It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 181

He had once wished that perhaps just once, that it might have happened. But even as the thought rose, he found himself praying that it never had.

Because he knew himself well. He was terribly clumsy when it came to forming relationships with others.

He would have wounded her. Hurt her. Failed to protect her, and ended things in some tragic way.

As he was doing now, with his own fiancée.

So perhaps, for her sake, it had been a blessing never to meet him at all, Halid thought, bitterly.

The first love he had searched for so long ended in nothing the moment they reunited. The girl who used to follow after him with puppy-like devotion was gone from this world. Her body was taken by something born of another realm.

Having lost every opportunity, all that remained for him now was his betrothal to Calitas.

Just until the vengeance was executed.

Just until the monsters in human skin were driven from this land.

No more, no less. Until then, he must do everything in his power to maintain the engagement with Luanax.

When all of their plans came to fruition, Halid would finally return to the frozen lands, to live out his days defending Calitas from the beasts, just as his forebears had done.

The woman who possessed Vivian’s body—whether she was Dantère Ortatum or Ardin Silias—would go on to live freely, choosing whichever companion she wished.

And the fairy of the birch forest would live happily by Lionel’s side.

That was all there was to the story.

Nothing left to wish for. Nothing left to mourn.

The tip of his sword drew the perfect trajectory he’d long sought. Swift, sharp, heavy enough to bear down on any opponent.

Halid slowly lowered his blade, replaying the motion in his mind.

‘Once more.’

When he tried again, the sword cut through the air exactly as he intended.

Even Lionel would not have dismissed that strike lightly. A faint smile crossed his face.

He repeated it a few more times until the movement became wholly his own. Only then did Halid end his morning training, lighter in both body and spirit for the progress he had made.

‘I should ask Duke Luanax when he’ll have time for a spar today.’

He washed in the bath attached to the training room, changed into clean clothes, and by the time he climbed up to the first floor, sunlight had already filled the corridors.

The maids hurrying through the hall stopped and greeted him at once.

They should have been used to seeing him by now, yet they still tensed the moment their eyes met his.

It must have been the lingering rumors about Calitas that were still largely unfavorable in the capital.

Because it was a land where monsters appeared, few outsiders ever visited, and strange superstitions had taken root.

That its people were mixed with beasts. That they bewitched humans and devoured them whole.

Unlike Dantère or Ardin, Halid had no interest in recruiting the servants of House Luanax, so he paid no mind.

‘Come to think of it, there was a council meeting today.’

That explained the morning’s bustle. Outside the main building, the Duke of Luanax’s carriage was already waiting.

‘He should be down soon enough.’

Halid lingered near the staircase on the first floor, waiting.

And as he expected, Lionel soon appeared, descending the steps.

“Good morning, Duke Luanax. You seem to be heading out.”

Lionel let out a quiet laugh and nodded.

“Seems you’ve made some progress. You got the look of a man eager for a duel. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Halid almost reached up to touch his own face in surprise. Was it really so easy to read? He was a man known everywhere for being unreadable, difficult, impossible to gauge.

There was no point denying it, so he asked plainly,

“Then, when might it be possible?”

“Hmm. It’s hard to say. I’ll try to return as soon as I can…”