It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 184
Even so, Halid lingered for a while longer before he finally turned away, his steps heavy as lead.
‘I’ll focus on helping Duke Luanax see this plan through.’
Who knew? Perhaps Lionel and Serenia together might bring spring not only to Calitas, but to the entire continent.
He closed the bedroom door softly, passed through the parlor, and stepped out of the Duke’s quarters, only to find Vivian crouched beside the mercenaries he had felled.
She lifted her head and looked up at him.
“Good morning.”
“Vivian. What are you doing here?”
Rising, she brushed the dust from her skirt.
“Nothing much. Is Sasha all right? Nothing happened to her?”
“She’s fine.”
Vivian nodded, visibly relieved.
“So these men… were they trying to kidnap Sasha?”
“That’s what I’ll have to find out.”
“Then let’s find out together.”
As she rolled up her sleeves, Halid let out a small laugh.
“I’ll handle it. You should rest. You’ve barely slept.”
“Even if I go back to my room, I won’t sleep. If Dantère catches me, I’ll be stuck there till noon.”
Her voice was tired, the corners of her eyes drawn with fatigue.
“…Then at least get some rest on the sofa in Duke Luanax’s parlor.”
“Hmm… maybe I will. My brother wouldn’t complain about that, I think…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Vivian yawned and nodded.
“Then I’ll go in and stay out of your way.”
“All right.”
Halid had just torn his gaze from Vivian, who was slipping into Lionel’s room, and reached to grab the mercenaries by the scruff of their necks when a voice stopped him.
“Halid. Sasha mustn’t be harmed.”
Vivian’s voice came from behind. He froze.
“I don’t like my brother, but this is something I can’t ignore.”
There was resolve in her tone, sharper than he’d expected.
Turning slowly, Halid looked back at her.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
His blue eyes were colder than usual, their depths like still ice.
“What I want is for you to withdraw your request for annulment, Vivian.”
“The flowers and gifts are appreciated. You really go through such needless trouble every day.”
Feigning not to have heard him, she waved lightly and slipped into the room, shutting the door behind her.
“……”
Halid stared at the closed door for a moment, then pressed the heel of his hand to his brow.
He couldn’t fathom her. Never knew what she was thinking, what she wanted, or what she meant to do.
She could seem utterly oblivious one moment, and the next, speak as if she had seen through everything.
But still…
‘Yes. I know, Vivian.’
He wasn’t foolish enough to think her words were born of malice.
At the very least, Vivian seemed certain that Lionel needed Serenia, and Serenia needed Lionel.
Halid grabbed the mercenaries, one in each hand, and began to drag them down the corridor.
On his way to the first floor, the stunned gazes of servants clung to him.
The men, dressed somehow in the uniforms of the Luanax knights, only deepened their shock.
“Sir Halid…!”
Seeing Lionel’s attendant rushing toward him, Halid spoke first.
“There were intruders. We’ll need to clean up. The third-floor corridor’s especially bad.”
“Understood. And these men, what shall we do with them?”
“I’ll question them myself until Duke Luanax returns.”
Dragging them all the way to the first floor where most of the household could see was deliberate.
It was a warning to the staff to remember their boundaries.
He knew Lionel was letting things slide because he deemed it necessary, but it still often grated on Halid’s nerves.
‘They’re far too ill-mannered.’
It was fine for them to serve as bait when needed, but before their masters, they ought to show respect.
Otherwise, the future lady of this house would suffer needlessly.
‘Not that she can’t handle herself, but still.’
He crossed his arms, nudged one of the unconscious mercenaries with his boot, and then another.
When they stirred and realized their situation, he ground his heel into one man’s shin until the bone cracked, forcing him to his knees.
“If you tell me who hired you, I might consider letting you live.”
Of course, that only meant he would spare them himself. What Lionel decided after that was none of his concern.
