Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 74

74.

They shared the food and enjoyed the quiet time left. When sleepiness crept in, Kite laid Ibelin down on the bedding. She thought they'd sleep together now—but he took his sleeping bag and left the ger.

"Lord Kite? Where are you going?"

She asked, rubbing sleepy eyes. He gave her a meaningful smile.

"Separating a danger factor."

She didn't understand, watching blankly as he waved.

"Good night—"

The door closed. But we were just getting along—why leave?

Sleep vanished. She sprang up and ran out—finding him spreading his sleeping bag near the entrance.

"Why sleep here!"

"It's dangerous."

She lowered her voice.

"Is something going to happen?"

"It might."

"Can you tell me what?"

"It's not hard—but I can't just tell you."

He tapped his cheek.

"Hm?"

What did that mean? Then it hit her.

"It couldn't be—do you want a kiss?"

His smile was her answer.

"I'd like more."

She reached out and pinched his cheek. Only then did she realize what she'd done—but he didn't seem angry. He laughed, shoulders shaking.

"Why are you like this?"

"Because I'm happy."

"About what?"

"Your attitude. You used to be so scared."

Now she pinched his cheek casually—he seemed delighted. It meant she felt close.

Realizing that, she rubbed her face.

"You've never been in love?"

"Only with you."

"And you act like this?"

"What did I do?"

He leaned close, making her heart leap.

So cute!

She couldn't stand how cute he was. Taking a deep breath, she quickly kissed his cheek—more like a headbutt, but it was her best.

"Goodnight!"

She rushed back in, forgetting to ask why he was sleeping outside.

Kite stared for a moment, then laughed lowly.

Ah—I want to go in and devour her.

But without an engagement, he couldn't be so reckless. He'd stay outside as planned.

As he straightened his rumpled sleeping bag, a bird appeared in the sky—the messenger bird he'd sent to Leonhardt.

Whistle!

He whistled lightly, and the bird landed.

"Wait a moment."

He took feed from his bag—ordinary-looking but long-lasting. The bird ate while he removed the tube.

Opening it, he found thin rolled paper.

Reading it, Draven was moving as expected. Almost pitifully transparent—trying to become regent before Leonhardt came of age.

But he couldn't be careless—Draven still had power, and the seer Unknown was with him, likely connected to the Teyrin Empire.

Removing Draven alone was easy—but Kite wanted to uproot everything behind him. That would ensure Leonhardt's safety and future peace.

He didn't want to bicker with them into old age. His feelings for Ibelin had made that resolve stronger—time was too precious to waste.

First, prepare for Vallak.

Ibelin had warned him—watch for Vallak. Unknown might have ties to Teyrin there too. Kite scratched the bird's head.

"Just a bit more effort."

It cooed in reply.

---

Martin leaned back in her chair, legs crossed on the desk—two legs in the air, but she didn't care. She wouldn't be hurt by a fall.

"Teyrin, Teyrin, Teyrin!"

So tedious. Intelligence was flooded with Teyrin-related reports. They weren't fools, yet kept getting caught—so the department was busier than ever.

"Who's doing this?"

Someone was disrupting Teyrin's movements. At least two—one sabotaging their plans, the other openly exposing their spies. The latter seemed familiar.

The Wolf has returned.

But Ibelin said Frillie is dead.

After the first incident, she'd sent agents to investigate—they'd examined the grave and body.

But that's not proof.

They'd learned to fake death. Martin and Kailun had actually done it. But why deceive even his beloved granddaughter?

She knew he was opposing Teyrin—but why now? Was it about that incident? She recalled the past.

They'd infiltrated Teyrin and witnessed children being experimented on, trying to revive seers from the age of magic. It was horrifying.

Kailun wanted to save them.

He tried, but failed—he killed the lead researcher, but the children died too, when a backup bomb exploded.

Even without the blast, it would have been difficult—they were operating undercover. The Intelligence head at the time opposed it, fearing their network would collapse.

Kailun was too kind for such work—some called him cold and cruel, but Martin knew him. The battlefield didn't suit him.

Unable to save the children, he vanished from Intelligence. The chief tried to persuade him to no avail. He erased all traces and returned home.

If he was home, he could live happily. But Kailun lost his wife, then his son and daughter-in-law—leaving only Ibelin.

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