~Chapter 76~
“Hilda… Everett…”
Aisha muttered softly with a blank face.
Right. Around this time, Hilda was supposed to appear. But…
She hadn’t thought her arrival would be so sudden. And besides, the current situation was slightly different from the original story Aisha knew.
In the original The Emperor Cannot Live Without His Captive, Princess Hilda Everett of Aldrosia came to Draxion because Aldrosia had lost the war.
For Aldrosia, cornered to the brink, it was a deal with nothing to lose. Though she was a princess, Hilda had lived a life far worse than a noblewoman’s. She was even bullied by her half-siblings.
And of course, the one who led the empire to that decisive victory was none other than Killian. He had brought Hilda back with him, and from there, the story had truly begun.
But this time Roselia isn’t even dead, and the war hasn’t happened. And yet…
“As you know, Roselia sided with Aldrosia’s former emperor’s faction.”
Killian continued his explanation.
“They say Belmore passed all the information he got from Roselia straight to the current emperor’s side.”
“Fortunately, the current emperor of Aldrosia and I see eye to eye.”
He recalled the conversation he had earlier at the palace with Belmore.
“Both Draxion and Aldrosia declared that they don’t want another war.”
“If they don’t want war, then why Hilda Everett…?”
“The emperor thought of it as an opportunity.”
An opportunity?
Aisha’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“He said that since he politically crushed the Empress Dowager Roselia and prevented a civil war in Aldrosia, Aldrosia owed him a debt.”
“If I had chosen to use the Empress Dowager’s information differently, I could have done so in countless ways. But I didn’t.”
“It wasn’t completely wrong.”
Indeed, Killian had been the first to obtain evidence of Roselia’s schemes—not Belmore. But Killian hadn’t revealed it. If Belmore had stubbornly tried to protect Roselia to the very end, the situation would have been far worse than it was now.
“Now that I’ve barely secured power, I need as many cards in my hand as possible. I trust you, Duke, understand what I mean.”
Belmore’s face, as he said those words, had looked so unfamiliar. The naive boy who seemed to know nothing of political struggles had never existed at all.
But Killian didn’t mention that part to Aisha. He didn’t want to burden her further.
“…Anyway, Aldrosia offered thanks and apologies for what happened… well, honestly, it’s just a formality. And the one used for that purpose was Hilda Everett.”
“…”
“She doesn’t seem to be treated very well within the Aldrosian royal family, but asking for more would be impossible. The emperor knows that too.”
“…”
“So Hilda Everett will arrive at the imperial palace within three days at the latest. This is also the reason our engagement ceremony can’t be rushed. No matter how much Count Ashton pushes, there’s nothing to be done.”
“…”
“Aisha?”
When there was still no reply, Killian narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at her.
Then, without meaning to, he stopped for a moment.
Aisha had lowered her head slightly, and her expression was one he had never seen before. She looked strangely shaken.
The order may have changed, but everything is still moving along like the original. Even though the war didn’t happen, Hilda still ended up being sent to Draxion.
If so…
Would Killian fall in love with Hilda?
Just like in the original?
“…Hilda Everett was the first person Killian Winters ever desired.”
The line she had once read suddenly appeared vividly in her mind.
“Having never loved or been loved, Killian did not know how to handle his feelings. And so his love for Hilda slowly corroded his heart.”
“Aisha?”
“He wanted to hold Hilda’s hand, to kiss her lips. He wanted to embrace her fragile, slender body. But the closer Killian reached, the more Hilda pulled away, as if she were taunting him.”
“Aisha.”
“Once ignited, Killian’s emotions knew no end. Slowly, he went mad for Hilda Everett. Why doesn’t she love me? Why won’t she look at me? What must I do to win her heart? If I kill the Emperor… if I kill Belmore Allington, will I finally have her love? Beautiful Hilda. Lovely Hilda. Kind and gentle Hilda. Killian truly loved her…”
“AISHA!”
Her name, called loudly, snapped Aisha back to reality. Killian’s eyes were fixed on her, filled with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“….”
“You’ve overworked yourself these past few days. That must be it. I’ll summon a physician right away—”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
Aisha replied in a very small voice.
“I just… suddenly remembered something, that’s all.”
“Remembered something?”
Killian asked curiously, but Aisha said nothing more. Instead, she quietly gazed into his eyes—eyes she had grown used to.
It felt as if someone had suddenly poured cold water all over her.
Killian…
He would eventually fall in love with Hilda.
Just like how Hilda had ended up dragged into Draxion anyway.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known. She had already been aware of this.
No—in the first place, she had never planned to get this entangled with Killian at all.
So what on earth had she been thinking all this time?
Her cheeks flushed red in an instant.
“Aisha, wait—”
“I’m sorry, Duke. I think I should rest now.”
Aisha quickly bowed her head.
“We’ll talk about the rest later. I’ll go first.”
And that was it. After speaking, she left at a brisk pace without once looking back. Killian didn’t even have the chance to stop her.
“…”
Left alone, Killian stood blankly with a puzzled look before letting out a faint sigh.
Was she burdened by what I said about the engagement?
Does Aisha Ashton… still want to leave this place as soon as possible, like before?
Am I really… someone she doesn’t care for?
They were questions he could not answer, no matter how hard he thought.
Of course, at that very moment—
Killian didn’t know that Aisha was drowning in worries far heavier than his own.
