CHAPTER 62………………
“Whoa, whoa.”
The count’s hand on the reins was practiced and steady.
On the eve of his daughter’s wedding, he had gone hunting with his son and soon-to-be son-in-law, and he felt a certain pride.
Caden and he still clashed constantly, but displaying the family’s strength like this was one of a man’s pleasures.
“Caden! Enough! Do you mean to wipe them all out?”
“…You told me to hunt.”
Wiping blood from his face, Caden chewed down his irritation.
It had been less than two hours since the hunt began, yet wherever he passed, beasts fell with death cries.
The porters carrying the carcasses were collapsing; an entire mountain was being dismantled.
“I said that’s enough!”
“…Come tell me yourself. I can’t hear you.”
“That brat—hmph. Forgive me, Captain, for showing such a disgrace.”
“No need, Father.”
The count, furious at his son’s insolence, muttered curses under his breath before glancing at Killian.
It was inevitable that his phantomlike, blood-soaked son would be compared with his composed, gentlemanly son-in-law.
“He wasn’t always like this. I suppose hearing of his sister’s marriage unsettled him.”
“…He and Adele must have been close.”
“She raised him, after all.”
The count lit a long pipe, recalling the past. Back then, Adele had warned him, “That much and no more.”
Just fourteen, yet her eyes had glinted so sharply that even he had flinched.
Since then he had sired no more bastards; Caden thus held a peculiar significance for him.
“He may look like that, but… he’s far crueler than he seems.”
“I see.”
“Get too close and he’ll bite. I’ve warned you—don’t hold me responsible.”
The count clicked his tongue as Caden deftly skinned a lion’s mane.
By nature he was no less fierce than his son, but not before his prospective son-in-law.
When the butler summoned him away, the count departed, leaving Killian to quietly study Caden before approaching him.
Caden squinted at the bloodied lion.
“It must be suffering… Best to end it quickly.”
“….”
“Adele would have said the same.”
“How dare you speak my sister’s name!”
Thrust!
Caden drove his blade deep into the lion’s throat, ending its life.
The stroke was so clean it was clear he had deliberately prolonged things until now.
“…Step aside. I can never accept you as my sister’s husband.”
“Is that so?”
“Whatever you’re scheming, better leave while you can.”
He yanked his sword free with a low warning.
Killian merely closed the lion’s bulging eyes.
“Ha. The temple breeds men of such mercy.”
“…Think of it as you will.”
“We’ve nothing to gain from each other. Why follow me even here?”
“Good question. I wonder myself.”
Wiping his hands, Killian turned to face Caden.
That blood-spattered face should have been grotesque, yet strangely it wasn’t—perhaps because his eyes resembled those of the one most beautiful to Killian.
“Please, Captain, come with me. Father says it’s a hunt, but he may be planning to kill Caden.”
“…Surely not to that extent.”
“Leave them alone together and one will die. Even in this family, I don’t want blood spilled before the wedding.”
Killian remembered Adele’s voice that morning, pleading.
To him, she was irresistible. If someone so proud stooped to beg, Killian could not refuse.
When he hesitated at losing time with her, she had taken his arm and whispered—
“In two days we’ll be together day and night anyway.”
“…You laugh?”
“….”
“Sitting there, making me the fool.”
Caden cracked his neck, scowling, unable to hide his irritation—especially at how Killian stared straight into his eyes. His fingers itched.
Should he just gouge them out?
But then he couldn’t see his sister again. Whatever else, losing Adele was his own loss.
Damn.
If he didn’t destroy something, kill something, the fury inside would consume him.
He had done anything his sister asked. Guarded caravans, smashed bridges into dust.
He had rushed back at her call, only to find her entangled with another man, both claiming the other had attacked.
“Fuck.”
The curse finally tore from his lips.
If only this man were the type to lash out in anger. But even at a glance, Killian was a professional.
Caden had met killers before, but this presence was something else entirely—on a different plane.
“….”
Caden’s eyes reddened, burning hotter than ever. As a swordsman himself, he longed to test this man to the end.
He clenched his blade, jaw tight.
“Hey. On a hunt, you draw your sword. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t enjoy hunting.”
“Are you kidding me?”
If he couldn’t fight him outright, then at least a hunt would do. But Killian’s calmness only stoked his rage. He braced his neck, fingers interlocked.
The stench of blood on his hands thrilled him further.
“Afraid, are you?”
“If it eases your mind to think so.”
“I despise men who only talk.”
“And men who draw swords without thought are just as detestable.”
“Ha. Even if it kills me, I’ll—”
“Oh my, so here you both are.”
Rustle.
At once, Caden shoved his dagger back into his sleeve, and the frost in Killian’s eyes vanished.
A light clop of hooves cut through the tension as someone approached.
“…And what are you two doing? Father is already below—why are you still here?”
Upon a graceful white horse sat the woman most familiar and dear to both of them.
Caden, who had been a breath away from unleashing himself, instinctively took a step toward her, then froze.
“If you so much as raise a sword again, it’s over! I’ll never see you again!”
He forgot in a day the men he cut down, but Adele’s sharp warning was carved into his bones.
Grimacing, torn, he held back. Killian watched him closely.
Hatred and scorn, red and blue eyes flashing sharper than drawn blades.
“….”
“….”
“What—don’t tell me you two again!”
“Of course not.”
“No way.”
They answered her in unison.
No one could call them friendly, but at least swords weren’t drawn.
Relieved, Adele moved to dismount. Killian naturally offered his hand.
“Careful.”
“…Thank you.”
Such a small courtesy, yet their exchange was laden with meaning.
From the other side, Caden too had extended his hand—but when Adele took Killian’s instead, his face darkened.
“So what exactly were you doing here… Caden! Why are you covered in blood again—ha.”
“This?”
“Can’t you stay still for once!”
Adele quickly left Killian’s side and hurried to Caden, pulling out a handkerchief.
He was soaked in blood.
But seeing her scold him, Caden’s lips finally curled in satisfaction.
