Chapter 60.1

Chapter 60 – Nothing Will Change

Ashia swallowed down her saliva and lowered her gaze. As she stared at the crumpled paper on Kyrian’s hands, she continued her words, “I am not making any excuses. It doesn’t change the fact that it came from my magical powers, and that it was something I couldn’t control.”

Kyrian’s hand clenched. “Ha… you’re really shameless.”

Ashia’s gaze looking at his hand slowly rose. As she stared at him, she met his brown eyes. But still, Ashia remained calm. Rather, there was a cold chill in her voice.

“So?”

“What? So?”

“Did you also want me to die then?”

“…”

Looking at Kyrian’s distorted expression, Ashia spoke in a clear and definite voice, “But one thing’s for sure that even if I died back then, they wouldn’t have survived until now.”

“…”

“I’m not asking you to understand my circumstances. It is also alright if you keep on hating me.” Ashia’s voice became more assertive as she kept on talking, “Whether you hate me now or not, you should know that I will live as I am now and nothing will change.”

“…”

“If you keep on putting yourself on edge like that… you’ll be the one who gets tired.”

Kyrian, who was looking at her, lowered his eyes again to the paper in his hand.

‘The survivors….’

He once tried to find them. The peaceful small town, his close friends and neighbors who he was born with and raised together – he missed them all, he missed his family. It wouldn’t be difficult to find them with the Grand Duke’s intel. However…

– The people of the Cursed Land

He hesitated. They must’ve been all dead anyway. Was there really a need to find them and let them know? And Kyrian’s thoughts stopped there. In the end, Kyrian didn’t even visit them. He hated being labeled as a person of the Cursed Land, rather than wondering if they were doing just fine.

He was afraid that if they had a negative image of him, it would damage the Grand Duke he was serving, and then one day, the Grand Duke would suddenly abandon him. That’s why he decided to turn his back on them. He thought that since his family was all dead, there was no reason for him to meet them.

Forgetting them just like that, he continued living with hatred towards the culprit who burned the village. However, that person who set the village on fire was also the same person who took care of those people he turned his back on and the people he tried to forget.

“This is making me annoyed… because that person is you… Really.”

It was always like that. She won the people’s trust at once with her quite reasonable actions and words.

Kyrian jumped up from his seat. The white paper was still in between his clenched fists.

“…You’re going?”

“…”

He looked down at Ashia with sad eyes. Not long after, Kyrian turned without a word and left her office.

Bang–!

Only after the door was closed that Ashia leaned back on the sofa. “Phew…”

[Phew… his murderous intent was really intense.]

“I would also hate it. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t.”

[But still, I’m glad that guy seems to listen to your words really well.]

“I know. He wasn’t that type of kid who would easily open up…”

It was probably possible today because of Kaligo. She heard that men were drawn to men who were more masculine than them. In that sense, it seemed like Kaligo had captured Kyrian’s admiration. It was probably not just Kyrian.

‘In any case, opening up his heart…’

She expected that she had to push him further. Because Ashia was the one who killed Kyrian’s family and his neighbors. However, Kyrian just turned around without saying anything despite the fierce look in his eyes.

He was a kid just like that. He would grunt and plain, but he would do what Ashia asked for like he always did. When she found out that Kyrian wasn’t among the survivors, she had a heartache for some time.

What Ashia said to Kyrian was sincere. That she was thankful for him staying alive.

* * *

“You’ll faint at this rate.”

Redin’s worried voice echoed in Kaligo’s office. But still, the person in question was still looking down at the documents with a dull voice.

“Are you praying for me to faint?”

“You haven’t had a proper sleep for a few days already. The people who must attend the subjugation soon…”

“You must have been thinking I am weak enough to mess up the subjugation just because I haven’t had enough sleep.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Almost done. Stop staring at me.”

“…”

The papers that had made up a tower filling Kaligo’s desk were neatly organized within a few days. It was the result of not sleeping and diligently working on it.

“Why didn’t you say that the date of the subjugation had been moved to a earlier date?”

“For what?”

“If you said that because you’re afraid, then you’re wrong.”

Kaligo raised his head and looked at Redin. “…Is that so?”

“Yes. She will definitely be disappointed if she finds out later.”

“How so?”

“There are things you can feel and know only with words.”

“…”

“Sometimes, small things like that can cause misunderstandings.”

Putting the papers down, Kaligo turned his head towards the direction of Ashia’s bedroom.

“…”

“You have to sleep.”

“Well.” Kaligo thought for a moment, then picked up the papers again. “Tomorrow. I can do that tomorrow.”

“…”

Again, only the sound of the flipping pages of the papers was heard inside the office. He flipped the papers without any rest. No one was chasing him, but Kaligo seemed to be in a hurry. Thanks to that speed, he was finished sooner than expected, then Kaligo went inside the bedroom to change his clothes.

Even until then, Redin’s nagging worry about him continued.

“Please close your eyes for a moment.”

“When I am sleepy.” Kaligo walked to the window after changing his clothes.

Following him, Redin asked, “Isn’t your insomnia acting up again? Do you want me to fetch you a new medicine?”

“No, I don’t think this is insomnia. I don’t have a headache and I also don’t feel dizzy.’

“Then… should I bring you some sleeping pills?”

“No need.”

“But…”

“I’ll take a rest. You can go out.” He motioned for Redin to go out.

At that, the aide bowed with a look of helplessness. “…Yes, Your Excellency.” He sighed and cautiously walked out of Kaligo’s bedroom.

‘I need to look for Miss Ashia…’

Without any orders, he closed the bedroom door and turned around, with the thought that he should meet up with Ashia at daybreak.

‘Aack!!’

Redin almost screamed. He barely managed to swallow back the scream that almost escaped from his throat and looked at the shadow of a person that surprised him.

“Oh, did I surprise you?”