Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy - Chapter 31

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After wrapping up contact with the participants he'd handpicked in advance to bolster the Riplton knights, Aden headed to Sierra's room before returning to his own.

The night had settled in, deepening the hush until the silent castle echoed only with Aden's footsteps.

Heavy and deliberate steps, yet never slow.

As he drew near Sierra's room, a strange noise reached Aden's ears.

It was the murmur of voices.

A vague unease quickened his pace.

Turning the corner, he spotted a restless crowd.

They were gathered in front of the room where Sierra was staying.

Aden hurried over, nearly breaking into a run, and grabbed the shoulder of the man at the back.

"What's going on?"

"Some young pups burst into the lady's room staying there and tried something awful... Aaaagh! Your Grace?!"

Ignoring the man who screamed upon spotting him, Aden pushed inside.

The man's words and cry didn't reach his ears.

Only the phrase about attempting something vile swirled in his mind.

'No way that woman.'

The greedy, avaricious duke's daughter.

A woman who coveted others' possessions more than her own.

A woman who hated his old friend more than anyone.

Aden recalled the two ladies Bellieta had sent and rushed inside.

The nobles, irritated at being shoved, recoiled in horror upon seeing his face.

Aden paid no mind to their screams.

He only hoped that bold, spirited Sierra was unharmed.

To mask his anxiety, he bit his lip hard.

The crowd parted for him now, and he hurried to Sierra's slightly ajar door.

Desperate that the horrific scene in his mind not be reality, he flung it open.

"Aaack!"

The door flew open to reveal two men pinned by knights and Altas rolling on the floor beneath Sierra, clutching his shoulder.

"......"

Aden froze for a moment at the unexpected sight before rushing in and shutting the door.

"Sierra."

"Oh, you've arrived?"

Sierra greeted him in a calm voice at his call.

Aden hurried over, staring at the fallen man before checking Sierra's fingertips.

He was assessing her condition, recalling the words he'd overheard outside.

"What in the world happened?"

"As you can see, retribution."

Sierra pointed at Altas sprawled on the floor and let out a breath.

Aden stared at Altas's back as he crawled painfully to the corner, clutching his shoulder, until Sierra's voice pierced his ears.

"They suddenly lunged at me trying something shady, so I subdued them."

"Something shady?"

"As you can see."

Aden's eyes sharpened at Sierra's gesture as she straightened her disheveled clothes from tossing Altas aside.

"Guess I need to make sure he can't play the man anymore."

That's not it.

Should she correct Aden's misunderstanding?

Sierra pondered briefly but soon dismissed it.

Aden pressed his foot firmly on Altas's back as he crawled, then kicked him aside.

Glare fixed on the pale Altas, Aden drew a small dagger from his bosom without hesitation.

Spotting the glinting blade, Altas cried out, his face drained of color.

"Sp-Spare me! I was wrong, so wrong! I swear, never again, please...!"

"You know even attempting what you did is unforgivable, don't you? The filthiest, vilest crime demands punishment."

"Pl-Please..."

"Forgiveness comes after doing something worthy of it."

Aden slashed down with the drawn blade.

"Aaaagh!"

Altas screamed and finally passed out from the swing.

Aden's dagger halted right before Altas's groin.

Aden glanced at Sierra's hand on his shoulder, then straightened up.

"There are eyes watching. And no need to dirty yourself with his filthy blood."

Sierra leaned in slightly, bringing her lips to Aden's ear.

"......And since I deliberately lured them in to create this situation, I can't lose the prize I worked for."

"......"

Aden let out a hollow chuckle at Sierra's revelation that she'd orchestrated the whole thing.

Aden stared at her steadily before slowly nodding.

"......Understood."

He answered curtly and sheathed his dagger.

In the meantime, Count Ricardo had entered and surveyed the scene, his face stunned.

Aden nodded toward Altas, Hautman, and Rick.

"Detain those three, Count. I'll interrogate them personally, so don't touch them."

"Understood. Are you alright, my lady?"

"I'm fine."

"This is my failure. With no prior incidents, I neglected internal security. My apologies. If I'd stationed guards more tightly, this wouldn't have happened..."

"It's not your fault, Count. The blame lies with those being dragged away. Don't worry about it."

Sierra defended Count Ricardo as she looked around the room.

The three fools had trashed it struggling to flee.

Planters were shattered, chairs overturned.

Count Ricardo offered to switch her room before withdrawing.

Sierra packed her things in the wrecked room and straightened up.

"I need to move rooms."

"The one next to mine is empty. Stay there. I'll make sure no one bothers you."

Sierra glanced at Aden as she packed, then nodded.

Her fingertips trembled faintly as she gathered her bags.

Not from fear, but excitement at the prospect of gaining something.

But Aden, unaware, could only assume she was shaken and scared.

"I'll carry you."

Sierra turned at Aden's sudden approach and words, stumbling over scattered luggage on the floor.

'Whoa?!' she started to exclaim, but before the word escaped, her body lifted.

"Th-Thanks...?"

She'd thought he was offering to carry her bag, but as she tried to hand it over, surprise overwhelmed her at being picked up instead.

Startled, Sierra hurriedly wrapped her arms around Aden's neck.

"What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

"You looked like you were about to collapse, too weak to even carry your bag, so I picked you up. Why? Problem?"

"You didn't pick up the bag—you picked me up!"

"Bag or you, as long as it's carried, isn't that fine? Anyway, stay still. Your clothes are slipping."

Aden calmly opened the door and stepped out, still holding the flustered Sierra.

Count Ricardo had dispersed the crowd, but lingering onlookers spotted Sierra in his arms and began murmuring again.

Sierra glanced around before covering her forehead in stunned resignation.

"Rumors will spread again. I hate weird ones."

"Don't worry about idle gossip. The story of you leaving my room in my arms will drown it out. People will only remember this and spread tales about me."

Sierra lifted her hand from her forehead and looked up at him, narrowing her eyes.

Her gaze seemed to ask if he'd calculated even this, and Aden gave a small smile before looking ahead.

"By the way, where'd you learn self-defense like that? Pretty precise."

"Looks can be deceiving—I trained with a sword. My parents' creed was that you have to protect yourself. No exceptions for girls. It'd been a while, so my reflexes were slow, but I nailed it."

"Where?"

Sierra grinned at Aden's probing question.

"Where do you think?"

"......Better not know."

Aden tensed instinctively, as if the mere thought brought phantom pain without seeing or hearing.

Sierra gave a faint smile and relaxed into his steady hold as he carried her to the other room.

Watching from behind, Richel ground her teeth.

"This isn't what I wanted..."

Richel muttered quietly, her eyes darting anxiously.

Her planned scheme had veered wildly off course, mingled with Piolett Baylor's warning not to do anything foolish.

Repeating 'What do I do...?' to herself, Richel turned hurriedly.

Her heels clicked sharply as she rushed away.

"What the hell did you do?"

Irritation laced Piolett Baylor's sharp rebuke.

Piolett hadn't stopped Richel from going to enjoy the party.

She'd even let her go, figuring she'd behave and not cause trouble.

But Richel had acted rashly beyond Piolett's expectations, ruining everything.

Piolett glared frustratedly at Richel peeking from the corner.

Finally, she sighed, staring down the one who'd botched the plan.

Piolett raked a hand through her hair in annoyance and slumped wearily into her seat.

Seeing Piolett's anger ease slightly, Richel edged forward cautiously.

"Lady Bayl..."

"I should have reported you to the duke's daughter and left you behind, but that was my mistake."

At the mention of Bellieta, Richel's eyes widened, and she scurried over.

To meet Piolett's seated gaze, Richel knelt on the floor in her dress.

"Wh-Why bring up the duke's daughter? Are you thinking of telling her about this? Please don't. I just wanted to help Lady Baylor and serve the duke's daughter..."

"Screwing everything up and calling it help? Shameless."

"That's..."

"You solidified the archduke and count lady's bond right in front of all those nobles. The duke's daughter must be thrilled."

"I just wanted to humiliate Sierra, who insulted the duke's daughter..."

Piolett frowned at Richel's nonstop excuses.

Richel flinched, shoulders trembling, and Piolett closed her eyes, forcing tension from her anger-stiffened body.