CHAPTER 420: BEWARE: SQUEALING CHIPMUNKS AHEAD

They had been practicing in the ballroom for about an hour and a half, and in that time, Edmund had almost stepped on Primrose’s feet more times than he could count.

Luckily, he always managed to catch himself at the last second, so her poor toes stayed safe. But in return, he ended up falling on the floor several times instead.

If he didn’t have such a strong healing ability, he probably would’ve ended up like Lazarus, who was unable to walk for days.

"You’re doing so well, my husband," Primrose said, cheering him up with a bright smile. "Yes, just like that! You’re getting the rhythm already! I knew you could do it!"

Primrose wasn’t lying when she said that. Her husband had truly become more skillful to the point that she no longer needed to guide his steps anymore.

"Don’t praise me too soon," Edmund muttered, a small blush creeping up his cheeks. He straightened his posture and lifted her hand again, determined to try another round. "I might still fall and embarrass myself in front of my wife."

Primrose giggled softly. "Even if you fall, you’ll still look handsome. Besides, I would never laugh at you."

"You just did," he grumbled under his breath, though his lips twitched in amusement.

"That wasn’t laughing at you," she corrected sweetly, stepping closer so their chests lightly touched. "That was laughing because I’m happy."

Even though Edmund wanted to continue practicing, Primrose couldn’t do it anymore because her feet had started to hurt.

"We can practice again tomorrow," Primrose said. She sat down and took off her shoes to rest her feet.

She also firmly told Edmund not to lick her feet because they were still dirty, and the last thing she wanted was to give her maids another strange scene to witness.

"Your maids don’t seem to understand personal boundaries," Edmund commented.

Primrose giggled. "They’re like my sisters, so it’s natural for them to act that way." She added softly, "I’m sorry if they bothered you."

"No. I actually feel relieved," he said. "Now I finally know that you’re truly loved here."

[In Noctvaris, my wife was never this relaxed, even around people she trusted.] Edmund’s thoughts echoed gently. [I’m so glad I get to see this version of her.]

Primrose felt touched after hearing his thoughts. She was about to hug him when the ballroom doors suddenly burst open, and once again, her maids ruined their peaceful moment.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" they shouted loudly in unison. "Your friends are here!"

Primrose frowned and quickly stood up from her chair. Wait, wasn’t the snowstorm still raging outside? How in the world did her friends manage to arrive in weather like this!?

Without wasting a second, she rushed straight to the door. Edmund followed behind her at a respectful distance, because the last thing he wanted was to scare her friends before they even saw him.

The hallway was colder than the rooms inside, and when the maids opened the main doors, a blast of icy wind rushed in along with scattered snowflakes that sprinkled across the marble floor.

Primrose shivered slightly, but excitement kept her warm. She still couldn’t believe her friends had fought through a snowstorm just to see her.

From the doorway, Primrose saw three women dressed in thick fur coats dusted with snow. All of them, without exception, softened the moment they saw her.

"ROSIE!!!" they shrieked in unison before sprinting toward her like they were being chased by wolves. "ROSIE, YOU’RE REALLY HOME?!"

Primrose jumped at the volume, but the second their hands met and they formed a little circle like overexcited squirrels, she shouted back just as loudly, "Yes! Yes! I’m home!"

High-pitched squeals burst through the entrance hall like a choir of over-caffeinated chipmunks. Their voices bounced off the marble walls and chandeliers, echoing all the way down the hall.

Edmund winced and hissed quietly, his sensitive ears suffering. Poor Lycan King, fought monsters before, yet here he was defeated by a group of screaming noble ladies.

The maids and guards didn’t even flinch. They stood calmly like battle-hardened soldiers who had survived this noise before.

No wonder the Duke’s manor became so quiet after Primrose left. At the time, they thought they wanted peace, but once silence actually arrived, they realized just how much they missed the chaos these girls brought with them.

"How did you escape from the Beastland?!" Ilyana Vareth—the daughter of Marquess Vareth—was the first to ask the most important question.

Cassandra Bellore—the daughter of the Minister of Treasury—jumped right in, eyes wide with drama, "Yes! Did you kill the Beast King or what?!"

"But... if you really did that, wouldn’t you be executed?" Aster Keirwyn—the daughter of the royal court mage—asked softly, almost hesitant.

They were speaking normally on the outside, but in their minds, chaos was erupting.

[Fuck those beasts! Fuck the king! And fuck the Emperor who sent her to Noctvaris!!] Ilyana raged silently. [How dare they steal my Rosie from me?!]

Primrose then heard Cassandra’s thoughts. [If she killed him, I’ll help her hide the body. I know a cellar.]

And Aster followed with. [I can disguise her with magic if we need to run. Maybe I can turn her into a cat?]

Primrose felt so touched and relieved to hear their thoughts. They were still just as kind and loyal as ever. Even if they hated her husband for now, their first thought was protecting her. That alone made her want to cry and laugh at the same time.

"I didn’t escape," Primrose finally said softly. "My husband let me come to Illvaris. He even came with me."

Primrose turned around and frowned when she saw Edmund was awkwardly standing half-hidden behind a pillar like a giant, guilty wolf who didn’t know how to introduce himself without terrifying someone.

"He’s... my husband," she said, half-exasperated, half-fond.

Three pairs of eyes slowly moved past Primrose, landing on a very large, very handsome, very intimidating Lycan King peeking out like an oversized cat trying to be sneaky.

And that was the moment her friends’ souls nearly left their bodies.