CH 107

20. Giving Up

As soon as Kyrie entered the Buchanan mansion, MarryAnne threw the broom and rushed to Kyrie.

“Lady! I’m glad you’re okay! MarryAnne was…!”

MarryAnne, who hugged Kyrie, paused. Kyrie’s face looked like a corpse when she looked up. Her sunken eyes and dark blue complexion were not a living person at all.

Then, when MarryAnne made eye contact with her, the force of being dragged out in reality belatedly and giving a forced smile. It really looked grotesque

“You are safe, MarryAnne. You worked hard.”

MarryAnne shook her chin and looked behind Kyrie. There, Nathaniel stared at Kyrie with a frightening silence. Unlike usual, the atmosphere surrounding him was disturbing.

MarryAnne clenched her teeth and led Kyrie.

“……Go in, miss. I’ll prepare a bath.”

Passing through the hallway of Buchanan’s mansion, Kyrie slowly came to life. Her complexion returned, her posture became stern, and her lowered eyes were hazy.

It wasn’t ‘because it’s okay.’ It’s just that she took a proper posture. She is Buchanan, and it was Cesar Buchanan’s education that always said to act like a nobleman. MarryAnne heart tinged with sadness.

“….Anne tried hard to find the lady, but I couldn’t. So I put my lady’s order first. MarryAnne protected the carriage, and protected the frozen mustache man and the crazy mister.”

“Good job. Thank you, MarryAnne. What about the Crown Princess?

“The wizards didn’t attack that way. I was going to check the condition with magic as you told me to, but it bounced off with a bigger magic.…. sorcery and magic are similar but different.”

“Yeah… As expected, it was conspired.”

Kyrie’s chin shook as she answered as if reading a written text. MarryAnne walked down the hallway as if she were guiding the dead body by holding its hand.

Nathaniel disappeared somewhere while Kyrie and MarryAnne were talking. A few minutes after he disappeared, Anne raised her head in surprise.

“Nataniel cast a protective spell on the mansion.”

“So…”

“Then you can move around freely in the mansion.”

“In the mansion?”

“It might be dangerous outside. The royal palace is weird.”

“Did something happen?”

“I was going to tell you that. The magic of the magic corps I met in the forest, and the magic of the royal palace right now…….”

They were in the bathroom. MarryAnne whispered softly, helping Kyrie take off her clothes.

“It’s not ordinary magic. It’s a very old, excellent, original, and genius technique.”

Kyrie slipped into a bathtub filled with hot water. Still, her stiff body didn’t loosen up easily. MarryAnne continued, swallowing goosebumps at the bizarre appearance of an expressionless Kyrie in the transparent water.

“The magic that humans use was originally made by dragons. But now, the magic of defending the royal palace is very independent. MarryAnne can’t even interpret it. And it’s very dangerous.….”

“If you can’t do it, then it must be of Vallabriga’s”

It was the moment when Curie, who immersed herself in hot water after a long time, handed over her hair. There was a knock on the door. Even after hearing the sound, Kyrie hugged her shoulder for a while and crouched deep in the water. 

It’s okay. It’s okay. I don’t think so. 

No. 

She muttered. 

MarryAnne, who was watching, clenched her fist.

“Come in.”

Limo opened the bathroom door and came in. In the past, she was a maid who served Kyrie when MarryAnne was ill.

“Lady, congratulations on your return home.”

“Limo. Long time no see, huh? How have you been?”

Kyrie spoke affectionately. However, Rimo said in a trembling voice without making eye contact with her.

“The owner is calling you.…….”

Kyrie looked at the little girl calmly. Shrinking shoulders and trembling legs. She had a quick guess.

Kyrie Buchanan, who had fled, returned. Lead the legend Nataniel behind her ‘back.’ It was time for those who would have participated in making her a puppet, especially those without power, to be nervous.

Limo was restless, and MarryAnne looked more anxious when a bitter smile came on Kyrie’s lips.

“Thank you. Go ahead.”

Kyrie turned her head. Limo bent down and left the bathroom quickly.

Kyrie leaned her head on the edge of the bathtub, which seemed to fall to the floor immediately. In a corner of the bathroom, Aaron was staring at her.

“…….Don’t look at me with those eyes.” (T/N: she is talking to Aaron)

“What?”

MarryAnne, who was making foam, raised her head. Kyrie said it was nothing and turned her head away from Aaron.

After changing, Kyrie headed straight to Cesar’s study. When her hand grabbed the handle, a voice was heard.

[Ambitions alone will reach the sky.]

“Thank you for watching.”

It was Nathaniel’s voice that could not be mistaken for someone else no matter where and when she heard it. Kyrie breathed in without realizing it.

Cesar’s voice, which seemed relatively more farther inside, was not heard well. After looking around the hallway for a while, Kyrie carefully brought her ears to the door after confirming that there was no one around her.

“Then can I misunderstand that my guess is right?”

[I don’t know.]

“You’re in the same boat now, aren’t you? You can tell me honestly.”

Clutch. Her whole body’s muscles became stiff again with one word.

“I’m ready to be your hands and feet as much as you want. Didn’t I prove it once already? It wasn’t me who interfered with your play, but my ex-wife.”

[What about Zhenya Hartwood?]

“She’s going back to Aldrelm soon.”

[Is that so?]

“Lord, as expected, just like last time Kyrie…….”

[Let’s go.]

Immediately, the door opened and Nathaniel appeared. He was not surprised to see Kyrie in front of the door. But he didn’t even step aside.

[Kyrie]

He called her name. And the door to the study was closed with elegant movements. As if he didn’t want to hear inside. Nataniel left a little gap in the beginning and asked in a low voice.

[Body?]

What she really wanted to say was not hello. Kyrie tried to smile somehow. It wasn’t even clear yet, and the past is the past. What’s past is meaningless. It has to be gone.

“It’s okay…”

[That innocence was ridiculous]

However, Kyrie had no choice but to stop answering because of the hallucinations that dominated her ears. Her face turned pale again, and she couldn’t breathe well.

“Gasp…”

Since entering the capital, Nathaniel’s voice has not left her ears. Kyrie looked up at Nataniel with trembling eyes, pressing her lips. Nathaniel was looking at her with heavy worries.

[Kyrie.]

“I am fi….ne.”

It’s definitely different from then. It’s not the Nathaniel of that time. So she should say it’s okay, but she could barely say anything. Kyrie’s breath became rough.

Thinking about it, Nathaniel hesitated and opened her mouth.

[Kyrie. That person……I saw Tyler.]

(T/N: Tyler was the superior of Aaron, he was the one who informed Kyrie about Melonie’s death and Aaron committing suicide)

Kyrie’s eyes trembled.

“How?”

That’s what she said. It wasn’t something she thought of.

“Are you going to threaten people with their lives again?  So you want me to listen to you?”

[It’s natural for you to think so, but it’s not like that.]

“Really? Isn’t it true?”

As soon as she spoke. chills flooded in. Kyrie put her eyes on both hands. She felt like she was going crazy. Low and cruel words continued to play in her ears.

[In fact, I just wanted to hear you cry]

She bit her lips so as not to vomit or scream. Forget it. Forget it, Kyrie Buchanan! No matter how much reason ordered, fear and distrust engraved on her body rejected it. Tears dripped down again.

Her face quickly became wet as if only tears were alive in a pale face like a dead carcass. Nathaniel’s eyes trembled as he looked at it.

[Kyrie.]

“…….”

[…….please don’t cry because I beg you.]

She was startled to say that. He seemed unfamiliar with what he said. But soon, he whispered in a sigh and reached out.

[If you cry, I will now…….]

At that moment, the only thing Kyrie saw was his hand. It was the same hand that always showed despair to her, saying, “Aren’t you the only one?”

“I don’t want to…”

Kyrie stepped back without realizing it.

At the word, Nathaniel hardened. He seemed to hold his hand out in front of his eyes and stop, literally breathless. At first glance, he seemed to have no idea what to do. But now Kyrie couldn’t afford to look at him. She sobbed, covering her face with her arms.

“Sorry, right now…….”

[…….]

“For the time being… I don’t want to see you…….”

[Kyrie?]

Kyrie passed Nathaniel with her head bowed as if running away and opened the door to her study. She could feel his gaze following her behind, but now she was afraid of even that.

Kyrie was able to slowly come to her senses only when she entered the study and stood with her back to the door. She swallowed her sobbing and rubbed her wet cheeks with her sleeves, and after awkwardly arranging her appearance, she entered the room.

“You’re here” 

(T/N: here he didn’t speak politely to Kyrie)

Cesar, who was standing by the window even before she came to her senses, spoke. After Kyrie shuddered, with her limbs that were exhausted, she managed to capture his expression.

“Speak politely, Duke.”

Cesar Buchanan smiled.

“I should. But, that won’t make a difference.”

After swallowing her dry saliva once, Kyrie shook off the emotions that swirled in her heart.

‘This is not the time to show weakness…….  Calm down, Kyrie Buchanan.’

Kyrie breathed heavily once.

“The duke…. There is always a lot to talk about. I guess, instead of books, you are the one who is getting old.”

“My daughter is the one who doesn’t show any signs of getting younger, so end up taking it. Have a seat.”

(T/N: Kyrie called the duke for being old instead of book since book is able to get older as times go by the duke response that he is like that because his daughter is not getting younger)

Kyrie lowered her eyes and looked down at the chair where Nathaniel was probably sitting.

“Are you going to say no because it’s Buchanan’s?”

Kyrie sat down ignoring Cesar’s subtle sarcastic remarks. Cesar sat opposite and took out the cigarette case.

“Finally, you got caught.”

He muttered, setting the cigarette on fire.

“What are you going to do? Legendary Lord. Is the reins strong enough for him?”

“No matter what happened to him, it has nothing to do with the duke.”

Cesar Buchanan squinted. Beyond the gray smoke, dissatisfied wolf eyes shone hazily.

“See, Kyrie Buchanan. Do you think that’s going to work outside? You are the daughter of Duke Buchanan. All those who want to ask a favor from the Legendary Lord have to pass from the entrance of my mansion.”

“I don’t know what kind of pride you have to say something like that. Now that I am back, everything you have done in my name will be restored to its original state.”

“No matter what you think and do, it doesn’t change that you are my bloodline and that Buchanan’s surname is added to your name.”

Cesar smiled with an indescribably cunning and gentle face.

“And I intend to make the most of it.”

“Since the words are long, there is something you want.”

“Yes.”

Cesar inhaled the cigarette deeply and spat out the smoke long with a dreamy face.

“Be the successor to Buchanan.”

Kyrie did not blink even with the acrid smoke that made her eyes sting.

“It’s true that Gray Buchanan was offered the successor position.”

Cesar frowned. He took a knife out of the drawer and cut the tip of the cigarette.

“There was a carriage accident. He can’t even act like a human being.….”

There was no regret for the crippled child in his words. There was only the disappointment of the powerful who viewed people as chess pieces. Kyrie’s gaze headed to the chessboard on one side of the study.

“Is this really an accident?”

“It must be certain because it is the testimony of the servant attached.”

“…….”

“So be the successor. If I die, the Duchy of Buchanan will be yours. Until then, it’s mine.”

Cesar said, putting the remaining cigarette back into the pack.

“I will work hard to use the name of yours, especially the legendary lord, but even if you leave because you hate it, that doesn’t change the fact that I will. So, if you don’t like it, try hard by being next to me.”

“In the end, you are saying back and forth that you will do whatever you want for the rest of your life. Do you think I will let it go?”

“If not? It doesn’t change the fact that Buchanan has had an amazing revival in my generation. I’m sorry, but my level of recognition isn’t easy enough for a young miss to deal with.”

She was angry, but he was right. Cesar Buchanan was a person who would change his face overnight for his own sake, but people followed him even though they knew it. He always makes it inevitable.

“The conflict situation in the capital is very acute. The Emperor is suddenly crazy, and at the same time, she thinks very little of the people who participated in the puppet show of Legendary Lord. People are also measuring which side it would benefit to stick to.”

Cesar pretended to look at a pack of gold cigarettes.

“But, is the Lord Legend or the Lord Protector the one who will take care of them? Nope,  Buchanan’s name is protecting them now.”

“It can be done in my name as well.”

At that moment, Cesar shed a low scorn.

“Impossible.”

He chuckled long enough to make Kyrie feel bad, then opened the drawer and put a pack of cigarettes in.

“You? With what power? If the Emperor tries to kill people, can you evacuate them? Do you have any soldiers to protect them?”

“In my estate-“

“People, people. Who will lead them to a new territory, give them food, find jobs, receive supplies from neighboring territories, communicate between the royal family and them, gather intelligence, and face the royal army!  Money can’t solve it.  It only increases the traitors.  Except for Buchanan’s name, do you have anything else? You have no foundation.”

Kyrie was speechless. That’s why Kyrie left Pronoia in the first place.

Cesar smiled brightly. He seemed to know that Kyrie would not be able to answer.

“You have to stand on the battlefield to fight.  Those who run away from the battlefield have no right to argue about the outcome.  So you should be in Buchanan.”

With a face confident of victory, he took a key from the drawer and threw it over the hem of Kyrie’s skirt.