~Chapter 79~
“……”
Til stared at Kilian for a moment without saying a word.
“Hey, Duke.”
Then he smirked and opened his lips.
“Since when did you and Aisha become truly engaged?”
“…What?”
“Looking at the Duke’s attitude right now, it’s like you’re convinced Aisha belongs to you. To be honest, you two don’t look like an engaged couple, but more like a married one.”
“……”
“Of course, Aisha probably thinks differently.”
Til spoke with sarcasm, but his words struck right on target.
…So this is what they mean by birds of a feather flock together.
It wasn’t by chance that Aisha and Til became business partners.
“Stop talking nonsense. So, what did you want to tell me—”
Just as Aisha was about to cut Til off—
“Even if I take a step back and admit you really are like a married couple, isn’t this the sort of behavior only a jealous, suspicious husband would show?”
Til’s mouth showed no signs of stopping and began running wild.
“Honestly, it’s astonishing, Kilian Winters. For the Duke of all people to act like this!”
“……”
“It’s so absurd it’s almost laughable. You used to grit your teeth whenever Aisha’s name came up.”
“Hey, wait—”
“What, did you really develop feelings for Aisha?”
Uh…
Aisha froze mid-movement, her gaze snapping toward Kilian.
Sitting rigidly, Kilian…
Was glaring at Til with a complicated expression.
But he didn’t agree with Til’s words.
“You’d better know your place, Til.”
He only shot back in an aggressive tone.
“Whatever my relationship with Aisha Ashton may be, you’ve got no right to yap about it.”
Really?
Til chuckled.
“Looks like Belmore’s first target is Rune.”
He continued slowly.
“Seems he’s determined to wipe them out completely. Honestly, it’s only natural. Roselia made such a fuss, yet she couldn’t lay a finger on us. But if Belmore takes down Rune in this situation, his prestige will skyrocket, won’t it?”
Belmore?
Aisha’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Besides, Rune has all sorts of abilities, but our strongest weapon is information. Which means, if Belmore manages to destroy us, he can cement his power securely.”
“It’s been obvious from the start that if Belmore seized power, he would go after Rune. Didn’t you already know that? I didn’t think you were that stupid, Til.”
“……”
“Anyway, Rune’s reputation in Draxion isn’t good. It’s nearly the worst. From Belmore’s perspective, taking down Rune would not only give him access to vast information but also earn him public support. But don’t tell me… you came here to ask for my help?”
“As if.”
Do you think I’m crazy enough to ask you that?
Til swallowed those words.
“Aisha.”
Then he shifted his gaze to her.
“Come with me to Rune.”
“…What?”
Aisha jumped up in shock, her face full of disbelief.
Instinctively, her eyes flicked toward Kilian.
And she couldn’t help but flinch hard.
Because Kilian’s eyes, fixed on Til, were…
Downright terrifying.
It was the first time she had ever seen him with such an expression. Not even when Sunday’s Exposé paired him up with Theorn had he looked like this.
“G-Go to Rune? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
She was just as flustered. Quickly, she turned back to Til for an explanation, but his eyes softened pleadingly, completely different from the way he had glared at Kilian.
“I need your help right now, Aisha.”
Then he spoke like he was begging.
“As the Duke said, Rune’s reputation couldn’t sink any lower, but Belmore is coming at us more aggressively than expected. He’ll try to manipulate public opinion. And the only way to fight that is with public opinion of our own, right?”
“Wait, don’t tell me you want Sunday’s Exposé to cover Rune—”
“That’s right.”
Til nodded without hesitation.
“Of course, I’m not asking for free. I’m making a formal request for an article.”
“……”
“I won’t make you fabricate anything. Whether you accept or reject the request will be entirely up to you. And besides, sales of Sunday’s Exposé have been skyrocketing, haven’t they?”
That much was true.
“The subscribers have tripled. There are more requests for articles too. To respond quickly, wouldn’t it be better to work with me, your business partner? You get what I mean, right?”
Til’s words weren’t without reason. If Aisha stayed at Rune’s hideout, she wouldn’t be in danger. She could also publish issues faster—just write the article and hand it straight to Til.
And Til was her partner. Rune itself, too. If Rune got destroyed by Belmore’s attack, Aisha would be the one in a tight spot.
“Think carefully, Aisha. You originally planned to make a fortune with the magazine and—”
“Til.”
Kilian, who had been silently listening, cut him off with a voice cold as ice.
“You’re planning to drag Aisha Ashton into something so dangerous?”
“What did you say?”
“She can publish Sunday’s Exposé perfectly fine while staying at Winters Manor. She already did before, didn’t she? The only reason you want to take her with you is so she’ll write articles about Rune, isn’t it?”
Kilian’s eyes gleamed menacingly as he glared at Til.
It was outrageous. Barely days had passed since they escaped Roselia’s clutches. Aisha had nearly died with him back then.
She had just begun to find some peace—so what kind of insane talk was this?
And now she was supposed to live in Rune’s hideout?
How dare he?
How could he say that?
Right in front of him!
…For the first time in his life, Kilian was consumed by a fierce, burning jealousy.
“Kilian Winters, I think you’re confused. You don’t have the right to interfere in Aisha Ashton’s choices, do you? You’re not even her real fiancé.”
And once again, Til stabbed straight into Kilian’s heart.
“Whatever dangers there may be, the choice belongs to Aisha. And you keep forgetting—between us, the one who’s actually closer to her is me, not you.”
Hey.
You insane bastards, stop it. My head’s already a mess.
Please.
Aisha screamed silently inside, but the damage was already done.
“Young Lady.”
“Aisha.”
Both men turned their gazes on her at the same time.
“What will you do?”
“You’ll come with me, right?”
Each throwing their own question at her.
