CHAPTER 154………………………………….
Even without his sister’s threat, it was a day he would never forget.
Never in his entire life had he felt his blood run so cold.
“…Sister!”
The moment Caden saw Adele returning limp in Killian’s arms, his blood surged backward in shock.
Her face was hidden in the darkness, but there was no way he could mistake his eldest sister.
“Adele! Our Adele—what happened?!”
“…”
“We need to call a physician! Someone, anyone! No—this isn’t the time!”
His father was half out of his mind as well. A man who wouldn’t even curse if a great bridge collapsed had completely lost his reason.
The count, shouting for servants in panic, finally bolted out the door.
“…Sister.”
Her cheeks were so pale they looked as if they might melt away.
No one could look at her like that and stay sane.
The very fact that Adele—always so dignified—was lying limp made Caden feel fear for the first time.
Even when his birth mother had beaten him until his mouth filled with blood, it had never felt this suffocating.
“Sister… Sister, please…”
“…”
And yet, that man remained silent.
While his father and Caden drowned in rage and panic, Killian was calm from beginning to end.
But if anyone was paler than Adele, it was him.
He stood perfectly still, holding her tightly as if letting go would cause her to vanish.
It was infuriating—so much that Caden wanted to kill him.
But he couldn’t.
“Madam…”
Even without doing anything, Killian already looked like a dead man.
“Adele… please.”
His low voice scattered into the air.
Caden even grabbed him by the collar, but Killian’s gaze never wavered from Adele.
“Put her down! Now!”
“…”
“Do you think she’d welcome this after all the suffering she went through because of you?!”
“…She would.”
As if that was why he couldn’t let go, Killian didn’t move.
Time seemed frozen.
Then, trembling, he pressed his cheek briefly to her forehead—his face unbearably miserable, unbearably resolute.
The pain he swallowed down spilled from every fingertip.
Even Caden, who hated him, could see it clearly.
Someone might call it coldness.
But Caden knew.
Only those who had lived through such agony understood how completely it consumed the body.
“Move!”
Caden gritted his teeth.
Adele’s condition was not normal. The raindrops clinging to her hair looked like blood.
No matter how desperate this man was, holding her like this wouldn’t fix anything.
“Lay her down! She needs to see a physician!”
“…No.”
Only then did Killian lift his face from her cheek.
His complexion was still deathly pale, but his eyes held resolve.
“You leave for San Fidelio immediately. Bring the Saintess of Salvation as quickly as possible.”
“…What? Where are you telling me to go?”
Caden’s face twisted in disbelief.
Not only was this man giving orders, his attitude was unbearably domineering—as if he’d draw his sword if Caden refused.
“Didn’t you hear? Father is bringing Sergio’s personal doctor! I don’t know how great that Saintess is, but that physician is the most famous and capable in the South—”
“Can you guarantee it?”
“…”
“Can you guarantee Adele will wake up without even a scratch?”
Killian wasn’t threatening or pleading.
Fear stormed in his blue eyes.
As if nothing mattered in the world except that Adele’s fingertips remain unharmed.
“Go. Now.”
“Then what will you do?!”
Caden frowned deeply.
He knew it. Adele would rather have this man by her side than him.
He knew that.
But seeing her unconscious made rage boil up until he couldn’t bear it.
“If it weren’t for you, she never would’ve ended up like this!”
“…True.”
At last, Killian lowered Adele onto the bed.
His self-mocking voice was heavy with meaning.
He kissed her fingertips as if performing a sacred rite.
“Adele.”
I’ll be back.
After engraving her name into the air, Killian turned away.
Rain still dripped from his hair and clothes, but it was as if he didn’t notice.
His face was unreadable, but his clenched lips and fists revealed how much he was enduring.
“Where are you going?! You’re leaving her like this?!”
“…”
“You can’t.”
Caden knew he was fickle, but he had to stop him.
It made him furious that Killian stayed.
But it made him even angrier that he would leave.
Caden stepped in front of him, eyes burning.
“If you want to leave so badly, then die first.”
“…Is that possible?”
You?
Killian’s heavy gaze dropped to the sword in Caden’s hand.
Just that alone made pressure crush down on him.
Caden had only ever knelt willingly before Adele.
Never before had he been unable to move even a finger in front of someone else.
“What is this?!”
“If you’re curious, brother-in-law, come with me.”
With a flick of his chin, Killian was already walking ahead.
Yet for someone being so firm, his steps were unbearably heavy.
The two men arrived at the glass greenhouse.
Caden wondered what in the world he was doing here—
But the moment the door opened, he lost his voice.
“Th-this is…”
—…You’re late.
He had seen it before, but never heard its voice.
A being he thought incapable of human speech was speaking.
— I thought you would come sooner.
Unlike Caden, Killian looked accustomed.
The beast that had whimpered on Adele’s lap only days ago now radiated noble brilliance from every scale.
Killian walked solemnly toward Balrog, wings of crimson spread wide.
“…You know why I’m here.”
—How arrogant.
The supernatural voice shook the air with gravity, yet amusement seemed to flicker in its long eyes.
A dragon.
The moment Caden met those eyes, his body and mind became utterly powerless.
The dragon’s gaze shifted toward him, delighted.
—Oh? Another guest. Are you lacking strength on your own?
“Of course not.”
—So that is her true younger brother.
A hint of hostility and mischief crossed its massive eyes.
Almost like jealousy.
The dragon’s gaze lingered on Caden, the same way Caden looked at Killian.
Killian’s irritation showed, and Balrog lazily flexed its wings.
—As expected. You act as if you left something in my care, human destined to be king.
“…You owe me.”
—What?
A low growl vibrated through the air.
If Caden wasn’t mistaken, the dragon’s already enormous body swelled with its breath.
Killian placed a hand calmly on the sword at his waist.
“I freed you from immortality’s curse. Honor the dragon’s pact.”
—And you gained what you wanted, did you not?
“No. I only wish to be freed from pain, just as you do.”
—…
“If you understand endless suffering… do not turn away from me.”
Killian stood proud before a dragon.
And desperate.
“I have never asked anything of you… but I beg you. Save my wife, Adele.”
