How To Train the Wolf King – Accidentally Spending the Night Together and Triggering the Death Flag,

Chapter 32: I want to be happy with you

She had a dream. 

She thought it was a dream from her past life. 

She was in one of the rooms of the rental apartment she had in her past life, lying on the sofa and reading a book. T

She was holding the fourth volume of “Cinderella wa Totsuzen ni” (Cinderella Suddenly) – the second part of the Bride Training Arc.

She was wearing her favorite loose-fitting parka dress and had her hair casually tied up in a bun. Her favorite pastime on holidays was to prepare a cup of tea and read her favorite book.

“Uwaaah! Julius-sama, you’re so noble! I want to protect that smile!”

The page she had opened was the scene where Julius and Serge reconciled. She was so moved by the power of the illustration that she rolled around on the sofa.

Why? Why won’t the author let Julius be happy? Why do they have to make him walk down an unhappy path?

If only there was a world line where Julius could smile. If only someone could save him.

Then, she heard a voice from somewhere.

――Is it okay to leave it to someone else?

She put down the book and stood up. She looked around, but all she could see was her familiar room. Her favorite cushion, the stack of unfinished books, the mug with a dog print, and the half-eaten cookie.

――Do I have to be that ‘someone else’?

To love Julius? Who does Julius love? Who does he want to smile at? Who does he want to smile at?

Who does he want to be happy with?

As she stood up, a figure appeared in the mirror. It wasn’t the ‘her’ in the baggy hoodie dress with a bun on her head. It was a girl she had never seen before, with shining silver hair that reached her waist and an elegant dress.

She was drawn to touch the mirror, and the girl on the other side did the same.

Touching the mirror, she realized. The voice was hers.

She wanted to be happy with that person――.

Slowly, her consciousness surfaced.

A soft scent tickled her nose, and Margaery opened her eyes as if guided by it.

(Where am I. . .?)

She focused her eyes, she immediately recognized it as her room in Loire Castle. But for some reason, her head still felt a little confused. It was probably because of the dream she had just seen. She didn’t remember much, but she felt like it was a dream from her past life.

‘When did I return to my room?’ As she tried to get up, she felt something strange in her right hand. She looked over there and her eyes widened.

“Yuri-sama. . .”

Julius was there, holding Margaery’s hand and sleeping with his arm as a pillow.

Margaery remembered. Being attacked by the demon beasts in the forest. Hearing a voice when she thought it was all over. Losing consciousness in Julius’s arms as he rushed to her.

Through the black hair that covered his face, she could see his beautiful sleeping face. He exuded a glamorous charm, but his sleeping face was just a little childish.

(He saved me, didn’t he?)

The image of him protecting her with his arm and annihilating the demon beast came to her mind.

With his red eyes burning, Julius, the Wolf King, shot straight through the demon beast to protect her. When she thought about it being his profile to protect her, she felt a ticklish and embarrassing sensation.

As she gently stroked his hair, Julius flinched slightly. His long eyelashes fluttered, and his narrow eyes slowly opened. As soon as his red eyes reflected Margaery, he jumped up.

“Margaery you’re awake!”

He placed his hand on her shoulder. Julius’s face, which peeked at her with “How do you feel?” and “Are you in pain?” was so desperate that Margaery couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m fine. But why is Yuri-sama in my room?”

“I apologize for entering without permission. But I wanted to be by your side when you woke up.”

“This is a lady’s room. Please show some restraint.”

“Is this the time to be showing restraint? Someone important collapsed.”

After saying that, he looked away as if remembering something. Then, he smiled a little bitterly.

“Although your maid scolded me for it.”

“That’s probably true.”

As she giggled, he finally seemed to relax. He gently narrowed his eyes and stroked Margaery’s hair.

According to him, Margaery had apparently suffered from magical intoxication. It was a symptom that often occurred in humans who were not used to using magic, caused by continuously using magic in a crisis situation where they were being chased by the demon beasts.

After carefully giving Margaery the water from the pitcher and the fruit that Anya had apparently prepared, Julius looked at her again.

“You did something reckless. Facing the demon beasts alone.”

“Well, there’s nothing I can say to that.”

“You called me too late. What did you think I gave you the necklace for?”

“I’m sorry for that too. Are you angry?”

“I am.”

With just a glance, the answer came back immediately. But contrary to his words, Julius reached out his hand carefully, as if touching something fragile.

“But I’ll forgive you. As long as you’re alive, that’s enough.”

He hugged her. Margaery realized that the faint scent that woke her up was his scent.

Julius’s arms were wide and warm. Even through his clothes, she could feel the sensation of his well-trained body and the heat of his chest. It was comfortable and happy, and she felt so fulfilled that she could fall asleep, but at the same time, she was restless and couldn’t calm down.

Was it because she had become aware of her feelings for him? Her heart was pounding and she felt the heat gathering on her face.

“Y-Yuri-sama, um. . .”

“Oh, sorry.”

He flinched lightly and panicked. It seemed that he had unconsciously hugged Margaery. But she felt lonely when his warmth left, so she instinctively grabbed his arm.

“Wait, it’s not what you think.”

“Margaery?”

“It’s not that I didn’t like being hugged, it’s just. . .”

Julius’s eyes widened in surprise as Margaery turned her face away and blushed. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke up.

“There’s something I need to confess to you. About that night.”

Without needing an explanation, Margaery knew he was referring to the day they first met. She blinked and waited for him to continue.

“When I said we shared a bed that night, it was a lie. . . Well, it wasn’t a lie in the literal sense, but that’s all it was.”

“Huh?”

“You and I didn’t cross the line.”

Margaery’s eyes widened at his straightforward statement.

According to Julius, when they were about to take things further, Margaery fell asleep. The source of the discomfort she felt the next day finally became clear. There was nothing between them after all. At least, not in terms of physical intimacy.

“Why did you lie like that. . .”

“I was frustrated. That nothing happened between us.”

Julius frowned and shrugged his shoulders in a troubled manner.

“Or maybe not. The truth is, I just wanted you so badly. I wanted you so much that it felt like my heart was burning. So I lied. If there was a physical connection between us, you wouldn’t be able to easily leave me. Even if you didn’t remember, there would be a strong bond between us. In other words, I was scared. I was afraid that when I woke up, you would be gone.”

Margaery was taken aback, while Julius shrank like a scolded puppy and averted his gaze.

After a while, Margaery tilted her head.

“Why did you decide to tell me?”

“Because I want to earn your trust.”

His red eyes moved and caught Margaery. Even in the darkness, his eyes were still beautiful.

“When I saw you surrounded by demon beasts, I was furious that you didn’t call for help sooner. But it’s ridiculous to ask you to trust me when I’m lying. So I thought I should be sincere, so that you would be the first to ask me for help.”

His big hand tightly grasped Margaery’s hand. While looking straight at her, Julius frowned.

“Are you disappointed? In my weakness and lies?”

Julius, who asked the question, seemed a little anxious. If he were in his beastman form, he would have lowered his triangular ears.

Still, Julius spoke honestly to Margaery, with the intention of being sincere.

Margaery reached out her hand to Julius and flicked his forehead with her finger. He let out a small scream, “Ow.”

Margaery smiled at Julius, who was holding his forehead and looking surprised.

“That’s the end of your punishment. I’m a believer in not punishing honest people.”

Then, Margaery gently touched Julius’s hair. She delicately stroked his black hair, as if debating whether to touch it or not.

“Thank you for talking to me.”

“. . .Mm.”

After a moment of surprise, Julius smiled. It was the sweetest smile she had ever seen from him.

Then he stood up in the darkness.

“Well, I’ll go back to my room. You should rest too. You’re not feeling well yet.”

“Are you leaving? . . . Will you sleep with me?”

Like that night. If she said it with a mischievous tone, Julius would glare at her and say, “Are you stupid?”

“I don’t have the confidence to resist you twice. Besides, I haven’t even received an answer yet. Can I do that?”

“You tried to touch a drunk girl, and yet you say that?”

“I can’t argue with that.”

Julius pouted his lips and then laughed. He turned towards the door and lightly stepped towards it.

“Goodnight, Margaery. Have sweet dreams.”

“. . .Yuri-sama!”

As he reached for the door, she called out to him. He turned around, looking puzzled. Margaery stared straight at Julius, bathed in the moonlight shining through the window.

“I heard that Serge-sama and Flora-sama’s engagement ceremony has been scheduled. They will officially introduce Flora-sama there.”

“Oh, I heard from your father that it’s set for a month from now.”

“On that day, could you escort me?”

Julius opened his eyes wide, as if caught off guard.

Margaery knew what it meant for an unmarried woman to appear with the king in public. 

Julius probably understood that too and correctly interpreted what Margaery meant when she asked him. 

Excited, he took a step towards her.

“Margaery, that’s. . .”

“Goodnight, Yuri-sama.”

She smiled and Julius swallowed his words. Margaery almost burst out laughing at his frustrated expression, as if he wanted to confirm the truth. 

Eventually, he seemed to give up and smiled wolfishly.

“The answer is yes. I’m looking forward to a month from now. See you.”

With that, he finally left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Margaery collapsed onto the bed. Her cheeks were hot, and her heart was still pounding. Unable to stay still, she hugged her pillow for no reason.

She had said it. She had finally admitted it. Well, to be precise, she couldn’t say that she had honestly conveyed her feelings, but he had understood. 

(Yuri-sama, I love you)

She whispered with her lips and squirmed alone from the ticklish feeling.

She still felt his scent lingering in the room. Even such a trivial thing made her heart flutter. Margaery’s consciousness gradually melted into a happy dream.