Chapter 157
After that, Killis gave me a light bow and left.
* * *
As Killis was leaving the princess’s palace, escorted by the maids, his steps were halted by an invisible force before he could take more than a few steps.
A cold blade was then pressed against his chin. It was a familiar sensation—he had felt it just yesterday. The only difference was that the person holding the sword was someone else.
“Lord Reno.”
Like Isaac, Reno clearly took good care of his sword, as the sharp blade had already cut through part of the bandage wrapped around Killis’s hand. The bloodstained bandage, now loosened, fluttered awkwardly.
Thanks to the multiple layers, it hadn’t completely unraveled, but Killis couldn’t adjust it and simply added,
“If you had said you wanted to talk, I would have stopped.”
“This doesn’t seem like the time for such niceties.”
“…….”
“Explain yourself, Duke. What was the conversation my spirit relayed to me?”
“It was exactly as you heard. You must have guessed as well, right? Why I left it unblocked, even though I could have used magic to prevent you from hearing.”
“Hmm. It sounded to me like you were asking to be killed. Moreover, Duke, you harbored murderous intent toward Her Highness. Am I wrong?”
“As expected…… it’s hard to deceive even Lord Reno’s spirit.”
Killis smiled faintly. Spirits could perceive not only outward appearances but also the essence of things, so it must have noticed.
What he couldn’t bring himself to tell Nepheli earlier.
How could he say it? That for a moment yesterday, while kissing her, he had felt the urge to kill her. Fortunately, his desire had outweighed his murderous intent.
Truly, it was a feeling he had never experienced before, and it was utterly horrifying.
How could love and intense hatred coexist?
Moreover, when that presence took over, Killis had vividly felt all those emotions, just as he had experienced them. It was impossible to distinguish which feelings were his and which weren’t.
“Frankly, it’s hard to believe. You’re saying it wasn’t your will, even though it was your actions.”
“So you think it wasn’t me either?”
“I do, but my spirit also said the same thing as you. That there was something similar yet different.”
“Then that must be the case.”
Killis replied calmly, but he was relieved. He had wondered if the idea of another self might have been his own delusion.
But now that the spirit had explicitly pointed out the presence of “something else,” it was, in a way, a relief.
“It seems even you aren’t certain. You’re still too dangerous to be by Her Highness’s side.”
“I agree, but what can I do? Her Highness has allowed it.”
“…….”
“Please lower your sword.”
Mentioning Nepheli caused the tension in the blade pressing against Killis’s neck to ease slightly.
It was as he had expected. Just as Isaac had sheathed his sword yesterday at Nepheli’s request, Reno would have no choice but to do the same.
“Remember this, Duke.”
“…….”
“If you ever threaten Her Highness again…… I will cut off your head, regardless of her wishes.”
“Feel free to do so.”
Killis smiled faintly. It was what he wanted too. He was a danger to Nepheli.
From the start, even knowing that Reno had placed a spirit near Nepheli on the days he guarded her, Killis hadn’t used magic to block it. He had wanted Reno to hear the conversation as well.
So that not only Isaac but also Reno would watch and guard against him.
That way…….
If he ever tried to do something like that again, someone would stop him and protect Nepheli.
Killis gently pushed the blade away from his neck and added.
“I hope you keep your word, Lord Reno.”
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