Laila bit her lip. She was the one who was truly surprised.
“Since when have you been chasing me?”
“Since the moment Lady Laila disappeared from the palace.”
“….”
“Do you know? While you were locked up in prison, I was quite busy.”
I had to deal with my raging father like a furious bull while preparing to get Lady Laila out of prison.
After muttering to himself, Kidon continued.
“But you ran away just before I could rescue you.”
“….”
“I can’t express how much trouble that caused me. Playing hide and seek in the dead of winter….”
“I never asked you to chase after me.”
“Of course you did. Lady Laila, you clearly conveyed your desire for me to chase you with your whole being.”
Kidon took a step closer to Laila. Taylor immediately drew his sword and blocked Laila’s path.
Kidon, who had stopped in place, let out a snicker.
“If you didn’t want me to chase you, then why did you hit me in the back and run away?”
“When did I ever hit the young lord from behind?”
“How shameless. Though, I must admit, that attitude is somewhat endearing….”
Laila made a disdainful face from behind Taylor. Suddenly, she recalled an expression Taylor had used.
It was truly disgusting.
“I wanted to be locked up in the palace dungeon right alongside Lady Laila, you know.”
“….”
“Honestly, I didn’t even realize that my fiancé, who would often chirp about wanting to get married, was so adorable.”
“So? Anyway, we didn’t get married, and I wasn’t locked up in prison.”
“Do you think I would have been imprisoned if I had married Lady Laila?”
“….”
“I had big dreams, Lady Laila. Even if you had been my spouse, nothing would have happened to me.”
“Oh, really?”
“It seems you don’t understand the power I possess.”
Yes, that’s kind of cute. Kidon added, taking another step forward.
Taylor aimed his sword at Kidon. At the same time, the sound of swords being drawn echoed from various directions.
Kidon raised one hand to stop the knights accompanying him from moving. Taylor spoke.
“Step back.”
“You’re short on words?”
“Is there a fool who speaks at length to his enemy?”
“Am I your enemy? Why?”
“…Sion was my pupil.”
At Taylor’s words, Kidon’s eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter.
“Is there a master worse than his apprentice?”
“….”
“….Why are you laughing?”
“Because I’m happy to hear my pupil being praised.”
“I didn’t praise your pupil—ah, never mind.”
Kidon extended his empty right hand to the side. A knight quickly handed him a sword.
As he adjusted his grip on the sword, Kidon spoke.
“Knight Taylor Igorton of the palace. No, I suppose it’s just Taylor now.”
“….”
“Do you think you can handle me?”
“You won’t know until you try.”
“To compare a giant tree with a sapling… Your courage is commendable, but…”
The atmosphere around Kidon changed as he gripped his sword.
Laila, who knew nothing about swords, couldn’t read Kidon’s shifting demeanor, but she did notice that Taylor’s shoulders and back tensed up.
“I’ll make one thing clear: If your skills aren’t better than the combined strength of five palace knights, you’ll die here today.”
“Wait a moment!”
Laila pushed Taylor aside and stepped forward. Taylor, caught off guard by the sudden move, widened his eyes in surprise.
“Miss?”
Laila stood behind Taylor and opened her mouth.
“What do you want, milord?”
“What else could it be? Since I’ve chased you all the way here in this winter, it’s obviously you, Lady Laila.”
“….”
“Come with me, Lady Laila. And live as my wife.”
“You want to take a traitor as your wife?”
“Instead, the fact that you are my wife will be something only you and I know for the rest of our lives.”
Laila instinctively let out a hollow laugh. This crazy man.
“You’re asking me to be your mistress.”
“Mistress? That’s not a very romantic thing to say.”
What romance could possibly exist in this situation?
Laila swallowed another sigh, one of many she had already let out. Why did she, of all people, have to end up entangled with someone like this?
“Do you really like me that much? I find you so repulsive that I would gag simply by passing you.”
“Provoking me won’t change anything. Time is running short, so make your decision quickly.”
“……”
“Are you going to come to me after seeing the knight hiding behind you get slaughtered?”
“…I’ll go now, so don’t touch Sir Taylor.”
“Miss!”
Laila turned around. Taylor’s face was pale with fear.
“No, Miss. I can’t let you go. Not to someone like that.”
“Have you thought of what to say to Sion?”
Laila’s voice was so quiet that only Taylor could barely hear it. He hesitated.
“I’ll be safe. What Kidon Reisic wants is me alive, not my corpse.”
“Miss Laila…”
“Will you tell Sion later?”
To come and get me.
If he feels like it.
Having finished her words, Laila stepped back. Taylor flinched but couldn’t bring himself to stop her.
Laila turned and walked towards Kidon. When she looked up at him, their eyes met.
“…Let’s go.”
“Welcome, Lady Laila.”
Kidon brushed his fingertips against Laila’s cold cheek.
…This is really disgusting. The highest level of disgust. True disgust.
“I won’t make you uncomfortable.”
“Yes.”
Kidon wrapped one hand around Laila’s shoulder and started to walk.
Laila pushed herself away from her spot and whispered.
It’s okay.
It’s fine.
Just stay alive. Just preserve your life.
Let’s not go back to the past.
To the past where Sion, who hates me, is…
At that moment, sounds came from outside the cabin. The clashing of swords, screams, and loud explosions continued.
Then, just as it seemed like silence would settle…
Crash!
The side of the cabin door was destroyed. Those who appeared, having broken through the already damaged door, were armed like the knights led by Kidon.
And each of them was wearing a mask.
“Finally found you! You’re alive! Now I don’t have to die!”
“…Who are you?”
“Me?”
The identified person was holding a staff made of carved wood instead of a sword. The lips revealed under the mask formed a smirk.
“A wizard. An incredibly powerful wizard at that.”
“……”
“I took care of half of the trash outside. I could blow this cabin away in one go.”
The figure, who introduced themselves as a wizard, raised their staff and pointed it at Laila and Taylor.
“Give them both to me! While we’re still talking!”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The wizard summoned a massive fireball and turned half of the cabin to ash in an instant.
Kidon gritted his teeth and released Laila. As she was freed from Kidon, she thought:
I hope Kidon can’t forget today and grinds his teeth every night until all his molars fall out.
It was a sincere wish.
“I’ll find out who you are and make sure to kill all of you.”
“Ah, just get lost. Want me to shoot another fireball?”
“You insolent…”
“Should I shoot a fireball insolently?”
In the end, Kidon withdrew with his knights. As Kidon and his knights disappeared, the wizard immediately took off their masks.
When the wizard revealed their face, Laila flinched. Seeing the face meant she couldn’t escape death… that thought briefly crossed her mind.
Taylor seemed to have a similar thought, blocking Laila with a stiff expression.
However, the wizard placed the mask against their chest and politely bowed their head toward Laila and Taylor.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Dali.”
“…Dali?”
“You can call me Dali or simply Dal. Dal is my nickname.”
“……”
“Just so you know, the Countess always calls me Dal.”
At the mention of the ‘Countess,’ Laila’s eyes widened slightly.
“Could it be…?”
“The Count and Countess Kaiter are waiting for you.”
