My Ex-Husband Became The Male Lead

Chapter 6 [Part 2] – A Stubborn Young Man

As Ventus looked down at Desian, his eyebrows furrowed. Similar to a member of the Royal Family who had mastered the etiquette of a noble, Desian entered the path leading towards the garden of the Grand Duke’s mansion with a straight, neat walk.

And soon, Kaligo and a person wearing a robe faced Desian.

‘Huh?’

Ventus, who was sitting by the window, jumped up from his seat and opened the window.

“Ashia…….”

She was wearing a robe, but he recognized her at once as they have spent 3 years together. Soon after, he jumped out of the window situated on the fourth floor and shouted.

“Ashia!”

Ventus’ body, which seemed as though it would fall to the ground with a loud thud, landed on the floor quietly as if it was as light as a feather. As he was able to come down to the first floor in a flash, he ran straight to Ashia and hugged her, who was standing behind Kaligo.

“Ack?!”

“How long has it been?!”

Ashia, who smiled out of surprise, took a step back from the man who hugged her.

“……Ve-Ven….?”

Only then was Ashia able to confirm that the identity of the man who held her in his arms was her teacher, Ventus.

“Oh my god. Are you really, really the Ven I know of?”

“Of course I am.”

Kaligo, who was silently watching the two reunite with each other, felt the gaze of Desian on them. He then called Ventus’ name in a low voice.

“Ventus.”

As soon as Ventus turned around, Kaligo used his chin to silently make him shift his gaze towards someone else.

‘Ah…….’

Upon understanding Kaligo’s intention, Ventus’ gaze shifted towards the Crown Prince.

‘That could have been a disaster.’

Kaligo has been quiet lately, however, Desian was still famous for his rough attitude towards women. Thus, the first thing he had to do was to get Ashia out of the two beastly bastards’ sights.

“Ashia, let’s go somewhere else first. You’re done here, right?”

“Pardon?”

Ventus reached his hand out into the air right away and created a dark gray gate. Desian, who was watching them, took a step forward to stop the two from fleeing.

“Wait.”

However, the two were a little faster than Desian, who was trying to stop them from fleeing. Before he could even have the chance to capture them, Ventus and Ashia already disappeared into the gate.

“Ha…….”

“……….”

When Ventus, who had suddenly stormed in their conversation, disappeared in a flash with Ashia, a brief silence filled the atmosphere.

Kaligo, who was looking at where the two disappeared along with Desian, he said as he walked past him on his way back to the mansion.

“Let’s go inside.”

“………”

Desian’s face hardened like a child who had been robbed of his toys before his eyes.

He glanced at where the woman disappeared once again before following Kaligo into the mansion.

***

Ashia’s Potion Shop was located in the Capital of the Karhan Empire.

Ashia left for the Grand Duke’s mansion early in the morning, so the shop was promptly closed.

Clang.

A man pulled the sky-blue door of the shop and let go, tilting his head. His face looked as if it was telling her, “Didn’t you open the shop today? You can’t simply close the shop without saying anything.”

“Oh? You must have come to pick Ashia up and depart early in the morning.”

Verna, who runs a dry goods store, passed by in front of Ashia’s shop and said to the man who was pulling the door of her shop. Then, the man turned around and looked at Verna.

“Are you here to pick me up?”

“Oh! It’s you, Theo?”

Verna recognized the man and stopped walking.

“Yes, hello. Sis, who’s coming to pick up Ashia though?”

“I don’t know. There was no emblem on the carriage last time.”

“You rode another carriage without an emblem?”

“She’s always like that.”

When Verna’s bag slipped from her hands, she picked it up again and continued talking.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s not the one who’s going to get wounded if something ever happens.”

“……….”

Theo strode up to Verna.

“Give that to me.”

“Huh? Ah.”

Verna handed over a bag that was larger than her upper body.

“I’ll hold it for you.”

“…….Thanks.”

Verna smiled back and looked at Theo. The fifteen-year-old boy, who came to the capital’s shopping district for Ashia, already gave off such a different atmosphere.

‘You must have been doing well after joining the Royal Knights.’

He was popular among women because of his carelessness, his strong physique, and the strange atmosphere he gave off, which meant he’d protect anyone regardless of their identity. Of course, he was also handsome.

Verna, who had been walking alongside Theo and looking at him for a long time, said.

“Did you get taller?”

“Yes.”

Theo replied to her, interested.

“Ever since the day Ashia said she liked tall men, you’ve been drinking all the brands of milk that came in sight.”

As Verna laughed, the tip of Theo’s ears became red.

“When did I ever do that?”

As if she finds his reaction cute, she patted his back and said,

“You’ve become such a reliable man, haven’t you? How nice would it be if Ashia could understand what’s on your mind, right?”

“………”

“You should smile more often. You do know that women like kind and considerate men, right?”

At Verna’s words, Theo slightly nodded his head.

“I’ll try my best.”

“The effort you put in counts, too.”

When Theo arrived at Verna’s fabric shop, he put the bag on the floor and raised his upper body.

“Then, if you’d excuse me.”

“Ah, Theo!”

Verna called Theo, who was about to leave the shop.

“Yes?”

“Do you have anything to say to Ashia? I’ll tell her when I get the chance to do so.”

“No need, I’ll do it myself.”

“Really? In this weather? You’re not going to wait?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“……….”

Verna wanted to go against his decision, but she was well aware of Theo’s stubbornness.

He’s quiet and gentle, but once he says that he’d do something, no one would be able to stop him from doing it.

“Be careful on your way.”

“I will.”

‘He’s still stubborn. Even though he looks like a grown-up now, he still thinks like a kid.’

Verna shook her head slightly and began to trim the bag of fabrics that Theo helped her carry.

Theo left the fabric shop and headed towards Ashia’s shop.

The snow that fell a few days ago still hasn’t melted. As Theo walked on top of it, a rustling sound followed.

Ashia had told me several times.

– Theo, if I’m not in the shop, there’s a key under the third flowerpot. Enter the shop if needed, okay?

A hot summer or a cold winter. To his regret, Theo would always wait for Ashia outside the shop, enduring either the heat or cold with his body.

Ashia would constantly be worried about Theo, so she always left the emergency key under the flowerpot.

However, Theo would wait for her outside the shop every time. In the middle of summer, he would have a face that’s red because of the heat from the sun. In the middle of winter, he would have a face that’s red because of the cold wind felt during the said season.

Arriving in front of Ashia’s shop, Theo glanced at the potted plants lined up next to the shop’s door.

It seems like he has no intention of going in the store, as usual.

The snow accumulated on the stairs was roughly removed by hand.

‘When will you arrive…..?’

Theo, who had no idea when Ashia would arrive at the shop, waited for her.

The snow that had stopped began to fall again.