Chapter 70
Kylen shoved Idris against the wall, pressing his arm against the man’s neck. Idris froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden attack, and then struggled to push Kylen’s grip away.
“Gah.”
But Kylen only tightened his hold, forcing Idris back against the wall. The guard’s face flushed red as he gasped for air, clutching at Kylen’s arm.
Idris’s usually confident eyes began to flicker wildly as Kylen refused to budge.
“I don’t have the patience right now to tolerate your arrogance.”
Idris stiffened at Kylen’s words.
“How dare you block my way.”
He had underestimated Kylen.
In a society of ranks, he despised the opportunistic nobility who had no skill but flaunted themselves with borrowed privilege. Perhaps that was why Kylen unsettled him so much.
A prince born of a foreign woman, yet Kylen carried himself with such pride. Half of his blood was “low-born,” but the other half, the royal blood, made him seem haughty despite lacking true ability.
Idris had enjoyed sticking close to the Crown Prince Ferdinand, causing trouble for Kylen—and being paid handsomely for it. But his time as Ferdinand’s guard wasn’t just about money.
Until now, he had thought himself lucky to avoid the traps Ferdinand set. But seeing Kylen’s piercing, sharp gaze for the first time made him realize he had misjudged the man.
“Cough… haah.”
Kylen relaxed his grip, allowing Idris to gasp and cough, but the prince’s icy gaze remained fixed on him.
Without hesitation, Kylen swung open the door and entered the room.
The scene inside made him curse under his breath.
Mad bastard.
The room reeked of alcohol and tobacco. Ferdinand, in nothing but a robe, lounged casually, while a small head of light brown hair peeked out from nearby.
Ferdinand’s half-brother’s green eyes, blurred from alcohol, landed on Kylen, and he forced a smile to stretch across his face.
“Ah. So you really were here. Sorry I’m late, my lady.”
Eliana’s light brown eyes went wide, almost comically, at Kylen’s sudden appearance.
She looked scared, but fortunately, Ferdinand hadn’t harmed her. Kylen realized he had arrived just in time.
“It’s been a while, little brother.”
Ferdinand crossed one leg, resting his arm on the back of the chair, clearly amused.
Kylen hadn’t expected to return so quickly from the border. He had instructed Count Brodiesang to keep Ferdinand occupied, but the fool had failed.
Ferdinand now had a new source of amusement.
Kylen, usually unflinching even at Idris’s repeated insolence, had clearly subdued the guard. Ferdinand’s gaze rolled toward Eliana, who sat in front of him.
“Phhat. Hahaha.”
The sight of Eliana looking up at Kylen like he was her savior made Ferdinand burst into laughter.
Eliana and Kylen both frowned at Ferdinand’s maniacal laughter, as he alternated his gaze between the two of them. Eventually, wiping tears from his eyes, Ferdinand gestured toward Eliana.
“You must be tired after running all that way. Save greetings for tomorrow. Take your lady.”
“Thank you for your consideration, brother.”
Kylen nodded respectfully and grabbed Eliana’s wrist, leaving the room quickly.
The guest room door slammed shut behind them.
Caspian and Dylan, who had been nervously waiting in the hallway, approached, but Kylen passed them without a word.
“G-Grand Duke? Kylen!”
Eliana called out, and Kylen stopped, lowering his gaze to meet hers. They held each other’s eyes for a moment before he turned to Caspian and Dylan.
“We’ll talk later. Go inside and rest.”
He resumed walking swiftly, and Dylan opened his mouth to say something, but Caspian held up a hand to stop him.
Kylen headed straight to the bedroom.
As the door slammed, he turned to Eliana, but she was faster.
“You came quickly… thank goodness. Was everything handled? Are you hurt?”
Despite her questions, Kylen remained silent.
“Uh… um… the Crown Prince didn’t say much. He mentioned looking for something, but I don’t know what it was…”
Eliana babbled on, but Kylen ignored her, instead noticing the stack of papers she held.
“What’s that?”
“Uh? Th-This… it’s nothing, I can handle it!”
Eliana tried to hide the papers behind her back, but Kylen grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and snatched the documents.
Startled, Eliana took a step back, eyes wide.
“Th-This… it’s nothing! I’ll take care of it myself!”
She tried to leap for the papers, but her small stature made her powerless. Kylen effortlessly dodged her attempts and moved to the fireplace.
Without hesitation, he tossed the documents into the fire.
“What are you doing?!”
Eliana ran forward, but the papers were already ignited.
“What are you—!”
“Eliana.”
Kylen grabbed her arm gently and called her name.
“Were you going to betray me?”
Eliana’s eyes widened in shock.
“I’ll ask again. Were you going to betray me and side with Ferdinand—”
Before he could finish, her small white hand struck his chest. The second hit followed, and she thrust her fists into the air, which Kylen caught each time.
“I… I sat there with such feelings…”
Eliana struggled, but Kylen didn’t release her hand. Eventually, she slumped to the floor in defeat, sobbing.
“Sniff… I… I tried… sniff… to… ahhh!”
Kylen knelt beside her.
“Eliana.”
“I really hate it! I hate everything! Betrayal? You said betrayal?!”
Tears streamed down her face, large drops soaking her cheeks.
“How could I betray you? But… I’m only human. How could I stay calm with our family being threatened?”
Kylen’s eyes widened at her words.
“Worried about Father’s business, my brother’s research, all of it at risk… sniff. But still, I shouldn’t…”
Eliana cried harder, letting out her fear and frustration like a child.
Kylen looked at the ashes of the burnt papers and then at her tear-streaked face. Slowly, he raised his hand, wiping the tears with his thumb.
New tears fell immediately, wetting his fingers. He felt her grief clearly through his touch.
“Don’t cry.”
Eliana’s sobs slowly subsided. Her long lashes were dotted with tears.
Kylen’s thumb brushed over her eyes, making her eyelids tremble.
“I was wrong, so don’t cry.”
For a moment, she looked surprised, but then tears began to well again. Kylen lowered his head.
Eliana instinctively closed her eyes. A tear slid from her cheek onto Kylen’s nose.
The drop lingered there briefly before slipping down to meet their lips.
It was a salty, bittersweet first kiss.
