CH 63

Tomorrow Night

Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. Kyrie, who knew he was particularly sensitive about Leschaux, turned her head, swallowing her words. Then Nathaniel tightened his arm again, which was about to be released. Then he sat on the sofa, and he put Kyrie on his lap.

“……What are you doing?”

Kyrie opened her eyes violently. Nathaniel smiled defiantly as if they were in a match.

[I told you I’d read it to you.]

“I don’t need it anymore.”

[You need me.]

“Why?”

[It’s boring.]

Kyrie struggled between Nathaniel’s legs. Then Nathaniel’s shoes immediately stepped on the string that tied Kyrie’s ankle. Kyrie frowned.

“People will misunderstand.”

[No one’s coming.]

She didn’t think he would let go at all. Kyrie cringed in a somber state. It was to get as far away from Nathaniel as possible, but he held her shoulder without warning. Another surprising part of him was that he had no self-interest in the movement.

[Chapter 1. Understanding Crafts]

Nathaniel lifted up the book Kyrie picked up and really started reading it.

[Craft is an art that tries to increase its value by adding decorative value to practical objects.]

Kyrie, who was keen on the unexpected contact, shed admiration.  It was a perfectly sweet and clear voice, except that the person speaking was Nathaniel.

“……Do you have a lot of experience reading books to other people?”

[Animal skins and bones were also used as materials. There are quite a few.]

It wasn’t awkward to answer while reading.

“Vallabriga?”

[- and the humans before him.]

Kyrie opened her mouth blankly. She thought a madman was asking Nathaniel to read a book, but there must have been quite a few. Nataniel continued his reading in an elderly soft voice, with Kyrie on his lap.

[…..Among them, the use of expensive gold, silver, jewelry, ivory, and ebony was the most popular…..]

She didn’t want to, but Kyrie fell in love with his voice. The room was comfortable and peaceful, combining the sound of firewood burning in the fireplace, the sound of snow falling from afar, and the voice of Nathaniel delivered through her body. As the tension melted, her body relaxed.

[…..…Therefore, it is common to use a harder material than the material for processing.]

When she leaned a little on Nathaniel’s chest, he paused. And after about two heartbeats, he opened his mouth in a lower voice.

[The best material is diamond. What did you talk about with Leschaux?]

Kyrie was surprised late at the question that came out so naturally.

“Ask Lord Leschaux.”

[Leschaux can’t kill you.]

“It wasn’t about that.”

[Then?]

“I don’t want to answer.”

Kyrie sighed.

“……It has nothing to do with you.”

[You have something to do with Leschaux? I didn’t know when you got so close.]

It was a conversation that they once had. She was too tired to repeat the same story again.

〔By making him obey you.〕

It was a story she didn’t want to hear. She didn’t want to handle Nathaniel anymore. Kyrie put her legs up and buried her face in her lap.

“I’m done……”.

Nathaniel curled up and looked long at Kyrie, who was wheezing. For a moment he thought her back was too thin. And he thought it wasn’t like that before.

But that was the end.

[You’re getting cold feet.]

Nataniel, mumbling quietly, picked up Kyrie and moved her onto the bed, and left the room.

***

After Kyrie was locked up in the palace, several nobles came to see her despite the hassle of interviewing her. To impress Kyrie Buchanan, the heir to the 120 billion. They quickly withered when Kyrie did not respond.

Meanwhile, an unexpected figure found Kyrie.

“Can you walk around? You’re all skin and bones.”

Kyrie smiled pleasantly at Rubinia Cassner, who threw out harsh words without saying hello.

“Thank you for coming.”

“If you want to thank me, please look grateful.”

“I look grateful now, didn’t I look like that?”.

“If you’re trying to show your dying face, that’s what it looks like. This is from my father.”

Rubinia clapped her hands twice. A servant came up with a jewelry box. Kyrie pointed to the next room with a chin instead of a tied wrist.

“Put it over there somewhere.

Rubinia looked in the direction Kyrie pointed, and looked fed up. Jewelry boxes were piled up to the end of the door.

“Uh. What’s all that?”

“Gift. Everyone brought one when they came. Sometimes I send people to do it. Take whatever you want.”

“You know I don’t turn this down, right?”

“I know.”

Kyrie giggled.

The two sat silent for a while. Kyrie opened her mouth first.

“How’s your engagement?”

“I think I can get married.”

Rubinia replied gently, putting the end of the fork in a teacup and pulling it out.

“Though the quality of the groom has come under fire. Thanks to you, I haven’t been able to go to balls lately.”

“Quality?”

“The quality of the third leg.”

(PR note: his little d)

Rubinia shrugged over the embarrassed Kyrie.

“Don’t apologize. I’m not going to apologize either.”

“Miss Cassner….”

“Don’t apologize.”

Rubinia spoke angrily, and Kyrie spoke in a nonchalant way.

“I’m not apologizing, but if I were to say it, I would have suffered more. And you can’t dip the fork in the teacup.”

“Let’s just skip that, shouldn’t we!”

She looked at Kyrie with sharp eyes, stirring in the teacup with a fork.

“No thanks! I didn’t mean to marry him. Because I loved him. It’s heartbreaking that the crown has fallen to the ground, but it’s okay because it seems like his human rights have fallen together.”

“Was it also out of a desire for power?”

Rubinia snorted.

“Of course, what else can you see with Eden?”

“He’s handsome.”

“How can you say that while you’re with the Legendary Lord? Painting can’t be more handsome than that.”

“Haha… is that so?”

Kyrie’s dry smile hardened Rubinia’s face. Rubinia’s eyelashes, which sparkled like fairy wings, trembled.

“……Are you all right?”

Rubinia asked low, and Kyrie grinned.

“No.”

It was a light answer. Rubinia shut her mouth like a man with a clogged throat. Unknown emotions swirled in her green eyes.

“……You don’t have to skip meals. You will get a chance someday in your life. Look at me!”

“I admire you for believing and acting like that, Miss Cassner.”

It might sound like a mockery at first glance, but Kyrie didn’t seem enthusiastic enough to see something. Rubinia saw Kyrier’s arm on the table. It was a slender wrist that would seem to break in the middle of nowhere.

“Can’t you cling to the Legend?”

Kyrie blinked a couple of times as if he had heard something strange.

“Cling?”

“It could be a little different if you cling. I don’t think it’s a problem to act cute or pathetic to others to get what you want.”

Kyrie grinned. She knew best how eager she was.

“That’s what I do, too. But there’s no reason for that.”

“Why isn’t there a reason?”

“It was a responsibility that was moved on to me. I got engaged to Eden, and because of that one thing, I closed my eyes to you and Eden’s actions, and I endured the eyes of the people around me…….”

“…….”

“But now I’ve lost all that. Everyone wants me dead now.”

Kyrie murmured, looking at the refreshments and teacups placed like still water on the table.

“Now I have no choice but to believe that I can be comfortable when I die.”

Rubinia looked at Kyrie with a confused face. It seems to her that Kyrie was steadily taking steps of resignation. How can a person be like this overnight?

“I’m… I’m not here to see you so weak.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you not to apologize.”

Kyrie smiled with a big smile. Rubinia tapped her chest at the sight.

“Why are you digging so deep when the Legendary Lord is taking people hostage and threatening them badly?”

Kyrie paused. It was similar to what Aaron said. But Aaron was dead. So that was the wrong word. Kyrie closed her mouth.

“Ah! That’s so frustrating!”

Eventually Rubinia sprang up from her seat. She seemed genuinely angry.

“Are you really that Kyrie Buchanan? Is that the Kyrie Buchanan who used to be sarcastic, teasing, and holding people up and down like that?”

But Kyrie only looked at Rubinia with clear eyes. Her transparent gaze, in which no trace of emotion could be seen, resembled the Legendary Lord to a frightening extent.

Seeing her, Rubinia suddenly became afraid of everything. And she shouted in a louder voice to hide it.

“Do you think that makes sense? Why is it your fault that you are fighting for your survival and fundamental rights?”

“Miss Cassner….”

“Life is all about life! I have to take care of mine! No matter what others say, I’ll live and watch!”

Rubinia looked at Kyrie for a long time, biting her lips and moving her feet.

“I’m leaving. It’s so pathetic that I can’t take it.”

“Miss Cassner, I’ll see you off…….”

Rubinia, who was strolling, suddenly stopped walking. Then she jerked her head and stared fiercely at Kyrie.

“You’re right! What I’ve done to you so far has been worse.”

Kyrie blinked, not understanding what was happening. Rubinia spoke clearly, regardless of her attitude.

“That’s why I’m here today. Is this right enough? Hey, open the door.”

She spoke coldly, then disappeared with a haughty step. Kyrie blinked slowly, but belatedly realized something and headed to where Rubinia was sitting.

On the table, the teaware used by Rubinia was littered, as if on purpose. And on top of the small saucer, there was a clear long and extended mark drawn by a fork dipped in tea water. 

「Tomorrow night. Execution.」