âEven I canât tell others because Iâm afraid Iâll dieâŠâ
Sophie mumbled, and Kilianâs expression stiffened coldly.
âDo you think I could kill you?â
His voice sounded as if he were angry, and Sophie seemed to shrink a little.
â⊠Well, thereâs no denying that possibility.â
If Killian had a mind to do it, Sophie Fraus would undoubtedlyâŠ
âThatâs right.â
In an instant, Killian nodded and approached her closely.
âAs you said, I could kill you,â he said coldly, pushing her against the wall.
Sophia found herself trapped under Killianâs dark shadow, looking up at him.
His cold expression met her gaze, and his red eyes glowed with anger.
He looked very angry.
âBreaking a wrist thinner than a sword handle is no big deal,â he said.
He grabbed Sophiaâs wrist, and there was still space between her hand and his fingers.
Sophia was taken aback by his sudden actions and flinched, letting out a small gasp.
Due to the change in his demeanour, it felt like the alcohol was wearing off instantly.
âI could even gag you, so you wonât be able to scream,â Kilian said.
Is this how Killian looks when heâs about to commit murder?
Sophiaâs wrist trembled as he held onto it tightly.
Even if she tried to step back, all she could feel was the closed door behind her.
Killian approached her slowly, almost as if savouring the moment.
The strong scent of wine emanating from him made her tense up even more.
Sophia quickly pulled her wrist out of his grip and fumbled to find the doorknob. Just as she managed to grasp it, the door opened abruptly, causing her intoxicated body to stumble backward.
âOh!â
Killian caught her half-leaning form, preventing her from falling completely.
â But just because someone is strong doesnât mean they should prey on the weak.â
Killian coldly whispered, his arms still wrapped around her waist.
Killianâs arms were still wrapped around her waist as he coldly whispered.
And soon, the arm that lifted Sophia up freed her waist.
Her heartbeat was unusually fast. âDo you think I would harm people carelessly?â
Killian asked.
Based on her experiences so far, the answer would be âno.â
Despite his somewhat aloof demeanour, she didnât believe this man would harm anyone. If he could, he would have already harmed her several times.
But considering the context of the novel, she couldnât be entirely certain of this intuition. Confused, Sophia opened her mouth to speak.
âThen⊠can you promise not to kill me, no matter what happens?â
She knew it was a futile question.
Getting an answer here wouldnât be recorded or remembered as a promise. It was just a drunken promise made at the moment, something that could easily be ignored, and he could still kill her without a second thought.
But despite that, Sophia foolishly wished for an answer.
Killian looked at her and moved closer to her.
Their chests almost touched with just a slight movement.
ââŠIâll promise not to kill you.â
A gentle breeze brushed against her ear, causing Sophiaâs small shoulders to shiver.
Killianâs voice tickled Sophiaâs ear, causing her already flushed face to turn even redder.
âL-Lies!â
Sophia denied it, shaking her head.
In response, a glint flashed in Killianâs eyes.
âLet me prove it to you, that itâs not a lie.â
At that moment, a surge of heat invaded Sophiaâs lips.
Startled, Sophia gasped in surprise
With that breath, his scent permeated deep into her. Sophiaâs mind grew hazy from the hot and sweet breath.
Her hesitant and closed lips suddenly welcomed him, enveloping him completely before she knew it.
The warmth that enveloped her made her numb as it reached her fingertips and toes.
A kiss with him was as contradictory as his identity.
Passionate yet cold, tender yet rough.
Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, a mix of whispering that she shouldnât give in to him and being enchanted by him at the same time.
Sophiaâs legs felt weak, and she tightly held onto his arm with trembling hands.
Killian pulled her closer in response to her touch, embracing her even tighter.
All senses were entangled in their feverish breaths.
âYou are my companion, always.â
A voice mingled with hot breath flowed from between the fallen lips.
* * *
Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only
Killian gazed at Sophiaâs sleeping face, illuminated by the dimly lit lantern.
Her cheeks were still flushed from the lingering effects of the alcohol.
Long eyelashes cast a shadow on her closed eyelids.
Her plump lips were slightly parted, and the nape of her neck, buried in the pillow, was long.
He gently straightened her messy hair on the white pillow.
The flowing locks came together under his touch, cascading down near her shoulders.
The feeling of brushing his fingertips was good, so he continued to lightly stroke her hair so as not to wake her.
The softness of the touch brought a faint smile to his lips.
Feeling the warmth lingering in his heart, like a gentle candlelight lit deep within, Killian couldnât help but smile faintly.
âAm I going crazy, Kilianâ
As he absent-mindedly stroked Sophiaâs hair, he suddenly became aware of his actions and quickly withdrew his hand.
The depth of his emotions seemed to be deeper than he had anticipated, and it left him feeling bewildered.
He hadnât intended to get this close.
Originally, he hadâŠ
Killian turned away from Sophia and abruptly stood up, not allowing himself to think more deeply.
He felt it wouldnât be wise to dwell on it any further.
Extinguishing the lantern, he left the room.
His footsteps echo in the dark hallways.
Late at night, when even Garfield was asleep, he headed to his private study.
Instead of turning on the light, he went to the bookshelf as usual and touched a book.
As he pushed through the bookcase, the space that had been silently waiting for him greeted him.
Killian closed the door and lit a fire to light the room.
Under the lights, a streak of letters and papers was revealed.
Papers were pinned onto a wide wooden board. Clippings from various newsletters and weeklies, as well as miscellaneous notes, were dotted with bold names.
Killianâs gaze, scanning their names, stopped at one of them marked with a red cross: ââ the Marquis of Adam Fideutâ
Kilian gritted his teeth as he carved the name into his eyes. And beneath that name was another that had recently been crossed. ââ Viscount William Percelâ
The vivid memories were still fresh, just as if the red ink of the crosses had not dried yet.
After the crosses were drawn, more notes were attached below the names than before.
Killian gently traced his fingers over the gravestones he had set up for the deceased.
How many more crosses would he have to add in the future?
His gaze shifted to the top center of the wall, where the first two names he had carved were inscribed.
The two names that were etched together in the red cross from the beginning.
[ Howard Viprons Rivelonâ ]Â ( T/L : Killianâs father)
Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only
âKillianâŠâ
The memories of that day are still vivid.
On the day the carriage crashed, his parents were undoubtedly alive even after the accident.
The image of a mother stretching out her hand towards him while being crushed by a carriage. A father who hugged and protected the mother.
When he regained consciousness, Killian found himself far away from the carriage. His small body had been thrown out and landed in the bushes.
He was only six years old at the time, and although everyone survived, they were seriously injured.
Killian couldnât shed tears or scream as he was too afraid.
âMom⊠DadâŠâ
He called out to his parents with a weak voice.
The Duke and Duchess tried to reach out to him, but they couldnât move due to their lower bodies being trapped in the wreckage.
Killian was afraid of death and felt a desperate urge to go to his parentâs side without thinking. He wanted to be with them, to stay close and reassure himself that they were safe.
However, as he tried to bend his knees, excruciating pain shot through his body. Only then did Killian realize that his leg was completely shattered and twisted in a strange shape.
In a panic, Killian attempted to call out to his parents again, but someone grabbed him, preventing him from moving.
âPlease, my lord, you canât.â
Startled, he turned around to see the coachman who had been driving the carriage next to him.
He too seemed injured and managed to crawl to his side with one eye soaked in blood
Why couldnât he call out to his parents?
Before Killian could ask, the coachman covered his mouth.
The two figures walked out of the opposite side of the forest.
âThe nobleman has quite a strong will to survive after all they are the Rebellon Duke and Duchess.â
With their swords at their waists and their robes pressed down, they muttered as they looked down at the Grand Duke and his wife, who were unable to escape after being crushed by the carriage.
Despite being only six years old, Killian could sense it. He knew that these two people had come to kill his parents.
Panicking, Killian struggled, but the carriage driver held him tightly, preventing him from moving. ( T/L: I am not crying)
âUgh, ugh!â
As Killian let out a sound, he met his fatherâs eyes for a moment.
His father didnât say a word, but instinctively, Killian stopped making any noise.
His heart pounded so loudly that it felt like it might explode.
Meanwhile, the intruder lifted a large rock, the only remaining part of the carriage, along with the severed head, and held it up.
In the meantime, the assailant lifted a head-size rock and it throw on their body that had fallen with the carriage.