Chapter 33
Killian’s voice fell even lower.
Ian, who was cornered by his words, shut his mouth.
He knew the fact that Sophia was doing poorly unlike him. She doesn’t even enjoy what she deserves as a noble girl.
The attic where she lived, the old clothes she wore all the time, her unsuccessful debutante, and a ball she’s never been to before.
Even if he didn’t come home often because of the Knights Templar, there was no way he didn’t know.
“But now you’re pretending to care about Sophia… It’s a little disgusting.”
Killian’s red eyes became cold.
“You should have been worried when she was kicked out into the leaky attic.”
Killian looked down at him as if he were plastic.
Ian’s hand holding the sword trembled.
Killian also grabbed his own.
Earlier, he said he would not fight because he had a business with the count, but now he could afford to gladly respond to the young knight’s provocation.
“What do you know?”
“I have no intention of listening to the perpetrator’s excuses.”
For a moment, Ian’s face contorted.
‘I’m the perpetrator?’
“I am not the perpetrator.”
He never once thought he was the perpetrator while playing with Sophia.
Because he had never touched her.
To him, Sophia was a coward who was easily frightened by his small threats, and seemed to cry at petty things.
Therefore, everything was not the fault of Ian Frauss, but the weakness of Sophia Frauss.
If it were Ian, he wouldn’t have shed tears at a butterfly whose only wings were torn, or stood like a fool in front of the closed door and bowed his head.
He will not easily succumb and be ruled by others.
At least he thought so, and he has thought so.
“…When the military police caught criminals, the person always said they did nothing wrong.”
“Shut up!”
“You’re the one who needs to keep their mouth shut, Ian Frauss.”
Killian came close and threatened him.
“Are you going to say no? Even with a sword on Sophia’s neck?”
“It was to get Sophia to face reality…!”
At that moment, Killian drew his sword and put it on Ian’s neck.
Ian felt a cool energy on the back of his neck.
He could dodge or block Killian’s attack, but he didn’t.
Because he knew that Killian wouldn’t cut his head off.
So he only glared at him without blinking an eye.
“You’re the same person who can’t face reality.”
What Ian did to Sophia, Killian did to Ian.
It was an act that could become a big problem if known outside, but if what Ian did was not an offense, it wouldn’t be an offense either for Killian to do.
Recognizing that meaning, Ian’s face contorted.
“I have only one reason to be courteous to Fraus, because it’s Sophia’s family.”
If he destroys the place where Sophia’s bloodline was connected, blood will splatter on Sophia as well. He didn’t want blood to flow between the betrothed families.
“And I have no intention of sending Sophia back here.”
He wouldn’t do the crazy thing to push the victim where the perpetrators are.
With a brief warning, Killian withdrew his sword and retracted it.
Ian thought about something as he stroked his neck, which had just been touched by metal.
And he asked Killian.
“…Do you really like Sophia?”
“I am just doing my duty as a fiance.”
“Someone who hasn’t come to see his fiance for a long time suddenly performs his duty… Isn’t it funny when you think about it?”
Killian Viprons Rivelon even skipped his engagement ceremony, saying it was only a political engagement.
Even when people gossiped about his engagement, he never came to Sophia.
He had never done anything that recognized her status as his fiance.
But it was ridiculous that he suddenly recounted his duties.
“It’s not like the Duke. In the first place, you don’t even care about other people, do you?”
Ian looked at Killian.
He could feel the wall in that uniform, which was so stuffy and formal.
People talked about Killian.
They never got along with him, and there was a line so that they couldn’t get close to him.
Neither too close nor too far away, he always kept a distance from the nobles.
No bribes, no lobbying, no flattery, and no cowardice.
He did not respond to the courtship of many young ladies and courtship letters from various families.
But for Sophia, the interference was too much.
“How many times have you come to visit the Frauss family in less than 15 days, which you wouldn’t even visit several times a year?”
At Ian’s words, Killian’s mouth shut.
He couldn’t understand why he cared so much about Sophia’s business.
However,
“So? Does that matter?”
At least what he did was not against common sense or morals.
Whether he had feelings or not, it doesn’t change that they’re engaged.
Also, what Ian did to Sophia was not erased.
“The time has come to put an end to childish words, Sir Ian. My fiance is no longer a toy for you.”
Killian left after warning Ian.
~*~
After leaving the Frauss mansion, Killian felt a bit uncomfortable.
“…Do you really like Sophia?”
‘You say I like Sophia? But it has been less than a week since we met…?’
It seems that Ian Fraus was too excited and was overthinking it.
‘If it hadn’t been Sophia, I would have done the same if I had seen someone in such trouble.’
As the head of the military and police force, he could not stand still and watch people get hit.
So it was only natural that he went out to protect Sophia.
He convinced himself.
But he ignored the deeper essence.
If it had been anyone other than Sophia that Countess Fraus was hitting at, he wouldn’t have broken into the mansion’s front gate to save her.
Rather, he would have taken a more moderate, procedural approach.
Also, he would have decided to provide another place of protection rather than bringing the victim to his own residence.
Because he seldom had guests in the duchy.
However, he returned to the duchy with a somewhat unpleasant and reluctant feeling, unaware of his blind spot.
“You came early today.”
Garfield greeted him with a fresh smile.
Killian, who had been home late due to the recent case of Marquis Fideut, returned home early after a long time.
However, his expression was particularly hardened.
“Your expression looks dark. Did something happen?”
“It’s not a big deal. Where is Sophia?”
As soon as Killian came home, he looked for his fiance.
“Oh, she went to the Imperial Palace this morning with Crown Prince Mikhail to Her Majesty.”
“With my brother?”
“The Empress seems to have wanted to see Miss Sophia.”
Garfield’s words brought pressure into Killian’s forehead.
“They took Sophia without telling me?”
“Yes…? Yes. I thought it was something to do with you…”
“How long has it been?”
“She left a little past one o’clock after lunch today.”
Killian looked at his watch. Read only at pm tl.
It has been about three hours since Sophia left.
Killian’s face hardened.
Garfield looked to the Archduke, wondering if he had done something wrong.
Killian turned around again and rode on the black steed.
“Are you going to the Imperial Palace?”
Garfield, who had reached out to get Killian’s coat and put it in order, took his hand and asked.
Killian nodded his head.
“Next time they call Sophia to the Imperial Palace, let me know right away.”
After giving orders to Garfield, he rode his horse to the Imperial Palace.
~*~
After Sophia and the Empress returned to change their clothes, tea time continued again.
It took quite a while to wash Elizabeth and dry her hair.
Waiting could become tiring, but the ladies firmly kept their tea time seats.
“Sorry to keep you waiting so long.”
The Empress took her seat and laid Elizabeth down on the lawn.
Elizabeth rubbed his body against the hem of Sophia’s dress and meowed.
“What’s wrong, Elizabeth?”
Sophia looked down at him and sat down as Elizabeth jumped onto her lap.
“Oh my, Elizabeth is usually not like that…”
The Empress smiled curiously as she watched Elizabeth sit in on Sophia’s lap.
He must be in a bad mood because he just came from taking a bath, which was also his most hated thing to do in the world, but he acted cute towards Sophia instead.
“It’s difficult for anyone but me and the servant in charge to be on his good side.”
Even the ladies who had been with the Empress for a long time did not touch Elizabeth.
Mikhail was also scratched by his claw while trying to pet Elizabeth, and it was no different than pretty much everyone else.
Sophia just felt proud.
