Chapter 47
The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast
Chapter 47
âHa.â
Edward smiled as if nothing had happened.
âThere was definitely the sound of broken bones.â
Iris looked worriedly at Edward, but he swept his hair back as if he had expected it. The right hand that was held out towards Windy was still inside his mouth.
âWhat a clever gal.â
âClever? He bit your hand, not the apple.â
âLittle girl, I know my hands are as tempting as apples. But this isnât food. Okay, good girl?â
Edward tried to stroke Windyâs chin with his left hand, but Windy shook its head. Naturally, his right hand was still in its mouth.
âEdward, are you all right?â
At this point, Iris couldnât hide her worries.
Edward raised one corner of his mouth as if this was nothing.
âAre you asking me? You donât know who I am?â
âI know. Youâre an idiot.â
It looks like his wrist is about to fall off, but he was acting like an idiot and pretending to be okay because of his pride.
âIâm Edward Green, vice-captain of the Knights of Tess. This much isnât enough to make me scream.â
Blood vessels were sticking out of Edwardâs neck.
It looks like he was holding back the pain.
âHey, little gal. Let big brother go since heâs sincere. Okay?â
Chomp-!
Windy bit down harder.
This time, Edward couldnât help but widen his eyes.
âWhy are you angry again?â
âHeâs a boy.â
âHa!â
Edward seemed to be in a dilemma.
He had been so arrogant in front of Iris, so he didnât want to lose control here. However, it was hard to continue enduring the pain.
Iris decided to help Edward.
âWindy.â
She softly called Windy.
As advised by Edward, she looked at him with the mindset that he was the most loved and precious animal in the world.
âCan you let the uncle go?â
âWhat do you mean uncleâ¦?!â
âHuh? Windy. Let go of the uncle and come here.â
Windy glanced at Edward once before snorting.
Snot spilled on Edwardâs face.
âAck, snot! You filthy bastard.â
Because of the snot on his face, Edward didnât realize his right hand was free.
While Edward was wiping his face, Windy walked over and stopped in front of Iris. The lovely little animal, with his head up close, stared calmly at her.
At that moment, Iris felt a lump in her heart. This small, clever, mischievous animal was extremely lovely.
A loving smile flowed out of Irisâ mouth and soaked her lips. As Iris gently raised her arm, Windy turned her head sideways and rubbed his head against Irisâ belly so that she wouldnât get hurt by his horns.
âYouâre so nice.â
Iris said, stroking Windyâs head.
âGood boy. Thatâs the devil.â
Edward growled, rubbing his throbbing right hand.
âYouâre so beautiful, Windy. The fur is soft andâ¦cute.â
Iris completely ignored Edward. She bent her knees and sat at eye level with Windy.
âWindy, Iâm sure Iâm lacking a lot. I donât know how to cherish, adore, or value yet. But now that youâre so precious, I think I know a little bit about what to do. Iâll know better from now on, so please forgive me if thereâs anything lacking. Okay?â
As if Windy said it was okay, he rubbed Irisâ neck with the side of his horn.
Edward watched the scene, rubbing his bruised hand.
Irisâ soul didnât shine strangely when the sensitive and alert Windy opened his heart to her.
âShe looks like a normal woman in that way, but sheâs not. The soul of an ordinary woman doesnât shine that fearsome.â
Even at this moment, Irisâ soul was shining bright enough to hurt his eyes.
Iris, who noticed Edwardâs gaze, looked up at Edward as if she was wondering why. His mouth was closed tightly, so she decided to speak up first.
âYour hand seems to be in a lot of pain.â
Edward frowned.
âDonât think you helped me, Iris. Something like this is nothing.â
âTo say this is nothing, shouldnât the one that helped say that? If it werenât for me, your apple-like hand would have been cut in half like this apple.â
Iris pointed to the apple that fell near Edwardâs feet. The apple that Edward was holding earlier was split in half by Windyâs teeth.
âYou can forget what happened today, Iris.â
âThat sounds like something I should say.â
This woman doesnât budge an inch, he thought.
It wasnât like he hated that. It was better than a woman who pretends to be vulnerable and bursts into tears at the tiniest thing.
âAnyway, Iâll keep an eye on you because I still doubt you, Iris.â
At those words, Iris raised herself up and approached Edward with a grin. Standing in front of him, she tapped his cheek with her palm.
It was unexpected, so Edward couldnât help but to stiffen his body.
Towards the hardened Edward, Iris spoke.
âI wonât be wary of you, Edward, because I think a stubborn and self-respecting child is cute.â
He was treated like a child.
Edward knew that Iris was six years younger than him.
Looking at Edward who was pouting his lips in astonishment, Iris added.
âLike Windy.â
* * *
âDo you know how old Iris is? Sheâs only 20 years old! But she said Iâm a kid. Does that make sense?â
âYeah.â
âOne fist of mine is enough to blow her away, how dare she treat me like a child.â
âStop it. If you blow sister-in-law away with your fist, youâll die by my gun, Edward.â
Nathan, who had been fiddling with his gun no matter how much Edward talked, responded when Edward said he would throw a fist.
âThatâs just an expression. Do you really think Iâm going to hit her?â
âI donât know. With your temper, who knows what youâre going to do?â
âAnyway, sheâs weird.â
He should have been angry at Iris for treating him like a child.
But at that moment, Edward really felt like he was being scolded by an older woman.
It was just a feeling, and naturally he couldnât tell anyone.
âSheâs not strange at all. In other peopleâs eyes, youâre weirder. Youâre the only one who sees sister-in-law as weird, while thousands, no, millions of people see you as weird. So whoâs the real weirdo?â
Nathan pointed his gun at Edward. Moving the gun aside with his index finger, Edward spoke.
âI only have legitimate doubts.â
âThatâs whatâs weird. Since sister-in-law came into this mansion, there has been no problem, and the boss looks very happy. Well, weâre happy when we see the pretty sister-in-law.â
âDonât be fooled, Nathan. Youâre not someone to be possessed by a womanâs face.â
âEven the boss likes her pretty face. The boss didnât even want to have a family because of us, so Iâm relieved to see him walking around like that.â
ââ¦â
âIâm sure Keiâs parents and Cel feel the same way. You know how Kei has lived his life, so weâre happy that he has someone to love. By comparison, youâreâ¦â
Nathanâs fine brows wrinkled.
âDisgusting. Like someone jealous of his brotherâs wife for taking him away. Itâs disgusting.â
âIâm not jealous. Iâm worried about Kei.â
âThatâs the bossâ job. Weâll step in if something happens that youâre worried about. You already told sister-in-law, âDonât take my brother, I donât want you to take my brother away.â so thereâs nothing else you need to do.â
âI donât talk like that, Nathan.â
âThatâs what it looks like in my eyes.â
Before coming to Nathanâs room, Edwardâs mother and Celestine told him similar things, so Edward couldnât refute.
âBy the way, have you changed your taste? Why did you put a jewel on the gun like that?â
Nathanâs gun shone brilliantly with a light pink gem near the handle.
âOh, this. To give it to sister-in-law as a wedding gift. She needs a weapon to protect herself.â
Edward saw Eugene and Wallace seriously discussing what wedding gifts to prepare in the morning.
âEveryone is out of their minds! That woman has done something!â
Edward burst into a rage, but Nathan ignored it completely and asked.
âSo, what are you going to give her as a wedding gift?â
Edward grinned and asked back.
âWhat do women want the most as a wedding gift?â
* * *
Guests began to arrive at Count Greenâs mansion.
Some decided to stay at the West building until the wedding, while others decided to stay nearby or stay at their villa.
Iris didnât go to the sites to greet the guests. This is because the bride doesnât have to show up until the wedding rehearsal.
âMiss Britney seems to be welcoming guests as if she is the hostess. I heard that sheâs showing the famous families around the mansion. Is that okay?â
Christina, who was brushing Irisâ hair, asked.
âYes, itâs fine. Let her do as she pleases.â
In any case, itâs what Iris had wanted. Whatever Britney does, the action will drag her back into the mud in the future.
She got out of her chair and headed to the window. The front of the main entrance was particularly crowded. A royal carriage stood in front of the main gate.
âThe Crown Prince is here.â
The rehearsal party is tomorrow.
However, even before the party, the Crown Prince must be curious about the character known as Iris.
âIâm sure Kei will take care of it.â
* * *
Britney was excited.
Because the bride, Iris, was nowhere to be seen and the mansion was like her world.
Every time a male noble came, she warned them to be careful.
âCount Green is easily jealousâ¦He will hate you if you ask my sister for a dance at the reception party.â
A bride that doesnât receive a dance request from anyone during the reception party will be ridiculed. Young nobles all wanted to connect themselves with Keivrand, so no one would want to dance with Iris.
Imagining Iris sitting quietly in the brideâs seat, Britney felt her mood getting better.
âI was angry when I heard that the Crown Prince was coming, but if I think about it, itâs a good opportunity for me. Perhaps he came to see me, not Iris.â
Britneyâs lips twitched.
âI wish the party would start soon.â
Everyone knows that the Crown Prince has Duke Whittleâs Britney in mind as the Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince will ask her for a dance, and the other nobles will ask her for a dance.
Iris will be shunned by everyone.
âIâm sure everyone will want to dance with me. Do you understand, Iris? Iâm the star of this party.â
Britney smiled at the Crown Prince getting out of the carriage with a graceful and kind smile.
== Translatorâs Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etcâ¦in the comment section .