~Chapter 96~
There was a heavy silence in the tavern.
Aisha was surprised by what Til had said and looked at Kilian.
Kilian glared at Til like he might draw his sword any second.
Aisha finally found her voice and spoke to Til.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean, end the engagement?”
Til answered casually.
“Just what I said. Isn’t it simple?”
Aisha protested, “Are you kidding? My father, Count Ashton, completely believes in this relationship! He’s even pushing for a wedding soon.”
Til shrugged.
“So?”
“You want to back out now? Does that even make sense?”
“Yep.”
Aisha looked like she was going to explode, but Til just calmly asked her a question.
“Aisha, did any of the things that happened until now really make sense?”
Aisha hesitated.
Til explained,
“You started the fake engagement with Kilian Winters to avoid the social world’s attention.
But look at Draxion now. Where is everyone’s focus?”
Aisha paused, realizing he was right.
Til added,
“Don’t worry about your father. I’ll explain everything.
And honestly, who in the world would want a son-in-law the emperor hates so much? Right, Aisha?”
Aisha thought, Since when did Til get so logical?
Til turned to Kilian.
“Duke, you know why the emperor mentioned the whole concubine thing, right? It was all to control ‘Sunday’s Exposé’ and Rune. To get what he wanted, he had to go this far.”
“He wanted to attack you, Duke. Like you said before, he was trying to put you on the gallows.”
Til spoke quickly.
“Of course, I’m against Aisha becoming a concubine.
And you, Kilian, what do you think?
Who do you think can protect Aisha better right now, you or me?”
Kilian was silent, staring at Aisha with eyes full of too many emotions.
If I ask her to stay by my side, will she really say yes?
Aisha Ashton is a warm and kind person, even if she pretends not to be. But am I being selfish, risking her safety for my own feelings?
But even so…
Til, sensing Kilian’s hesitation, smiled and said,
“I think that’s enough talking. It was fun, Duke. I hope we don’t meet again. You think so too, right?”
“Til!”
Til stood up and patted Aisha’s shoulders.
“Let’s go back to the hideout, Aisha. It’s late.
I’ll get you a bath. You almost died today. You need to rest.
You finished your article, so you deserve a break.”
Til was stubborn. He pulled Aisha up and tried to lead her away.
“Hey! Wait! Til!”
“Come on, let’s go.”
“Let go of me!”
Aisha finally broke free and stared at Kilian, who still sat at the bar.
Kilian looked back at her with eyes that somehow seemed hurt.
“Duke.”
I really don’t know anymore… Maybe Kilian already fell for Hilda, just like in the original story. Maybe he doesn’t need me at all.
But there was one thing she was sure of:
She couldn’t leave someone with that kind of expression alone. Especially if that someone was Kilian.
So Aisha asked,
“Do you really want me to go?”
“If I leave now, who knows when we’ll meet again? Maybe it’ll be a very long time.
Do you really not care?”
Kilian was silent.
“Even if you don’t care, I do!
Do you really think the emperor is after only you? He’s after me too!”
“You saw me fighting back against the emperor tonight! Even Belmore knows who I am now. I’ll be in danger, no matter where I go!”
Please, just once. For any reason, just once—hold on to me.
“Should I just go? Really?”
Kilian stayed silent.
“Hey, Kilian Winter…!”
Right then, Kilian, who had just been sitting there, suddenly stood up.
And at the same time, he grabbed Aisha’s hand.
