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~Chapter 10~
Aisha had been locked in a small room of the Winters Ducal Palace for half a day.
Outside the window, the sky was already turning bright.
The children, tired from crying, had collapsed and fallen asleep. Leoric too. He was dozing off while hugging Helen tightly.
Aisha looked at them and thought:
‘The kids I understand, but what the hell is wrong with that guy?’
‘What does Killian Winters plan to do with us?’
At first, she thought he would drag them straight into the underground prison. But strangely, Killian just locked them inside a room.
Was it some kind of tactic to lower their guard? Maybe torture in a normal room would be even scarier. But no—Killian did nothing to them.
‘That man wouldn’t act like this.’
Normally, Killian Winters would have cut off her head right on the ship.
In the original story, Killian Winters was literally the insane sub–male lead. A hidden villain.
Cruel and ruthless, he didn’t bond with anyone until he met the female lead, Hilda Everett. He never kept people near him, moved only when it was necessary.
Even after meeting Hilda, he couldn’t change his nature—so he became the villain anyway.
That’s why this was strange.
Why didn’t he kill them?
‘Is it because of the Ashton family?’
No way. Aisha snorted quietly to herself. Killian didn’t even care about the Imperial family—so why would he worry about the Ashtons? Impossible.
‘Then… is he still deciding what to do with me?’
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out. It was driving her crazy. She was about to rip her hair out when—
Knock knock.
A polite knock came from beyond the door.
“…”
Aisha stood up stiffly. Luckily—or unluckily—the children and Leoric were still asleep.
“This is Theorn, Duke Killian’s knight. I’ll be coming in.”
The door opened. Theorn, who had been by Killian’s side earlier, stepped inside.
He paused, glanced around the room, and lowered his voice when he saw the kids asleep. He walked right up to Aisha.
So close she gulped down a dry swallow.
Was this torture? Death?
“Duke Killian is calling for you.”
“What?”
“You can leave the others here. No need to wake them.”
M-Me, alone?
Well, it made sense. The Sunday Exposé crimes were hers, not the children’s or Leoric’s.
Still…
Aisha looked at the sleeping children with worried eyes.
“There’s nothing to fear. They’ll be fine.”
Theorn whispered quietly.
“I’ll arrange for their breakfast when they wake. Now, please come with me. Duke Killian is waiting.”
He gestured for her to follow and began walking.
‘So he really is taking me alone… to kill me!’
If she’d known this, she would’ve written her will!
Regret filled her, but it was too late.
“Sniff.”
Emotional, Aisha quietly sniffled and gently stroked Helen’s head in Leoric’s arms.
Even without me, live well, kids…
Acting overly dramatic, she finally followed Theorn.
She looked like a cow being dragged to slaughter.
Aisha walked through endless halls, not knowing where she was going.
‘This mansion is ridiculously huge.’
Just when she was getting dizzy, Theorn stopped.
In front of a door glittering with jewels.
“Go in. The Duke is waiting inside.”
“W-Wait!”
Aisha grabbed his sleeve in panic.
“Young Lady?”
“I… I just need to breathe.”
“Haa, haa.”
She struggled to calm herself. Theorn gave her a look like she was crazy, but she didn’t care.
“Okay…”
There was nowhere left to run. She had to beg him to at least spare the kids and Leoric.
“I’ll open the door.”
Unbothered by Aisha’s pale face, Theorn grinned and flung it open. Aisha squeezed her eyes shut.
And then—
‘…Food?’
The smell of food filled her nose, and her eyes snapped open.
Theorn had brought her to… the banquet hall.
“Welcome, Aisha Ashton.”
Killian, already seated, greeted her.
“Enjoy your time.”
Theorn shut the door behind her, leaving her alone with Killian.
Aisha panicked.
‘Why is the table so big, but my seat is so close to him!’
“Are you just going to stand there?”
Killian asked calmly, cutting into his steak.
“I don’t care.”
“N-No!”
So he wasn’t going to kill her right away?
‘Then why hasn’t he killed me yet?’
Carefully, Aisha walked to the seat opposite him. He didn’t even look at her. Finally, she sat down.
‘Wow, he eats so calmly after scaring me half to death.’
Her eyes drifted to the food—especially the steak in front of her.
“There’s no poison. Eat.”
“…Um, forgive me, but is this like a last kindness before you kill me?”
Killian looked at her with a blank face.
“Do you really want to die?”
“N-No! Of course not!”
“Then stop talking nonsense and eat.”
He was right. Besides, there’s a saying—“Even a ghost looks better with a full belly.”
And Killian was watching her closely, like he was making sure she ate.
‘If there’s poison, I’ll just die here, I guess.’
Sweating, Aisha cut the steak and shoved it into her mouth—
Or tried to.
Killian grabbed her wrist.
‘What now?!’
Before she could scream, Killian leaned forward, snatched the piece of steak off her fork, and ate it himself.
“This should prove it’s safe.”
Chewing calmly, he looked at her.
“Eat.”
Was he worried she wouldn’t trust him?
Unbelievable. Killian Winters showing kindness?
“Th-Thank you… Then… I’ll eat.”
She couldn’t refuse now. She lowered her head and stuffed food into her mouth. She wasn’t sure if it was going in her mouth or nose anymore.
Minutes passed.
Then Killian set down his fork and knife, looking at her.
“No matter what you think, I have no plan to kill you.”
“R-Really?”
Her cheeks puffed out with food, she blinked at him blankly.
“But.”
Then Killian spoke words that felt worse than death.
“I plan to make you my fiancée.”
Pffft!
All the food in Aisha’s mouth sprayed across Killian’s face.
