Chapter 18 Lionheartless Marshal
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#Fineshed
Tessa admitted that she did prefer their beast forms over their human ones–but it was a pure. innocent fondness.
She genuinely wasn’t a pervert.
“But my Ferality Index dropped to 70. That means I received mental comfort during my feral episode.” Alexander murmured, his gaze unfocused.
If it wasn’t Tessa who calmed me… was it another female?
Fortunately, Tessa quickly pulled him out of that terrifying train of thought.
“Your Ferality Index dropped?!” she asked, her eyes lighting up. “Looks like my effort wasn’t
wasted.”
To clear more of the black mist from the lion’s body, she had pushed herself so hard that she ended up dizzy and lightheaded, possibly from overextending her mental power. It had taken her half a day of rest to recover.
She described the black mist she had seen on his beast form and how she had driven it away. To prove her point, she showed him her latest medical report, which indicated that her current mental fluctuations were around A Rank.
The mention of black mist sounded fantastical, but Alexander didn’t doubt her. He believed in the unique way she had provided mental comfort.
At last, the fear and anxiety gripping his heart began to ease. He exhaled heavily as if shedding the weight of the world from his shoulders. If not for Tessa’s calming effect, the emotional turmoil he’d just experienced would likely have driven him feral again.
After the awkward misunderstanding, both of them stood there with flushed faces, sneaking glances at each other only to look away the moment their eyes met.
Gathering his composure first, Alexander took Tessa’s hand, still kneeling before her. “Thank you for saving me, Tess.”
Tessa curled her fingers slightly, feeling awkward. “You’re my guardian–that means you’re my family. No need to be so formal.”
But Alexander raised his head and gazed at her with such intense affection that Tessa’s heart skipped a beat. Quickly withdrawing her hand before he could say anything more, she rushed to speak first. “If you ever decide you don’t want to be my guardian anymore, we can still be friends. And friends don’t need to stand on ceremony.”
Alexander understood the meaning behind her words, and his shoulders sagged slightly. “Are you… rejecting me?”
Seeing the disappointment on his face, Tessa felt a pang of guilt. She imagined if Alexander had
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Chapter 18 Lionheartless Marshal
“Can you at least tell me what kind of male you like?” Alexander asked, not ready to give up despite his rejection.
Finished
If he couldn’t win Tessa’s heart, then he simply wasn’t good enough. But that could be fixed. He would learn, adapt, and become the kind of male she desired.
“I… I’m not really sure,” Tessa admitted after a moment of thought.
Back on Earth, her life had revolved around working part–time jobs just to make ends meet. While her classmates were falling in love, she had been juggling shifts with no time or energy to think about romance. Thus, her experience in relationships was nonexistent.
But if she had to describe an ideal type…
“I like males who treat me well,” she said slowly. “And they have to be loyal–absolutely loyal, both physically and emotionally.”
Alexander’s eyes lit up at once.
These were the most basic expectations for a male–and he could absolutely meet them.
Seeing that spark of determination reignite in his gaze, Tessa rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. “But I’m not considering marriage right now.”
Even back on Earth, she’d never had much hope for marriage. Now, in this world, the difference in lifespan only made the idea more complicated.
If she couldn’t live for 500 years, wouldn’t that just leave her partner heartbroken in the end?
She didn’t want to bring anyone that kind of pain–so she couldn’t get married.
Although Alexander longed for the title of mate, he was willing to stay by Tessa’s side without it. “As long as you don’t despise me or drive me away, I want to stay with you–no matter what role I have to play,” he said, his voice so earnest it sounded like a plea.
Hearing this, Tessa was at a loss for words. Oh, if he insists, so be it.
Awkwardly shifting the subject, she asked, “So… what caused you to go feral so suddenly? Did someone upset you?”
A male’s Ferality Index was influenced by factors such as genetics, beast form, personality, and environment. It usually rose gradually, but intense emotional stimulation could cause it to spike rapidly.
Alexander looked a little ashamed but answered honestly. “My Ferality Index was already high- 74, to be exact. And it rises easily because of my temper. I can be a bit short–fused.”
Then, he quickly added, “But I’d never lose my temper with you! I promise!”
Tessa couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t seem short–fused to me.”
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Chapter 18 Lionheartless Marshal
transformed into a lion, he had still been a well–behaved big cat.
Finished
If this counts as a bad temper, then half the men I met back on Earth must’ve had anger management issues.
Her smile faded, however, when Alexander continued. “My uncle wants me to leave you and bond with an A–Rank female. I refused, and we got into an argument.”
Tessa’s smile vanished. His uncle doesn’t approve of me?
In an instant, memories of her family on Earth flooded her mind–the constant criticism from her grandmother, the disdain of her aunts and uncles, the contempt of her brothers. She had endured enough of that.
If she ever married, she didn’t want her partner to have to choose between her and their family.
Thus…
“If your uncle doesn’t like me, then you shouldn’t like me either,” she said quietly.
Alexander froze, his eyes widening in shock. Panic surged through him as he grabbed her hand, unable to hold back his desperation. “My feelings have nothing to do with him! He was born with muted emotions–he doesn’t really lik
anyone. You can’t punish me because of him–that’s not
fair!”
Felix Lyon, the Lionheart Marshal of the Empire, was a warrior forged for the battlefield–calm, decisive, and unmatched in strength. During the Empire’s wars against advanced civilizations, het had led the frontlines with ruthless efficiency, earning the reverence of his troops. His sheer dominance and strategic brilliance had earned him the title of Lionheart Marshal.
Males across the Empire idolized him. Even the most aloof and prideful females had tried to capture his attention. Yet Felix showed no interest in romance. He had never gone on a date, let alone married. Despite their best efforts, none of those females had ever managed to earn so much as a glance from him. Frustrated, they had given him the nickname Lionheartless Marshal.
Ordinary males would have succumbed to ferality after spending so long on the battlefield without a female’s mental comfort. But Felix had remained unaffected–his naturally muted emotions kept his Ferality Index low.
Even toward his family, his affection was more like a sense of duty. He showed care because it was expected of him, not because he felt it in his heart. To Alexander, Felix had fulfilled his role as an uncle–strict and responsible but never truly understanding, only issuing commands and making decisions with an iron will.
His approach to relationships was always pragmatic, Since Alexander needed an A–Rank female for mental comfort, marrying one was simply the logical solution. Concepts like love at first sight or choosing Tessa even at the cost of his life were beyond Felix’s comprehension.
Tessa blinked, surprised by the description. She hadn’t expected Alexander’s uncle to be such a figure..
Alexander had harbored his frustrations with Felix for years. Now, they boiled over. “He’s him,
and I’m ma. Ha har na right to control ucha I lows. Fuan if usu don’t have
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Chapter 18 Lionheartless Marshal
object.”
Without hesitation, Alexander pulled out his HoloCore and initiated a video call to Felix.
Finished
“Wait-” Tessa tried to stop him, but it was too late. The screen lit up, signaling that the call had connected.
Startled, Tessa instinctively stepped back, keeping herself out of view. She wasn’t ready to face a family member who didn’t approve of her.
On the screen, Felix appeared–stern and imposing as always. His sharp golden eyes fixed on his nephew, unaware that Tessa was just out of frame..
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