The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 42.2
Even then, Kailos Delroi only smiled as he looked at him. He had just been debating whether he should wrap his arm gently around Leslun’s waist and escort him.
The interruption came from an unexpected place. Someone suddenly seized Leslun’s wrist and yanked him back.
Without realizing it, Leslun reached out toward Kailos.
It was a reflexive reaction. Kailos too moved to catch him—
—but Robin was faster. With a merciless tug, Robin pulled Leslun away and cast a provocative look at Kailos.
“If you want Leslun back, then settle matters with Lady Miroi.”
It was no different from taking a hostage and making threats.
“Which is exactly why I ordered you to handle it.”
“Forgive me, but I have no confidence in persuading Lady Miroi.”
Robin gave a plain smile, then dragged Leslun away with him.
First Prince Tarensiu of Vancor, and now even Robin. How many people there were who refused to understand the Crown Prince’s heart.
Kailos could no longer even muster a laugh.
***
Outside of official events, Crown Prince Kailos and Lady Miroi hardly ever met.
They were not a pair that naturally suited one another.
If Duke Delta openly supported Kailos, that would be another matter, but the duke was still maintaining neutrality. And because Empress Tera kept a sharp eye on whether the duke might side with Kailos, things were all the more delicate.
Robin had told Kailos that if he became engaged to Lady Miroi, everything would be resolved. Kailos, finding the reasoning plausible, had gone along with it. That alone was an acknowledgment of its persuasiveness.
After all, among the nobility, marriages were by default political. Even if formed without affection, so long as the pair respected one another, it could be considered a fine marriage.
But the chance to grow closer had slipped away when his plan to rescue Lady Miroi personally fell through. And so Kailos felt awkward around her.
Of course, Kailos could be shameless whenever he wished.
“Were we always this close?” Lady Miroi asked frankly.
“Very close. If not us, then who?”
“And what reason was there for that?”
“There was.”
At her expression of total disbelief, Kailos calmly moved a chess piece.
“Did I not receive the necklace you gave me?”
There was no need to explain further which necklace it was—she knew instantly.
Miroi had passed on the necklace given to her by the Empress, and Kailos had obediently fastened it around Blue’s neck.
When he thought back to how Blue’s power had nearly exposed itself, endangering both himself and Leslun because of it… Kailos let out a sigh laden with complicated feelings.
“And that’s not all. I granted your request as well, didn’t I? I even climbed a mountain for it. You haven’t forgotten, have you? I’m still making sure to protect him even now.”
He didn’t hesitate to bring up Leslun, who wasn’t even present.
After the kidnapping incident, whenever Lady Miroi met him, she had asked Kailos to take good care of Leslun.
And he had. He had rescued Leslun, taken him under his wing, and watched over him well. At first, it had only been because Leslun had ruined his plans, and he’d wanted him under his control. But still, that was that.
Of course, none of those details were explained. Kailos simply spun it in a way favorable to himself now.
“Think what you like.”
The young lady had no intention of persuading Kailos.
“So why did you call for me? Was it because of the necklace?”
Could it be that something had gone wrong because of the necklace given by the Empress?
“You needn’t worry. I can testify it came from Her Majesty the Empress.”
She had apparently thought that far ahead from the very beginning, when she first handed it over.
“That’s no problem then. Fortunately, it’s had a very good effect on me.”
“Truly?”
Surely the Empress was not someone who would aid Kailos.
When Miroi tilted her head in puzzlement, her soft hair slipped over her shoulders. Watching it, Kailos gave a brief chuckle.
From the moment she received the Empress’s request, she must have tried to anticipate what would follow. Of course, she would not harm a guardian beast, but it was obvious she had been weighing the strife between Crown Prince and Empress.
What a clever woman. Enough so that Kailos regretted once again having abandoned the plan to make her crown princess.
But that plan had been scrapped long ago.
Suddenly, Kailos leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
“Still, I did call you here over a related matter.”
“I don’t wish to be caught between the two of you…”
“Don’t you ever long for freedom?”
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