His Breeding Obsession

They were calling him weak. Leverianz shrugged off the harsh words with a straight face, but there was a spark in his eyes that he couldn’t hide.

 

Mirania lifted her teacup to her mouth to hide the subtle shape of her lips.

 

‘Leverianz and Grecan have not gotten along since time immemorial.’

 

Feeling a little nostalgic, Mirania smiled, even though it wasn’t the right time to smile.

 “That’s one thing that hasn’t changed.” “…” “We still don’t get along.” “It’s just not the same.” 

As if he knew what she was thinking, Leverianz grumbled, his eyes twisting into a weepy grin.

 “Whenever you guys fought, all I had to do was stay neutral, and if it got physical, I’d intervene.” “I remember, and then we’d fight even more to get Mirania to take sides.” “…” “But the Grecan of today is different from then.”  

Wiping the smile from her face, Mirania tilted her teacup with a dark frown.

 “He has turned his back on me and Malandor, let alone the humans.” 

Leverianz’s cold voice lacked warmth, as if he would not hesitate to strike the man had he been present.

 “Still, I thought we’d developed some sort of bond.” 

The corners of his mouth slanted upward in a self-deprecating smile.

 “A blunt man, but with some sense of decency. I was mistaken.” “…” “Who knew he could change his demeanor like that, even for a reason? I, Mirania, didn’t expect him to, and I don’t want to understand.” “….” “Ignorant, disloyal, weakling.” 

The last words are expletives, as if that were a given.

 “Did you fight?” “Ha, fighting, is that a word? We lunged at each other like we were going to kill each other, so yes, we fought.” “Then that scar can’t be…” 

Touching the scar on his face, Leverianz whispered in a low voice.

 “I thought he had good intentions.” 

Leverianz stared at Mirania in silence, then smirked.

 “At least you came to me, Mirania, not that unfaithful bastard.” 

Mirania scratched her chin with her long index finger, her heart pounding.

 

‘And if I said you seemed suddenly in a good mood, it was because I was thinking about it.’ 

 

Perhaps it’s best not to mention that the first place I woke up was Grecan’s palace.

 

I tried to nod in disbelief.

 “I doubt it. Our High Witch, Mirania, has just escaped from Grecan.” 

Mirania glanced back at Chera. Chera pouted her lips and muttered.

 “I’ll be honest, I was disappointed, that one. How did you get to meet Grecan first?” “Heh, did I meet him because I wanted to? I woke up and there he was!” 

Mirania narrowed her eyes and glanced at Chera, then slowly turned her gaze to Leverianz.

 

An icy coldness radiated from him, like a bitter wind.

 

The temperature seemed to have dropped several degrees.

 

Mirania allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her mouth. It was a smile that was clearly intended to dismiss Chera’s words.

 

Of course, Leverianz didn’t buy it.

 “You were with Grecan?” “…” “You’ve been with that cowardly, disloyal, suddenly powerful Grecan who knows no more about duty than an ant’s tears…” “…” 

Each word was filled with hatred for Grecan. Mirania scratched her chin in confusion.

 

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been caught in the middle of a fight between these two.

 

Suddenly, she found what Leverianz was saying amusing.

 “Why are you laughing?” 

Leverianz narrowed his handsome brow.

 

Mirania rubbed the back of her head and wiped the smile off her face.

 “Why do you look so upset?” “…” “Do you feel betrayed?” “Of course not…” “By Grecan, not me.” 

The corners of Leverianz’s eyes twitched upward as he dropped the words.

 “Haha.” 

He laughed a few times, as if he couldn’t contain himself at the absurdity of the statement, but the laughter quickly faded.

 “Betrayal?”

he asks, his face dry and expressionless.

 “Betrayal? I don’t think we’re close enough to discuss such things.” 

A smile tugs at the corners of Leverianz’s mouth, revealing a single scar that runs down his cheek and across his eye.

 

His white face made the scar more visible.

 

Once upon a time, he was beautiful, but that scar and his changed mood changed my impression of him.

 

Like a piece of glass, so rough and sharp that it would break if you touched it. Like a thorny flower that would bleed if you touched it.

 

Mirania hummed, turned away, and sipped her tea.

 “Or not.” 

At her blunt retort, Leverianz made a face.

 “What is it, that reaction, the one that gets under people’s skin.” “…” “Betrayal, hatred, whatever you want to call it, you’ve made me this way.” 

Leverianz flapped his torn wings.

 

Mirania reached out absentmindedly and grasped the wing, noticing the tattered scars that tore in a mismatched jagged pattern.

 

The feel of torn leather.

 

Narrowing her eyes, she removed her hand from the wing and asked casually,

“By the way, where’s Alice?” 

Leverianz closed and opened his eyes, looking at Mirania with a strange expression.

 “I heard her name when I came to the witch castle. I’m sure she’s here, but I don’t see her?” 

Mirania glanced back and forth between Chera and Leverianz, who was suddenly speechless.

 

When she realized that Alice was here, Mirania reflexively thought of Leverianz.

 

‘The prince who was her lover must be dead, and if she hadn’t been alone for so long, they might have connected.’

 

 

Besides, if we consider past lives, it seems possible.

 

Or perhaps she herself had bonded with a couple in her sleep.

 

Meeting Mirania’s curious eyes, Leverianz spoke bluntly.

 “She died, ten years ago.” “What?” 

Leverianz shrugged, as if it wasn’t strange.

 “She was weak to begin with, so she lived a long time for such a thing.” “…” “She’s dead, but she left a lot behind. After the war, all the land was dying, and thanks to her and Natalia, the Witch Forest is still intact.” 

Chera murmured quietly,

“I’d say she’s thrived.” 

At the mention of Alice, Chera looked bitter.

 

Mirania sipped her tea out of habit. Her sadness suggested that she had gotten along well with Alice.

 “Is that what happened to her…” 

Alice, the girl whom I tried so hard to save in order to change the fate of my previous life.

 

Now, more than 100 years later, the realization that she’s dead leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but I’m also relieved.

 

Thanks to her use of Origin’s blood, she had survived and lived for nearly 90 years.

 

Fate had changed.

 

‘So how will things go from here?’

 

Mirania’s mind raced.

 

‘Building a hut in a secluded forest and being as lazy as my heart desires wouldn’t be a bad direction to take.’

 

That was one of several futures Mirania considered.

 

Natalia seemed to read her mind.

 [I know you don’t want to, and if I were you, I wouldn’t have to, so I’m asking you even though I know you don’t care.]

 “Now that you’re back, Mirania, we can go on with our lives.” 

Mirania looked up. Leverianz was smiling happily at her.

 “What?” “Isn’t that what you came here for?” 

When she didn’t answer, Leverianz stiffened. He lifted one hand and placed it on his cheek where the scar ran across it.

 “This scar, was drawn by Grecan with his nails.” 

Leverianz reached back and grabbed his tattered wing.

 “And this one, Grecan tore it with his hand.” “…” “I thought it might kill me, the way my head was turning white. I’ve been sick for a week, and even now I have to spend half the day in a hot bath, or I’ll throb so badly I can’t think straight.” 

Leverianz, his wings snapping off, laughed coldly.

 “If I’m like this, don’t you wonder what Grecan must be like?” “From the look on your face, I shouldn’t ask.” “Maybe if I did ask, I’d feel bad.” 

Blinking, Leverianz’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 “Nothing.” “…” “Nothing’s changed, t

hat ba

stard, not even a scratch.” 

Bitter self-help.

 “You’re completely defeated.” “…” “Yeah, I didn’t do anything to hurt him.” 

He got a little more honest.

 “To be honest, I don’t think I could win if we fought again.” “…” “I knew he was a tough one, but he deserved it back in the day.” “…” “That’s what makes it even more unforgivable, that he’s turned into such a jerk, and I don’t like it.” 

Mirania glanced at Leverianz as he spoke quietly.

 

She thought of Malandor. The feelings she had felt for Malandor when he was tired and worn outcome back to her now as she watches Leverianz.

 

Compassion, sympathy, pity. All the kinds of emotions you feel when you see someone weak and pitiful.

 

‘Strength.’ 

 

Although technically she was weaker than Leverianz, who was still suffering from the after-effects, she felt sorry for him.

 

Whereas she felt like she’d been sleeping soundly for 100 years and just woke up, he felt like he’d been hating, blaming, grieving, and suffering for 100 years.

 

She asked, her voice unbearably soft,

“Livy, what do you want me to do for you?”