Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 25

25.

"Really—are you really going through with this?"

Lucen and Alex hadn't boarded the carriage, so now it was just Ibelin and Kite.

"With what?"

"A ducal residence! That's too much!"

"Imprisonment wasn't too much?"

"That was only to repay a favor!"

"I'm repaying a favor too."

"What favor?"

"You tried to save me, didn't you?"

Kite smiled slyly and opened the carriage door.

"Ibelin."

She had no choice but to take the hand of the man who called her name in that sweet voice.

"Ugh."

Letting out a small groan, Ibelin looked up at the mansion before her. Her grandfather had also held a barony—but their manor had always been modest. Some relatives had urged him to renovate, but he had refused, saying it was fine as it was.

So this was the first time she had seen such a grand and imposing estate. She had glimpsed it while tailing Kite, but seeing it from outside and entering it were entirely different.

"Lord Kite, welcome back."

It seemed word of Kite's return had preceded him—servants were lined up at the entrance. At their forefront stood an elderly man, apparently the butler.

"You've brought a guest today."

"Let me introduce her. This is Lady Ibelin of House Frillie. She will be my fiancée from now on."

Even at Kite's bombshell announcement, the butler maintained his composure and turned to Ibelin.

"Greetings. I am Merin, the butler. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell me."

"Thank you."

The butler was calm—but the others were not. The moment the word fiancée left Kite's lips, most of them wore grotesque expressions. More than half rubbed their ears in disbelief, while the rest gaped dumbly.

"Lord Kite!"

Parting through them, a man of striking appearance strode forward—Seren, vice-commander of House Gracias' knight order. He possessed a delicate beauty that could rival Kite's.

That's why he's popular with women too.

As she blankly recalled the information she had gathered, Kite greeted Seren.

"What's your scheme?"

"As far as I know, Lord Kite, you had no woman you were courting."

"Love happens in an instant, doesn't it? It was love at first sight."

Seren looked back and forth between Kite and Ibelin, then sighed.

"Let's discuss this upstairs."

There were too many ears here.

"Fine. I'm looking forward to explaining my love."

This time, Kite offered his arm to Ibelin again. Only after she cautiously placed her hand on his arm did they head upstairs. Lucen and Alex followed.

She felt burning gazes on her back—so intense they seemed to singe her. Ibelin thought she might die from the pressure. She had never received such attention from strangers in her life.

They entered the room Kite used as his study—though since he often delegated work to Seren, it was primarily Seren's space.

The moment the door closed, Seren spoke.

"Now, explain yourself. A fiancée—what is this about?"

He clearly didn't fully believe that Ibelin was Kite's fiancée. Ibelin wouldn't have believed it either, if she were Seren. No matter how handsome or talented, with that personality, who would cling to him? She knew there were occasional perverts who did—but at least Ibelin wasn't one of them.

"Exactly what I said. From now on, Ibelin will be my fiancée."

At that, Seren's gaze turned to Ibelin. She flinched and fought the urge to step back.

"I've heard of Baron Frillie—he served alongside you on the northern border, didn't he? What relation is she to him?"

Seren seemed to know Ibelin's grandfather.

"His granddaughter, to be precise."

"I see. But why would she suddenly become Lord Kite's fiancée? Lady Ibelin—do you agree to this?"

Ibelin unconsciously shook her head vehemently. She realized her mistake too late—but Kite seemed unbothered.

"So the lady doesn't wish to be Lord Kite's fiancée."

At Seren's words, Kite rubbed his chin and tilted his head.

"Isn't she a bit above my station? I wonder why."

"Do you truly not know?"

An incredulous gaze fell on Kite.

"Well, I'm not entirely ignorant. But right now, I need Ibelin."

"An ordinary noble lady is needed?"

"What if she's not ordinary?"

Seren raised an eyebrow.

"Seren—did you receive my note?"

"...Yes."

"What did you think?"

"Aside from the novel delivery method, I had many doubts."

"D-delivery method? Was it that novel?"

She hadn't thought it was that novel. Puzzled, Ibelin asked—and Seren questioned her in return.

"Surely—you sent it, my lady?"

"Lord Kite asked me to."

Ibelin excused herself in a small voice.

"Good heavens!"

"For the record, I only asked her to deliver it. The method was her choice."

Seren pressed his hand to his forehead.

"Lady Ibelin—are you an ordinary noble lady?"

"I think I'm fairly ordinary."

Her quiet life with her grandfather had been unremarkable. She had learned noble etiquette from him and had never had any problems. So she couldn't help but refute Seren.

"I'm ordinary."

As she stated the obvious, everyone except Kite wore expressions of speechless disbelief.

"...Is something strange?"

"Very."

Kite answered casually.

"What part?"

"Ordinary noble ladies aren't that good with a bow. Even if they learn, it's just standing and hitting a target. Unless they're training to be knights—but then they're already far from ordinary."

"Besides, these days there are pistols—if it's for self-defense, a gun is better."

Lucen added to Seren's explanation.

"Ah, but noble ladies don't carry such dangerous things—that's why they have bodyguards."

Alex followed up. Listening quietly, Ibelin merely blinked. Actually, she probably shouldn't mention she also had a gun—and that she was better with it than a bow.

"A gun wouldn't be suitable for delivering a note."

"That's true—but a bow isn't exactly suitable either. Normally, people use other methods."

"What other methods?"

"Send it through someone else, or tie it to a stone and throw it."

Alex suggested alternatives—but all of them were risky.

"What if I got caught?"

"If you're an ally of Lord Kite, you're also our ally. We wouldn't attack first."

Seren said that, pretending to be harmless—but Ibelin didn't believe him. She had learned while investigating Kite that though Seren and the other knights were milder than Kite, that was only in comparison. Compared to proper knights of other noble houses, they were still scoundrels. If Kite hurt someone, they wouldn't stop him—they'd cover his tracks.

"Ah, yes—of course."

At Ibelin's lifeless reply, Seren seemed awkward. He changed the subject.

"Still, I'm glad you're back. His Majesty the Emperor has been looking for you."

"Oh dear—does His Majesty know?"

"I mobilized some of the Capital Guard."

"You didn't have to."

Kite clicked his tongue lightly.

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