~Chapter 82~
“……”
Aisha sat on the sofa, her expression not bright.
It was strange. Everything was finally in place. Her unpleasant cohabitation with Kilian had ended, Sunday’s Exposé was hitting record sales, and she even had a proper workspace now.
Yet, why did her heart feel so empty?
Aisha knew the reason.
“What is Kilian thinking right now?”
Is he finally relieved that the annoying Aisha Ashton is gone? Is he happy that the constant stress is gone?
“…Why am I thinking about this?”
She laughed at herself. This was even funnier than Roselia acting like the emperor. Everything was in place, yet she was lost in feelings alone.
“I’ve never been able to do anything. I should just be grateful I survived this far.”
…But if she had known they would part suddenly, she might have advised him: Treat the girl you like carefully. Value her feelings first. Don’t just follow your own heart.
Aisha let out a dry laugh.
“Put this here?”
Til had brought her suitcase, and Aisha nodded. In his hands was something new—a bottle of wine.
“The articles are urgent, but let’s at least enjoy a little. You like drinking, right?”
True. She had never had a drink at the Winters estate—always too busy watching her step.
She decided: I’ll do what I can now. That’s enough.
She smiled faintly.
“No snacks? You really have no sense.”
“Even without snacks, I know how to drink.”
They bickered, trying their best not to think about Kilian.
Late at night.
Kilian, as always, was working in his office.
After a long while, he looked up and realized it was past 3 a.m.
“…Hah.”
He sighed and stood. He hadn’t finished everything, but working more would ruin tomorrow’s schedule.
It had already been half a day since Aisha left. Outwardly, everything seemed back to normal. No disturbances, no responsibilities—just comfortable, ordinary life.
Kilian stopped in front of the “thinking chair.”
Aisha was gone, yet he hadn’t removed the small desk and chair. The staff, including Sien, had tried to tidy them up, but he stopped them without explanation.
Why?
He liked things clean. He never let unnecessary things into his office.
Kilian looked at the “thinking chair,” silently, for a moment.
“I’ll decide the topic for this special edition.”
He remembered Aisha’s puzzled face.
“Kilian Winters Special Edition No. 6. Kilian Winters’ fiancée, Aisha Ashton. A bold woman who even severed ties with the Ashton family, yet charming enough to capture the heart of Kilian Winters, beautiful like a goddess, lovely like a fairy. This edition will cover everything about Aisha Ashton. How’s that?”
And again:
“If you have complaints, say them, Aisha Ashton. That look you’re giving me is pretty burdensome.”
“When did I glare at you? I was just looking. You want me to suppress my eyes now?”
“I wish I could. Especially when you stared at me earlier.”
He fiddled with the empty chair and noticed a short note she had left:
「I will definitely take revenge someday」
He smiled bitterly.
Kilian brushed his hand across the small desk, staying at her spot for a while, then walked silently down the dark hallway. Only his footsteps echoed. He went to a room that wasn’t his bedroom.
Knock. Knock.
“Aisha.”
“Aisha Ashton.”
He spoke her name as if she would run out. But silence remained.
He reached for the door. It wasn’t locked. He entered and stood in the middle of the room. Everything was as she left it.
Nothing had changed, but she was gone.
The unchanged room highlighted Aisha’s absence.
Kilian sat on the cold bed, quietly.
“How long has it been since this mansion felt so empty?”
The Winters estate was always silent, cold even in summer, like a terrifying castle. He didn’t like it. Too many harsh memories, no good ones. As a child, he felt the mansion would devour him. Sometimes by his father and brothers, sometimes by loneliness and solitude.
He hadn’t known that one person could change the whole atmosphere. Or that it could fall apart so quickly.
“Really… young lady, you’re something else, Aisha Ashton.”
He muttered to the empty room, clutching the cold sheets.
…And two days later, Hilda Everett arrived in Draxion.
