Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 21

21.

Kite was quietly confined underground—but it was best to avoid even the slightest risk. So Ibelin, carrying an armful of books, retraced her steps.

"Maybe this was too much."

The books were heavier than expected—or rather, they seemed to grow heavier with each step. She should have brought a large bag and put them inside.

As she paused to catch her breath, someone dashed out of an alley and collided with her.

"Ah!"

She could have dodged easily, but she deliberately fell. As she tumbled with a cry, the person who had run into her looked down with a startled expression.

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"Yes—yes, I'm fine."

Ibelin's eyes quickly scanned his attire. Though he wore a cloak, it fluttered briefly, revealing his clothes.

He was a knight of House Gracias—one of Kite's subordinates.

"Hey!"

The man following behind stopped when he saw the first.

"What happened?"

"I made a mistake. I'm truly sorry—I wasn't looking ahead, my lady."

"No, no. I'm not hurt, so it's fine."

Ibelin answered meekly and looked at the books scattered on the ground. Fortunately, the bookstore owner had tied them tightly, so they hadn't come undone.

The man's eyes swept over the books.

Thankfully—the books she had now were ordinary.

"That looks heavy. Let me help you carry them."

"That's not necessary. I can't accept help from someone I don't know."

As she spoke naturally and tried to straighten up, the man caught her hand. His large, firm hand—and his equally resolute face—looked honest.

"I'm late introducing myself. I'm Lucen, a knight of House Gracias."

Ibelin widened her eyes in feigned surprise. Meanwhile, the red-haired man beside her lifted the books.

"Hup! They're heavier than I thought."

"Alex!"

"Just kidding—this is nothing for a knight."

The man named Alex said that and turned.

"Where do you live?"

Ibelin stammered. She wanted to refuse firmly, but that didn't seem wise.

"Th-thank you."

"Don't mention it. It's my fellow knight's fault, so I should help too."

"Alex!"

The man named Alex seemed to have a loose tongue. Lucen gave him a disapproving look, then approached Ibelin.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes, I can walk just fine."

"Still, we'll accompany you just in case."

How kind. Ordinarily, she would have admired such knightly courtesy. Ibelin smiled awkwardly and walked slowly.

If they went near the house, what were the chances they'd notice Kite's confinement? She had heard that high-level knights could easily sense others' presences.

As she worried, they soon arrived at her house. There had been a small commotion when they encountered the Guard midway—but once the Guard recognized them as knights of House Gracias, they became concerned for Ibelin.

"If you're being threatened, blink twice."

One of them leaned in and whispered.

Oh, oh! So they would threaten an ordinary woman if needed. Well, knights who spent all their time with their master might have picked up some of Kite's traits.

"It's a misunderstanding."

After repeating the same words about three times, Ibelin arrived home with Lucen and Alex.

"This is it. Thank you for carrying the books."

"Not at all—it was my fault. Where should I put them?"

"Just leave them by the door—I'll take them inside."

At her cheerful reply, Lucen's stern face finally softened.

"I apologize again for my rudeness."

"Thanks to you, I got home comfortably."

"Please rest well."

Even at the end, they remained chivalrous.

Ibelin smiled and waved—then the moment they were out of sight, she grabbed the books and slipped inside.

"That was close."

It seemed they hadn't noticed Kite was here. Well, he was in the basement—it wouldn't be easy to detect.

Ibelin brushed her chest and selected a few books to take down.

"Hey there."

As soon as she opened the basement door, Kite greeted her.

"Did you enjoy your outing?"

"Not particularly."

"Why—because you ran into Lucen and Alex?"

Ibelin looked up in surprise at his words.

"You look like you're wondering how I knew. I've spent years with them—of course I'd know."

"They didn't seem to recognize you, though."

Kite shrugged and picked up one of the books Ibelin had pushed over with the broom. It struck her anew that he was one of the Empire's foremost knights. She would have to be even more careful with him from now on.

"This is an ordinary love story. I don't think it'll help much with acting like lovers."

"Precisely because it's ordinary, it's needed."

"Oh—so it seems I'm not the one who doesn't know about love—it's you."

At his words, Ibelin's face flushed red.

He was right. Ibelin had lost her parents young and grown up with her grandfather. She sometimes accompanied him to parties, but she had never made proper friends.

So she didn't really understand love either.

"...That's not true."

Her belated denial was too late. Kite looked at her with half-lidded eyes.

"If you don't know anything, I'll have to teach you."

Ibelin's expression soured.

"Practice over theory."

Kite, still seated on the bed, tapped the spot beside him—an invitation to sit.

"What practice?"

Ibelin gripped the broom handle tightly.

"Wouldn't it be better to exchange some cringey words now so you won't be flustered later?"

"Do we have to sit side by side for that?"

"Familiarity comes from closeness."

He talked well—too well. After hesitating for a long while, Ibelin perched on the far edge of the bed.

"Go ahead."

"Come closer."

"This is close enough."

"Well, if you insist."

Suddenly, Kite slid over swiftly and pressed close to Ibelin. A chill ran down her spine, and her hand instinctively rose—but he caught it.

"Darling."

His low voice in her ear sent a shiver down her back. The cringe was so intense her fingertips curled. She wanted to wrench her hand free and slap his face right then and there.

"Why are you so stiff? Surely I wouldn't hurt someone I love."

You absolutely would. Ibelin barely held back the retort.

"Darling."

Kite's eyes told her: Play along.

Think I can't? Ibelin bit her lip lightly and opened her mouth.

"Lord Kite."

"Darling, I don't feel any love."

And you do? Ibelin took a deep breath and made her voice sweeter.

"Lord Kite."

"You can call me darling, you know."

As he smiled embarrassingly, Ibelin reached her limit.

"Urgh."

"Urgh?"

"AAARGH!"

Screaming, Ibelin shoved Kite away and dashed out of the basement. Her thumping footsteps faded as she disappeared upstairs—unable to endure any more of the overwhelming cringe.

Kite laughed. He had thought life in the basement would be boring—but a new amusement had appeared.

Baron Frillie had given him so much. He had saved his life, and now he'd given him a useful and entertaining granddaughter.

That probably wasn't the Baron's intention—but so what? He must have known what kind of man Kite was.

Knowing that, he had deliberately placed his granddaughter there. So a little mischief was fine. With a malicious expression, Kite flopped onto the bed.

Ibelin wanted him to stay until the Emperor's birthday was over.

But he couldn't truly follow her wishes.

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