RTGD 18

Chapter 18

“Back off. Now.”

“My lord! What a refreshing morning! Did you sleep—mmph! Mmph!”

Like an overexcited puppy seeing its master, Pell dashed toward Killian with his entire face lit up—only for Killian to shove him away just as quickly.

“And who do you think you are, holding the lady’s hand?”

“Excuse me? I merely caught her because she was about to fall!”

Intimidated by his master’s deadly aura, Pell released Litricia’s hand.

He then raised both arms high in the air like a man declaring his innocence, but Killian only tilted his head coldly.

“Address.”

“…Pardon?”

Pell’s playful eyes rolled like marbles.

From what he had overheard last night, Killian and Litricia had gone through a simple marriage ceremony—so “Lady” certainly wasn’t the correct term anymore.

“Ah! Right! Not ‘Lady,’ but ‘Your Grace the Duchess! I was simply helping Her Grace, really.”

He corrected himself quickly, eyes sparkling as if asking for praise. But Killian merely brushed off the hand that had touched Litricia, his expression unchanging.

“Hmph.”

Killian tapped the stone floor twice with his sheathed sword, then glanced up.

He was standing about ten steps away from Litricia.

“Pell. From now on, do not step foot in here.”

“What? But my lord! …Yes, understood.”

Pell opened his mouth to protest but shut it quickly.

Those icy blue eyes looked like they wouldn’t bleed even if pierced—arguing back would likely earn him a hundred laps around the training grounds.

‘You don’t care about anything usually…’

Pell eyed Killian warily, surprised at this sudden display of possessiveness.

Even so, he obediently retreated ten steps.

Once Pell was far enough away, Killian’s expression softened slightly as he looked down at Litricia.

“What brings you here? I thought you’d still be resting.”

“Ah…”

Hearing his voice directed at her, Litricia blinked a few times, trying to make out Killian’s form.

“I wanted to speak with Your Grace. I also have something to return… Your Grace?”

There were things to ask, things to say. But first, she reached out to return the notebook—only to freeze when Killian suddenly cupped her cheek.

“Your vision still seems blurry. Coming here in that condition could have been dangerous. Do you not realize how hazardous the training grounds are?”

“…I’m sorry?”

Though it wasn’t really the time to apologize, the words slipped out of Litricia’s mouth instinctively.

Killian’s gruff voice strangely sounded like concern, as if scolding her out of worry.

Maybe it was all in her head. But never having experienced such concern before, Litricia didn’t know how to react.

If only he had gotten angry at her for entering without permission, like Isis often did—that, at least, would have been familiar.

What was the proper response in a moment like this?

So she just offered the mechanical smile she always used with Isis.

It was the one expression that usually prevented Isis or Count Esta from blowing up. Her default response in uncertain situations.

“…Did you like the gift?”

It seemed to work on Killian too. Without saying another word, he took the notebook from her hands.

“I wanted to talk to you about the gift, actually.”

“What about it?”

“I don’t know why you’re giving me such valuable things, but I can’t accept them. There’s no reason for me to receive anything from Your Grace.”

“You should just accept them. We are married, after all.”

Killian tucked the notebook into his pocket and continued nonchalantly.

“You asked why I gave it? It’s not that deep. I wanted to win your favor.”

A husband trying to charm his wife.

“But we’re not a real married couple. I also wanted to talk about that—”

“Judging from your reaction, I guess the gifts didn’t please you. Then throw them away.”

“What? All of them?”

Just as Litricia was finally getting into the conversation, Killian abruptly turned his body.

“Wait! Your Grace!”

“Ugh!”

Litricia instinctively reached for Killian as he turned away—and was startled when he let out a quiet groan.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She squinted in frustration, trying to make out his form clearly. Her blurry vision made it look like there were multiple versions of him.

That’s when she noticed the bandage wrapped around his arm.

“Your arm…! This happened because of me yesterday, didn’t it? Is it serious?”

“It’s not—”

Killian started to say it was nothing, but then narrowed his eyes.

Looking down at Litricia’s worried expression, he suddenly hunched over—like someone in unbearable pain.

“Ugh… Actually, I’m not okay. I don’t think I can even make it back to my room like this…”

Ignoring Pell, who stood in the distance with a “Didn’t you just swing a sword like nothing was wrong?” face—

Killian lowered himself and leaned his head onto Litricia’s shoulder.

“So, could you help me walk back?”

*

“What are you staring off into space for? Sit down.”

“Your Grace, is your arm alright now? You were clearly in pain just a moment ago…”

Litricia’s lashes fluttered nervously. She had half-carried Killian back to his room in a daze.

A moment ago, he looked like he was dying—and yet now that they were inside, he seemed perfectly fine.

“Ah, yes. Still hurts. Feels like I’ll die from the pain.”

He said it without the slightest change in tone as he leaned lazily against his desk.

From his movements, it seemed like he was trying to take off his clothes—but his injured arm made it difficult.

Litricia stepped toward him and placed her hands where the buttons should be.

“I’ll help.”

“Hm. My wife is rather forward, isn’t she?”

As she leaned in to undo the buttons on his shirt, Litricia’s face flushed.

Now that she thought about it, the position was quite… compromising.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just… You got hurt because of me. And… thank you for saving me yesterday. I owe you a lot.”

“That’s enough gratitude. More importantly, according to the Esta family’s doctor yesterday, your vision should recover soon.”

Killian took her fumbling fingers and helped guide them to the proper buttons.

“How much can you see now?”

“Mm… I can roughly make out shapes.”

She answered vaguely and returned her focus to the buttons.

“Are you always this calm? For someone who suddenly lost their sight, you’re quite composed.”

“If we’re talking about that, Your Grace is also rather indifferent. You didn’t seem surprised at all yesterday when you saw me.”

Click. She undid the final button and looked up.

“You already knew about my condition, didn’t you?”

“….”

“You’re not going to answer, are you? That knight Pell said Your Grace wasn’t in the Lotus forest by chance yesterday.”

After much consideration, Litricia had concluded that Killian already knew about her condition.

“And I don’t think that’s the only thing that wasn’t a coincidence. Like, for example…”

She drew in a breath and let her eyes relax. Her blurry vision was beginning to clear up.

“…choosing me to be your fake bride.”

“Sigh. That damned Pell. I told him to keep his mouth shut.”

Seeing Killian frown and run a hand through his hair confirmed it for her.

Appointing her as the duchess in place of Lady Lotus was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

“Why? Did Your Grace choose me because of the Esta family’s business?”

There’d be no reason to choose her to defy the imperial marriage plans unless there was a calculated gain.

After all, Killian already had a bad reputation. Taking in a disgraced adoptee accused of murder like Litricia would only harm it further.

But it was a different story if her family was the real prize.

The Esta family was one of the few influential houses that didn’t side with the Empress Dowager.

And their shipping business, considering the North’s proximity to the sea, could open up excellent supply routes.

If that was why he chose her—

“Then you’ve chosen poorly.”

Litricia stepped back and removed the ring from her finger.

She held it out to Killian with a faint smile.

“I might look like a winning hand on the surface, but I’m hollow. And, not sure if you’ve heard, but I don’t have much time left to live.”

When Killian didn’t take the ring, she placed it on his desk.

“I’m not a good bride in any sense. So let’s just call this marriage off—”

“That’s a bit insulting. Are you putting me on the same level as your ex-fiancé?”

“Of course not, Your Grace. I just… Ah—!”

Killian suddenly grabbed her waist, pulling her into him.

She tried to pull away, but his arm was too strong. Instead, she was drawn even deeper into his embrace.

“There will be no cancellation. I told you, once something is decided, I don’t go back on it.”

“But marrying me won’t bring you anything.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve already gotten what I need.”

Litricia felt his hand slide from her back.

And at the same time, her vision returned to full clarity.

She found herself staring straight into Killian’s firm chest—and then his eyes.

Then the ring she had taken off was slipped back onto her finger. Like a trap she would never escape.

“I’ll say it again. There’s no turning back. Because what I need—is you.”