PLML 10

Chapter 10:

 The Way He Loves

Theoris grabbed the monster by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up. At the cold, dagger-like glint in his eyes, the monster, which had been struggling to escape his grasp, froze in place.

Seeing that Theoris looked ready to kill the creature, Jayna quickly snatched it from his hand. The terrified little monster buried its face into Jayna’s shoulder, letting out soft, pitiful cries.

“Hand it over,” Theoris said, extending his hand.

Judging by the coldness in his eyes, it was clear he wasn’t going to let this go. After a moment of hesitation, Jayna placed her hand in his.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Didn’t you want to hold my hand?” she replied with bold confidence.

Theoris looked momentarily dumbfounded, but his expression noticeably softened.

“Not your hand. That,” he said, nodding at the creature in her arms.

“And what are you going to do if I give it to you?” Jayna asked.

“Kill it,” he answered flatly.

“What?! Why would you kill it!?”

Jayna had expected something like “I’ll release it back into the forest,” so she was shocked and hugged the creature tighter. It trembled and snuggled closer into her chest.

Theoris’s brow twitched, and his face grew darker.

“Give it to me. Now.”

“No.”

“Jayna.”

“I said no! I’m going to raise this little one!”

“Jayna, do you even know what that thing is?”

“Yes, I do. It’s a monster. But it’s really gentle—it doesn’t even bite!”

She held it up in front of him. The monster yelped and squirmed at the sight of Theoris. When he reached toward it, Jayna immediately pulled it back into her arms.

“A monster is still a monster, no matter how young. There’s no guarantee it’ll stay like this once it matures,” he warned.

“That may be true, but…”

“Don’t be stubborn. Give it to me, Jayna.”

His tone was gentle but firm, like he was reasoning with a child—and that stung Jayna’s pride even more. Especially because everything he said was right.

She suddenly felt wronged.

She had to study things she didn’t want to, she wasn’t even allowed a pet, and the morning wake-up time? Just remembering how she had to take early walks with her eyes barely open made her emotional. Her body, sore from falling while trying to sneak out the window, was finally starting to ache.

“Jayna?”

Jayna, eyes clouded with tears, glared at Theoris. Seeing her on the verge of crying, he looked genuinely flustered.

“Am I your daughter or something?” she snapped.

“W-what? I don’t… what are you talking about?”

She didn’t let him get a word in.

“I can’t even wake up when I want, I’m forced to study, you stand guard outside my door, and now you’re furious just because I want to raise one tiny little monster?”

“Jayna, I wasn’t furious…”

“I’m a duchess for heaven’s sake, and I fall out of a window trying to escape?! Does that make any sense?”

“Well, that’s because you—”

“I’m not your daughter. And I’m not your pet, either. I’m your wife. Why do you keep trying to control me?”

“Jayna, please calm down—”

“I don’t want to hear it. Just leave.”

Before her sentence even finished, Theoris left the room.

Alone in the silence, petting the monster absentmindedly, a wave of intense embarrassment washed over her.

“What the heck did I just say?”

She’d spoken in the heat of the moment, but looking back, it was nonsense. Sure, she hated waking up early and studying, but the whole monster issue was something else entirely.

Jayna knew. Just because it was small and cute didn’t mean it was suitable as a pet.

It might be adorable now, but as Theoris said, a monster is still a monster. No one knew what it would become as an adult. Saying she’d raise a wild monster was like saying she’d raise a baby wild boar from the mountains.

“…I’m sorry. Theoris was right. I can’t raise you,” she whispered.

The monster blinked its chocolate-colored eyes and tilted its head. Jayna gave it a bittersweet smile and left the room with it in her arms.

Theoris wasn’t in the dining room or the study.

“Could he be…”

Jayna headed toward the room Theoris had shown her when she first arrived at the estate.

The hallway leading there had changed since her last visit—flower vases and decorations lined the path, flower-shaped lights were evenly spaced along the wall, and soft velvet curtains gently swayed over spotless windows.

Her room had changed too.

A princess-like bed that looked straight out of a fairy tale. Pale pink wallpaper that matched her hair, and pristine white furniture. Everything had clearly been arranged just for her, with care and thought in every detail.

Guilt began to gnaw at her again.

“Madam, what are you doing here?”

Jayna turned to see Ellie behind her.

“Ellie, have you seen Theoris?”

“The Duke left with Butler Homel a little while ago.”

So he really did go out…

“Do you know where he went?”

“No, he didn’t say. But he said he’d be back before dinner.”

“I see. Thanks, Ellie.”

“Not at all. Would you like me to bring you some tea? You look pale.”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll just go back.”

Back in her room, Jayna sat down.

“He must be really mad. Maybe he doesn’t even want to talk to me anymore…”

The more time passed, the more anxious she became.

“What if… what if he doesn’t come back?”

She thought of how worried she was now—and how Theoris must’ve felt when he heard she’d tried to escape through the window.

Only now could she understand why he raised his voice like that.

Just when Jayna was sinking into a pit of guilt, Theoris returned.

“Teo, about earlier—!”

She stood up, ready to apologize, but stopped when she saw what he was holding: a thick chain and a metal collar.

At the sight of his cold expression, Jayna instinctively took a step back.

Wait a second. I did say I wanted a ‘locked-up ending,’ but not this soon! Sure, I said I wanted to stay home and do nothing forever, but not like this!

“Teo, wait. Let’s talk first.”

“You said you didn’t want to hear me speak.”

His voice was colder than a winter morning. He clearly had no intention of listening.

Is there a reset button? A save file to reload from?

Of course not.

“Teo, I’m sorry!”

This wasn’t the way she’d planned to apologize. She’d wanted to be more sincere, but the sight of that collar made her survival instincts kick in.

“No. You did nothing wrong, Jayna.”

Theoris strode toward her. Jayna backed away until her back hit the cold wall.

There was nowhere left to run.

“I’m sorry. I failed to understand your heart,” he said.

Why are you saying that while holding a collar!?

“No, Teo. It was my fault. Can we just talk first? Please put that down…”

Theoris raised the hand holding the collar. The clinking of the chain made Jayna flinch.

Sure, she’d said she wanted a life of leisure at home—but that didn’t mean she wanted to live like an animal.

A collar? From the man she loved? That was too much.

“…I’m sorry, but this is the one thing I can’t compromise on,” he said solemnly.

Please don’t look at me like that while holding a collar!

“Teo, can’t we reconsider this? Is this really necessary?”

“Yes. It might be uncomfortable at first, but you’ll get used to it.”

No. I absolutely will not.

“It’ll be over quickly,” he added.

Theoris showed no signs of backing down. Seeing his firm expression, Jayna shut her eyes tightly.

6. The Way He Loves

Clink!

The sound of a collar locking echoed.

But Jayna felt no cold metal around her neck. Confused, she reached up and touched her throat. Nothing.

She opened her eyes.

The collar was now secured around the monster’s neck, held by Theoris.

The monster whimpered and looked at Jayna. Once the collar was firmly locked, Theoris handed her the leash.

“Teo… this is…” Jayna began.

“It’s a restraint made for combat monsters. Crafted by the best in the duchy. It should be safe even when it matures.”

“So… you went out to buy this earlier?”

“Yes. I’m sorry I left without telling you.”

His gentle tone instantly melted her tension, and she sank to the floor.

She really thought he was going to collar her and treat her like an animal for life.

“Jayna?”

Maybe it was the relief, maybe just the shock—but tears welled up. She quickly wiped them away, but the sobs had already started.

“I’m sorry, Jayna. But it was for your safety. Even if it looks harmless now, if it ever tried to attack—”

“No, that’s not it… I’m sorry, Teo. I was being stubborn…”

Jayna leaned her head against his chest. Flustered, Theoris wrapped his arms around her and awkwardly patted her back.

Soon, Jayna’s tears subsided. When he asked why she cried so hard, she brushed it off.

She couldn’t tell him that she thought he was going to put that collar on her and lock her up.

Looking completely dejected, Theoris apologized once again.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. You jumping out the window was entirely my fault. I didn’t realize how stifled you were.”

Well… that was just because I hate studying…

“I’ve told Homel not to force you to do anything you don’t like. If you don’t want to study, you don’t have to. We can also move breakfast to whatever time you prefer.”

Internally, Jayna was cheering. No more early mornings. No more study hell.

“If you want to raise something—monster or not—I won’t stop you.”

Actually, I don’t really want to raise the monster anymore…

“So please, Jayna. Just don’t hate me.”

His eyes were so sorrowful, like a puppy abandoned on the side of the road, that Jayna was momentarily speechless.