🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 19~
Aisha’s eyes widened.
“It’s been a while, Sel—”
Til started to speak, but Aisha moved faster. She rushed forward, grabbed him by the collar, and threw him straight to the floor.
“You—what are you—?”
Til sat there stunned, surprised by her sudden attack. Aisha ignored him, busy shutting the terrace doors tight.
“Are you crazy? How can you just show up here like this!”
She glared at him, whispering urgently.
“My room is right next to Killian’s! His bedroom is right there!”
“I know.”
“Wh—What?”
“You think there’s anything in this empire I don’t know, Aisha?”
Til grinned.
“I already mapped out the Winters mansion. Every room, every hidden passage, even the underground tunnels.”
“Oh… right.”
Of course. He was the leader of Rune. It would be strange if he didn’t know.
Aisha’s gaze turned tense.
She was glad to see Til after days apart, but she also knew—Til could change in an instant. If he wanted, he could draw his sword and strike her down right here.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“…What?”
“I mean—I didn’t say anything about you or Rune to Killian.”
Til’s brows twitched slightly.
“But… he did ask me who was helping me. I managed to avoid it, but still…”
“Your office. It was searched.”
Til said it casually.
“They trashed everything. Well, it already looked like trash anyway. But the problem is—some things are missing.”
“…Missing?”
“Letters.”
Oh no.
Her mind flashed through all the letters she had exchanged—Helen, the Harlem kids, scattered informants… and Leoric.
“Damn it. So that’s how Killian figured it out.”
And worse—letters about Rune.
“Killian Winters probably already suspects you’re connected to us.”
“W-What should I do…?”
Aisha’s voice trembled.
She searched Til’s face for clues, but as always, he wore that same unreadable smile.
Is he here to kill me? Is that why he came? Really…?
Til stayed silent, simply staring. He saw fear and terror in her eyes—the kind of look he knew very well.
“What should we do? Should we get rid of her?”
Paul’s voice echoed in Til’s memory.
Yes. By Rune’s rules, Aisha was dangerous. If Killian tortured her, she might spill their secret.
But—
“What about Sunday Exposé, Aisha?”
“…What?”
“Is it shutting down now? It must be. After you were caught.”
“No! He said I can still publish.”
“…Killian Winters allowed it?”
“Yes. Well, with conditions. He chooses the topics, and he checks everything I write first… but he didn’t forbid it. I know, crazy, right?”
Til stayed quiet.
“So there’s no need to worry. And the last issue was a huge hit! The next one will make even more money—because of the topic. Damn it, he made me write about it.”
“So, Aisha… you mean to say…”
She expected him to be pleased—Til loved money. But his expression wasn’t exactly happy.
“You’re saying Killian Winters knows you’re the reporter, made you his fiancée as a shield, and now keeps you under constant watch in this mansion?”
“…And what do you think I look like right now? Do I look happy to you? That’s disgusting.”
She groaned dramatically.
Til thought to himself—it made no sense. Did Killian really need to go this far?
“Even putting her room next to his? That’s insane. Or… has he actually fallen for her?”
“This house is insane! Everything here is a rule, rule, rule. I just want to smear filth on his perfect face.”
“……”
“Hey, Til, are you even listening to me?”
No. Killian Winters wouldn’t fall for her. He must just be insane.
Til reached his conclusion logically.
“Every three days.”
“…What?”
“I’ll come every three days, just like today. Officially, it’s for keeping watch on you and for business. You understand, right?”
“Do whatever you want.”
“And keep sending articles through Leoric. Paul will pick them up.”
Thank god Til was money-obsessed. For a moment she feared he might kill her, but it seemed she was safe—for now.
In the big picture, she hadn’t lost anything. She wasn’t killed by Killian, Rune didn’t cut her off, and Sunday Exposé wasn’t shut down.
At least, not yet.
“Once again, Aisha—never mention Rune or me to Killian Winters. You understand?”
“I value my life. If I was going to spill it, I would’ve done it already.”
She sighed.
“Besides, without Rune, I couldn’t even publish the next issue. Sunday Exposé is important to me too.”
“That’s easier to hear.”
Til smiled.
“See you in three days, Aisha.”
He opened the terrace door.
“Stay alive. I don’t want to lose such a profitable business.”
In an instant, he vanished—jumping down from the terrace as swiftly as he came. Silence fell over her room.
“…Ha.”
Aisha sighed deeply.
“Everyone around me is insane. Damn it.”
Surely, at least one person should’ve been normal. Why were only lunatics gathering around her?
She thought seriously—but never realized others probably saw her as the craziest of all.
The Imperial Palace of the Draxion Empire was famous for its beauty and luxury. No palace in any nearby empire could compare.
Draxion was a land of endless gold and jewels, fertile soil, abundant seas for fishing, and flourishing trade. It was truly blessed.
People often said: whoever became Emperor of Draxion could achieve anything they wanted—victory in war, the most beautiful women, whatever they desired.
But the true master of Draxion was not Emperor Belmore Allington.
It was the Empress Dowager, Roselia.
Mother of the Emperor. The real ruler of Draxion.
“So… Killian Winters is engaged?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knight reporting looked tense. Even after more than ten years in this position, standing before her always made his chest tighten.
It was natural.
The woman before him looked as if she had been born to rule over everyone.
Roselia. Empress Dowager of the Draxion Empire.
“Back from the battlefield, and already engaged. To some girl from a worthless family?”
Tap. Tap.
Roselia tapped her jeweled black fan against her palm, her eyes gleaming sharply.
