Chapter 49
Isaya rose from his seat and perched on the edge of Kylen’s desk.
“The black market, the fact that he showed up at the slave market… something doesn’t feel right.”
“……”
Kylen exhaled slowly, turning his head side to side. There was a sharp, tense sound from his throat.
“I’ll need to find an excuse to go to the capital.”
Gripping the desk with both hands, Kylen glared at the reception room door, then sat back down and began rifling through papers.
Moments ago, his anger had been visible, but as if doused in cold water, Kylen had quickly regained his composure.
Isaya watched him silently.
The Kylen that had been driven to the border back then and the Kylen sitting before him now were completely different.
When had this change occurred?
As he pondered, someone knocked at the reception room door.
“Um… Your Grace.”
It was Benjamin entering the room.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. You should probably see them in the reception room.”
A guest in Winterford?
“Who is it?”
Before Kylen could ask, Isaya spoke first:
“The Duchess’s older brother has come.”
The Duchess’s brother? That was an unexpected visitor.
Kylen quickly wrapped up his work and headed to the reception room, recalling details.
Aiden Rudd. Eliana’s only older brother. Known as a prodigy in his youth, currently studying in the Kingdom of Volos. Beyond that, little was known.
Since leaving for Volos, he had visited the empire so rarely that his appearances were counted on one hand. He hadn’t even attended the wedding, so arriving unannounced suggested something unknown had happened in the Rudd family.
Kylen quickened his pace.
As he approached the reception room, a maid waiting outside knocked.
“Your Grace, the Duke has arrived.”
Eliana’s voice called from inside.
The thick reception room door opened. As Kylen entered, Eliana rose from her seat.
Beside her, her brother Aiden stood and bowed deeply.
“I am honored to meet you, Your Grace. I am Aiden Rudd.”
Kylen furrowed his brow at the sight of Aiden.
It was obvious they were siblings.
They looked like mirror images of each other. The only differences were height and hair length. Nothing else.
“I apologize for not contacting you first. My research schedule changed suddenly, and I thought I wouldn’t have another chance to see Eli…”
“No need to apologize! You can just come!”
Kylen’s lips curved into a smile.
“Cold, isn’t it? Torpaz is rare here… Should I add more firewood?”
“Ah, no. I’m fine, Eli.”
“Fine? Brother, you’re always sensitive to the cold! And your hands are freezing!”
Eliana handed Aiden the portable torpaz heater she always carried.
“Come in summer! Summer is nice and cool here. How about staying until then?”
“Stay until summer… Haha. I’ll have to return to Volos soon.”
Aiden smiled awkwardly as Eliana patted his head affectionately.
The Rudd siblings seemed very close. Compared to some of the friends in the capital who despised hearing about their sisters, these two were completely different.
Eliana’s bright smile beside Aiden relaxed Kylen’s furrowed brow.
“You came from Volos?”
“Yes. Going through the capital would take too long, so we came directly here.”
“Volos to Winterford… a long journey. Let’s settle in and talk later.”
Kylen buttoned his jacket as he spoke.
Aiden also rose to greet Kylen, but Eliana sprang up like a spring.
“G-Greta!”
Calling out desperately, she dashed out. Both men watched her leave, realizing there was no room ready for an unexpected guest at Winterford Castle.
Kylen smiled at Aiden.
“You’ll have to wait here a moment.”
“Yes?”
Kylen patted Aiden’s shoulder and stepped out.
Isaya, lounging on the sofa reading as if it were his own home, looked up.
“Met her? How is she? Similar to the Duchess? Does she seem intimidating?”
Today, for some reason, Isaya’s presence annoyed Kylen. He strode over and kicked his friend’s foot protruding from the armrest.
“Ah! Hey!”
Isaya groaned, clutching his toes, while Kylen plopped down beside him.
Noticing Isaya’s puzzled look, Kylen realized his bad mood wasn’t due to Ferdinand.
“Why are you staring like that?”
“Me?”
“You’re smiling annoyingly.”
“Me? Nonsense! I don’t know how to smile like that! What’s happening?”
Isaya, teasing, mentioned all the empire women lined up just to see that smile.
Kylen snorted in disbelief as Isaya leaned arrogantly against the sofa back.
“Friend, if you ever have worries about women, love, or anything similar, come to me. Okay?”
Kylen rose, walking briskly to his desk, thinking it would never happen. Isaya smirked, but Kylen was unaware.
“E-Eri, D-Duriya!”
April raised two tiny fingers, clearly confused.
Isaya, standing behind her, nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Since childhood, people often said you two look alike.”
Aiden blushed, smiling shyly.
Before I had fully opened my eyes to this world, Eliana Rudd had fallen gravely ill. When Aiden rushed back from Volos thinking his sister was dead, I too had been shocked at first sight of him.
To think they could resemble each other so much—it felt like looking in a mirror.
Apart from appearances, Aiden and I had nothing in common.
He had been called intelligent since childhood, endlessly praised, while I… let’s not ruin my self-esteem.
Every teacher predicted he would become a pillar of the empire. His parents expected him to enter the royal palace and rise high.
Of course, that hope was shattered the year he turned fifteen.
Torpaz-rich Livriden Empire lagged behind neighboring countries in technology, as there was little incentive to invest.
The emperor’s lack of interest contributed as well.
Aiden loved science and machinery and had declared at fifteen he would study in Volos.
His family had been furious, but he wouldn’t relent. At sixteen, he left for Volos.
Five years had passed, and he was now near graduation.
“I heard you’re studying in Volos. Small, but solid. Nice to meet you. I’m Isaya Bax.”
“Nice to meet you! You’re the son of Viscount Gasten!”
In the empire, not knowing Gasten Bax was espionage-level ignorance.
Isaya smiled bitterly and shook hands with Aiden.
“As expected, he doesn’t live up to his father’s reputation.”
April quietly observed them and tugged at Aiden’s pants.
“Yes, Princess.”
Aiden quickly crouched to her level, and April beamed, extending her right hand.
“A-Apri shakes too!”
