chapter 35:
I Warned You
“Were you, like, locked away in a tower or something?”
Celia looked sideways at Balt, who had somehow taken the seat next to her.
Whatever he’d eaten growing up, Balt’s frame was absurdly large—so much so that Celia was being pushed to the very edge of the bench.
“You could say it was something like being locked up.”
“What? You really lived in confinement? Well, I guess that makes sense. Otherwise, there’s no way you wouldn’t know who I am.”
Celia thought Balt was full of himself and way too chatty.
She didn’t know much about the Three Dukes, so she needed to get a better grasp of what kind of person Balt was.
Ileon, she already knew, was someone to be wary of. Balt, though, she was meeting for the first time—she had no idea what to expect.
‘I knew he was a Swordmaster, but… I didn’t expect him to be this huge.’
Balt’s size was intimidating enough that if she’d run into him at night, she might’ve mistaken him for a bear.
His tanned, sun-darkened skin looked too healthy. The deep black uniform, stretched tight over his muscles as if it could burst at any moment, only added to the effect.
Balt stood out far too much. Just being seen talking to someone like him out in public was sure to spark rumors.
After finishing her thoughts, Celia spoke in a calm tone.
“…If people see me talking to you, there will be gossip.”
“Why? Because you’re the crown prince’s mistress?”
Balt crossed his arms smugly.
The three-seater bench groaned loudly under the weight of just the two of them.
“You think I care about that kind of thing?”
Celia thought Balt was incredibly reckless.
For the first time, she felt the power of the Three Dukes. These people truly had nothing to fear.
“You may be fine, Duke, but I’m the one at risk.”
“Scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“Of something bad happening to you.”
Balt tested her with his words.
“Not really. I’m not scared.”
Balt raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by her response.
“Why not?”
He looked her up and down casually, then scoffed.
“You look like you haven’t had a decent meal in weeks. You don’t even look strong enough to lift a sword.”
Celia thought Balt was rude.
But then again, it was even stranger that Ileon had spoken to her so politely. Balt, at least, was acting in a way that fit his position.
The dead emperor—whom she had killed with her own hands—and Crown Prince Jeremy had both tried to use their power to control her.
Compared to that, Balt’s bluntness wasn’t even all that offensive.
“The banquet ended yesterday. Why are you still wearing that outfit?”
Balt pointed out her clothes.
“A white mermaid dress? Not even a bride getting married today would wear that. Damn.”
Celia realized Balt spoke without filtering anything through his brain.
“And now that I see it… what’s that bite mark on your collarbone?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince gave it to me.”
“That bastard’s intense, huh.”
Balt shook his head like he genuinely found it appalling.
“Anyway, weren’t you here to talk to me about something?”
“…Right. I was.”
Balt uncrossed his arms and looked directly at Celia.
His stormy gray eyes flashed sharply.
Celia momentarily thought he might cut her down with a sword—but his next words completely deflated the tension.
“I overheard the maids talking. You’re close with Dietrich, aren’t you?”
“…”
“You seriously are? How the hell did you get close to him? From what I know, that guy doesn’t even like women.”
Celia was now curious why Balt seemed so interested in Dietrich.
“I thought you came to scold me about the Crown Prince’s ruined face.”
“Who cares about his face? He can look like mush for all I care.”
Those words were enough to get him charged with insulting the royal family. But of course, he was above them—so who would dare?
“So? Are you close with Dietrich or not?”
“Why do you even want to know?”
“Because I’m curious!”
Balt’s voice was so loud it rattled her eardrums.
Then, just as suddenly, he lowered his voice and swore.
“Ah, damn. An uninvited guest.”
Uninvited guest?
As Celia tilted her head, Balt sighed deeply and stood up.
“If you see that guy, don’t tell him I was here.”
And with that, Balt vanished without another word, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Not long after he disappeared, Celia heard the soft rustle of clothing nearby.
She turned her head to check the source of the sound.
“Lady Celia.”
Wearing a white, flowing robe, Ileon appeared.
His eyes were curved into a gentle, smiling shape.
Celia wasn’t exactly happy to see him. She knew he was the one who had ruined Jeremy’s face.
Which meant: if he wanted to hurt her, he could—at any time.
“Do you like the gift I gave you?”
Ileon smoothly took a seat beside her.
“The bench is still warm. I assume you were speaking with someone.”
Celia acted innocent and changed the subject.
“The banquet ended yesterday. What brings Your Grace to me now?”
“Oh, you haven’t heard? I’ve been tasked with personally preparing His Highness’s coronation ceremony.”
Ileon explained in a soft voice.
“So I’ll be staying in the palace until the coronation is over.”
Preparing the emperor’s coronation right after destroying the crown prince’s face?
Celia thought Ileon was a contradiction in human form—smiles on the outside, rot within.
Still, him staying in the capital wasn’t bad for her.
If he went back to his territory, she’d lose her only chance to find out if he truly was her enemy.
“I see. Congratulations.”
Celia gave a hollow congratulation, devoid of any emotion.
Ileon laughed silently at the soulless response.
“It’s merely my duty as a loyal subject. But, about that gift I gave you… did you like it?”
“What gift?”
“You made a choice last time, didn’t you?”
His clear blue eyes scanned her expression.
“I thought you’d like it. But judging from your face, I guess not.”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The chess piece you chose last time.”
—Just answer me this: will you sacrifice the pawn, or the queen?
Celia instantly realized what he’d meant back then.
“…Wait, you weren’t asking about chess pieces. You were asking who I wanted to see hurt, weren’t you?”
Ileon smiled, his eyes crinkling.
“Hurt? No. I only wanted to give you a gift.”
Celia felt chills run down her spine.
He didn’t see people as people.
Breaking someone’s face was his idea of a gift?
“What if I’d said I would sacrifice the queen back then? What would you have done?”
Ileon rested a hand on the bench’s armrest, watching her with amusement.
“Then someone else would’ve gotten hurt instead, I suppose.”
“Why are you telling me all this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell someone?”
“Lady Celia.”
His gaze dropped to the bite mark on her collarbone.
It clung to her like a swamp, and she felt her stomach churn with disgust.
“When I saw you, I felt a sense of kinship. Like beneath your lovely exterior, you were hiding something much darker.”
“…”
“Isn’t it unfair, to be judged only by your beauty? When what’s inside is so rotten and twisted?”
Ileon leaned toward her.
His serene face and piercing blue eyes felt like they were seeing right through her.
“I couldn’t bear to leave someone like you alone.”
He couldn’t possibly know her true identity, yet he acted like he understood everything.
As if he alone recognized her hidden pain.
Celia didn’t look away. Instead, she asked:
“Are you trying to recruit me?”
“I’m simply giving you another choice.”
His eyes glinted like a serpent’s as he softly smiled.
“What draws me to you is not your beauty—but the darkness within you.”
“…”
“Poor Lady Celia, made the object of so many men’s desires. Tell me, do you believe in God?”
“I don’t.”
Ileon laughed into his sleeve.
“And why not?”
“Because I don’t believe He exists.”
“A decent answer, Lady Celia. But wrong. God does exist. He watches us from above—even now.”
Celia felt an instinctive revulsion.
For someone who treated people like chess pieces to talk about God?
It was utter nonsense.
“You still seem friendly with Dietrich…”
“…”
“I warned you, didn’t I? He might devour you without leaving a scrap of flesh.”
Celia realized Ileon was trying to drive a wedge between her and Dietrich.
But if anyone was going to devour her whole, it would be the man standing before her.
“Duke, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Celia stood up from the bench.
Ileon narrowed his eyes in mild surprise.
“And where will you go?”
“I think I’ll go find Dietrich.”
“…Lady Celia, aren’t you afraid of being devoured?”
A cool breeze rustled her silver hair.
Celia met his gaze with a calm smile, just as he had done earlier.
“If I were going to be devoured… don’t you think it would’ve already happened?”
With those final words, she turned her back on him.
The moment she did, the smile vanished from Ileon’s face.
