Chapter 173

It was the worst. Being left alone with Nellusion, who knew almost everything—or nearly everything—was unbearable. And this wasn’t even Cledwyn’s safehouse, but a strange one with no allies inside.

Nerys glared at him coldly, for the first time not bothering to hide her hatred.

“You’re very angry.”

Nellusion still smiled.

“Your house is burning, and you think this is the time to be here?”

“My being there wouldn’t put the fire out any faster. Better to take care of what’s important to me.”

“You really don’t understand. None of what I said to you was true. I am a spy, and I despise the Elandria family. If you still believe I have any use, you’re wrong.”

“What a cruel thing to say. The deal with the Imperial family was nearly done, and I snatched you away in the middle of it. Father will be furious with me. Won’t you comfort me?”

“Why would I? Are you insane?”

Nerys clenched her teeth. The way he spoke, as if it were natural she should care for him, made her want to vomit. If she could, she’d reach out and strangle him on the spot.

Even if she’d only be shoved aside helplessly.

“All right. You must be upset, so I’ll yield this time. You’ve known me long enough—you know I like you very much. And after enduring Valentin’s fussing, I’m used to it. Say whatever you want. I’ll take it.”

“You’re disgusting. If you’ve gone mad, you might as well have gone in a way that killed you.”

“That’s the harshest thing you can say? Cute.”

Nellusion chuckled. Nerys felt both insulted and disgusted.

“What are you trying to do? I used you. You fell for it, I—”

“Shh.”

His finger touched her lips. She immediately pulled away, scrubbing her lips with her hand.

He only gazed at her like a lovesick fool.

“Everyone lies sometimes. I lie too, Nerys. So what? Go upstairs. I brought your belongings. Wash up. We’ll talk over dinner.”

❖ ❖ ❖

As he said, everything Nerys had used at the Duke’s estate was here.

She had to admit, whether it was her father striking a bargain with the Imperial family in half a day, or Nellusion interrupting and stealing her away—both had their own kind of talent.

But Nerys realized bitterly she was in worse shape now than she’d been in the carriage. She washed her hands and looked in the mirror.

Just hours ago her face had been calm. Now she was pale, her violet Jeweled Eyes quivering with light like rippling waves.

‘Should I be content with this?’

By now, the Duke’s estate was surely burning. An attack in the heart of the capital on a great noble’s mansion would be reported to the Emperor swiftly and seriously. The Duke was now trapped, indebted, cut off from House Wells, ruined beyond recovery…

Should she be satisfied?

Her eyes hardened. No—she still had a place to return to. She couldn’t die here, not like this. Too many enemies still lived.

And Nellusion’s true intentions remained unclear. He seemed to be trying to persuade her for now, but how long would that last? She herself knew it would be safer for him to kill her quickly.

Knock knock. Someone rapped at the door, which had no lock. Nerys ignored it.

As she expected, the visitor opened it anyway.

“You need to eat. I know you’re angry with me and Father, but without food, you won’t even have the strength to stay angry.”

At his gentle voice, Nerys snapped without turning around.

“I’d only throw up if I had to eat looking at your vile face.”

“Really? I thought I was quite handsome. Or do you prefer faces like the Grand Duke’s?”

Her teeth ground. How dare he speak his name?

“What does it matter to you?”

“Oh? So you admit it?”

“He’s an extraordinary man. Handsome, capable, honorable.”

In the mirror, Nellusion’s elegant face flickered with a ghostly cold smile. Yet his voice stayed soft.

“He’s always bothered me. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t kill him. Sometimes I thought monsters didn’t exist—until I saw him. When I suspected you’d saved him, I wanted to kill him on the spot, justification or not.”

“With your skill? As if.”

Nellusion had learned swordsmanship at the Academy, but only at a self-defense level. He much preferred scheming over fighting.

“You know my sword skills? You think about me more than I thought.”

His pleased grin left her speechless. She glared in the mirror, then turned away. Even breathing the same air repulsed her.

He came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her.

“Let go.”

“Nerys, I admit I was angry when I realized you’d lied to me. But Father was going to sell you. Thinking of you suffering in Camille’s hands—I couldn’t just sit by.”

That made her angrier.

Where had he been when she really needed him? When she’d been tortured, when she’d given her life for him, had he once looked back at her?

He had no use for anyone who was spent. And now he dared pretend to care?

“Get off me. You’re filthy.”

“You can talk like that? I like it. Better than when you pretended to be meek. Back then you were like a little princess. Now you’re like a queen.”

“Die, Nellusion Elandria.”

“You’re only saying that to make me look into your eyes, aren’t you? To make sure I see them when you curse me? But I’m satisfied. You’re in my arms, with no other man around.”

“No. It’s because I hate you.”

“It’s wonderful, watching you use desperate methods that might not even work. I never knew I had this taste. Do you know, Nerys? I liked you from the moment I saw you.”

“You disgusting bastard.”

“Is that really the worst you can say? Cute. I’d love to hear it every day for the rest of my life.”

Still smiling, Nellusion finally let go. Nerys bared her teeth, glaring straight into his eyes.

“Die.”

“Ah, so that’s what this feels like. Déjà vu. That day at the estate, you said the same. It was persuasive.”

Since her command was purely harmful, it had no effect on him. He only looked at her kindly.

“You’re more impulsive than I thought. If I really died here, what would you do? Run to the Grand Duke? My knights would drag you straight back to Father.”

“If you’re not dead today, tomorrow will do. Anywhere is better than by your side.”

“Strange. I can only remember being good to you. Why do you hate me so much?”

“Because people are hypocrites.”

“Haha! True enough. You really do see people clearly. Perfect, aren’t you?”

She hadn’t trained her insight for Nellusion’s sake—but in another life, she had.

Nerys turned away with clenched teeth. He naturally slipped an arm around her shoulders.

“I’ve never liked anyone so much. Come on, let’s eat. I had bread and soup brought from a fine restaurant.”

“I’m not eating.”

“You’ll obey.”

Even if his swordsmanship was lacking, Nellusion was stronger than she was. He pulled her up with an easy laugh.

“Oh, I forgot to mention. I didn’t expect Joseph to betray me. I could understand your lies, since you had your own reasons. But my sworn man? Unforgivable.”

“Betrayal?”

“He told Father he saw you with the Grand Duke. Almost cost me you. He cried, saying he only did it for me. Pathetic.”

But in truth, Joseph had been loyal. If chaos followed Nerys’s arrival, he had every reason to investigate her.

Nerys stared sharply, realizing.

Nellusion met her gaze gladly, speaking casually.

“Sorry. He offended you, didn’t he? I killed him. He won’t bother you again.”

Joseph had been his playmate from before he could walk. His loyalty was unquestionable. He had helped make Nellusion who he was.

That was why Valentin had chosen him to accompany her when she killed Nerys in her past life.

Nerys felt a chill. Nellusion only gazed at her tenderly, smiling as if happy.

“If you’d only help me a little, Nerys, you could rise very high. You’d be my one and only, and I’d cherish you more than anyone. Just stay here a few years quietly, all right? If you go out now, it’s too dangerous.”

He was insane.

That was all Nerys could think. If he were sane, he would have valued Joseph—a man who had served him faithfully all his life—over her.

The Jeweled Eyes’ influence was gone. That was certain.

And yet, he burned with this irrational passion toward her. She couldn’t understand it.

❖ ❖ ❖

Nellusion’s hideout wasn’t large, but it was carefully arranged. Every door and window facing outside was obscured by objects so no one in the surrounding pines or yard could peek inside.

Two bedrooms fit for nobles. Three servant rooms doubling as storerooms. Normally empty, with no permanent staff.

But Nellusion promised to hire skilled cooks and maids within a day. Nerys retorted that if she disappeared, she’d climb the roof and kill herself anyway. He only laughed and said, “That would be hard.”

Because he hadn’t only prepared the house. He had knights—like Kilshion—under his command. Why, when he had everything handed to him by his father, she didn’t know. But at least one of them would always guard her.

When he said it, Nerys nearly threw her bread at him.

After the sickening meal, Nellusion left. Kilshion escorted her back to her room.

From the window, she watched Nellusion ride away. Once enough time had passed, she opened her door.

“What is it?”

Though the door wasn’t locked, Kilshion stood guard outside.

She met his eyes. Perhaps warned by Nellusion, he flinched slightly before meeting her gaze steadily.

He must have been told she’d already used the Jeweled Eyes. Softly, Nerys asked:

“If I’m to live here, I should know my limits. I can walk freely inside, right? But I can’t leave the fence. And there are watchers in the yard. No matter what I do, escape is impossible.”

His eyes briefly lost focus.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How many are watching me in this house right now?”

“Two, including me.”

“Where’s the other?”

“On the first floor. We take turns guarding upstairs and downstairs.”

“I see. Thank you.”