UDBL~60

Chapter 60

Riana left the room cheerfully, but Killian felt dizzy as he leaned back on the bed.

It was just the same old game.

He had tried to seduce her only as another excuse to chase her out. Pretending to want her, speaking sweet words—it was all meaningless sugarcoating.

So he told himself to calm down.

He took deep breaths until the unnatural rush of blood gathering below his waist finally dispersed.

It was a night where the line between truth and lies had become blurred.

That night, Killian didn’t summon Riana again.

Normally, she would have been glad, but now—when she desperately needed to recruit him—it was disappointing.

But I’ll see him every night anyway. No need to rush.

Besides, he seemed restless too, unable to “capture” her the way he wanted. If she timed things right, she could use what he wanted as leverage to demand what she needed.

If she played her cards well, opportunities might roll into her hands naturally.

But there was one person with whom luck alone would never be enough.

The key player—Gray.

Without him, even if everything else is perfect, I can’t succeed.

So Riana decided to dig up her own chance with him.

At dawn, without even sleeping, Riana rushed to the knights’ training grounds.

The knights always began their mornings early. Already, the fenced training yard was alive with lines of knights jogging in formation.

Most were still running, but a few, drenched in sweat, were resting nearby.

Gray was among them, sitting on a chair beside the stables.

Riana spotted him and immediately called out:

“Gra—”

But both her steps and voice froze.

There was a woman sitting right next to Gray.

“…What the—?”

She tensed for a moment, but quickly relaxed when she recognized the woman.

Ah, it’s Cece.

Cece, a member of the “Knight Fanclub.”

Watching the morning jog was a daily routine for the fanclub maids. Sure enough, a group of them was sitting at the corner, staring dreamily at the knights.

The reason Riana had come this early was exactly that. Surrounded by other maids, she wouldn’t attract strange rumors for being in the knights’ area.

But why is Cece sitting next to Gray alone… Did her favorite knight change?

After Gray joined, the popularity rankings among knights had been completely shaken up. Many girls had switched their favorites to him.

Riana was about to approach when she froze again.

Wait—I forgot to talk to Cece about the memory potion.

The last time they met, Cece had dropped the potion, Riana had picked it up and drunk it, and then they’d bumped into each other right after. This was the first time seeing her since then.

But how was she supposed to bring it up?

“By the way, I picked up that illegal potion you dropped”? No. Too shady.

“I drank your potion so I can’t return it”? That could get her arrested.

And if she suddenly offered “compensation,” that would look even more suspicious.

Ignoring it would prick her conscience, but…

Well, maybe she still doesn’t know I picked it up.

At the time, Cece hadn’t realized she dropped it. She probably just thought she’d lost it.

Sorry, but just keep misunderstanding for a little longer.

So Riana decided to avoid her until she came up with a better idea.

When the knights finished jogging, the fanclub maids all left. Cece went with them.

Now, with the maids gone, Riana had to act fast before she stood out. She hurried to Gray’s bench.

“What were you talking about with her just now?”

“She just talked about herself and left.”

Gray replied calmly, unsurprised by Riana’s sudden appearance.

“What about herself?”

“She said she’s from Welsen, like me.”

“…Cece’s from Welsen?”

Riana’s eyebrows shot up. In this era, travel between countries wasn’t common. Add to that the fact Cece had once carried an illegal potion—it made her a strange case.

She’s an unusual one.

But Riana turned her focus back to Gray. Her wide eyes fixed on him.

Still… they seemed to talk for quite a while.

Her gaze sharpened.

Yesterday, he slammed the door in my face. But Cece gets a whole long chat just because they’re from the same place?

Her glare grew so sharp that Gray flinched. He quickly pulled out his pocket and flipped it inside out.

“See? She didn’t give me her address or anything this time, okay?”

Riana almost rolled her eyes, but instead she forced a cheerful smile.

“Hey, you know, I’ve actually been to Welsen before too.”

Not the same as being from there, but still a decent common ground. Thanks to Cece, she had the perfect opening.

Thanks, Cece. I owe you again.

“…You? When?”

Just as she’d thought Cece’s story was unusual, Gray also looked skeptical.

Who would believe the ten-year-old Riana had traveled abroad?

With a bitter laugh at her own crazy life, Riana explained:

“About eleven years ago… I was chosen as the orphanage representative to attend a lord’s banquet. But I got on the wrong carriage. Fell asleep and woke up in Welsen.”

“…So how did you get back?”

At least he seemed interested this time—not dismissive like yesterday.

Riana’s eyes curved into half-moons. Success.

“Someone helped me.”

And with that, she was ready to slip into her real purpose.

“Ahh—It made me realize how beautiful it is when people help each other.”

Her eyes sparkled at him, full of admiration.

Even Willy, when told to “wait” before eating a snack, didn’t look this eager.

Gray blinked at her in confusion, frowning slightly.

“…That thing you mentioned last time—”

But before she could finish, Gray suddenly jolted up, shouting:

“How many times do I have to say I won’t break that promise? I told you, I’m not going to fall in love!”

“Why are you yelling?! I wasn’t even talking about that!”

Startled, Riana shouted back.

And just like that, she knew—her plan was sliding straight toward failure.

Because their voices had drawn attention. Heads were turning toward them.

No, no, I can’t be seen with him right now!

Panicking, Riana grabbed his wrist.

“Let’s go talk somewhere else—”

“I told you not to touch me!”

He shook her off violently.

Riana’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? Again?

But Gray also noticed the eyes on them. Scratching his neck nervously, he jerked his chin.

“Damn it. Just follow me.”

“Follow where?”

“Just—come on!”

He grabbed her—not by the arm, but by pinching her sleeve—and dragged her along.

They stopped inside the stables.

The stench hit them immediately. Riana’s face twisted in disgust before they’d even spoken.

Dozens of horses peeked out from their stalls, silently watching the scene.

Gray was the first to speak, his tone sharp and accusing.

“Hey! Don’t you dare lecture me. I’m the one keeping that crazy promise for your sake! You’re the one who needs to be careful!”

“…Did you just call it a crazy promise?”

“You’re the one pushing me into this! If not for you, I’d never have agreed to it in the first place!”

Still pinching her nose against the smell, Riana managed to snap back nasally:

“I never thought you’d break it anyway! That’s not even what I was saying just now!”

Even Gray, who was used to stable stink, wrinkled his face.

“…You really don’t think I’ll break it?”

So she touches me, looks at me that way—and yet doesn’t think I’ll ever have feelings for her?

That, somehow, felt worse.

Like she was treating him as if he were some emotionless monster.

The words stuck in his throat: What, am I just some heartless beast to you?

But he couldn’t say it. He was the one who had promised not to love.

He hadn’t known, back then, that so much could change.

Meanwhile, Riana finally dropped her hand, giving up on blocking the smell and focusing on fighting back.

“Exactly! And if you know it’s such a crazy promise, then why yell it in front of everyone? Just like earlier—”

Just like in front of Deborah!

She had told herself not to resent him for that misunderstanding. But deep down, it still stung.

Thinking of Deborah, her hand shot out and clutched his sweaty collar tight.