~Chapter 75~
Aisha stared blankly at Killian, but he kept speaking as if nothing were unusual.
“Also, tell your father I apologize for causing him worry. You understand what I mean, Leoric Ashton.”
“Y-yes… sir…?”
Leoric was just as shocked. Of course he was—he was one of the few who truly knew how absurd this engagement was.
“Y-you mean… you really intend to marry my sister…?”
He stammered.
“But she’s the shameless one who sold you out…”
What the hell, idiot! Why bring that up now?! Aisha’s eyes flew wide open.
“…I can’t exactly deny it. But hasn’t the goal been achieved? I think that answer should be enough.”
And it was.
Whatever his reason for saying it, Killian’s words would put Count Rohan Ashton’s mind at ease.
“……”
Leoric still looked dazed, glancing back and forth between them, clearly unable to understand the situation. But he wasn’t brave enough to press Killian further.
“V-very well. I’ll… I’ll tell Father exactly that.”
To be honest—
I don’t understand a single thing, but at least I’m not the one marrying Duke Killian!
That was it.
On this point, the Ashton siblings were alike—selfishly alike.
“It’s getting late! I’d better head home now.”
Leoric leapt to his feet, bowed abruptly to Killian, and then:
“Take care of yourself, Sis! Bye!”
Before Aisha could even stop him, he bolted out of the reception room.
It all happened in an instant.
“……”
“……”
Only Aisha and Killian remained. A faint, awkward tension filled the air—different from before.
“Um…”
After a long pause, Aisha broke the silence first.
“So… what I just heard…”
“What you heard.”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what it sounded like.”
Her eyes widened.
Killian’s face was calm, unreadable—far calmer than the weight of his words.
Then—
“Aisha Ashton.”
His next question startled her even more than what he’d told Leoric.
“Do you already have someone in your heart?”
“…What?”
Why was he asking this? Why now?
Aisha froze, staring at him—and she saw it.
For the briefest moment, his eyes trembled, betraying emotions his composed face tried to hide.
…Eh?
Her own gaze wavered in return.
“I…”
“……”
“…didn’t mind it.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Life with you.”
His voice was low.
“To be honest, I thought it would be unbearable. But… it wasn’t.”
Her heart thudded, heavy as if it had fallen to the floor.
So… had she not minded it either?
This life with Killian.
“Aisha. Why are you doing all this?”
At that moment, Tiel’s words echoed in her memory—
“Is it really for Duke Killian, or just to boost Sunday’s Exposé?”
“What’s your real reason?”
Back then, she’d said it was about hating cowardice. About Roselia’s shamelessness. About paying back tenfold.
But… what if it wasn’t only that? What if there was something else in her heart?
“……”
When she didn’t answer, Killian simply looked at her in silence.
For him, life with Aisha had been utterly unexpected.
He hated gossip more than anything. And yet Aisha had turned him into society’s reluctant star, even exposing the wounds of his past. At first, he’d kept her near only as a shield—an excuse to ward off ladies, even out of a bit of childish spite.
Could he really endure living under the same roof with such a madwoman? He’d doubted it countless times.
But in reality…
It hadn’t been bad. It had been interesting. Sometimes even fun.
Gray days had suddenly been brushed with color.
Without her crazy chatter, his ears felt too quiet. Without her sharp glares, he felt strangely empty.
And now… he couldn’t picture Winters Manor without her.
He didn’t yet understand his feelings—he had never given or received love before. Just like the Killian Winters Aisha had read about in the original story.
But he knew what he wanted:
That these days would continue.
Yes, the engagement was a sham. But he wanted the play to go on. Unless… Aisha admitted she loved someone else. Unless she told him it had to end.
Crack.
His clenched fist made a faint, harsh sound.
“Don’t feel pressured, Aisha Ashton.”
Unable to wait for her reply, Killian spoke again—carefully.
“I told your father it would happen soon, but of course it can’t be immediate.”
He had no idea how his words stirred her heart.
“I just came from meeting the Emperor.”
“…What?”
“Princess Hilda Everett of Aldrosia is coming to Draxion.”
