LADBITW Chapter 2

"Who is that woman?"

"Ah..."

Frederick hesitated for a long time, unable to answer his father's shame with his own mouth, but finally cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke.

"That is... Father requested she be buried with him... So she's being entombed alive."

After a brief silence.

Cold mockery appeared in Killian's expression as he looked at them.

Segnita, Frederick's wife, tactfully interjected to help her embarrassed husband save face.

"Come to think of it, Lord Ferdian was acquainted with that woman. He must feel terrible."

Casarius's second son didn't answer, just hardened his expression and turned his head.

Segnita continued with an air of privately pitying her.

"He wasn't the sort to leave a will demanding to take a living person with him... I suppose a temptress is a temptress after all."

The words subtly emphasized that while they were following Casarius's wishes, they weren't doing this willingly themselves.

"My lady."

Frederick stopped his wife.

"This is Father's funeral, so we should refrain from speaking."

"Yes."

Segnita bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Frederick exhaled in relief, inwardly praising his wise wife.

That should be enough. Though embarrassing to have shown such a flawed scene, they'd covered themselves fairly effectively.

Frederick felt his dignity somewhat restored and raised his eyes to gauge Grand Duke Axias's expression.

And found himself somewhat surprised.

"A temptress."

He was smiling.

"Indeed, my interest is piqued."

Those nearby looked at each other, not knowing what to do, watching for his reaction.

A beat too late, Frederick recalled rumors that Killian enjoyed women.

Grand Duke Axias's "East Annex."

Among those who raged that a deposed prince dared keep a harem only the Emperor should have, how many weren't honestly envious?

They said he traveled everywhere with his annex ladies, but today no woman accompanied him.

Grand Duke Axias tilted his head and smiled, then continued.

"Everyone here seems to pity her, and I have something owed from Casarius. If I take her instead of the debt, wouldn't everyone living be happy?"

At this unimaginable suggestion, the Sevitas family's eyes widened as they looked at him.

Killian grinned.

"What do you say? Shall we do that?"

Frederick's mouth fell open involuntarily.

Is he serious? That debt is enormous!

"The debt... You would forgive the entire amount?"

Frederick managed to speak without stammering.

Killian affirmed without blinking.

"I'm taking away the deceased's final companion. Shouldn't it be worth at least that? If there's a difference, consider it funeral money."

Frederick swallowed and glanced at Lietta's back.

It was obviously a profitable deal.

If giving away someone who would become a corpse anyway could cancel that enormous debt.

But appearances mattered, so he couldn't jump at it too enthusiastically. He made a show of hesitation.

Killian smirked with one corner of his mouth, as if finding him pathetic.

"Ah. Of course it would be difficult to go against your father's final wishes. Let's forget I mentioned it."

People's expressions changed rapidly again.

Segnita turned her head so fast it made a whoosh, looking at Frederick.

Who knew when Grand Duke Axias might change his mind.

This wasn't the time to hesitate over appearances.

Frederick clenched his fist anxiously.

The decision came quickly.

"Bring the woman."

This time someone else turned their head urgently to look at him.

"You mustn't, my lord!"

People's gazes turned to Cedric Kavalam, who had been the deceased Casarius's loyal retainer.

Flustered by the cold stares of distinguished people suddenly focused on him, he quickly bowed.

"The... the preparations are already complete, and wasn't it his dying wish? You cannot disregard Lord Casarius's will like this...!"

Frederick glared coldly at his tactless subordinate.

"Oh? Then you must have a way to handle Father's debt of twenty million gold?"

Tricks didn't work on Grand Duke Axias.

Being honest was the way not to offend him. Frederick, knowing this, spoke bluntly. Kavalam, flustered by the arrow suddenly aimed at him, stammered on.

"J-just because of money. Merely because of money, you would disregard Father's final hope like this? The spirit marriage ceremony is already complete! Lietta Tristy will serve Lord Casarius eternally in the afterlife...!"

"Such tearful loyalty."

As if impressed, a voice tinged with laughter cut off his words.

Killian suddenly drew his sword.

People's faces changed instantly. Even the guards near the lord couldn't react in time.

Under his cold gaze, the sword's flat side descended with a thunk onto Grand Duke Axias's palm.

Killian tilted his head at an angle and smiled sweetly.

"Well... I have no gift prepared for Casarius's final journey... How about this? You go with him and serve Casarius eternally. A loyal retainer to serve him forever—what a perfect gift that would be."

His languid red eyes slowly traced the blade.

"Wouldn't it make an incomparably beautiful tale?"

When the relaxed, smiling red eyes lifted toward Cedric Kavalam—

Cedric Kavalam's face had turned white.

"Casarius would be delighted."

The frozen Cedric stumbled backward. Cold sweat poured like rain, sliding the monocle perched on his nose.

Killian laughed sharply, amused, tilting his head.

His sweet voice fell like a death sentence over Kavalam's head.

"Don't refuse."

As he lowered the sword and willingly stepped forward—

Cedric Kavalam collapsed to the ground, his knees shattering.

"I-I-I spoke above my station! F-f-forgive me!!"

The Sevitas family and Grand Duke Axias seemed to be having some discussion, then the procession soon stopped.

Through an escort knight near the new lord Frederick, some words were conveyed to the maids.

The maids exchanged inaudible words as they came and went, then supported Lietta's body and turned her around.

When the procession suddenly stopped and Lietta was turned and led toward the Sevitas family, the crowd who hadn't heard their words began murmuring in confusion.

"What? What's happening?"

"I don't know either..."

Lietta, who also hadn't caught their words, moved her feet as the maids led her with vacant eyes.

The beautiful widow, turned away from death's door, was led before Grand Duke Axias.

The maids worked to make her bow respectfully to the Grand Duke.

In her hazy consciousness, not knowing what she was doing, Lietta clumsily lowered herself in greeting with unfocused eyes.

Since neither his knights nor even Frederick dared tell him to sheathe his weapon, the unsheathed sword remained in his hand.

Killian casually extended his sword toward Lietta and lifted the black veil covering her face with the blade's tip.

As the veil lifted, the face of a pale, beautiful woman with no expression was revealed.

Unfocused sky-blue eyes blinked slowly, unable to gather her wits.

Coldly settled red eyes swept over the woman's appearance.

A cold smile—just one corner of his mouth lifting carelessly—appeared on the man's face.

"Pretty."

Killian Axias chuckled and tilted his head.

Then with the languid attitude of a predator under spring sunshine, he offered a sweet greeting.

"Hello. Temptress."

That night.

Entering his room prepared in the Sevitas mansion's guest quarters, Killian discovered someone had already claimed his bed.

Lietta sat on the bed with her beautiful golden hair loose, wearing a white slip so sheer it was transparent, her expression vacant. Spotting him, she unsteadily rose and bowed her head.

"Grand Duke Axias, Your Grace."

A faint voice flowed weakly from the woman.

"Thank you for sparing my life... I will serve you devotedly."

Her expression was too wretched to promise a pleasant night.

Does she even know what she's saying?

Her soulless voice sounded like reading text, probably something memorized and muttered by rote. Someone must have rushed to indoctrinate her.

"...I'm not sure I actually saved you."

Even at his joke pointing out her attitude, the woman couldn't manage a trace of smile, just stood vacantly with downcast eyes.

When he'd seen her during the day, he'd known it was because she'd drunk aluchino.

But she still seemed unable to gather her wits.

Killian approached and lifted the woman's chin.

Her vacant sky-blue eyes were unfocused and empty.

"Like someone already dead."

After a long moment, a dull answer emerged from her expressionless face.

"...My apologies."

Killian clicked his tongue inwardly.

Some temptress.

Killian released the woman and turned away.

"That's enough, so leave. Taking a woman after coming to pay condolences at a house of mourning doesn't seem right."

The woman never once declined, just stood vacantly, then bowed without protest and withdrew.

"Yes..."

I like that she doesn't need many words.

Still, it's somewhat annoying how she retreats so cleanly as if she'd been waiting.

Killian glanced up briefly and asked her name.

"You. What's your name?"

A sluggish answer slowly emerged from her vacant face.

"Lietta... Tristy."

Killian looked her up and down.

Certainly a beauty rare in the countryside. But what pleasure is there in bedding a woman looking death-ready in one's own bed?

What perverse taste for old men.

"I see. Lietta. Go outside and tell Leonard to come in."

"Yes..."

He withdrew his gaze from Lietta's back as she left through the door and removed his coat.

Even so, what kindness to push into his room that very night the woman he'd demanded during a funeral.

And a woman who'd been meant to accompany his father on his final journey, no less.

Killian snorted dryly.

Casarius raised his children just brilliantly.

"You called for me?"

Leonard, Killian's knight, paid his respects to his lord.

Killian nodded absently and ordered while undressing.

"Find out what happened with that woman."

Leonard began reciting smoothly as if he'd been waiting.

"An ordinary widow. They were an affectionate couple—"

"...You already looked into it."

Leonard nodded briefly.

"Of course. How could I allow a woman into Grand Duke's bedchamber without knowing who she was?"

"Continue."

"Her husband died suddenly of illness four months ago. After that, Count Casarius began pressuring her to become his concubine, but when Miss Tristy refused, the angry Casarius took away her three-year-old daughter and sold her to a wandering slave trader."

Killian donned his nightclothes while staring absently at the corner of the room.

The indifferent voice continued calmly behind him.

"Miss Tristy finally gave in and accepted that she'd become his concubine if he returned her daughter safely, but wickedly, Casarius caught the plague and died without finding the daughter. And he requested Miss Tristy be buried alive with him."

Killian, who'd been listening silently, sat on the sofa and spoke flatly.

"A filthy story. Good riddance."

"Moreover..."

"What else?"

"This isn't confirmed information, but there seems to be something questionable about her husband's death. They said he died of plague."

Killian glanced at Leonard.

"...Didn't you say the husband died four months ago?"

"Yes. At a time when plague hadn't yet reached Sevitas. The timing doesn't match. Perhaps because of that, rumors are circulating that Count Casarius, who coveted Lietta, killed him disguising it as plague. That Casarius catching actual plague was the dead husband's curse."

Killian chuckled.

A curse.

People do love such stories.

Leonard's words continued.

"Where Casarius stayed was an ordinary mansion, so it didn't receive blessing magic protection like a castle. But as a count, he should have been protected by his own priests' blessings, yet it penetrated that—which is rare."

Leonard offered a brief report in the form of a small piece of paper.

Circumstances like Casarius's plague onset and death dates were briefly summarized.

"In fact, he was one of the first in Sevitas to catch plague, and the progression until his life became critical was unusually fast. Should I investigate further?"

This was more than enough.

"That's fine. Good work. You may go."

He had no further interest.

Leonard bowed respectfully and withdrew.

A widow... I see.

Killian accepted it without much interest and reclined on the sofa.

He'd merely stopped by because the Sevitas estate happened to be on his way.

Because Casarius—who kept avoiding him with no word—was irritating.

But he'd gone and died.

Pursuing a dead man's debt from his children held no interest.

It hadn't been a significant sum to him anyway.

Frederick's honest and courteous attitude wasn't bad either.

He hadn't expected some great temptress anyway.

Just amusement for a dull moment, finding nobles' antics ridiculous.

Killian languidly crossed his legs and casually tossed the paper Leonard had given him onto the table before opening a book.

He soon forgot about her and moved to the bed to sleep.

"You won't stay longer?"

Segnita made the polite offer with a regretful face.

"Next time."

Killian answered with an indifferent expression.

Though his unconcerned attitude made it sound insincere, the fact that this cold man even said that much was something.

Just Grand Duke Killian Axias treating them civilly was encouraging.

Nevertheless, Frederick and Segnita inwardly regretted his departure considerably.

Whether in wealth or military power, having such an unparalleled influential figure from the empire stay in one's home was a rare opportunity. Certainly maintaining a positive relationship with him would prove helpful for years to come.

Though they'd been caught in a shameful situation, it had unexpectedly concluded amicably, and unlike their initial tension, he wasn't a difficult person.

Moreover, Grand Duke Axias's attitude in casually forgiving their considerable debt had left an impression on them.

But he wasn't someone you could hold onto just by trying.

Sevitas wasn't in a position to cling to Axias.

Frederick had to be satisfied with treating Grand Duke Axias and his knights with utmost hospitality, dressing up the woman to be offered beautifully, and providing a finest-quality carriage to transport her.

Lietta, beautifully adorned in a modest, elegant black and purple dress made of the finest fabric, boarded the carriage with a dead, expressionless face—the last preparation of Grand Duke Axias's party was complete.

"Then."

Killian glanced indifferently at the woman he'd paid a high price for with unconcerned attitude, then turned away.

Frederick, somewhat flustered by the farewell that ended instantly with no particular greeting, called out a final farewell to his back.

"I wish you a comfortable journey."

Without looking back, Grand Duke Axias raised just one hand to return the greeting, then spurred his horse and departed.