~Chapter 95~
“Report on Cox Bildon”
Kilian’s dark eyes shook as he read the report.
“After cross-checking information from Draxion, Aldrosia, and other empires, we expect this to be very reliable.”
Kilian was silent.
“Real name: March Gillian.
He used many names, including ‘Cox Bildon’ when he worked as the Winters’ butler, and also ‘Eric Wigged’ and ‘Bane.’
Age: Estimated late 60s.
Previous affiliations: Unknown now, but from the information found, he worked as the Winters family’s butler, a knight of the royal palace, and, more specifically, as Empress Dowager Roselia’s bodyguard at the Emerald Palace.”
‘What…?’
“For some unknown reason, he left his post as Roselia’s bodyguard and disappeared for a while. Later, he became ‘Cox Bildon,’ the Winters family’s butler. When Kilian Winters became head of the family, Cox ran away immediately.
The last sighting was two months ago in the north of Draxion, at Baron Hayden’s estate. There, using the name ‘Bane,’ he disguised himself as a mercenary and survived by taking jobs from locals.
Tried to track him, but failed.Locals say he left the estate and returned at regular intervals, claiming he worked as a mercenary. But after two months ago, he disappeared again.”
Kilian stayed silent.
“Summary: Combining all information, ‘Cox Bildon’ became the Winters’ butler after leaving Roselia’s side. After he fled, he used new fake names and traveled around Draxion, Aldrosia, and other empires.
Mercenary groups in Draxion say they never hired anyone by those names, so his mercenary story is likely a lie. Still, witness stories show he really moved around a lot.
This ends the report on Cox Bildon.”
Kilian’s eyes looked empty.
…What was all this?
He wasn’t even truly a butler. He had once been Roselia’s bodyguard knight.
‘Why?’
Why did Cox Bildon work as the Winters’ butler for so long? Was he one of Roselia’s hidden servants?
But it didn’t make sense. If he was, why would he run away when Kilian became head, instead of going back to Roselia? And if Roselia was now ruined, as her bodyguard, wouldn’t Cox have returned to protect her openly?
‘The palace… the palace…’
Kilian felt a strange mix of relief at finally finding answers about Cox Bildon, and a growing, creeping fear.
‘Quite an interesting reaction.’
No matter what face Kilian made, Til had been smirking the whole time. He had expected this kind of reaction.
For some reason, the man Kilian wanted to find—so much that he even joined hands with Rune—turned out to be tied to the imperial family he hated most.
Well, anyway.
“This should be enough, right, Kilian Winters?”
Kilian stayed silent.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t find his current location, but two months ago is very recent. Without Rune, you couldn’t even have gotten this far. You agree, don’t you?”
Still silence.
“I think our deal is finished now, right?”
Til kept talking, but Kilian didn’t answer. He only stared at the report with a lost look in his eyes.
Aisha, sitting next to him, looked at Kilian with a confused face.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen him so shocked.’
Even when assassins sent by Roselia came after him, or when knights stormed the mansion, Kilian had never been surprised.
But now, something had truly shaken him.
Why? What did Cox Bildon mean to Kilian?
Aisha couldn’t guess.
“Um…”
Very carefully, Aisha reached out and gently touched Kilian’s stiff shoulder.
“Duke, are you okay?”
Kilian didn’t reply.
“Is there some kind of problem…?”
At Aisha’s voice, Kilian finally snapped out of it. He paused, then looked at Aisha. His face was still hard, but he forced himself to speak.
“…I’m fine.”
His voice was very low.
“It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry.”
That was a lie.
He looked so abandoned.
‘Am I really no help at all? Am I not even a little useful? Or maybe… he still doesn’t trust me.’
Honestly, Aisha couldn’t blame him. After all, she was the one who wrote the “Kilian Winters Special” in Sunday’s Exposé, spreading his story everywhere.
But it still hurt.
Aisha shot a glare at Til, almost blaming him. But Til only shrugged, looking innocent.
“Alright, fine.”
Kilian put the report away.
“This information is enough.”
He couldn’t get help from Rune or Til anymore. From here, Kilian would have to act alone.
Cox Bildon might be the key.
In the worst case, that key could become his biggest threat.
“This is the first time we’ve agreed on something.”
Til replied.
“I had no plans to work with you any longer anyway. I’ve had enough.”
Kilian didn’t answer.
“So, let’s move on from Cox Bildon. Let’s talk about something else.”
Something else?
Kilian and Aisha both narrowed their eyes at Til.
“I think it’s time to end the engagement between Aisha Ashton and the Duke.
Let’s do it tonight, right here.”
