Chapter 20

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy 20

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Stepping out of the mini bar, I spotted Aden waiting outside.

Leaning against the wall, he looked like some gloomy suit of armor hung up there.

When Aden opened his eyes, the golden irises hidden beneath came into view.

Just opening his eyes was enough to send a wave of intimidation crashing over me, the sharp color standing out even more vividly in the darkness.

"Out early, I see."

"I saw you."

I pointed at the slightly ajar door, and Aden gave a short nod.

Turning my body away from him while keeping my gaze on Aden, I said briefly, "Let's walk," then took the first step.

Aden, standing behind me, caught up in an instant with strides twice as long as mine, falling into step beside me and matching my pace.

The corridor was quiet, devoid of any people.

Everyone was probably at the banquet or back in their rooms, so no one would drop by a little spot like this mini bar.

The corridor echoed only with our uniform footsteps, thick with a restless silence.

After walking down the hall for a while, we reached a small garden where a breeze brushed across my face.

The tapping of my heels on the stone floor was replaced by the rustle of grass underfoot and the faint music drifting from afar.

As we approached the silent fountain amid those sounds, Aden's steps halted.

I took two more steps before stopping and turning back.

Aden was looking at me with quiet eyes, as if demanding something.

I met his gaze in silence, then stepped back to perch on the edge of the fountain and straightened up.

"Your eyes say you've got a lot of questions."

"Seeing that kind of conversation and scene would make anyone curious. We're contract partners, so a little prying shouldn't be an issue. Or is it?"

"No. I think it's a fair question."

A gust of wind blew, tousling my hair.

My neatly arranged locks scattered like disheveled petals in every direction.

As I narrowed my brows and tried to smooth down the fluttering strands, the sound of footsteps on grass grew louder.

Lifting my head, I saw Aden approaching—he'd stopped at a distance before.

His towering upper body, like a wall, loomed right before my eyes, and soon warmth enveloped my shoulders.

What covered my shoulders and back was the cloak Aden had been wearing.

Aden, now in just his shirt after shedding the cloak, stepped back and undid the top two buttons of his neatly fastened shirt.

Averting my eyes from his relieved, almost delighted expression, I looked down at the cloak draping over me.

It wasn't to shield me from the cold—it was to keep my hair from blowing in the wind.

An unexpectedly thoughtful gesture, one no one else would think of.

"Thank you."

Aden gave a short nod and stepped back further.

Was it because he'd removed the cloak? His already imposing height felt even more colossal, like a statue.

Come to think of it, how tall was he?

Even in my heels, my eye level only reached his chin.

That meant he was a full head taller than me.

"So."

I adjusted the cloak and let a faint smile play on my lips.

"What is it you want to ask? Go ahead. You seem to know some things already, so I'll just answer what you're curious about."

"You'll answer everything?"

"Of course. If you hadn't come today, you'd be the enemy, but since you did, you're a trustworthy ally. To a certain extent."

I swept back my fallen bangs and tugged the cloak closer.

Perfect trust didn't exist.

Allies could turn into enemies depending on the situation, and vice versa.

Even the man I'd thought was someone I could trust for life had used me as a means to satisfy his own desires.

That wasn't trauma—it was a lesson.

Never trust others easily.

"Ask away."

Urging Aden once more, his lips, which had been pressed shut, slowly parted.

"Heading back tomorrow?"

"...Probably?"

His question was so far from what I'd expected that tension drained from me, leaving my voice limp.

What kind of question was that?

Was it some warm-up before the real one? But even then, it was too out of left field.

Unable to read his thoughts, I stared at him blankly, but his expression remained relaxed.

"...That's it?"

"Tell me if there's a question you want. I'll answer."

"I thought questions come from the curious one, not the answerer. Isn't that a bit off?"

As I furrowed my brows in confusion, Aden's words followed swiftly.

"I haven't asked anything, nor do I want to. If anything, it's you, Sierra, who has something to say to me, isn't it?"

"..."

"Honestly, hearing your talk with the Bozbon Duke's Daughter would raise questions for anyone. That wasn't the vibe of a conversation between the empire's most famous best friends. But that's not my business."

Aden faced the whipping wind head-on, pushing his bangs back.

With the hair covering his forehead swept away, his features stood out, making his face feel strangely new.

Was he always this handsome? It was striking enough to eclipse even that Bladia Marquis.

"Whatever your relationship is or what issues lie between you—that's for you alone to know, Sierra."

Aden sat on the edge of the fountain beside me and looked up at the sky.

His thick yet sharp jawline and prominent Adam's apple came into sharp focus.

Aden lowered his gaze to meet mine and smiled softly.

The gentle curve of his lips was the purest smile he'd shown yet.

"No matter the process or purpose, in the end, there's only one choice for me."

Aden's hand rose slowly.

My eyes naturally followed to his fingertips.

His hand grasped the cloak that had slipped from my shoulders and gently lifted it back into place.

The soft rustle of fabric reached my ears.

Even though the fountain was still, it felt like I could hear the sound of water.

As Aden's hand withdrew after adjusting the cloak, a smile spread across his lips.

"Even if someone slanders you or tempts you with something alluring right beside you, I'll choose you. And when you need me, I'll come running."

"That's..."

"Remember that. It's what I have to do."

Aden rose slowly from his seat, putting distance between us.

I watched his retreating back.

With each step, the gap widened.

After about ten paces, Aden stopped and turned quietly.

"I was hoping for a longer talk, but since you're leaving tomorrow, it's a shame. Well, here's to seeing each other again. Contact me anytime you need me, Sierra."

Sierra.

My name from Aden's lips rode the headwind, drifting slowly into my ears.

Soon, the rustle of grass accompanied his fading figure.

As Aden gradually melted into the darkness, I had no idea what to say.

Shaking my head amid the jumble of thoughts, I hurriedly tried to stand when Aden paused and straightened up.

"Oh, just in case— that guy. Not great quality."

"...That guy?"

"The eldest son of the Pallieva family."

"You know him?"

"No. Don't know him, but he seems like it."

Aden's expression turned playful.

What was this guy saying? Caught off guard by the unexpected joke, my reaction was slow.

As I slightly furrowed my brows, Aden flashed a grin and turned away.

"Just a hunch."

With that, Aden vanished completely into the darkness.

Alone on the fountain's edge, I followed his footprints with my eyes before looking up.

I gazed at the bright moon he'd been watching moments ago, then lowered my head.

The wind blew again.

This time, my hair stayed calm, undisturbed.

I smoothed the cloak covering my shoulders with my palm and let out a sigh.

"Guess I should return this."

A faint smile escaped me at the cool, subtle scent of his cologne wafting from the cloak.

Chapter 02

"My, how clever you are. Teach you one thing, and you grasp ten. The Bozbon Duke must be thrilled."

"Lady Bellieta isn't childish at all. Kids that age are selfish, throwing tantrums for whatever they want, but not you."

"Lady! You're even cuter today! Did the Duchess give you that dress? Everything suits you so perfectly. 'Doll-like' must have been made for you."

Lady! Lady...! Lady...!

Everything revolved around me.

From birth, inheriting the Bozbon blood, I'd received the empire's undivided attention.

Vast wealth, power even the imperial family kept in check, stunning beauty, intellect surpassing top education.

No one I met failed to praise me; no one ignored my life.

The world spun around me, and I was the protagonist of every tale.

"Say hello, Bellieta. This is the lady from the Brilloxen Count family who'll be studying with you starting today."

"Hello, Bozbon Duke's Daughter. I'm Sierra."

Until that girl, who looked so much like me, appeared.

The rainy season had begun.

The Brilloxen territory, nestled against the Gray Mountains, endured periodic monsoons every year.

During this time, territory duties lightened, with all focus on disaster prevention.

But the workload was half the usual, leaving plenty of spare time.

"Good work."

After the morning meeting, back in my office to finish approvals, the day's tasks were done.

Handing the signed documents to the butler, I rolled my neck slightly.

Rain pattered against the wide windows.

Closing my eyes to savor the clear sound, memories of rainy Harmonia surfaced.

The fierce downpour piercing the monster-infested mountains, revealing Harmonia's unfamiliar landscape for the first time.

Unlike my expectations of a brutal populace, it was a vast city of ordinary folk.

And ruling it was a man with unyielding amber eyes.

My first encounter with Aden was pure chance.

That day's talk was tense, awkward, frightening.

But the Aden I met in Harmonia was more at ease.

With eyes closed to the rain, his back from that day came to mind.

His back, brewing tea himself because he couldn't afford more servants due to budget shortages.

Even minor local nobles kept maids for tea, yet this almighty archduke did it by hand.

The irony drew a laugh.

"I wonder if someone brews his tea now."