Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 116

116.

It took a long time for Unknown's tears to stop. He didn't sob aloud—just clenched his teeth and wiped the ceaseless flow with his hands. Where the hatred that had pressed down on him for a lifetime melted away, an indescribable emptiness filled the void.

Kailun neither offered hasty comfort nor sympathy. He simply sat quietly, watching a soul crawl out of hell.

After what felt like an eternity, Unknown's breathing steadied, and he looked up at Kailun.

"Your granddaughter told me something."

His voice had changed—hoarse and weary, but now speaking slowly.

She'd told him to find a reason to live, that even small reasons were fine. As he said this, Unknown looked calmer.

"She wasn't wrong."

Kailun nodded with a faint smile.

"But I'm at a loss. A peaceful life has always been a fantasy to me. I've lived my whole life in shadows, gathering information, plotting deaths, existing as a tool. Now, being told to find a reason to live—I don't even know how."

At his quiet confession, Kailun rose slowly. He reached out and lightly patted Unknown's shoulder.

"You don't have to push yourself from the start."

"What do you mean?"

"If you want, I can arrange any position for you—start with what you can do."

Unknown's eyes trembled.

"What I can do."

"Yes."

With so many emotional wounds, perhaps small steps would be best. Simple work at House Gracias—reading, light exercise, learning something from others.

As Kailun thought this far, Unknown spoke.

"...Could you find me a place in the Intelligence Department?"

"Intelligence?"

The unexpected request surprised him.

"If it's because you don't trust me..."

"No, it's not that—it's that you've suffered enough. You could do something easier. You don't have to work in Intelligence."

"I think I'd be best at that."

Unknown's answer left Kailun at a loss. In the end, he accepted. Martin would welcome new talent. There would be surveillance for a while, but he believed Unknown wouldn't misbehave.

Still, I can't leave it all to Martin.

Kailun himself would return to Intelligence to help Unknown settle and find his footing. Ibelin might feel slighted, but she'd forgive an old man's stubbornness.

---

Martin didn't refuse Unknown's proposal.

"I welcome it!"

Even without using prophecy immediately, he already knew so much. Though they were gathering information from the documents Ibelin had brought and from Pavltin, they still lacked evidence.

"Not enough to bring down House Barkel yet."

"Still?"

"Circumstantial, but no hard proof. Pavltin and the captured Teyrin agents have talked about Barkel, but they're from an enemy nation. Barkel could claim they're lying to destabilize us—hard to refute. House Barkel has earned its share of merit in Pabeln."

"Tch—their past is protecting them."

"Yes. So we're searching for material evidence—like a marriage contract with a Teyrin princess."

"Shall I look for it?"

"No, don't."

Martin shook her head.

"House Barkel is on high alert. Even you would have trouble sneaking in alone—and there's no guarantee the contract is there."

Unknown interjected quietly.

"If it's a contract, I can find out where it is."

Kailun refused firmly.

"Not through prophecy."

Martin clicked her tongue in regret but didn't press—she understood Kailun's guilt toward Unknown.

As head of Intelligence, maybe this isn't ideal—but sometimes humanity matters.

---

At Pabeln's palace—

Leonhardt reviewed the report.

"A decent haul this time."

"Yes—Intelligence did well."

He leaned back slowly.

"I knew the Barkels were greedy, but they've crossed the line."

Though they lacked hard evidence, he was certain of their crimes. And with certainty, an Emperor had many tools—even if he couldn't destroy them immediately, he could gradually strip their power. Especially with Kite taking a front-line role.

"Still, it's better to catch them properly."

"I'll relay that to Intelligence."

"Martin is already working hard."

"True."

"More importantly—my dear uncle's request. Let's see—he asks for leave."

"Now, of all times?"

Chancellor Jegro looked startled.

"He's apparently furious about his fiancée—Lady Frillie."

"Will he stay out of trouble?"

Leonhardt glanced at Jegro's thinning hair with sympathy.

"Let's hope so."

Jegro was capable but vulnerable to stress—and his hair visibly receded with each crisis. Leonhardt made a mental note to send him some hair tonic.

---

Ibelin opened her eyes.

Familiar ceiling. Sitting up, she looked around—the furniture and decorations had changed, but the space was recognizable. Her grandfather's basement in the capital.

"Oh—right."

Since yesterday, she'd been moved here at Kite's request. He'd been away constantly, still tense from the Teyrin affair. She'd tried to apologize whenever they met, but it was never easy. Alex had suggested she try some charm, but she had no idea how.

Time passed, her anxiety grew—then Kite approached her first.

"I've taken leave for a while."

"Leave?"

"Yes—pack your things. Just the essentials."

They were going on vacation together. After everything, rest seemed reasonable.

Watching the passing scenery, she tilted her head.

"The road looks familiar."

"It should—we're going to Baron Frillie's house."

"Grandfather's house?"

She glanced at him—then he smiled for the first time in a while.

"I need to keep my fiancée somewhere safe since she keeps running into danger."

He smiled, eyes curving.

"Ibelin—you said you confined me to protect me, didn't you?"

Surely not... Her eyes widened.

"Then this time, I want to protect you—so please stay still during the vacation."

And so Ibelin found herself confined in the very space where she'd once kept Kite.

She'd tried to argue that proper rest elsewhere would be better, but he refused. No matter where she went, he'd worry—here, at least, his mind could rest.

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