IBTBD 18

Chapter 18

The one exuding a terrifying aura of intimidation was, of course, Keinih.

But the guest sitting across from him was no pushover either.

“Haha, of course not. I may not have much desire to live long, but I don’t plan on dying just yet.”

“I’m not interested in what you think. But I see your poor comprehension is still incurable.”

“Sir Kreutz—no, should I call you Duke now? I see your coarse tongue hasn’t changed either. That must be incurable as well.”

To stand before Keinih Kreutz and answer him without yielding a word—who could manage that?

And not only that—

“The tea has a fine aroma. I hear you recently purchased lands in the south. It must be true, then?”

He even sipped tea leisurely, smiling.

That only made my curiosity about the guest burn hotter.

Who in the world could this be—standing against Keinih Kreutz?!

I decided to close the distance to confirm the stranger’s identity.

Like treading on thin ice, I crept closer and pressed my face to a narrow crack in the floor.

I-I can see…!

A man with golden hair that gleamed like it held the warmth of sunlight.

Even from the way he sat, he was clearly a scion of some high-ranking noble family.

Just then, the man abruptly raised his head—and our eyes met.

Those cool blue eyes were staring straight at the ceiling where I was hiding.

Don’t tell me he noticed me?!

With that primal fear, every hair on my body stood on end.

A predator. A top-class predator.

And at the same time, a sharp shard of memory lodged itself in my mind.

I had seen those blue eyes once before.

Three years ago—on the cliff’s edge, when I had lost everything.

The audience chamber was steeped in cold air.

“Sir Astrakhan, have you finally gone mad?”

Keinih snapped at the guest, who was staring blankly into space.

The dazzling golden-haired man was Erjin Astrakhan.

If Kreutz ruled the North, Astrakhan held sway over the East.

“Fortunately, no. At least not yet.”

Only then did Erjin lower his gaze from the ceiling and reply.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as though he had made a casual jest, yet his drooping eyes showed no emotion at all.

Not unusual for Erjin Astrakhan.

More than ten years ago—

When I had visited his territory under the duke’s hand, he already had those cold, dead-fish eyes.

And yet he would smile emptily, never failing to address people politely with words he didn’t mean.

The young Keinih often thought to himself:

“That vacant look—Astrakhan’s finished.”

And that thought hadn’t changed to this day.

The ducal family’s power, the heir’s responsibilities—

What could one expect from such a lazy, lifeless wastrel who bore nothing on his shoulders?

“That’s unfortunate,” Keinih answered without inflection.

Truthfully, Erjin Astrakhan’s state of mind hardly mattered to him.

“How kind of you to worry about me. Perhaps living long really does have its perks.”

“We’re both weary enough already. Let’s skip the chatter.”

What mattered was what came next.

“What business brings you to my castle?” Keinih asked bluntly.

At the same moment, heavy mana filled the chamber.

Outside the door, knights collapsed one after another, unable to endure the killing intent.

Even the heir of Astrakhan, said to possess mana second only to Kreutz, was not unaffected.

Though he did not faint like the guards, he tugged irritably at his cravat, struggling to breathe.

With one rough pull, a couple of buttons popped off his shirt.

The noble appearance from moments before was gone, replaced by a disheveled posture and half-unbuttoned shirt.

He might have looked somewhat roguish, but his handsome face remained unchanged.

“It’s not as though I came here of my own will,” Erjin said, drawing a letter embossed with a golden seal from his coat.

On this continent, it could mean only one thing.

“A letter from the Imperial Court,” Keinih muttered with a dry laugh.

“His Majesty has ordered a joint investigation into the Baron Viscountcy incident.”

“I heard nothing of this.”

“Of course not.”

A faint smile touched Erjin’s lips despite his furrowed brow under the crushing pressure.

He didn’t say it outright, but the meaning was clear.

The nobles of the capital and the Imperial Court already regarded Keinih Kreutz as the true culprit.

If the Court sent investigators directly, unnecessary conflict with House Kreutz might erupt. So they sent a proxy.

Someone who could speak legitimately on the matter, but who also had ties to the Kreutz duchy: Erjin Astrakhan.

“His Majesty commanded me not to return until the Duke of Kreutz’s honor is restored.”

“Which sounds to me like you plan to stay here and spy on me.”

“If that’s how you hear it, then I suppose that’s what it is.”

His cool eyes curved like crescent moons, and for the moment the matter seemed settled.

At least—for that day.

With no good pretext to drive Erjin away, Keinih had no choice but to give him a room in the castle.

And so a few days passed.

Contrary to the expectation that he might stir up the castle, Erjin remained as quiet as a mouse.

Is this a ruse? To lull Keinih into complacency and then strike from behind?

Seated at my usual post by the window, I kept close watch on the enemy’s movements.

It had become the most important part of my daily routine.

After days of observation, Erjin’s schedule could be summed up in two words:

Spacing out—or napping.

Look—there he was, right in the middle of enemy territory, preparing to nap again.

The weather was fine, the breeze cool—it was clearly his plan.

Should I call that a strong heart, or just careless?

So bold, so bold!

I clicked my tongue in disbelief—

“Chuu, chuut?!”

Startled, I ducked under the window frame.

Erjin, who had been lying on the dry grass, suddenly sat upright.

His frown was aimed directly in my direction.

What’s this? The lazybones who wouldn’t stir even if it rained is suddenly alert?

Could he have sensed my highly trained surveillance?

No—that shouldn’t be possible.

I’d been living as a fugitive squirrel for three years now.

If there’s one thing I excel at, it’s erasing my presence.

I shook my head, then cautiously peeked out again.

As I thought, he didn’t notice.

Sure enough, Erjin had only shifted position to nap in the shade of a tree.

With him hidden under cover, any further observation was impossible.

“Chuut.”

I suppose that’s it for today.

Brushing off my knees, I stood—

“You do live quite a carefree life.”

The weary voice came from directly above my head.

Well, I suppose I do.

“And just what are you nodding at? I was talking to you, Lady Cherry.”

It was Gerard, hands on his hips.

“Chu, chuut?”

Ah… you meant me?

“You’ve so much work piled up—will you keep wasting time like this?”

In the office, he was every bit the stern superior, scolding me with a grave tone.

And behind him—

“Cherry.”

Keinih tilted his head, rubbing his brow.

He said nothing further, but I immediately understood the meaning behind his expression.

You like him?

Keinih’s eyes were practically twitching.

Whether Gerard didn’t notice or simply ignored it, he went right on pouring oil on the fire.

“I’ve thought this for some time, but Lady Cherry seems to have a keen aesthetic sense.”

What?!

What nonsense was he spouting now?

I shot him a glare, but Gerard continued.

“Whenever a handsome knight passed by, you couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

…Well, not untrue, but still.

“And sometimes you’d stare intently at Lord Keinih while he was working. You even stared at me once or twice, though I didn’t mention it.”

What was he even saying?

“And now, Sir Astrakhan is widely known as one of the empire’s greatest beauties. Golden hair, mysterious blue eyes—the very picture of a handsome man.”

The more Gerard prattled, the darker Keinih’s expression became.

Until finally—

“Hah.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.