IWIAHC Chapter 40

'Everything? Send everything?!'

When she asked with her eyes, Aiden kindly repeated once more, enunciating clearly: [To Lady Dienta. Everything.]

Sending them to Julia meant essentially commissioning translation work. She looked at the bookshelves again.

Though they occupied a small proportion of the library, they still filled three entire sections. At a rough estimate, several dozen books—and he wanted to send them all, regardless of type...

Lily couldn't make sense of it. In the office, they had never once discussed the necessity of additional texts about Solmonism.

This library visit had been entirely Aiden's impulsive decision.

"Miss Dienta?"

The librarian called to her in bewilderment. Lily herself was utterly bewildered.

Should she really send all these books to Julia? But why? They apparently didn't even contain religious texts, let alone banned books—so what for? Or was Aiden using this action to convey something metaphorically?

Aiden urged her along.

[What are you doing, Lily? You need to relay my words. That's your role, isn't it?]

He was entirely serious. There was no hidden meaning whatsoever.

Lily grew even more confused.

'Why? No, seriously, why so unnecessarily?'

Unable to wait any longer for Lily, who remained completely silent, the librarian asked, "Shall I send all the Solmon books to Lady Dienta, then?"

Aiden did not retract his command. Though unbelievable, his intentions were perfectly clear. Lily had to carry out the Duke's instructions.

Lily had, early on, taken an oath to become a faithful attendant to Duke Casimir when her position had risen vertically from maid to assistant to the aide. She had signed the contract and even affixed her thumbprint alongside her signature.

Unless Aiden's instructions during work endangered Lily Dienta's person or property, she had to follow them.

Lily had no choice but to answer.

"Yes, please do that."

"Understood. I'll have them delivered today."

Lily gave her farewell and left the library.

As she did so, she thought carefully about this preposterous order and finally realized she'd been trapped from the very beginning.

Considering they were outdoors, Lily whispered rapidly in a voice small enough for only Aiden to hear.

"You never intended to send me from the start, did you? Isn't that right?"

[What do you mean?]

Aiden asked back, feigning innocence.

"About letting me go to the capital. You said I could depart once Grandmother finished her work, but you never intended to let that work finish in the first place."

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to send Julia that enormous quantity of books.

Completing the translation would now require time measured in years. The journey to the capital had essentially become impossible.

Aiden's eyes curved in a smile.

[You misunderstand, Lily.]

Misunderstand, indeed! As if he were even trying to hide that she'd guessed correctly.

Lily found it absurd that she'd apparently been serving a fox of a duke all this time.

[I simply wish to gather information related to Solmonism. You yourself agreed that we need as much information as possible to deal with the cult leader.]

"Those books have nothing to do with Solmonism whatsoever, never mind being banned texts!"

[I never said I'd only have her translate banned books. And thinking to gather only information about doctrine when preparing to face a religious figure would be complacent.]

Aiden spoke shamelessly.

[If you know Solmon culture, Manus might feel affinity toward your background knowledge. You can avoid violating Solmon taboos, or it might help your refinement so you won't be looked down upon in the imperial court. For generations, only wealthy noble families have had access to Solmon culture. Given such usefulness, why let materials we possess gather dust?]

His chattering flowed like water. Lily could only feel exasperated.

[Don't worry, Lily. I'll keep my promise. Once Lady Dienta completes her translation work, you may accompany Julius. Until then, focus on finding solutions within the ducal castle first.]

Lily muttered in a deflated voice.

"Will the work ever actually finish? Once she translates all those books, will it truly be done then? It's not as if books hidden away somewhere will suddenly go poof and appear, right?"

[I hadn't thought that far ahead... You truly are clever.]

Aiden was genuinely impressed. It was enough to make one's blood boil.

He'd never intended to send her from the start? Did she really need to hear the answer to know?

Aiden's patience had reached its limit merely by pretending to be a soul healer and permitting Julius to come and go.

On top of that, for the two of them to depart for the capital indefinitely? It was a suggestion not worth reconsidering.

Aiden gazed at Lily Dienta with satisfied eyes.

He had successfully deterred her without resorting to low-quality methods like invoking the contract or issuing coercive commands.

If Lily had thought just a bit more deeply, she would have noticed the trap, but all that fawning had been worthwhile.

Thanks to that, while Aiden's countenance was bright, Lily wore a disgruntled expression. She still seemed to find it difficult to accept.

"Fine. Since I've already made a promise, I'll postpone leaving for now. But Your Grace, think carefully. Not everything the Emperor said was wrong. The root cause of all this is the cult leader. In cases like this, you usually have to strike the enemy's head to end it."

It was amusing and adorable how she, who normally never properly responded no matter how much he spoke to her outside the office, was now chattering away as much as she needed.

[Very well. Do so to your heart's content. Once Lady Dienta finishes her translation, that is.]

"Your Grace!"

Lily scolded in a small voice. Aiden pretended not to notice her glowering eyes.

When he displayed an attitude indicating this topic was concluded, she eventually gave up and closed her mouth.

She couldn't help pouting her lips in dissatisfaction, but he could generously pretend not to notice that much.

Aiden felt he was finally beginning to understand how to handle Lily Dienta.

Simply telling her "no" wasn't particularly effective. If he did that, Lily would pack Julius's ring and somehow sneak aboard a carriage heading to the capital.

Learning from previous failures, she would undoubtedly devise an even more meticulous plan. She might hide the prayer beads to prevent him from following, or negotiate secretly with Wolfram to secure his cooperation—the probability was high.

Of course, Wolfram wouldn't readily agree, worried about his wrath. However, it would only be a matter of time before he fell for determined Lily's persuasive skills.

Danger was not an obstacle that stopped Lily Dienta. Rather, because of danger, Lily Dienta would resolve to devise creative strategies and break through.

Exercise restraint, it's dangerous, please just stay put—even if he pleaded until his mouth ran dry, had Lily Dienta ever listened even once?

She was not someone who could be stopped by prohibition. Aiden needed to deceive Lily as he would deceive an enemy.

'We can save both by eliminating the cult leader? Don't make me laugh.'

Aiden recalled Julius's explanation and let out a derisive snort.

What Julius desired was nothing but his own recovery. Using only Julius's statements, Aiden could extract several pieces of evidence proving this.

There was the matter of fabricating old stories and circumstances to exclude Aiden from the journey, and then, on top of that, declaring he would also work toward Aiden's recovery.

The very fact that Julius would look after Aiden Casimir was proof of the lie.

Despite emphasizing their relationship and Julius's cunning so thoroughly, it was most regrettable that Lily had fallen for this preposterous proposal.

What had bewitched her? Aiden felt he almost knew the answer.

The reason she set aside the existence of traps she hadn't identified and even the possibility that Julius's words were entirely false was solely to help him.

She was throwing herself onto a thorny path for his sake—for someone who was ultimately nothing more than a stranger to her. And no one had forced her to do so.

Returning to his body was currently his most important goal, but it wasn't so urgent that Lily needed to be sacrificed immediately.

No—even if it were urgent, he didn't want to sacrifice Lily. Though he knew it was irrational, something inside him recoiled at the thought.

Aiden stole a glance at Lily. She was frowning intensely, worrying about what to do now.

Lily Dienta, so kind it provoked hollow laughter. This innocent woman who wore goodness and sympathy, courage and devotion strung together like pearls—Aiden kept finding his gaze stolen by her.

When she'd listened to those sordidly fabricated childhood grievances and, rather than interrogating what was true, had cautiously offered comfort—he'd even felt powerless.

She was too busy looking at that distant place to notice the stumbling stones at her own feet, so someone needed to step forward and protect her.

He moved a bit closer to Lily's side and whispered.

[Until Lady Dienta finishes her work, you absolutely must not leave the castle. Understood?]

He'd intended to wheedle like a petulant child, but somehow a chilling aura leaked out instead. He secretly checked whether Lily had been frightened.

Eyes of a warm hue turned toward him and curved into crescents.

"You really do sound just like an actual ghost when you say things like that."

If he split open this ghost and showed her what was inside, she wouldn't be able to giggle so carelessly anymore.

That interior which, depending on her choices, could shine brilliantly or grow as sticky as pitch.

Aiden matched her mood appropriately and smiled back.