Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 110

110.

Following Unknown's gesture, Ibelin saw a half-open door, so old and draped with vines that it took a moment to notice. She hesitated briefly, then decided hiding was better than facing the soldiers. She slipped into the room—Unknown followed silently.

It seemed to have once been a storage space. As the door closed, darkness engulfed them. She pressed her ear to the door, holding her breath. Unknown stood behind her, motionless.

"Nothing here?"

"Must be rats."

"Damn—how many rats are in this place? Let's check the other corridor."

The soldiers' grumbling faded. As their footsteps receded, Ibelin relaxed, letting out a quiet sigh. Turning, she saw Unknown's faint outline.

"You—"

She whispered, unable to hide her surprise.

"Why didn't you call out? You could have had me locked up again."

But he didn't answer. Instead, rough hands seized her shoulders and shoved her against the wall.

"Ugh!"

The impact forced a groan from her. Silver eyes, bright even in the darkness, drew near.

"...You told me to stop."

Unknown's hands gripped her shoulders firmly—but the one trembling was not Ibelin. It was him.

"You dared act as if you understood my hell, and said I wanted to live."

Even as he raged, she felt no fear. He seemed like a lost child clutching a rope—his words were more anguish than threat.

"Then answer me."

His pale face came close to hers. The unsteady emotions in his eyes burned clearly in the dark.

"If I stop this revenge—if I let go of the hatred that's sustained me—then what am I supposed to live for? How am I supposed to live?"

"...Unknown."

"If you try to save me, you must see it through. Give me the answer!"

His voice was desperate. His grip on her shoulders tightened. Even through the pain, she didn't pull away. Instead, she gently clasped his trembling hands—not to push him away, but to share warmth and calm him.

"Honestly... you're a mess."

She looked him in the eye and spoke calmly.

"The answer can't be found in someone else."

"...What?"

"I can listen to your story, but I can't save you. What use is a purpose someone else hands you? That's just exchanging one chain for another."

His shoulders flinched.

"You have to find your own answer—the reason you want to wake up in the morning, the reason you want to eat something delicious, the reason you stop to look at a flower by the road. That's not something I can give you—it's something you have to discover for yourself."

Unknown froze, as though struck by a hammer.

"Find the reason that will make you truly live and laugh."

His eyes trembled uncontrollably.

Slip—

His grip on her shoulders slackened. He stepped back, sank to the floor, and covered his face with his hands. His body shook slightly.

She didn't know why he was weeping. Rubbing her aching shoulder, she looked down at him. Instead of pressing further, she waited quietly until his ragged breathing eased.

Time passed.

The guards' presence faded; the corridor fell silent. Unknown had stopped trembling.

She adjusted her clothes and checked her weapons—one short dagger, one smoke bomb. That was all. Still, she couldn't back down. She needed evidence of Teyrin's schemes.

"Then I'll be going."

Just as she reached for the door—

Unknown slowly raised his head. He didn't move or speak, only lifted a pale, thin hand to point in one direction.

That way...

She followed his gesture. She didn't know what lay there, but she felt she should go.

She extended her hand and whispered.

"Want to come with me?"

An invitation to leave together.

He stared at her hand for a long time, then slowly shook his head. He wasn't ready to step out yet. A lifetime of hatred couldn't be shed in one moment.

Understanding his refusal, she smiled faintly and nodded.

"I'll wait for you—for the day you come out."

With that, she opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

She moved like a shadow—keeping her footsteps silent, tracking blind spots—calling upon what Kailun had taught her.

She reached her destination without being noticed by a single guard.

A door with a clean handle, unlike the others. It was locked, but she had a pin. Most locks were easy enough. She inserted it and turned carefully.

Click—

The door opened.

She exhaled silently and peered inside. No sign of anyone.

The room smelled of old parchment. Shelves held unknown books; boxes on the floor overflowed with scrolls. A large safe stood against the wall. On the central desk, a half-used pen lay beside a map.

This seemed to be a place of some importance.

She quickly scanned the documents. Much was encoded, but some passages were legible.

Could she take all of it? There was too much—it would be impossible.

If only she could summon Kite here. She touched the jewel at her chest.

Huh?

Had it flickered? She removed it and examined it closely. Most of what she wore had been chosen by Kite—this jewel was a gift from him.

Had he really taken no precaution, knowing she might face assassins? Beyond having his people nearby, he must have set something in motion.

And her guess was right.

---

Kite watched the jewel. As it moved, its color deepened, and the intervals between flashes shortened—meaning Ibelin was close. Kailun stood beside him.

"Exactly how many weapons did you bring?"

Martin clicked her tongue at Kailun's fearsome attire. She understood his feelings, but this was excessive—armed like that, he could storm the Teyrin palace.

"That way."

At Kite's direction, Kailun, Martin, and Intelligence agents moved. The Gracias knights waited nearby, ready to move on signal—stealth wasn't their forte.

Back   Next