IRATBP I Chapter 05

Chapter 05

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say,” I said, clearly annoyed. To come at this hour and say you have something to talk about…

The instincts I developed while living in the slums kicked in.

When someone comes at an odd hour, it usually means they have something unpleasant to say.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d leave. You’re not dressed for a visit,” I added.

“My appearance doesn’t matter. I’m not here to discuss anything,” Russell replied nonchalantly.

Despite my sharp tone, Russell responded calmly.

It seemed like he was also dressed lightly. His posture had relaxed, and I didn’t hear the sound of fabric brushing against him.

“I’d prefer to talk during the day, but I’m busy during that time,” he continued.

“I see. Then, come by during a free afternoon,” I said sarcastically.

“You’re different from the other young ladies,” Russell remarked.

I furrowed my brows in irritation. How rude. He must think that, like the other noble girls, I would be flattered by his visit and give in to him.

“But the memories from the slums are still fresh in my mind,” I thought.

Russell was likely unlike anyone I had met before, both in this life and the previous one.

I gripped the blanket tightly.

“I apologize for coming at this hour. But it’s urgent,” he said, almost too casually.

Urgent? If it’s so urgent, why not say it already?

His overly polite tone was irritating.

“Enough with the pleasantries. If you have a reason for being here, just say it.”

I heard a small laugh, almost like a chuckle. What was so funny?

Had it been my older sister, she would have been happy that a high-ranking noble like Russell visited her in the middle of the night, and she would have put on a false show of modesty.

But I knew better. Men who come in the middle of the night usually have hidden intentions. Unlike my sister, who grew up as a noble, I had lived in the slums and learned to be cautious.

“Enough, just get to the point,” I demanded.

“Alright, I’m here to explain how you ended up here,” he said.

The reason I ended up here… That’s why he came at this hour?

‘Something feels off. He’s definitely hiding something,’ I thought.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, then spoke in a quiet voice.

“…I already know. There’s no need to explain.”

“Oh, really? Then let me ask you something else. Don’t you have a special ability?”

My face immediately stiffened.

Did he know about me hearing the voices of trees? No, if he knew, he would have said it outright, not asked me like this.

He was trying to gauge what I could do.

“I don’t know what you mean. If you’re just talking nonsense, then stop now.”

I turned my back to him, trying to hide my panic.

‘No matter what, I can’t trust him yet. I can’t let him figure me out.’

Somehow, Russell seemed to believe my words easily.

“Right. I was talking nonsense in the middle of the night,” he said, his voice calm.

His tone gave nothing away.

‘He’s good at playing mind games,’ I thought.

I’ve always been able to gauge the emotions in a person’s voice. When they were upset, their voice would tremble. When sad, it would be low and damp. When happy, warmth would be in their voice. Everyone was like that.

But with Russell, I couldn’t read anything.

His voice was cold, yet there was no warmth in it either.

It was completely neutral.

“You can’t see, can you?”

He was asking as if my blindness was real without directly asking.

“If I hadn’t come, how would you have escaped?” he asked.

“…I would have tried to find soldiers from the north.”

“Without being able to see?”

I could hear the chair he was sitting in shift slightly as he leaned back.

“The road to the north is deserted. There are no villages, and there’s no place for a young lady to hide. Even if you tried to escape, you wouldn’t know the way because you can’t see.”

This man was reading everything.

“If you had no special abilities, escaping would have been impossible. But you attempted to escape on your own.”

At this point, I had to admit I had been wrong in my assumptions. Russell was the controller of the north and was incredibly quick-witted. His mind worked faster and sharper than anyone I’d ever met.

He noticed the smallest abnormality.

Russell asked in a blunt voice, “You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

‘But when I spoke about it as a child, no one believed me.’

Would he believe me now?

Would he think something was wrong, just like my family did?

Would I be ignored and treated like I was in the past, both in this life and the last, always in the shadows?

Could I really trust him?

I quietly bit my lip.

“…It’s hard to reveal it right now.”

I didn’t need to think about it further.

‘I can’t show my full hand to someone I’ve just met.’

The reason I had to live a miserable life in the slums was because the ruffians there knew I had nothing to offer.

Russell sighed faintly after hearing my answer.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect an easy answer,” he said.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“You don’t look happy at all.”

He was clearly frustrated for not getting the answer he wanted, but he was trying to mask it.

I smiled faintly, hiding my true feelings.

“So, that’s not all, is it?” I asked.

“What do you mean by that?”

His voice immediately became icy.

Russell didn’t like people seeing through his intentions.

He still kept a smile on his face, but I could hear the tension in his voice.

“You’ve only just learned about me, but I know you wouldn’t come at this hour just to ask such a question.”

Russell let out a small chuckle, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

“You’re quick to catch on. Not bad,” he said.

I waited silently for his next words.

“Tomorrow, His Majesty the Emperor will visit the Glacies estate.”

I was stunned. This was bigger than I expected. I immediately responded, “The Emperor?”

“Why is His Majesty the Emperor… coming here?”

“The North shares a border with the Cassus Kingdom. That’s why there are barriers around Glacies Castle. His Majesty the Emperor, along with a delegation of mages, will stay at Glacies Castle to repair the barriers.”

So it’s the same barrier that Frater described, the one the mages built.

Come to think of it, I’ve heard that mages from the islands regularly come to Glacies Castle to repair it.

There aren’t many mages in the North. I don’t know the exact number, but the North lacks infrastructure and is a harsh place to live, so it probably isn’t a very attractive place for mages.

But why is the Emperor accompanying them?

I listened carefully as I waited for Russell to speak.

“I would like you to stay with me, as my future Duchess.”

Duchess.

Does this word describe me better than any other word in the world? I asked him.

“Why did you choose me as your fiancée?”

“I thought our interests would align.”

Is he smiling? With a voice full of laughter, Russell continued.

“Neither you nor I are interested in marriage, and the Duke’s family wants to get rid of you. Our interests align.”

“That may be true for me, but why for you, Russell?”

“That’s enough. I won’t answer any further.”

For the first time, his voice carried a teasing tone. Well, I wasn’t particularly interested in pressing him for more information.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

There was something.

Something I had almost asked, but couldn’t bring myself to.

But if I didn’t ask, I felt like I couldn’t become his fiancée.

“…Is it true that you beheaded your former fiancée?”

“It’s true.”

His voice was firm, with no hesitation at all. The calmness of his response sent a chill down my spine.

Russell, seemingly concluding that I wouldn’t ask any further questions, stood up from his seat.

As his footsteps slowly faded, he suddenly stopped.

“May the mother wolf of the North be with you.”

I didn’t answer and simply wrapped my arms around myself. Then, I heard him close the door behind him as he left.

After holding my breath, I was finally able to breathe again. I took several deep breaths, and soon the outline of Russell’s face, based on what Asha had said, began to form in my mind.

Though this was all just an imagination based on what I had heard, it was important to get a clear picture of his appearance.

Short, dark black hair, eyes with the color of a burning sunset—something out of place for someone from the North—and a cold, ruthless expression. He wore a black shawl and dark clothing.

And in his left hand, a sword dripping with dark red blood, while his right hand held the severed head of a person.

“There’s definitely a purpose behind all of this.”

I was sure of it.

Russell Glacies wouldn’t kill someone without a reason.