In the Vestian Empire—the empire that unified the entire continent—there lived a mad dog.
His name was Aldehyde.
He was a man who had seemingly appeared from nowhere, yet somehow brought the whole continent to its knees. There were tales of him slaying a dragon, and rumors that he had beaten the Demon King himself.
In other words, he was the so-called strongest in the world.
But hadn’t God once said that He never gives everything to one man?
“What is it, old man?”
Aldehyde leaned back leisurely, stretching his long legs.
The man he so casually addressed as “old man” was none other than the Emperor himself, who sighed deeply at the sight of him.
“You shameless bastard… Strength isn’t everything. Your character is rotten to the core.”
But in the end, wasn’t that the way of the world?
After all, it was Aldehyde who had saved the Emperor’s life and made him ruler of the empire.
I’m just a puppet, what choice do I have?
If Aldehyde so much as willed it, the Emperor’s head could roll at any moment.
“Ah—well, yes. Duke Aldehyde, that’s not what I meant…”
“What do you want now? I’m busy.”
“Then at least listen to me for one minute. That’s all I ask.”
Aldehyde gave a half-hearted nod. The Emperor looked at his face and inwardly sighed again.
“For the past three years, I’ve rewarded you with titles, land, and wealth in gratitude for unifying the empire.”
“So?”
“Is there anything else you desire?”
“Not particularly.”
Aldehyde had literally appeared out of thin air one day. No one knew his origins, not even his real name—he himself had chosen the name “Aldehyde.”
The Emperor had granted him the rank of Duke, as well as the position of Grand Master of the Imperial Knights.
So far, so good.
But there was just one problem—no one could hold his leash.
And so, the Emperor racked his brain for a way to bind this dangerous beast to the throne. At last, he had thought of the simplest and most effective solution:
“Aldehyde, I propose an engagement between you and my eldest daughter, Princess Rosaria—the woman praised as the empire’s most beautiful jewel. By marrying her, you’ll become part of the Imperial Family itself. What do you say?”
At that moment, Aldehyde’s expression froze, icy cold.
Why? Why, why on earth…?
Had Rosaria somehow found out she wasn’t truly the most beautiful woman in the empire?
“Old man. Are you insane?”
The murderous aura radiating from Aldehyde made the Emperor’s heart seize in terror.
“If it displeases you—”
But Aldehyde’s cheeks flushed pink.
“My dream is to marry for love.”
The Emperor gaped. To hear those words from Aldehyde of all people…
“I—I see. Well, of course, I sincerely hope you will marry for love…”
“Good.”
And just like that, Aldehyde cut him off. No one dared interrupt him—not even the Emperor.
Growing restless, Aldehyde checked his watch and stood abruptly.
“Where are you going…?”
“I have an appointment. Why? Do you have more to say?”
The moment Aldehyde raised an eyebrow, the Emperor shrank back.
“No, nothing at all…”
“Good, old man. I’m not getting engaged.”
Yes. Better not say anything more to Aldehyde.
That man was utterly insane.
About ten minutes later—
Aldehyde strolled up to a building, whistling cheerfully.
It was the headquarters of the Anmix Knights, an order directly under the Emperor.
As commander of the Anmix Knights, Aldehyde had come not to see a knight, but a single ordinary wizard.
His usual vicious expression—an expression that looked as if he could split the world in half with one wrong step—didn’t match his mood today. Pausing before the archives, he hesitated.
No, no. This won’t do.
Fishing a small hand mirror adorned with ribbons from his pocket, he checked his reflection.
“…Hmm.”
He tilted his head thoughtfully.
Somehow… I look a little cute today.
He didn’t realize that forcing his lips into a smile only made his grim face appear even more menacing.
Nevertheless, armed with his “cutest look,” Aldehyde took a deep breath and carefully opened the door.
“What? Who are you, barging in without knocking?”
That soft voice made the man who didn’t even flinch before the Emperor immediately cower.
“S-sorry. Sister, may I come in?”
His tongue tripped, splitting his words in half.
If the Emperor had heard that, he might have fainted. But the woman inside answered as though it were perfectly natural.
“Aldeni? Come in.”
With a click, the lights came on.
Aldehyde entered, shoulders hunched, moving toward the source of her scent like a lonely puppy desperate for attention.
“Wait right there, Aldehyde.”
At her command, his large shoulders slumped instantly, sulky like a scolded child.
“It’s not Aldehyde… It’s Pupu…”
“Speak like an adult.”
“I—I’m sorry.”
Aldehyde slowly lifted his gaze.
The woman before him was none other than Sienna. His “Nunya.” The one person he loved and respected most in the world.
Meanwhile, Sienna pressed a hand to her forehead.
That poor boy and his lisp…
But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why it happened. She sighed and gestured to the sofa.
“Sit down.”
“Yes…”
The great mad dog shrank into a one-person sofa, folding himself up like an oversized child.
Sienna, seated across from him, asked seriously:
“Tell me, Pupu. Why on earth is your tongue so short?”
“Eh? But you said I was cute like this. And you like cute guys, don’t you…?”
With his cold face forcing out awkward “cuteness,” it was more unsettling than endearing.
Running a hand through her hair, Sienna muttered, “Anyway. What was so important that you came here?”
“Look, and you’ll see.”
“I told you not to call me that here. You’re the commander, and I’m your subordinate.”
Sienna rubbed her forehead again.
Just by looking at his sulky face, she could almost hear his unspoken protest: So that’s all we are? Just commander and subordinate?
But she couldn’t allow it.
“We agreed to keep our relationship a secret. It could interfere with work.”
“Fine, I get it. But… could you do me a favor?”
He hunched his massive frame, trying to look small. To anyone else, he was still just an enormous man folded awkwardly in half.
Sienna bit her lip, flustered. “What is it?”
“Skip the company dinner with me. Let’s eat together instead.”
“No. Today’s company dinner menu is beef.”
At her firm refusal, Aldehyde flinched, shoulders curling in further.
The sight of such a huge man shrinking like that made Sienna’s head spin.
“What’s with that face? I just said no, that’s all.”
“…Jealous.”
“You’re so tall—if you mumble, I can’t hear you.”
Lowering his head gloomily, he leaned close to her ear, voice trembling.
“There’s a man there…”
“It’s just one man. And Mr. Briggs is a married man in his sixties, Pupu.”
“Huh? B-Briggs? Did you just call my name?”
His tongue untied itself in an instant, but his expression darkened dangerously.
Aldehyde’s killing intent surged, and suddenly Briggs’s peaceful old life was in jeopardy.
“…Ah.”
Seeing that, Sienna quickly corrected him.
“And besides—who calls someone in their sixties without honorifics?”
“But… Briggs is still a man…”
Sienna exhaled helplessly. Just how was she supposed to deal with this?
She reached out, meaning to comfort him—but the moment her hand touched his shoulder, Aldehyde’s earlobes flushed bright red.
“…Can’t you stay with me instead?”
His thick fingers slipped over hers, their hands intertwining slowly. She could feel the thrum of his pulse through their joined fingers, the heat of his body radiating against her skin.
Aldehyde’s face was already burning red. Looking at her, his voice dropped into a soft, almost pleading whisper.
“I’m jealous.”
Sienna sighed deeply.
All I wanted was to live quietly, do good deeds, and pass away peacefully.
Yet somehow, a ridiculous man had wandered into her calm waters—
A man who hadn’t even been given a net, yet had woven one himself… and walked right into it.
Where on earth did it all go wrong?
