~Chapter 46~
“I already knew, Killian Winters.”
Til finally spoke, his face stiffening slightly.
“You’ve been following me.”
“Good. Thanks for noticing,” Killian replied flatly.
“So, are you planning to capture me now?”
“……”
“Or maybe hand me over to the Imperial Palace? Perhaps you’ll even try to strike a deal—give them the leader of Rune, and in return, they’ll leave you alone.”
The room tensed like a stretched rubber band, silence pressing down on all three of them.
Aisha thought quickly.
Roselia must already suspect that Rune and Sunday’s Exposé are connected. She’s furious about the latest issue, and she’s always wanted Rune crushed. If Killian offered Til, she might agree. Killian could always be dealt with later, but Rune—and Til—were a different matter.
Logical, yes. But for Aisha, it was anything but welcome. She’d grown attached to Til, even if half the time she wanted to slap him across the face.
“Both of you, please calm down,” she said at last, unable to watch anymore.
“Let’s talk it out, slowly, okay? Fighting like this—what good will it do us?”
“You stay out of it,” Killian said.
“You should stay out of it, Lady Ashton,” Til added.
She’d failed to mediate.
“Go ahead, report me if you want,” Til said with a faint, meaningful smile.
“But then again… what about all the help your fiancée has gotten from me until now?”
What?!
I was trying to stop them, and this idiot is dragging me down with him?!
Aisha grimaced, furious.
“So the engagement’s fake, so it doesn’t matter? Planning to get rid of both of us at once?”
“……”
“Some fiancé you picked, Sel—”
“You’ve got it wrong.”
“What?”
“I never said I was going to capture you, Til.”
What was that supposed to mean?
Then why hold him like this? Why expose his identity? Why speak in that infuriating tone?
Til’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“But you didn’t say you’d let me go either. Not without conditions.”
“Ha! So your true colors show at last. Then tell me, Duke Killian Winters—what is it you want?”
Til didn’t expect much. Nobles were always the same: lure you in with sweet words, then use you for their own gain.
But then—
“Make a deal with me, Til.”
“…What?”
It wasn’t only Til who froze. Aisha, watching from the side, was just as stunned. She’d thought for sure Killian would hand Til over. But this? A deal?
“You misunderstand,” Killian said calmly. “I have no reason to turn you in. Reporting you to the Imperial family gains me nothing.”
“You expect me to believe that? You’ve hunted us for so long. Doesn’t add up, Killian.”
“Why not? You and I both made enemies of the Imperial Palace. That’s reason enough.”
“……”
“I wasn’t chasing you to capture you. I wanted to open negotiations. Rune is known for always completing its contracts. From my point of view, it’s far more useful to strike a deal with Rune than to hand you over.”
It was… logical. If Killian cared about currying favor with the Imperial Palace, it’d be different. But with Roselia hating him so much—why would he?
“Of course, I had a backup plan in case you refused.”
Killian smirked.
“Didn’t you notice anything strange on your way here?”
Ah.
Aisha remembered Til’s words earlier—how odd it was that there had been no guards around.
“Every soldier of House Winters is gathered in one place, waiting for my command,” Killian said.
“……”
“If I give the word, Til, no matter what tricks you try, you won’t leave this mansion alive.”
Silence pressed down once more. Til, unusually serious, seemed lost in thought. Killian’s gaze didn’t waver.
But what kind of deal does he want…? Aisha wondered.
“Fine.”
Til shrugged at last.
“I’ll deal with you. Annoying as this is, I don’t really have a choice. But you’d better remember this, Killian Winters—”
“I’ll charge you far more than I charge anyone else.”
“Whatever you like.”
“…Unbelievable. You’re both far too calm about this,” Til muttered.
Aisha grimaced at the bizarre turn of events.
“So tell me. What exactly is this job you’re so desperate to hire me for?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“What?”
“This partnership is a rare chance. I don’t intend to waste it on something small.”
“……”
“When I decide on the terms, you’ll help me. Without question.”
Til gave a crooked grin.
“How amusing. Roselia’s soldiers could storm this mansion tomorrow, and yet you act so relaxed.”
Roselia!
That was why Aisha had been waiting for Til—to ask him whether it was true Roselia was moving against Sunday’s Exposé.
She snapped back to her senses.
“Leoric wrote me too. He said things look really bad this time. People have actually been arrested!”
“Yeah, he’s right.” Til folded his arms.
“But that’s only the beginning. Call it a performance, if you like. In the end, there’s only one person Roselia truly wants. And you, Duke Killian Winters, know exactly who that is.”
“……”
“For my new client, here’s some free service: by tomorrow, Roselia’s soldiers will raid this mansion.”
Aisha’s blood ran cold.
So this whole mess… was just a ploy to bring down Killian.
In a world like this, evidence didn’t matter. Power decided truth. All Roselia had to do was point and declare, ‘That man is guilty.’ And he would be.
This time, the target was Killian.
“I know.”
Killian’s face showed no surprise as he looked at Til.
“Thanks for the reminder. But don’t forget—you agreed to our deal. That’s all I needed from you tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it,” Til muttered, clearly annoyed.
“So, what’s your plan then?”
“……”
“You’re just going to sit here and wait to be captured?”
“Who knows.”
Killian chuckled softly.
It was a laugh that carried an ominous edge.
“We’ll see when the sun rises.”
…That too sent shivers down Aisha’s spine.
What the hell does he mean by that?! If you’re in danger, then I’m in danger too!
But there was nothing she could do—except scream silently inside her own head.
Why are they not telling her important things? Just talking amongst themselves 🙄