CHAPTER 66…………………….
Killian adjusted his tie again in the waiting room the Count had prepared for him.
Formality was second nature to him, but since this was his first wedding, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
“Killian, if you ever meet a beautiful young lady one day, be sure to…”
He furrowed his brow.
He thought of the one person he wished could be here, but he had long since let them go from his heart.
Ever since he abandoned everything and chose Saint Fidelio, he had believed worldly ties no longer belonged to him.
And the one who shattered that illusion was Adele.
Thinking of her, Killian tugged at the tie that now felt tight around his throat.
“The young lady is getting dressed. You’ll see her soon, so please be patient.”
Yes. Soon.
He had been holding onto those words Jacqueline had spoken that morning, clinging to his patience.
Since the engagement ceremony, he hadn’t properly seen Adele’s face even once. What kept him going was the anticipation of today.
As his hand idly brushed the sword at his side over his silver uniform, Killian spoke.
“You might as well come out now.”
“…”
“If you enjoy spying, I won’t stop you, but…”
“Shut up.”
A sharp voice cut through from behind the swaying curtain.
Caden ripped it down as he stepped forward.
Killian didn’t ask how long he had been there. Caden didn’t ask when Killian had noticed.
If they were the type to ask such questions, they wouldn’t be glaring at each other now with such murderous eyes.
Unlike Killian, who shone from head to toe in silver, Caden was black upon black.
His dark velvet suit matched his dark hair, exuding a grim and menacing allure.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Because I have no reason not to be.”
Killian turned to him without a trace of feeling.
He frowned slightly at the drops of blood falling from Caden’s fingertips, but that was all.
“You should wipe off the blood.”
“Since when do you care about me?”
“I don’t. Not even now.”
“…”
“But Adele wouldn’t like to see it.”
At his sister’s name from Killian’s lips, Caden clenched his fist.
Having torn off his restraints with brute force, the blood from his wrists now seeped into his palm.
But compared to the fire boiling inside, this pain wasn’t worth a twitch of his brow.
“Listen well. I don’t know what you’re after, clinging to her like this—but if my sister suffers even the slightest harm, I’ll strip you down to the bone.”
“Quite the memorable blessing for a wedding day.”
Thud!
Caden’s dagger whistled through the air.
It flew past Killian’s neck and embedded itself deep in the door behind him, still quivering from the force.
“I’m not joking.”
“…So it seems.”
Killian calmly looked at the blade sunk deep into the wood.
Even with the dagger grazing him so closely, he betrayed no emotion.
He only arched a brow slightly before looking back at Caden.
“You may not know what I want, but you seem to know what your sister wants.”
“Shut your mouth!”
Grinding his teeth, Caden swallowed his rage.
As much as he hated to admit it, Killian was right—he couldn’t make his sister a widow.
Damn it.
How satisfying it would be to drive a blade into that smooth neck, to stain that dazzling uniform with blood.
But Adele’s stern warning kept him barely in check.
And so, because of Adele, two men now strained the limits of their patience, trapped together in one room.
Naturally, they both recognized the approaching footsteps in the hall.
Light, hurried steps. At once, Caden bit down on his lip.
Tch. Found out already.
If Adele walked in on this scene, it wouldn’t end with just a slap.
No—if she truly turned her back on him, there would be no salvaging it.
“…Commander, are you inside?”
“One moment.”
Killian pulled at his tie with one hand, loosened a few buttons with the other, and finally opened the door.
“Commander! Is Caden in there—ah, forgive me, I thought you were already dressed.”
“…It’s fine. Anytime.”
“N-no, I…”
Adele leaned in hastily but recoiled when her eyes landed on his exposed collarbone.
Her flustered stammering, so unlike her, made Killian smile faintly.
“Adele, have you finished your preparations? And that is…”
“Oh, this?”
Following his gaze, Adele looked down at the gauntlet she was wearing.
She had had it made years ago, when she couldn’t handle Caden anymore, but she couldn’t very well explain that to her soon-to-be husband.
“I just… thought Caden might come here.”
“Why?”
“Well… you know how he is…”
Please, could you not step any closer?
She forced her eyes away from the muscles visible between his loosened clothes.
It reminded her of the first time she saw him half-naked beneath Saint Fidelio’s waterfall.
She nearly forgot to step inside the room, biting her lip instead.
“Anyway, I’m glad he’s not here. After all, he wouldn’t ignore my earnest request.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. Caden only looks rough on the outside. Deep down he’s soft-hearted. It’s his circumstances that are the problem.”
“Hm.”
What’s with that look? Like a parent at a troublemaker’s school conference…
Embarrassed, Adele glanced over his shoulder, but he was blocking her view completely.
She had no choice but to avert her eyes first.
“Are you planning to keep wearing that?”
“Of course not.”
She tried to take off the tight gauntlet, but with Killian watching, it wasn’t easy.
Seeing her struggle one-handed, he reached out to steady her elbow.
“Allow me.”
“Oh… would you?”
At this point, she almost forgot why she had come here.
This wasn’t what she had intended.
Yet somehow, whenever she was alone with Killian, things always turned out like this. Her cheeks burned.
Feigning composure, Adele held out her arm.
“Careful, please. If something happens again, I’ll need it…”
Rustle.
She thought she heard something inside.
Adele perked up her ears, but Killian, ever the knight commander, focused solely on deftly undoing the gauntlet.
“I heard something just now…”
“I left the window open.”
“Ah… right.”
“In any case, it’s best if you don’t wear things like this anymore.”
He slipped the gauntlet off her arm. Though he hadn’t meant to snatch it away, it was clear he didn’t intend to give it back.
“Why not? Well, I suppose it doesn’t really match a dress…”
“No. It just doesn’t look like it would hurt much here.”
Thud.
He struck it with his other hand, and the embedded magic stone rattled.
To Adele, it sounded just like the pounding of her heart.
“…Let’s head down. And about whatever my father did… please don’t be too embarrassed.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Killian smiled lightly, pressing a fist to his chest like a knight’s vow.
Adele’s heart jolted again.
She hurried down the corridor, but when she realized his footsteps weren’t following, she turned back.
“Commander? Aren’t you coming?”
“…In a moment. I left something inside.”
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“No need. I should also fix my clothes a bit.”
His hand moved to the undone buttons. Flustered, Adele turned away, unable to hide the flush in her neck.
Watching her retreat, Killian’s smile deepened.
“….”
Alone again, he picked up the tie he had discarded earlier.
He ignored the presence he felt behind him with perfect composure.
At last, Caden emerged from behind the curtain, glaring daggers at him, and set a foot on the windowsill.
If he jumped now, he might reach the ceremony before Adele did—
Thwack!
Caden cursed under his breath, freezing mid-motion.
Between his fingers on the window frame, a dagger was buried deep—its handle all too familiar.
Instinctively, he glanced at the door. The spot where he had left his own dagger earlier was now empty.
“…You should take better care of your things, brother-in-law.”
Killian walked toward him, tie now draped around his neck.
Buttoning his uniform all the way up to the collar, he lowered his blue eyes with arrogant finality.
“As I intend to do myself.”
