Side Story Chapter 1

The news arrived just before summer began.

It was one of those sweltering days hinting at the end of spring. A warm breeze swept through the thickening trees, cut across the green fields, and finally reached the highest window of McFoy Castle.

The soft wind grazed the back of my neck, bringing a fleeting sense of coolness that made me lift my head instinctively. I caught sight of a thin piece of paper fluttering on the desk before slowly settling back into place.

Following the movement of the breeze, my gaze gradually shifted forward and came to rest on a particular spot.

Blink.

After closing and opening my eyes once, I slowly set down my quill, as though preparing to appreciate a view. I interlaced my fingers and propped up my chin, settling into a deliberate pose.

“…”

Erika, who had been silently assisting me, noticed immediately that her master’s focus had reached its limit. Without a word, she began tidying up the papers and scrolls scattered on the desk.

Naturally, I didn’t stop her.

“Then, my lady, please take your time to rest.”

Having efficiently wrapped up her retreat preparations, Erika bowed deeply.

Naturally, I was too engrossed to respond to her. My expression, however, must have been more serious than ever.

That’s because I was busy admiring the man sitting comfortably on the couch, basking in the affection of nature itself.

That man, of course, was my husband.

“I just want to share the same space as you. I ask for nothing else.”

I recalled how he had whispered those words this morning, his expression one of pure sincerity.

“How could I dare to do anything improper in the sacred office of the family head? I promise I won’t disturb you.”

His pleading gaze, as he begged me to let him sit in my office, had seemed earnest and genuine.

“I’ll only do what you ask me to.”

His final words had been open to interpretation, depending on how one chose to hear them. Curious about his intentions, I decided to let him stay.

To my surprise—

‘…He’s actually being well-behaved.’

Perhaps Norma truly was the former holy knight renowned as a symbol of abstinence and restraint.

I stared at him openly with an intense gaze, practically burning holes into him. Despite knowing full well that my attention was on him, he remained steadfastly focused on the letter he was reading, radiating a quiet determination. It was as if he were silently vowing to earn permanent access to the office.

Another breeze stirred the room.

The wind brushed past my neck and reached Norma, ruffling the silvery strands of hair that had partially obscured his face as he bent his head. His smooth forehead was revealed as his hair shifted, the lines of his features—forehead, nose, chin, and throat—drawing together in perfect harmony. The disheveled hair gave him a softer, more relaxed aura than usual.

As always, everything about him captivated me.

Unconsciously, I swallowed hard. At that exact moment, the door clicked shut. Erika and her assistant must have left.

Just then, the man who had been feigning nonchalance turned his head slightly, locking eyes with me. His gaze met mine, and before I knew it, a chuckle slipped out. When I laughed, his golden eyes lit up with a flicker of anticipation.

At the same time, I gave him a warm smile, though inwardly, I marked the moment with a mental ‘X’.

‘No more office privileges starting tomorrow.’

Just sitting there like that was already a distraction. What was the point of him being calm if I couldn’t concentrate?

Shaking my head slightly, I rose from my seat, unable to keep the amused smile off my lips. His eyes, brimming with some unspoken hope, were far too bright.

We were still at a point where our gazes ignited sparks. I couldn’t allow him into the office again until that phase passed—whenever that might be.

The distance between us was only a few steps, but I deliberately slowed my pace. While I was impatient by nature, I had to admit there was something precious about watching his composed golden eyes gradually burn with each step closer.

“What were you looking at?” I asked, feigning calmness.

With a gaze driven more by instinct than reason, he replied, “I was reviewing a letter from Nicholas, Aisa.”

Finally, I stood before him. His upward gaze had lost all semblance of pretense.

“Go ahead, finish reading.”

My words were cool, but I climbed onto his lap, settling on his thigh as I spoke. Even I thought I sounded surprisingly composed.

His eyes widened momentarily as though asking, ‘Seriously? Here?’

If surprising me brought him joy, then surprising him was my pleasure. A satisfied smirk crept onto my lips.

But just as quickly, my expression stiffened. I nearly leapt off his lap the moment I sat down.

Unable to hide my shock, I looked at him. He flushed, as if embarrassed, but this man was never someone I could let my guard down around for even a second.

“…”

He was already standing tall in a certain sense. Out of stubbornness, I forced myself to stay seated, though the “ride” was anything but comfortable.

‘And to think he was sitting there pretending to be so composed.’

Seriously? Does enduring make it okay? How shameless.

For a brief moment, I wondered if there was something genuinely wrong with him. Then a small laugh escaped me. Emboldened by his audacity, I draped my arms around his neck and teased him.

“Go on, finish reading.”

“Aisa…”

He groaned in a strained voice.

“If you do this, how am I supposed to…”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he tossed the letter aside and lunged at me like a man possessed. His urgent hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me close, and one hand pressed firmly against the back of my neck.

The next moment, his lips crushed against mine with a hunger that suggested he hadn’t kissed me in days—or perhaps ever.

He seemed unusually aroused, and the clumsiness of our kisses—teeth clashing and breaths mingling—left me letting out intermittent giggles.

“Wait, Norma! What’s gotten into you?”

I finally cupped his cheeks and gently pried him away.

Norma exhaled shakily, looking at me with flushed cheeks and golden eyes brimming with frustration and sorrow.

Seeing him so incapable of restraint filled me with an almost dizzying sense of satisfaction. Keeping my composure as best I could, I spoke with feigned disapproval.

“If this is how you react to the slightest provocation, what am I supposed to do with you?”

Even as I spoke, I could feel my own excitement rising, making it difficult to finish a single sentence. Normally, the idea of doing anything improper in the sacred office of McFoy’s head would be unthinkable.

…But that was just an excuse. The truth was, I was still too embarrassed to engage in anything intimate outside the bedroom. So far, the exceptions had been few and far between, only in moments of absolute necessity.

And now, this was one of those “necessary” moments.

The way the breeze had kissed him, how breathtaking he looked—it was impossible to resist. The rising heat of the season and his lighter attire didn’t help. And, of course, I knew every inch of what lay beneath that thin fabric.

If something improper was about to happen in this sacred office, it wasn’t my fault.

As I swiftly rationalized my actions, Norma hesitated only briefly before his hand began to move again. His fingers trailed down my spine and settled at the small of my back.

When he tugged at the ties of my waist, a shaky breath escaped my lips. Taking my silent acquiescence as permission, his fingers began to undo the laces one by one.

Even now, the process of undressing felt unfamiliar—especially during the day. The sunlight filtering through the window made me self-conscious, and I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

That’s when I noticed the crumpled letter on the couch, the one Norma had flung aside without hesitation. It was Nicholas’ letter.

“…Your brother would cry if he knew.”

I muttered, thinking of the famously strong bond between the Diazi brothers. For a moment, I reveled in my victory, feeling like a triumphant competitor.

Feeling unusually generous, I stretched out a hand to retrieve the poor, discarded letter. Unsealing it for my busy husband, I began to unfold it…

“You should finish reading thi—”

I swear, I had no intention of snooping. But Nicholas, in his usual fashion, had written so tersely that the contents were impossible to miss.

‘People should stick to what they’re used to.’

The atmosphere turned ice cold in an instant. Norma, sensing the shift, froze.

“…Aisa?”

“This… this insane bastard!”

The words burst out of me before I could stop them. Despite its brevity, the letter’s contents were enough to make my blood boil.

My eyes scanned the text again, hoping I’d misunderstood. But no, the words were unchanging.

[Ophelia is pregnant. Wedding before Founding Festival.\

I couldn’t breathe.

“Pregnant? Before marriage? Is he out of his mind?”

“Pregnant?”

Norma echoed, his golden eyes widening.

“That animal!”

I tried to contain myself for his sake—Norma hated foul language—but it was impossible. The simmering tension from moments ago had evaporated entirely.

“A shotgun wedding?!”

Norma looked as though he’d just heard the most incomprehensible phrase in existence. Slowly, his jaw dropped, and his gaze shifted to the now-crumpled letter in my hand. Tentatively, he met my eyes.

His trembling gaze suggested he was unsure whether to feel outraged at the scandal or joyful over the news.

I’d never seen Norma so flustered before. Unfortunately, the sight of his face reminded me too much of Nicholas, which only fueled my fury.

Unwilling to admit the resemblance, I snapped my head away from him.

“Oh, Aisa…”

Realizing the storm he had to calm, Norma gently retrieved the letter from my hand. Slowly, he pulled me closer, his large hand settling on my back.

“It’s alright.”

Lifting me effortlessly into his arms, he whispered soothingly. Only then did I realize I’d been trembling with rage.

“Aisa, my love. Please, calm down.”

‘My love.’ One of his magical phrases that always worked on me. I surrendered to the familiar warmth of his embrace, resting my face against his neck. Slowly, my pounding heart began to settle.

Having succeeded in calming me, Norma let out a quiet sigh. For a while, we simply listened to each other’s heartbeats and breaths. Though it seemed like he was comforting me, this position was as much for his peace of mind as it was for mine.

Though Nyx was gone and everything seemed fine on the surface, Norma had struggled with severe anxiety for quite some time. The moment my heart had stopped once had left him with lingering trauma.

In the end, I’d made a special concession for my overprotective husband.

“See? My heart is beating just fine.”

We’d agreed to let him hold me like this once a day for as long as he needed. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it worked. I’d grown so fond of the routine that it became our habit—quietly embracing each other every day.

‘Honestly, this is more for me now.’

“Your brother is a scoundrel,” I grumbled, still embarrassed by my outburst.

“Yes. Nicholas is a scoundrel, completely unforgivable.”

It was a good thing Ophelia married him. Who knows what might’ve happened otherwise? Smiling at the thought, I clung even tighter to Norma.