eyes, he would kiss her and she would exhale a hot breath.

Thinking of dirty thoughts, she felt a strange sensation climbing up the back of her neck.

She thought it would be the same this time.

“Turn around. I’ll get dressed.”

Keivrand didn’t do anything and got dressed.

The scorching heat cooled down in an instant, and a cold wind blew through her heart.

‘What’s wrong with him? Is he mad that I made him do all that?’

She was worried that she had crossed the line, but Keivrand, all dressed, stood in the back and hugged Iris.

Keivrand’s lips slightly touched her neck and fell off.

“I’ll hear how you’re going to handle Whittle’s debt later. I thought of something to do.”

Keivrand whispered in a low subdued voice and turned around.

Iris also turned around and looked at his back as he left.

“Kei.”

“Huh?”

“Are you angry?”

Keivrand walked back to Iris. His eyes on her were still friendly.

“Irie, I’m not mad at you.”

Keivrand kissed Iris on the forehead and left the room.

* * *

Keivrand was walking with great stride toward the training field. He felt like he needed to move his body to cool off his chest.

‘I’m going crazy.’

When Iris gave the ridiculous orders to him in his wolf form.

He didn’t get angry.

Rather, it was fun seeing Iris’ happy expression as she gave him orders.

His heart got hot at the sight of Iris smiling, and he felt unbearable when she looked into his eyes as if she was enchanted.

He never thought there would come a day where he couldn’t control himself. His rationality was almost gone, and even if he was afraid, he thought he would be forced to get drunk in the heat of the moment.

He almost put her in bed and dyed her fair skin with his whole self.

‘What’s going on with my body?’

It was the first time he had been caught up in such a passionate impulse.

A dull heat spread every time Iris rolled around on the bed, but it was controllable.

He was confident that he could stop whenever she became afraid.

But he wasn’t confident this time. Once it started, he knew he couldn’t stop and he thought he would only be satisfied once he swallowed her.

He didn’t want to see her eyes filled with fear because of him. So he became cautious of even mixing with her as a joke.

As soon as he entered the training field, he held a wooden sword and hit a training tree like crazy.

Time passed as he continued to do this.

“Boss. Your wooden sword is broken.”

With Eugene’s voice coming from behind, Keivrand came to his senses.

His wooden sword was broken and dangling.

With a new feeling and staring at the wooden sword, Keivrand muttered.

“Eugene. It’s something like love.”

He had decided to put off naming this feeling for Iris until later. The moment he names it, it’s likely to explode, and Iris could get caught up in it and get even more hurt.

So without a name, Keivrand’s felt as if his heart would explode this time.

“No, I’m in love with Iris.”

== Translator’s Note ==

1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .