Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 24

24.

Kite wore a wicked expression.

"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced someone important."

"Someone important?"

Lucen's sharp eyes swept over Ibelin. When they first met, he had seemed endlessly kind—but now there was none of that. The same went for Alex, who had appeared playful. It was frightening. But Kite showed no consideration for Ibelin.

"Darling."

Kite called her with a sly smile. No—that's not it. Ibelin recoiled in horror and tried to back away, but the wall was behind her. Desperate, she cried out in excuse.

"It's a misunderstanding!"

"Darling, what's wrong?"

"That's not it!"

Her desperate cry dissipated into the air. Kite continued to smile at her with an adoring look. The two knights kneeling below began to doubt their own eyes and ears. Lucen rubbed his eyes, while Alex slapped and rubbed his ears.

"Lucen—I think my ears are broken."

"Mine as well."

"What did our lord just say?"

"D-darling."

"I didn't mishear, did I?"

"It seems not."

O gods—why do you test me so? This wouldn't do—she had to escape. Ibelin felt along the wall and edged sideways. Just as she reached the door, Kite strode over and pulled her into an embrace.

A strange scent hit her, and she froze. She couldn't think of what to do.

"Were you trying to leave me?"

How could anyone be so shameless?

"I've given you everything!"

Given me what?! Ibelin barely held back the scream. She looked at the ceiling, then lowered her gaze to see Lucen and Alex staring with eyes practically bulging out of their heads.

I understand.

If she were in their place, she'd likely react the same way.

"Now—let me introduce you. This is Ibelin."

Kite released her from his embrace and introduced her.

"My beloved lover."

"Huh?"

Alex let out a dumbfounded sound.

"Wh-wait—so you were eloping with her?"

"Eloping? I just rested for a few days."

"Not a few days—and at such a busy time!"

"But love was more important."

Truly—Kite was utterly shameless. Still, Lucen seemed to have regained his composure somewhat. He struck at the most suspicious point.

"Where did you meet her?"

"You know her—the one who's been following me all this time."

Kite said lightly, but Lucen's expression grew even stranger.

"You mean that stalker?"

"Yes—that's her. She said she liked me too much."

"N-no matter how much she liked you—"

Ordinary people didn't fall in love with someone who stalked them—they felt disgust and fear. Lucen's lord was always understandable yet incomprehensible. But instead of explaining, Lucen chose to let it go.

He knew that even if Kite seemed reckless, there was substance beneath. He must have brought her because he needed her. Lucen looked coldly at Ibelin, who was covering her flushed face with both hands.

Aaaagh!

Ibelin met Lucen's gaze and screamed internally. Why did he have to reveal that here? And who was a stalker! Even if he was her benefactor, she couldn't forgive that part. But she didn't have the courage to spill everything here either.

What a spiteful man.

Ibelin rubbed her increasingly hot face.

"Anyway, that's why I've been spending time here."

"At a time like this?"

Alex's expression was much the same as Lucen's.

"Precisely because it's such a time—that's why I'm coming out now."

"So—"

Alex glanced at the ceiling, then lowered his gaze.

"Did she agree to this?"

"Of course. Ibelin is very understanding."

"...I see."

Alex also had much to say. There were countless oddities—starting with Ibelin herself, and this room was one of them. It was too solid for something built by a mere stalker. If it had been him imprisoned here instead of Kite, he would never have escaped.

From the materials of the walls to the structure—it felt like a place designed to confine the strong. And the numerous doors they had passed on the way here—what was in them?

He wanted to ask why all this was in the basement—but he couldn't.

"Then shall we go?"

Kite urged them to leave.

"First—"

Lucen asked Kite.

"Let's say Lady Ibelin loves you. Do you love her too?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Kite answered brightly.

"Yes. I love her so much that I want to be with her."

At that, Ibelin beside him hung her head. But her posture didn't look like it came from shyness alone.

"What do you like about her?"

"Isn't she cute and lovely?"

Kite spouted the kind of things a person in love might say. Even if his subordinates were suspicious, he needed Ibelin. For that, he had to cover up what she had done. Even if she had acted with good intentions, others might interpret it differently.

Especially Lucen—being a rigid man, he wouldn't stay still.

"So—I love her."

For that purpose, Kite could speak of love as a lie as often as needed.

"Right, Ibelin?"

Ibelin, quick on the uptake, slowly nodded.

"...Yes. I love you too."

So far, everything was going smoothly.

Except for Ibelin.

Why—why did it turn out like this?

Grandfather—save me!

Trembling slightly, Ibelin nodded like a puppet to Kite's words. Once she stepped onto the rails of Kite's plan, everything moved quickly.

"Then shall we head to my house now?"

I don't want to. I really, really don't want to! But she couldn't say it aloud—because Lucen and Alex were still watching her with suspicious eyes. Lucen's hand even rested on his sword, signaling that he would draw it if necessary.

"F-fine."

Now was not the time to escape.

And so Ibelin left her perfectly good house and headed to Kite's—House Gracias.

She packed as slowly as possible, but Lucen and Alex flanked her on both sides. To appear as harmless as possible, she gave an awkward smile.

I don't want to go.

But already, a carriage from House Gracias stood before the house. When had they prepared this? A four-horse carriage, lavish and elegant—but to Ibelin, it was no different from a carriage to hell.

"B-but—"

Before boarding, Ibelin clung to her last hope.

"Hm?"

"If someone of my lowly station goes to a ducal house, won't others resent it?"

Gracias was the name Kite received when he separated from the Imperial House. As its founder, the house didn't have as many retainers as other families—but it still had its complement. Wouldn't they oppose her entry?

Hoping for that, she brought it up—but Kite was like an iron wall.

"It's fine. In Gracias, I am the law."

She supposed so. But that didn't mean she'd give up easily.

"His Majesty the Emperor is there too."

"He won't mind either. For His Majesty's sake, it's better if I'm unmarried or married to a low house. And His Majesty has never opposed what I want to do."

"Still! For someone like me to be by your side—"

"Ibelin—don't belittle yourself."

Did she want to belittle herself? She just wanted to escape this situation by any means.

But her wishes went unfulfilled. In the end, Ibelin boarded the carriage—and soon arrived at House Gracias.

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