~Chapter 97~
Kilian’s large hand held Aisha’s small hand tightly.
“……”
Aisha, who had been about to shout Kilian’s name, suddenly stopped moving. Til, who was watching from behind, also froze.
Then Kilian spoke in a very low voice.
“Don’t go, Aisha Ashton.”
“……”
“Don’t go.”
Kilian thought he couldn’t understand what he was doing.
In his mind, he knew Rune could protect Aisha better than he could.
But he couldn’t help it. When Aisha said his name, when she kept asking if it was really okay to leave, his mind went blank.
It was like the confusion he felt reading the Cox Bildon report had never happened.
“Just what are you doing?”
Til, with a stiff face, stepped between them.
“I told you our deal is over, right? And you must know, Duke, what it means for me to take Aisha—”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
“Are you really saying that…!”
“But Aisha Ashton says she cares.”
This time Til hesitated.
“She says maybe she won’t see us for a long time.”
“……”
“I care too.”
“What?”
“And you have no right to interfere, Til.”
Kilian looked up. His black eyes were now full of jealousy and anger, not confusion.
“Aisha Ashton decides where she stays. She’s not someone who goes here or there just because someone tells her.”
“……”
“Last time, I respected her decision. You know that, Til.”
“Ha, this is ridiculous.”
Fine. Til muttered softly, then looked at Aisha. Kilian did the same.
Aisha’s answer was already decided.
“I’m sorry, Til.”
“……”
“Tonight, I’ll go with the Duke.”
“What?”
“Thank you so much for taking care of me all this time. But I can’t leave the Duke alone now. He even stood against the emperor because of me—I can’t run away alone.”
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
She also wanted to stay beside Kilian, who had been so shocked after reading the Cox Bildon report. She didn’t want to leave him alone with his pain, like she did when they were young.
But she couldn’t say that out loud.
“Rune took the emperor’s side too!”
Til snapped at Aisha, annoyed.
“Then why only the Duke…!”
Honestly, it was unreasonable. Rune was never close to the palace anyway, and Til knew it.
“I know, Til. I know how much you and Rune have helped me. But just this once, I want you to understand my choice…”
“Ha…”
“Don’t worry about the Sunday Exposé. Like before, I’ll keep sending you the articles. I promise you’ll never lose anything.”
Til gritted his teeth.
‘Is that so?’
Maybe I set up this relationship wrong from the start. Did Aisha always see me as just a business partner?
Even so, he couldn’t complain. He was the one who threatened her before, saying she had to meet the sales goal.
‘Aisha and Leoric Ashton… in the end, they trusted Kilian Winters more.’
Til had never felt so defeated in his life. He clenched his fist tightly.
But he knew.
Aisha had done nothing wrong. Sometimes, you just have to step back.
Just like Kilian did before.
“Fine.”
Til finally spoke the only words he could say.
“Do whatever you want.”
He glared at Kilian with angry eyes, then left the tavern without looking back.
“……”
“……”
Only Kilian and Aisha were left in the silent tavern.
“Um, Duke.”
Aisha looked at Kilian and spoke carefully.
“I’m hurt.”
“What? Where?”
“My hand.”
Oh.
Kilian realized he was still holding her hand tightly, and let go right away.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I can’t control my strength sometimes.”
“You didn’t have to squeeze that hard. I’m not made of glass, you know.”
Aisha laughed softly, and Kilian let out a small sigh of relief.
“So, Duke?”
“Yeah?”
“Shall we go back now?”
Aisha reached out, and this time, she gently held Kilian’s wrist.
“Let’s go back to Winters Mansion.”
Then she said with a gentle voice,
“Everyone will be waiting—Sien, Theorn. They must be really worried.”
“……”
“So let’s go back. Together.”
Was going home always such a warm and comforting thing to say?
Aisha’s words made Winters Mansion, which always felt cold and lonely, seem like a cozy nest. It was a new feeling for Kilian—his heart felt soft and safe.
And he knew why.
Because he was with Aisha Ashton.
“Yeah. Let’s go back, Aisha.”
“Alright.”
The two stood up and left the tavern together, their steps light as feathers.
As if they were just returning to the place where they truly belonged.
