Chapter 35

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Predator’s Mask
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While Croire was being treated by Argenta's physician, Nias.

Nirua was left alone with Diello.

The weak head of the house, who was said to have inherited Argenta at a young age.

Nirua's gaze studied him.

Since Croire Alloje, who had become his master, had joined hands with this man, he needed to understand him well.

—Click.

Diello was as quiet as the rumors claimed.

But he did not possess the gentle air the rumors described.

Nirua froze as he watched Diello undo the buttons of his shirt, one by one.

Was it possible for a mere silent glance to be so chilling?

After unfastening three or four buttons, the black lily engraved on Diello's collarbone became clearly visible.

Nirua's eyes were drawn to the lily, from which a strange magic emanated.

“So this is the patriarch's lily.”

The patriarch's lily, which could only be removed one by one by truly connecting with a Pero.

As a former assassin of Alloje, Nirua knew more about the patriarch's abilities and the lily than the average person from the three families.

“Well? Can you hide it?”

Diello's voice rang out.

Though he was the head of Argenta, a family that wielded fire, his voice was nothing but frigid.

Nirua, tense without realizing it, examined the lily.

Hiding its appearance would be no trouble at all.

The problem was the magic flowing from it.

Nirua thought of the secret techniques passed down in his family and nodded.

“It's entirely possible.”

“Then let's proceed at once. I need to know the extent to which it can be concealed.”

Diello leaned back against his chair.

As if to say, *do as you please*.

No matter how he looked at it, this was a far cry from the publicly known image of Diello Argenta.

A gentle person? This man?

If Croire Alloje, his new master, hadn't introduced this man herself, he might not have believed this was Diello Argenta, even seeing him with his own eyes.

He certainly hadn't been this cold when Nirua had seen him a few years ago.

Could it be that it had all been a facade?

He had the relaxed air of a predator.

Nirua swallowed dryly without realizing it.

He was clearly tense, yet he could feel it. He was now within the predator's domain.

“It seems my bride explained things to you on the way here.”

The word 'bride' sounded strangely gentle, causing Nirua to raise an eyebrow.

“—Argenta does not welcome outsiders. That's why you had to sign a contract… and in doing so, you earned enough trust to stay here. But that's all.”

His cold gaze fell upon Nirua.

“I don't know on what grounds my bride trusts you, but I will test you in my own way. And if you should ever…”

Diello whispered to Nirua.

“Prove to be a harm to my bride and to Argenta, I will slit your throat without hesitation.”

The killing intent he revealed in that brief moment was real.

Nirua was certain.

The image of Diello Argenta known to the world was a complete lie.

“…Is this your true self, Duke Argenta?”

When he asked, Diello laughed coldly.

“You understand that nothing good would come of this getting out, don't you?”

He didn't deny it. His words were a command for silence.

Even amidst a killing intent that would make an ordinary person lose consciousness, Nirua had to ask.

“…Does my master know this side of you?”

For the blood of the Shadow Sword family prioritized the safety of the one they recognized as their master above all else.

It was clear that Diello Argenta was still hiding his true self from Croire.

He couldn't know how Diello would react if he thought Nirua would reveal this to Croire.

He had to ask, if only to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Whether his master knew of this side of him. Or if…

…she was being deceived.

“Hmm.”

At those words, Diello's eyes widened, then he smiled, the corners of his eyes curving gently.

***

Diello regarded Nirua with interest.

But at the same time, he felt a sense of unease.

It wasn't just because he was revealing his true nature to Nirua.

It was because, in revealing his true self, he was freshly reminded of who he was deceiving.

His bride, who knew him only as a pure and innocent man.

Deceiving her felt so incredibly uncomfortable.

Strange.

He had deceived countless people until now; it was laughable that it was only starting to bother him.

For over a decade, he had deceived everyone—not just outsiders, but also those on the third floor and below, where spies were likely mixed in, excluding only the true people of Argenta on the fourth floor.

He had even pretended not to know of the spies' existence, leaving them be.

‘The weak head of Argenta.’

‘Argenta will soon be finished.’

‘For someone like that to become the head of the house…’

He knew he was being looked down upon, but he was waiting for an opportunity.

Whenever he heard them talk behind his back, he deliberately acted even more frail and gentle.

And yet, he had never once felt a pang of guilt.

He had considered this deception to be just another part of himself.

But.

‘I am Croire Argenta.’

The moment he heard those words, it felt as if that belief had strangely begun to crack.

“Croire Argenta.”

He repeated the name, unaware he was doing so.

Unaware that a gentle smile was spreading across his face.

This was a genuine smile. Not the kind he always fabricated.

Croire Argenta.

In other words, she was declaring that she, Croire, belonged not to Alloje, but to Argenta.

Of course, it was only natural since they were married, but her confident voice lingered in his memory.

Croire's voice sounded so sweet, it quenched his thirst, if only for a moment.

Just hearing her say with her own mouth that she bore the name Argenta, that she shared his name, that she was his bride—it filled him with an indescribable emotion.

And immediately after, he felt an even greater thirst.

Just one more time.

I want more. I want to be closer.

And yet.

“Does my master know this side of you?”

The cold voice jolted his reason back to him.

Nirua's eyes, which seemed ready to speak the truth at a moment's notice, were boring into him.

His conviction to protect his master, unfazed by the killing intent, was admirable.

However, it would be problematic if he revealed the secret.

An alarm bell rang in Diello's mind.

What if Nirua opens his mouth?

Should I have deceived this man as well?

But it had been necessary in order to ‘test’ whether he was worthy of being by Croire's side.

He narrowed his eyes.

If this man were to speak.

If he were to tell my bride that the outward appearance of Diello Argenta is all a lie, that his true nature is cruel beyond measure.

That can't happen.

Diello's inner voice whispered to him. At the same time, his heart felt like it was being squeezed.

‘I love you, Diello.’

Even knowing that Croire's whispered words had also been an act.

‘My lord. The lady is trying to purchase the Daisy Forest. What should we do?’

‘The forest? In that case…’

Even knowing she was only thinking of leaving.

‘Diello!’

Even knowing he was the only one who had fallen for her dazzling appearance at sea.

He wanted her.

A sudden impatience welled up in him.

If I were to court her like this, as my true self, would she accept me?

She knows me as this weak man.

A harmless man.

Of course, that's fine for getting close, but still…

He grew greedy.

I want to be loved for who I am.

I want to seduce her, as myself.

As the real Diello Argenta, not a lie.

A thought sprang up, different from how he'd always consoled himself by thinking that even his act was a part of him.

But still, he couldn't reveal it now.

“For now, that is the case. However.”

Diello spoke. Just as Nirua was about to put his guard up, he continued.

“The same could be said for my bride.”

Hiding one's true self.

“...”

Nirua seemed to agree with that.

“Who was it that called her a villainess who thoughtlessly brandishes her power and authority?”

Diello tilted his head slightly.

Isn't the version of her we see here completely different?

Nirua grew visibly tense.

He seemed to suspect that Diello might be hostile toward Croire.

Is that the loyalty said to be possessed by ‘some of the Alloje assassins’?

Argenta's intelligence network was excellent, so Diello had also heard about those who, for some unknown reason, offered blind loyalty to Alloje.

A man within Argenta whose first priority is not me, but someone else.

It should be unpleasant.

It's as if another sword has been thrust into Argenta, one not meant solely for Argenta.

Why am I being so lenient?

Above all.

I was definitely deceived by Croire. I, too, thought she was just that kind of villainess.

Why do I feel more pleasure in meeting a ‘new you’ than feeling like I've been deceived?

Is it that I simply enjoy being the only one who sees your true self, unknown to others?

“This is a preliminary skirmish. But one thing is certain: my bride and I need each other. After all.”

He looked Nirua straight in the eye.

“My bride was the one who proposed this deal first. Therefore.”

The two men's gazes met.

“You will protect your master, as per your contract.”

“I will eliminate anything that brings harm to my master.”

Nirua's stiff voice rang out.

Diello gave a light nod.

“Even if that is His Grace, the Duke of Argenta.”

Even at those words, Diello felt nothing.

He thought, quite naturally, *This man will be no threat to me.*

Because there is no way I would ever do anything to harm her.

And so.