Nathanielâs eyes narrowed. Kyrie, who knew he was particularly sensitive about Leschaux, turned her head, swallowing her words. Then Nathaniel tightened his arm again, which was about to be released. Then he sat on the sofa, and he put Kyrie on his lap.
ââŠâŠWhat are you doing?â
Kyrie opened her eyes violently. Nathaniel smiled defiantly as if they were in a match.
[I told you Iâd read it to you.]
âI donât need it anymore.â
[You need me.]
âWhy?â
[Itâs boring.]
Kyrie struggled between Nathanielâs legs. Then Nathanielâs shoes immediately stepped on the string that tied Kyrieâs ankle. Kyrie frowned.
âPeople will misunderstand.â
[No oneâs coming.]
She didnât think he would let go at all. Kyrie cringed in a somber state. It was to get as far away from Nathaniel as possible, but he held her shoulder without warning. Another surprising part of him was that he had no self-interest in the movement.
[Chapter 1. Understanding Crafts]
Nathaniel lifted up the book Kyrie picked up and really started reading it.
[Craft is an art that tries to increase its value by adding decorative value to practical objects.]
Kyrie, who was keen on the unexpected contact, shed admiration. It was a perfectly sweet and clear voice, except that the person speaking was Nathaniel.
ââŠâŠDo you have a lot of experience reading books to other people?â
[Animal skins and bones were also used as materials. There are quite a few.]
It wasnât awkward to answer while reading.
âVallabriga?â
[- and the humans before him.]
Kyrie opened her mouth blankly. She thought a madman was asking Nathaniel to read a book, but there must have been quite a few. Nataniel continued his reading in an elderly soft voice, with Kyrie on his lap.
[âŠ..Among them, the use of expensive gold, silver, jewelry, ivory, and ebony was the most popularâŠ..]
She didnât want to, but Kyrie fell in love with his voice. The room was comfortable and peaceful, combining the sound of firewood burning in the fireplace, the sound of snow falling from afar, and the voice of Nathaniel delivered through her body. As the tension melted, her body relaxed.
[âŠ..âŠTherefore, it is common to use a harder material than the material for processing.]
When she leaned a little on Nathanielâs chest, he paused. And after about two heartbeats, he opened his mouth in a lower voice.
[The best material is diamond. What did you talk about with Leschaux?]
Kyrie was surprised late at the question that came out so naturally.
âAsk Lord Leschaux.â
[Leschaux canât kill you.]
âIt wasnât about that.â
[Then?]
âI donât want to answer.â
Kyrie sighed.
ââŠâŠIt has nothing to do with you.â
[You have something to do with Leschaux? I didnât know when you got so close.]
It was a conversation that they once had. She was too tired to repeat the same story again.
ăBy making him obey you.ă
It was a story she didnât want to hear. She didnât want to handle Nathaniel anymore. Kyrie put her legs up and buried her face in her lap.
âIâm doneâŠâŠâ.
Nathaniel curled up and looked long at Kyrie, who was wheezing. For a moment he thought her back was too thin. And he thought it wasnât like that before.
But that was the end.
[Youâre getting cold feet.]
Nataniel, mumbling quietly, picked up Kyrie and moved her onto the bed, and left the room.
***
After Kyrie was locked up in the palace, several nobles came to see her despite the hassle of interviewing her. To impress Kyrie Buchanan, the heir to the 120 billion. They quickly withered when Kyrie did not respond.
Meanwhile, an unexpected figure found Kyrie.
âCan you walk around? Youâre all skin and bones.â
Kyrie smiled pleasantly at Rubinia Cassner, who threw out harsh words without saying hello.
âThank you for coming.â
âIf you want to thank me, please look grateful.â
âI look grateful now, didnât I look like that?â.
âIf youâre trying to show your dying face, thatâs what it looks like. This is from my father.â
Rubinia clapped her hands twice. A servant came up with a jewelry box. Kyrie pointed to the next room with a chin instead of a tied wrist.
âPut it over there somewhere.
Rubinia looked in the direction Kyrie pointed, and looked fed up. Jewelry boxes were piled up to the end of the door.
âUh. Whatâs all that?â
âGift. Everyone brought one when they came. Sometimes I send people to do it. Take whatever you want.â
âYou know I donât turn this down, right?â
âI know.â
Kyrie giggled.
The two sat silent for a while. Kyrie opened her mouth first.
âHowâs your engagement?â
âI think I can get married.â
Rubinia replied gently, putting the end of the fork in a teacup and pulling it out.
âThough the quality of the groom has come under fire. Thanks to you, I havenât been able to go to balls lately.â
âQuality?â
âThe quality of the third leg.â
(PR note: his little d)
Rubinia shrugged over the embarrassed Kyrie.
âDonât apologize. Iâm not going to apologize either.â
âMiss CassnerâŠ.â
âDonât apologize.â
Rubinia spoke angrily, and Kyrie spoke in a nonchalant way.
âIâm not apologizing, but if I were to say it, I would have suffered more. And you canât dip the fork in the teacup.â
âLetâs just skip that, shouldnât we!â
She looked at Kyrie with sharp eyes, stirring in the teacup with a fork.
âNo thanks! I didnât mean to marry him. Because I loved him. Itâs heartbreaking that the crown has fallen to the ground, but itâs okay because it seems like his human rights have fallen together.â
âWas it also out of a desire for power?â
Rubinia snorted.
âOf course, what else can you see with Eden?â
âHeâs handsome.â
âHow can you say that while youâre with the Legendary Lord? Painting canât be more handsome than that.â
âHaha⊠is that so?â
Kyrieâs dry smile hardened Rubiniaâs face. Rubiniaâs eyelashes, which sparkled like fairy wings, trembled.
ââŠâŠAre you all right?â
Rubinia asked low, and Kyrie grinned.
âNo.â
It was a light answer. Rubinia shut her mouth like a man with a clogged throat. Unknown emotions swirled in her green eyes.
ââŠâŠYou donât have to skip meals. You will get a chance someday in your life. Look at me!â
âI admire you for believing and acting like that, Miss Cassner.â
It might sound like a mockery at first glance, but Kyrie didnât seem enthusiastic enough to see something. Rubinia saw Kyrierâs arm on the table. It was a slender wrist that would seem to break in the middle of nowhere.
âCanât you cling to the Legend?â
Kyrie blinked a couple of times as if he had heard something strange.
âCling?â
âIt could be a little different if you cling. I donât think itâs a problem to act cute or pathetic to others to get what you want.â
Kyrie grinned. She knew best how eager she was.
âThatâs what I do, too. But thereâs no reason for that.â
âWhy isnât there a reason?â
âIt was a responsibility that was moved on to me. I got engaged to Eden, and because of that one thing, I closed my eyes to you and Edenâs actions, and I endured the eyes of the people around meâŠâŠ.â
ââŠâŠ.â
âBut now Iâve lost all that. Everyone wants me dead now.â
Kyrie murmured, looking at the refreshments and teacups placed like still water on the table.
âNow I have no choice but to believe that I can be comfortable when I die.â
Rubinia looked at Kyrie with a confused face. It seems to her that Kyrie was steadily taking steps of resignation. How can a person be like this overnight?
âIâm⊠Iâm not here to see you so weak.â
âIâm sorry.â
âI told you not to apologize.â
Kyrie smiled with a big smile. Rubinia tapped her chest at the sight.
âWhy are you digging so deep when the Legendary Lord is taking people hostage and threatening them badly?â
Kyrie paused. It was similar to what Aaron said. But Aaron was dead. So that was the wrong word. Kyrie closed her mouth.
âAh! Thatâs so frustrating!â
Eventually Rubinia sprang up from her seat. She seemed genuinely angry.
âAre you really that Kyrie Buchanan? Is that the Kyrie Buchanan who used to be sarcastic, teasing, and holding people up and down like that?â
But Kyrie only looked at Rubinia with clear eyes. Her transparent gaze, in which no trace of emotion could be seen, resembled the Legendary Lord to a frightening extent.
Seeing her, Rubinia suddenly became afraid of everything. And she shouted in a louder voice to hide it.
âDo you think that makes sense? Why is it your fault that you are fighting for your survival and fundamental rights?â
âMiss CassnerâŠ.â
âLife is all about life! I have to take care of mine! No matter what others say, Iâll live and watch!â
Rubinia looked at Kyrie for a long time, biting her lips and moving her feet.
âIâm leaving. Itâs so pathetic that I canât take it.â
âMiss Cassner, Iâll see you offâŠâŠ.â
Rubinia, who was strolling, suddenly stopped walking. Then she jerked her head and stared fiercely at Kyrie.
âYouâre right! What Iâve done to you so far has been worse.â
Kyrie blinked, not understanding what was happening. Rubinia spoke clearly, regardless of her attitude.
âThatâs why Iâm here today. Is this right enough? Hey, open the door.â
She spoke coldly, then disappeared with a haughty step. Kyrie blinked slowly, but belatedly realized something and headed to where Rubinia was sitting.
On the table, the teaware used by Rubinia was littered, as if on purpose. And on top of the small saucer, there was a clear long and extended mark drawn by a fork dipped in tea water.