It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 186
If she brought it up later, he would claim he hadn’t noticed. And if she accused him of discourtesy, he could always say, “How petty of a princess to mind such a thing.”
Ignoring what should be ignored, skipping what could be skipped, Lionel quickened his pace. He had no patience to wait for a carriage; he borrowed a horse and rode hard for home.
Less than two hours after leaving, he was stepping back into the main building of his estate.
“You’ve returned early.”
Halid greeted him warmly, standing before something so mangled it was barely recognizable as human.
“I took care of it.”
Even if others might not see it, Lionel knew at a glance. Halid was pleased with himself.
“You were right, my Lord. Not long after your departure, these men entered the estate disguised as knights. Their intent was to kidnap Lady Diloette.”
Indeed, the corpses, or what remained of them, still wore the uniforms of Luanax’s order, though now they were little more than blood-soaked rags.
“Did you discover their identities?”
Between his experience cleansing Calitas and his utter lack of mercy toward wrongdoers, Halid’s interrogation skills were exceptional.
“They’re elite mercenaries from the Kingdom of Undbar. They’d been sentenced to life labor for involvement in human trafficking. They claim they were ambushed during transport and forced into this commission.”
As expected, Halid had already uncovered every detail about them.
‘The Kingdom of Undbar…’
A nation at the edge of the continent, founded by pirates. If mercenaries bore its insignia, it meant they were the worst of the worst.
‘And someone dared to hire filth like that?’
The image of the youngest princess’s disgusting face, smiling sweetly as she greeted him earlier, rose in his mind. His jaw clenched until his teeth ached.
“They truly seemed to have no idea who hired them.”
“Of course they didn’t.”
That part didn’t matter.
It wasn’t as though the true culprit was unknown, and Rex Ruina would already be collecting the evidence.
“Well done, Lord Calitas. I appreciate your help.”
“It was nothing.”
Halid’s gaze lingered, steady and expectant. Lionel understood what he wanted and gave the answer without hesitation.
“I’m to help Vivian and Sasha with their training before dinner, so we’ll meet before then.”
“Good. You’ll have to be on your guard this time.”
“Oh my. I should start bracing myself already.”
A faint curve lifted at the corner of Halid’s mouth.
‘He’s pleased.’
“Then, see you later.”
Leaving the delighted Halid behind, Lionel ascended the stairs.
Housemaids and servants were everywhere, scrubbing away the bloodstains. Accepting their greetings with distracted nods, he made his way directly toward Serenia.
‘Is she awake? Or still asleep?’
No matter how long he had lived with her, Lionel still felt that same nervous quickening whenever he went to see her. His heart pounded. His throat burned dry.
He passed through his sitting room and found Vivian fast asleep on the sofa, but paid her no mind and went straight to the bedroom.
The soft sound of the door closing filled the quiet room.
Inside, silence and the rhythm of gentle breathing.
Serenia lay there exactly as he had left her, the blanket drawn to her chin, breathing softly in sleep.
Lionel moved quietly, careful not to disturb her, and stood by the bed, looking down.
She was breathing. She was alive. Serenia was still here, still within his reach.
A surge of overwhelming relief flooded his chest, followed by something even greater: joy.
He pulled off his gloves and tossed them onto the nightstand, then climbed onto the bed.
With careful hands, he drew back the blanket and lay beside her.
Her small hand fit perfectly in his palm. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. At his touch, her serene expression shifted.
Her lips twitched faintly, curling into a smile, soft and tender, as if tickled.
‘Ah.’
Moments like this brought the past rushing back.
Their first life together. When both he and Serenia had been young, almost childlike.
He remembered now the fever of that first love, the way just looking at her had made his body burn, as if something inside him had broken. And now he understood why.
‘Serenia.’
Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed her lips. Feather-light, like a brush of down, but his heart was anything but light.
