Prologue
“Eile, be mine.”
At those plain but sudden words, the teapot slipped from my hand.
Before I could grab it, his hand caught it first.
“My lord!”
Even though he held the burning-hot teapot with bare hands, Lys didn’t flinch. He calmly continued.
“I can’t live without you.”
His steady violet eyes met mine, and I suddenly remembered—
When we were children, he once said the same thing:
‘Eile, be mine.’
Back then, I thought it was just a childish whim of a young master, so I answered:
‘My lord, you must separate personal feelings from business.’
But now, as an adult, he was saying it again.
When I gave a slight nod, his lips curved into a faint smile.
“For me, there’s no business and no personal life. Everything is you.”
…What was that supposed to mean? My heart sank.
Eighteen years as an assassin, and the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard from a target was ‘Spare me, I’ll live a good life!’
But now—
“…That’s a funny joke.”
“I’m always serious, Eile.”
His intense gaze clung to me, hot and heavy. I felt like a rabbit caught in front of a predator.
Instinctively, I reached for the hidden knife at my waist—
But then he spoke again.
“Did you know? I’m the richest man in the Empire.”
…What? Why was he bragging about money all of a sudden?
As if I didn’t know already.
Of course I knew, but still—how could he say it so bluntly?
“Eile, you love money, don’t you?”
“Well… I guess I do.”
It was true that whenever he asked why I did something, I always answered: “Because of money.” or “Money is the best.”
But why bring that up now?
“I’m richer than the Emperor. So like me too.”
The words, half-playful and half-serious, hit me like a spell.
Now he was trying to seduce me with money? This wicked young master had gone too far.
An assassin must never be swayed by sweets or riches offered by a target.
That’s a basic rule of survival.
And yet—
“Hmm? Eile.”
He tilted his head and smiled gently, as if he already knew I couldn’t resist.
Thump, thump. My heart raced wildly.
Something had gone terribly wrong. I bit my lip hard.
If I had known this young master I served would grow into such a dangerous man… I would have killed him long ago.
How did it come to this?
He wasn’t like this when he was a child…!
