“What about Laila Hildegarde?”
Instead of answering, Kidon posed a question. The person addressed replied politely.
“She’s sleeping.”
“When will she wake up?”
“She should regain consciousness by tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night, huh…”
Kidon looked down at Sion again.
Sion, who had been kicked over by Kidon, was lying with his eyes closed. His face was pale.
If a dead person had color in their face, that would be even stranger.
Sion’s shirt was soaked completely in red. Kidon stared at the spot where his sword had punctured Sion’s chest.
He clenched his teeth. Despite achieving what he had wanted, he didn’t feel particularly satisfied.
The reason was probably…
“You dare to be so arrogant…”
“Pardon?”
“Clean this up. Handle it as I instructed.”
As he spoke, Kidon lightly tapped Sion’s head with the tip of his shoe. The person who received the order bowed their head.
“Yes, milord.”
“Tell Laila Hildegarde when she wakes up.”
“Understood.”
Kidon then left Sion’s bedroom.
In the deep dawn, long before the break of day, Kidon’s footsteps echoed in the eerie, wide corridor.
Kidon eventually stopped walking before he reached his quarters.
He kicked the staircase railing in front of him.
He felt uneasy.
“Damn it! How dare a slave… A filthy, lowly slave…”
He had tried to maintain his composure, but in reality, Kidon had been boiling inside like a volcano for several days.
When he learned the true identity of someone he thought was just a servant.
When he heard that Laila and that man had known each other longer than he had thought.
And…
When he saw the person’s face.
Kidon felt like his insides were being turned upside down.
A situation that he hadn’t even considered had come to light.
Laila Hildegarde, perhaps wasn’t merely pretending to give her heart to a slave to rebel against Marquis Hildegarde.
His chest felt hot. His head spun.
It was revolting.
Laila Hildegarde.
At the same time, he felt annoyed. Despite feeling disgusted, he still wanted to claim Laila Hildegarde for himself.
Kidon had given Laila a chance. A chance to have a kind and gentle fiancé.
A chance to send away the slave she had foolishly fallen for, whole and intact.
But Laila had kicked that chance away.
So, Kidon took action.
He gained the cooperation of Marquis Hildegarde. He bribed a maid to give Laila a sleeping potion, and after Laila fell into a deep sleep, he snuck into Sion’s bedroom, armed.
And then he killed Sion… no.
Sion took his own life.
Using the sword that Kidon held, he committed suicide. To protect Laila, he drove the blade directly into his own heart.
Throughout Sion’s death, Kidon could do nothing. Until Sion’s beating heart stopped, Kidon remained a mere observer.
“Damn it!”
Kidon cursed repeatedly as he kicked the railing.
Despite the loud noise, no one came out of the hallway.
This was because Marquis Hildegarde had given prior orders.
For tonight, no matter what disturbance occurred in the castle, no one was to pay attention or intervene.
“Hah…”
The staircase railing sustained severe damage in certain areas. Kidon looked at Sion’s face superimposed on the broken railing, then started to descend the stairs.
It was done. Regardless of how he died, the fact remained the same: the opponent was dead.
The troublesome slave was no longer in this world.
Kidon repeated this fact to himself as he went down the stairs.
Tomorrow night.
He was looking forward to the time when he could give a gift to Laila Hildegarde, who would wake up from her sleep.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
As soon as Laila opened her eyes, she sensed that something was wrong.
Her body had no strength. Her throat was extremely dry. She tried to speak, but her voice was barely audible.
Struggling with all her might, she managed to twitch her fingers. Then she sensed a presence, and the darkness in the bedroom receded.
“Miss!”
“…rie.”
“Just a moment, Miss. I’ll get you some water. Please drink some water first.”
With Marie’s support, Laila sat up. As Laila leaned against the headboard, Marie quickly stepped away to bring water.
Laila flinched as she reached for the cup of water. Her hand was trembling uncontrollably.
Her heart was pounding.
A bad feeling washed over her.
“I’ll help you. Please open your mouth and swallow slowly.”
Marie brought the cup directly to Laila’s lips after seeing her trembling hand. Marie tilted the cup, allowing the lukewarm water, which felt like a life-giving elixir, to flow into Laila’s mouth.
She drank enough water to quench her thirst. Once the empty cup was pulled away from her face, Laila opened her mouth again.
Now, her words flowed easily.
“How long did I sleep?”
“Two whole days.”
“Two days?”
“Yes, according to Elvin… It seems you took a sleeping potion…”
A ringing in her ears sounded. Laila involuntarily frowned, then composed herself upon seeing Marie’s startled expression.
“…Marie.”
“Yes, Miss. What is it?”
“Do you know a maid named Audrey?”
“Audrey?”
Marie blinked rapidly, then tilted her head.
“No, I’ve never heard that name before… Which household does she work for?”
Laila bit her lip and continued.
“She works here, and her appearance is…”
Laila described the maid’s appearance, which she had seen before drinking tea and falling asleep. After hearing the description, Marie let out a small sigh.
“Are you talking about Leira?”
“…Leira?”
“There is a maid who looks like what you described, but her name is Leira, not Audrey.”
Marie added that and then continued.
“And she quit yesterday… Miss!”
Marie quickly caught Laila as she swayed unsteadily.
“Miss, are you okay?”
“Kidon…”
“Yes?”
“Is the young lord still in the castle?”
“Yes, yes. I believe he hasn’t left yet.”
“Can you call him?”
“Now? To here?”
“Yes, please.”
Marie hesitated for a moment but eventually left the bedroom without protest.
Nearly twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
During those twenty minutes, Laila managed to change her clothes. Unwilling to expose any skin, Laila chose the most modest outfit in the dressing room.
“Lady Laila.”
Dressed in an outfit that looked warm, Laila glared at the door while sitting on the bed. A voice came again from beyond the door.
“I’m coming in.”
The bedroom door opened. Kidon paused for a moment upon seeing Laila’s attire, then moved his legs again.
Without being prompted, Kidon sat down in the chair next to Laila’s bed.
“It seems you’re quite sensitive to the cold.”
“Lord Reisic.”
“Are you weak against the cold because your body is fragile? Since when has your body been weak? Have you ever been ill?”
“Lord Reisic.”
“I was surprised that Lady Laila’s stamina is lower than I expected. Is your health generally poor?”
“Kidon Reisic.”
Kidon examined Laila’s tense face and pulled the corners of his lips up.
“Yes, Lady Laila.”
“What did you do?”
“…….”
“To Sion?”
Laila gasped for breath before speaking. In that moment, she truly felt like someone whose stamina was far below average.
Clutching the blanket over her legs tightly, Laila completed her question.
“What did you do to Sion?”
“I set him free.”
“What?”
“I told him he is no longer a slave and can go wherever he wants. He seemed pleased and left the marquisate.”
Laila let out a laugh. It was a derisive laugh.
“Do you think I’m an idiot? Do you think the person you want to bring in as your wife is someone who can’t think for themselves, a stupid and foolish person?”
Kidon widened his eyes slightly. Then, laughter filled the room.
After a moment, Kidon’s laughter subsided.
“Yes.”
“…….”
“I prefer dolls that don’t think. I do.”
(╯°□°）╯
You son of a