~Chapter 99~
…What should I say?
Should I tell him that, without knowing, I started to like him?
That I wanted to stay by his side, no matter what?
If I said those things, what would Kilian say?
Would he feel burdened, or…?
Aisha looked at Kilian’s face for a moment without saying anything. Kilian also looked back at her. Her eyes were still trembling, but she didn’t look away from his gaze.
‘Yes. I know this isn’t the right time to say something like that. Anything could happen tomorrow morning.’
But—
“I…”
This was the one thing Aisha wanted to tell Kilian.
She could do it.
“I’m worried about you, Duke.”
“…What?”
“Like I said before… Like when we were young, I’m afraid you’ll carry everything alone and just endure it.”
Aisha kept talking with a slightly shaking voice.
“That’s too cruel.”
“And maybe you didn’t know, but I’ve always been on your side, Duke. For quite a long time.”
“My side…?”
“You said it back then. That you don’t trust anyone, and no one trusts you. That’s why you never keep anyone close.”
Aisha remembered Kilian’s words clearly. They hurt her, but she remembered every bit.
“You know, I’m a pretty decent person,”
Aisha said with a small smile.
“Even then, and now, I never wanted to force you to trust me. That’s not how trust works.”
“All I want you to know is this. When you’re having a hard time or feel lost, you have someone next to you who’ll listen.”
Aisha knew that sometimes, just having someone like that beside you could be comforting. For someone like Kilian, who had suffered his whole life, that might be even more important.
She thought maybe she was more trouble than help so far, but—
“That’s why I came back to Winters Mansion with you.”
“….”
“Does that answer your question?”
Someone to talk to whenever he needed…
Aisha’s guess was right. Kilian never had anyone like that before.
When it rained, when thunder crashed—he always faced every sad and painful thing alone. That’s just how he lived.
Ah, I’m not alone anymore. At some point, it became like that.
Kilian’s black eyes, now filled only with Aisha, sparkled like stars.
“I never thought you’d say something like that.”
“….”
“Thank you, Aisha Ashton. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.”
Aisha smiled softly.
“I haven’t really done anything yet, so it’s embarrassing when you say that.”
She changed the subject very gently.
“Can I ask you something, if it’s okay?”
“What is it?”
“When you read Til’s report earlier, why did you look so upset?”
“….”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine. I’m just worried about you.”
Aisha didn’t want to push Kilian if he didn’t want to talk. She would wait until the day he felt comfortable sharing everything with her.
But then—
“Cox Bildon.”
Kilian started to answer right away.
“The report was full of things I never found out about that man.”
“Did you learn anything useful?”
“…I can’t say there was nothing, but I’m not sure.”
The shine in Kilian’s eyes faded. He looked so tired with his head lowered.
“The more I learn, the deeper I sink.”
“….”
“Maybe it was wrong to try to find out in the first place. I don’t even know where it all went wrong.”
Kilian looked like he would break at any moment. Just like at the tavern.
Aisha stayed quiet and looked at him gently.
She was curious about the information on Cox Bildon that made Kilian this troubled, but she decided to do what he needed most right now.
Soon, Aisha stood up slowly and moved to sit beside Kilian.
“Here.”
“Aisha?”
“What you need right now isn’t more worry or confusion. You need rest.”
She lightly patted her shoulder.
“Sleep a little.”
“….”
“If you wake up with a clear mind, maybe you’ll see things differently. So, just for tonight. Okay?”
“But my head will feel heavy…”
“Of course it will. You carry all your troubles alone. But I’m pretty strong, so it’s fine.”
Hurry up.
When Aisha opened her eyes a little wider as if scolding him, Kilian finally leaned his head on her shoulder.
His long legs stretched out on the table, and after a bit, their heads were at the same height.
‘Honestly, I want him to sleep comfortably in his bed… but then I couldn’t be with him.’
Even for Aisha, she didn’t have the courage to follow him all the way to his bedroom.
“Close your eyes now.”
“…Okay.”
Surprisingly, Kilian was very obedient. He closed his eyes quietly, and Aisha hoped that her loudly beating heart wouldn’t reach his ears.
Soon, only Kilian’s peaceful breathing filled the office.
It was unbelievable. Just by leaning a little on her shoulder, he was able to fall asleep so easily—even though he suffered from such bad insomnia.
Right before falling asleep—
“Aisha.”
Kilian spoke softly.
“Because you’re here…”
“Because I’m here?”
“I’m glad.”
“….”
“Truly, I am…”
With that, Kilian fell into a deep sleep.
Aisha, now alone and awake, gently stroked his dark hair and whispered,
“Me too.”
Me too.
Then, just like Kilian, she slowly closed her eyes.
