RTGD 20

Chapter 20

“What? A-already? What do we do, Miss…!”

Allen looked on the verge of tears as she heard that Killian had already arrived at the door.

At this rate, she might have to send Lithricia out just like this.

“First, at least change your clothes! Ah, that’ll take too long, right? Then at least a hairpin…! Or should I guide His Grace to the drawing room?”

As Allen frantically panicked, there came another knock.

“Lithricia.”

This time, it wasn’t a servant—it was Killian himself knocking.

That made Allen even more flustered. She clenched the lace tie in her hand with determination.

“As I thought…! I’ll go out and talk to him. I’ll ask him to wait just a little. Since it’s an unannounced visit, surely His Grace will understand?”

“It’s fine, Allen. He said there’s no need to dress up.”

Even though she was trembling in fear of Killian, Allen’s resolve was adorable. Lithricia comforted her and removed a few pieces of lace from her hair as she headed for the door.

“Lithricia, it’s been a while… hmm.”

When she opened the door, Killian’s usually dry eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Then a shadow fell over her head.

Swish—with the sound of fabric rustling, a ribbon that hadn’t yet been removed from her hair fell into Killian’s hand.

“My apologies. It seems I came too suddenly.”

“Huh…? How did this end up here…?”

Casually twirling the blue lace—resembling his own eye color—Killian glanced around the room.

He took in the dresses draped over the maid’s arms and the colorful hair accessories in Lithricia’s hand.

It looked like she had rushed to get ready upon hearing of his arrival.

As his gaze settled on Lithricia’s face, a low breath escaped his lips.

“Pfft.”

“Your Grace, did you just laugh?”

Embarrassed by her disheveled state, Lithricia had been fixing her hair, but she quickly looked up at the sound.

But maybe she had heard wrong.

Killian’s expression was now completely neutral, as if he had never laughed.

“Were you trying to dress up? There’s no need for that.”

Of course. That’s why he said she didn’t need to dress up.

His dry gaze, showing no interest in her whatsoever, made Lithricia’s face burn.

“You’re right. I said it wasn’t necessary too…”

“What you wear doesn’t matter. Whether you dress fancy or plain, you’re still just you.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m saying, from now on, there’s no need for formality in front of me. Dress however you like. Suit yourself, not me.”

Killian casually folded the lace and tucked it into his inner pocket, then raised his brows slightly.

Then he let out another stifled laugh, like a disguised cough.

“By the way, I recall you didn’t like it much at the time, but it seems you’ve taken quite a liking to my gift.”

With only the doorway between them, Killian leaned forward.

“Hmm? Lithricia.”

Yellow paint was now smeared on his long fingertips.

It seemed she had touched her hair with paint-covered fingers and even gotten some on her face.

“I’m glad you like the gift, but still—you shouldn’t walk around all smudged like this.”

His voice was still cool and crisp, like biting into ice, but he seemed to find it rather amusing.

His teasing touch as he wiped the paint from her cheek confirmed it.

“I-I’ll do it myself!”

Feeling like a child caught red-handed, Lithricia tried to hide her face.

“P-please come inside. And next time, could you at least send a letter before visiting? Popping in like this is uncomfortable.”

“Very well. But I doubt I’ll have a reason to write.”

Killian stepped across the threshold with his usual composed expression.

“I don’t expect to set foot in this mansion again. I’m about to depart for the North.”

*

Drip.

Steam rose from the teacup as tea was poured in.

“That’s enough. You can leave now, Allen.”

“…Yes, Miss. Please call if you need anything.”

Reluctantly, Allen left the room, leaving Killian and Lithricia alone in the quiet.

Killian broke the silence.

“Is that all your luggage? I’ll tell Pell to take care of it.”

“You really are leaving for the North today?”

“Yes.”

He gave a small nod and ran a hand through his hair.

His revealed forehead only enhanced his striking features.

“Why? Is there more you need to pack? If so, I can delay the schedule a bit.”

“No, I’ve packed everything. There’s not much to take with me anyway.”

Lithricia glanced at her modest pile of belongings—not even a quarter of the boxes Killian had given her—then brought her teacup to her lips.

“It’s just a bit sudden. Is there a reason for rushing like this?”

“Not really, but if I had to say… my arm hurts?”

“…What?”

With a deadly serious expression, Killian wiggled his bandaged arm dramatically.

“Ow. It’s more painful than it looks. Pain makes you think of home, you know.”

“…What is that supposed to mean.”

His uncharacteristically silly behavior made Lithricia smile faintly.

“I’m serious. As you know, the capital is no longer my home, and the new homeowners don’t like me very much. I can’t rest in a place like this.”

Clink.

Killian set down his teacup.

By “homeowners,” he clearly meant the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

“Why? Do you not want to leave here yet? Do you still feel some attachment?”

If guilt counts as attachment.

At his question, Lithricia’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

But quickly smoothing her expression, she shook her head.

“No. The sooner I leave, the happier the people in this house will be. Let’s go now. But—”

“But?”

“Before we go, I want to be clear about our marriage arrangement.”

Lithricia pulled out a crisp white sheet of paper from the drawer.

“What part do you mean?”

“The duration.”

Killian crossed his long legs, his handsome face both arrogant and curious.

She placed the paper neatly on the tea table.

“Hmm. What’s this?”

The word ‘Contract’ at the top of the page annoyed Killian, and he tapped his ankle lightly.

It contained only one clause: their relationship would end in one year.

“A one-year time limit, huh.”

Killian dragged the paper toward him with his index finger.

“Yes. As you know, I don’t have much time left. After a year, this contract automatically dissolves.”

“Hmm…”

He tapped the table with the pen she handed him.

It was just an extension from six months to a year, and yet, here he was, rewriting this damn contract again.

He didn’t like it.

Honestly, a contract like this was meaningless.

Naive Lithricia. If you’re going to bring me something, it should’ve been a magical scroll bound by life and death, not a piece of paper.

Spinning the pen between his fingers, Killian studied her.

Her rosy lips, looking soft to the touch, were pressed tightly together.

Seeing her serious expression, he guessed that if he refused to sign, she’d probably try to back out of the marriage altogether.

Fine. I’ll play along for now.

Killian, with no intention of honoring the contract anyway, uncapped the pen.

“This is all you want?”

“Ah… and about my condition, to the people at the Grand Duchy…”

“If you don’t wish them to know, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you.”

Scratch, scratch. The sound of his pen across the paper made a soft rustling.

But just before he finished signing, Killian paused.

“By the way, Lithricia, aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Huh?”

“The title. I believe we agreed you’d stop calling me that.”

“Ah… well… I’m not used to it yet. Can I take a little more time to adjust?”

“No. You can’t.”

Killian gave no room for negotiation. Lithricia’s lips parted in hesitation.

“If you don’t say it properly, I won’t sign this contract. I don’t mind, but what about you?”

He put the pen down completely, making Lithricia fidget with her lower lip.

“Ki… Killian.”

She finally managed to say his name, awkward and stiff.

Killian’s lips curled ever so slightly.

“Well done. You can keep calling me that from now on.”

With a praising tap on the back of her hand, he completed his signature.

“There. I’ve signed it, just as you wanted. Now, may we depart?”