AMHFB 15

Chapter 15

There was nothing he couldn’t tell Killian, and yet the frustration wouldn’t lift. Max raked a hand through his short, bristly hair.

Watching him, Killian spun the pen in his fingers and asked,

“What about Eleanor’s side?”

“You mean Her Grace the Archduchess? Well… I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Should I place surveillance on her again?”

“Not surveillance. Protection.”

“Yes—well, that.”

“No. Leave the protection to Randel. You keep watching the castle.”

“…Understood.”

Max answered reluctantly, but instead of leaving the office right away, he hesitated.

Though he lived his life grumbling, he had never once gone against Killian’s orders. After some effort, he finally spoke.

“Your Highness, about Randel—”

Before he could say more, a knock sounded.

“It’s Ronan, Your Highness.”

The butler.

At Killian’s glance, Max immediately opened the door. Ronan entered, his hair neatly slicked back without a single strand out of place, standing straight before Killian.

“The preparations are complete. You may use it starting tonight.”

There was no need to ask what he meant—the shared bedroom.

Killian rose from his seat at once. A faint anticipation flickered in his eyes.

“I’ll tell Eleanor myself. Is she in her study?”

“No. Her Grace is out for a walk.”

“A walk?”

The word didn’t suit Eleanor at all. Because of her frail constitution, she avoided even light exercise and usually stayed in bed whenever possible.

“The weather’s been pleasant lately, so she’s been going on daily walks with Sir Randel. Around this time, in fact.”

Killian’s gaze snapped to Max. Startled, Max waved his hands frantically.

“No! I swear, I didn’t see anything…!”

While monitoring the castle, he regularly checked on Eleanor as well, but her range of activity had always been limited. Walking with Randel was something he hadn’t detected at all.

“He must’ve deliberately shaken me off.”

Max protested indignantly and shot Ronan a pleading look. Thinking to save his pitiful friend, Ronan gestured toward the window.

“Look. Her Grace is coming now.”

At the mention of Eleanor, Killian whipped his head around—and froze.

At the entrance to the quiet walking path, Eleanor and Randel were approaching together, looking rather close.

More precisely, Randel was walking. Eleanor was on his back, leaning close and whispering something to him.

“…They look quite affectionate,” Killian said flatly.

“Closer than with me.”

The unspoken words seemed to drill straight into Max and Ronan’s minds.

For a moment, the two felt as though darkness was swallowing everything around Killian. They quickly moved away—Max plastering himself to the left wall, Ronan to the right—just as Killian vanished from the office like a gust of wind.

Ronan stared blankly at the now-empty room.

“He’s been doing things he never used to lately. It worries me.”

“Isn’t it good if he gets along well with the Archduchess? I’m more worried about that one.”

Max pointed outside, toward Randel.

He understood why Killian had brought him in. Ever since a monster had infiltrated the archducal castle, anxiety had spread. Someone capable needed to guard the castle when Killian was away.

Still, the fact that it had to be Randel left him uneasy.

“I’ve heard he’s strong, but he’s not a Sword Master like His Highness. I can’t help worrying.”

At Max’s concern, Ronan replied calmly,

“Well. He might become one someday. His Highness said he brought him in for his potential.”

“Even so, does he really need to be the Archduchess’s closest guard? He’s a former mercenary who works for money. Who knows how he might change.”

Aside from Killian, there was no knight in the castle who could restrain Randel. If he chose to make a show of force while the master was away, the damage would be severe.

Ronan worried about that too.

“…His Highness must have his reasons.”

All they could do was trust Killian.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Shifting around on Randel’s back to find a comfortable position, I groaned. A sharp pain shot through my waist, unbearable.

When I kept squirming, Randel stopped and scolded me.

“That’s what happens when you insist.”

“You keep making me do endurance training. When am I ever supposed to hold a sword?”

“After today, you’ll understand how far off that still is.”

“Ha… ah!”

I sighed, stamping my feet in frustration before clutching my waist again. By now, Randel was used to my flailing and continued straight ahead regardless. Every heavy step made my body sway, worsening the pain.

It really was my own stubborn fault.

With the consummation right around the corner and no progress in training, I’d grown anxious and demanded to at least touch a sword. Randel finally gave in and handed me a wooden sword, but swinging it with an unprepared body had strained my back.

Repenting my past choices, I let my body go limp.

“Slow down. My waist hurts.”

“A moment ago, you said you didn’t care if it hurt as long as we went faster.”

“Then go fast… but slowly.”

At my nonsensical request, Randel sighed—then suddenly halted.

Dangling on his back, I turned my head forward.

Killian was walking toward us.

Smiling brightly.

‘Then why does he look so irritated…?’

Something ominous lingered in the air, and my grip on Randel’s shoulders tightened.

But up close, Killian’s face looked perfectly radiant. Maybe I’d imagined it.

Smiling, he looked at Randel and said,

“Come here.”

It sounded like he had something to say.

Since I was already in the process of climbing down, I carefully placed my feet on the ground.

“Talk it out. I’ll head back.”

I tried to step aside, but Randel stopped me. He lightly caught my sleeve, then released it, gesturing toward Killian with his eyes.

“Was that directed at me?”

Then… was it meant for me?

When I turned back, Killian stood there like a painting.

A painting that looked as though a ghost might crawl out of it at any moment.

Killian tilted his head slightly, staring at Randel with a chilling gaze. Randel immediately stepped back.

“…Then I’ll excuse myself. Please talk.”

After giving a brief bow, he returned to the main building without waiting for my permission.

“Randel?”

No response.

‘Wait! I’m scared too! Take me with you!’

As I held back the urge to shout, Killian turned his back to me. The ominous air he’d shown Randel was completely gone.

“Get on.”

“Huh? Why?”

As I asked in confusion, Killian bent forward as if he truly intended to carry me, frowning slightly.

“Your waist hurts, doesn’t it?”

“…I never told you. How did you know?”

“How wouldn’t I? It’s about you.”

As if genuinely baffled, Killian bent down again.

After hesitating briefly, I climbed onto his broad back. I’d already shamelessly let Randel carry me—there was no way I could make it to the main building on my own now.

When I carefully wrapped my arms around his neck, Killian straightened. My field of vision jumped upward.

“You’re never healthy for a single day.”

Clicking his tongue, he strode forward. Though he walked faster than Randel, his body didn’t sway, and my waist hurt less. Thanks to that, I arrived at the office comfortably and asked as soon as my feet touched the floor,

“You didn’t come out just to carry me. What’s going on?”

“I did come out to carry you.”

“…What?”

The unexpected answer left me even more flustered than when he’d offered his back.

Hmm. That didn’t sound like Killian at all.

“Didn’t you just run into me by coincidence?”

Killian let out a short breath and raised both hands to my cheeks.

Startled, I flinched and shut my eyes—but soon opened them again. His large hands had stopped just short of touching my face.

Meeting my gaze, he slowly cupped my cheeks.

His hands were big enough to cover my whole face… but they weren’t frightening. His touch was gentle, as if handling something precious.

“I was worried. You wouldn’t be riding on someone else’s back without a reason.”

Then he slowly withdrew his hands.

“They say the bedroom is finished.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Of course. So that’s what this was about.

Snorting inwardly, I thought,

‘It shouldn’t be finished this fast. I haven’t even properly learned a single self-defense technique yet!’

As I bit my lip, Killian spoke in a low, suggestive voice.

“Tonight.”

A dangerous smile curved his lips.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

L-looking forward to what?!

I couldn’t even retort properly, just gaping uselessly. Killian had already walked off, while Anna, standing nearby, grinned slyly.

“Why are you smiling?”

I snapped at her, and she feigned innocence.

“Oh my, was I smiling?”

Then she clenched her fists enthusiastically.

“Just trust me, Your Grace! I’ll do my very best!”

“I don’t know what ‘best’ means, but don’t.”

“Heehee.”

Her laugh sounded extremely ominous.

“I said don’t, okay?”

“Yes, understood!”

* * *

And after answering so firmly—

“My goodness, Your Grace! You look like an angel!”

After finishing my hair, Anna clasped her hands together, her expression blissful. Did she have tact or not? Usually she was perfectly normal, but whenever Killian was involved, she went completely off-script.

I let out a short sigh.

Three hours already—three hours since finishing my duties and being captured by Anna.

‘My face is practically glowing.’

That was the result of Anna and four maids scrubbing, polishing, and shining me relentlessly.

My body was exhausted, yet my face showed no fatigue, and my clothes practically sparkled. The white silk nightwear embroidered densely with gold thread and jewels could easily pass for a gown.

Half of my red hair flowed naturally down, while the rest was intricately braided and fixed at the back of my head. White flowers were tucked in here and there, making me look like a bride fresh from her wedding.

“His Highness will love it.”

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to dress up for Killian.”

Realizing what I’d said, I quickly corrected myself.

“No—I mean, I don’t know whether he’ll like it! That’s why I’m worried!”

We were consummating to pretend to be on good terms. Showing cracks already would be disastrous.

Not long ago, Anna had glared sharply at Killian as if asking how consummation with a cheating man could ever be acceptable. But now her gaze had softened. Seeing how well Killian treated me must have changed her mind.

In a cheerful voice, Anna reassured me.

“His Highness will like you no matter what you look like! He looked so excited earlier today!”

That was excitement…? Not enjoyment from watching me panic?

Suppressing my sour expression, I dismissed Anna and the maids.

Night had deepened.

Dragging things out with unwanted adornments had felt like delaying stepping into a tiger’s den—but I couldn’t postpone it any longer.

With a resolve that didn’t match my attire, I left my room and stopped at the corridor leading to the shared bedroom.

At the far end stood Killian, bathed in pouring moonlight. Even in the darkness, his golden eyes locked onto me instantly.

In that moment, regret flashed through my mind at lightning speed.

‘Even if gathering evidence was the goal, consummation? That was reckless. Should I cancel it now? What do I do?’

Like prey before a predator, I couldn’t move.

Yet strangely, when Killian began walking, my feet followed on their own.

It felt as though he were pulling me toward him.

The closer I got, the duller my senses became—until, standing beside him, it felt as if my breath stopped.

‘…This is bad.’

The thought came almost instinctively. I tried to step back, but Killian was faster.

Wrapping an arm gently around my waist, he tilted his lips into a slanted smile.

“Trying to run?”