Hopefully, at Your Mercy - Chapter 11

Chapter 6.2

Their eyes gleamed sharply beneath their sturdy iron helmets. They marched in perfectly aligned rows, their large, imposing figures and confident posture making it clear that these were highly trained elite soldiers.

And among them, one figure stood out the most.

The group surrounding this person came to a halt at the entrance.

One of the horses reared up on its hind legs, sending a cloud of dust into the air as it let out a loud neigh. The rider’s cape billowed dramatically in the wind.

Then, a broad-shouldered man dismounted from the black horse.

His long legs touched the ground, and he handed the reins to a servant. His hands elegantly adjusted his slightly ruffled clothing. His hair, as black as the night sky, fluttered in the wind.

He exuded the dignity and grace of a high-ranking noble, born to wield power, yet his presence was sharp, like a finely honed knight.

Delinda pressed herself against the window, leaning so far forward that she threatened to fall as she gazed below.

‘Wow. How is it possible for someone to be that handsome…?’

He already looked impressive, and that was just by seeing his silhouette, but now that she could properly see his face, it was breathtaking.

Without even turning to face Rose, Delinda asked urgently.

“Rose, Rose! Is that man…”

“Yes, that would be Grand Duke Iskan Anagrok. I’ve never seen him before either, but since he’s the only one scheduled to visit today, it must be him.”

Aha! So, you’re the younger brother of the crown prince who called me Ruyan.

Delinda stared at him, almost as if in a trance.

Could he sense her piercing gaze? Iskan looked up.

Their eyes slowly locked in mid-air.

“…”

While the inside of the room was dark, the outside was bathed in bright sunlight.

Bathed in that radiant light, the man stared directly at her, making Delinda let out a breathy gasp.

“Ah…”

Her body refused to move.

If his gaze held any physical power, he would’ve had her tied down completely.

His eyes were an intense, vivid red.

He was undeniably very handsome, but…

‘Why? Why do I feel sad?’

She was looking at the most handsome man in the world, yet strangely, her shoulders tensed up. A tingle of electricity shot through her fingertips, a feeling she couldn’t quite explain.

Am I scared of good-looking men?

But… something about him feels familiar.

Feeling like she could hardly breathe, Delinda tore her gaze away from him. She stepped back from the window and retreated into the shadows of the room.

As if she wanted to escape from him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Delinda shook her head and took a couple deep breaths. Little by little, her tremors began to settle.

Once her racing heart had calmed, Delinda asked Rose a question.

“But why is he here?”

With a small sigh, Rose replied in a tone that suggested Delinda should know better.

“Why do you think? He’s here to purchase the mansion.”

“What?!”

* * *

But Iskan hadn’t come to buy the mansion. He was here to offer a loan, using the mansion as collateral.

Duke Schultz had been trying to gather funds for the “Spirit Stone Mine” contract, and his connections eventually led him to Prince Iskan.

Delinda descended to the mansion’s foyer alongside her father to greet Iskan. She snuck a few quick glances at him as he walked in, standing tall.

Leading his knights with an air of authority, Iskan looked more like the master of this mansion than a guest.

With each step, his red cloak billowed gracefully behind him. His confident strides were like relentless, crashing waves between cliffs.

“Welcome, Your Highness. Thank you for coming in person and honoring my request.”

“I’m more than happy to extend a warm welcome to the duke’s invitation.”

Their greeting was surprisingly cordial. The duke and Iskan exchanged light pleasantries as they walked toward the drawing room.

Delinda followed them in silence, keeping her mouth firmly shut as she walked beside her father.

‘He just keeps drawing my attention.’

Iskan Anagrok. Every time she snuck a glance at him, a shiver ran through her, making her body freeze up.

She was actually starting to believe she had a fear of handsome men. There was no other explanation for why her lips had been trembling since earlier.

When they reached the drawing room, the duke finally introduced Delinda to Iskan.

“Your Highness, I don’t believe you’ve met her before. This is my daughter, Delinda Schultz.”

Only then did Iskan turn to look at her. Delinda stood motionless, staring at him intently.

Step, step.

Iskan approached Delinda slowly. He extended his hand politely, and when she placed her hand in his, the warmth of his touch gradually melded with hers.

Iskan lowered his head, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

A smooth strand of hair fell across his forehead. It was like part of a perfect painting.

Long lashes framed his eyes, and his flawless skin was as smooth as finely polished marble.

When he finally raised his head, his gaze lingered on Delinda’s eyes.

His stare was striking and sharp. His piercing gaze connected deeply with hers.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

A melting smile accompanied his gentle, low voice.

…Ah!

Delinda flinched, yanking her hand away from his grasp. A cold chill ran down her spine.

From the moment he greeted her father, she’d felt a strange sense of déjà vu…

A steady, relaxed tone that showed not a hint of emotion, no matter the circumstances. A low voice where each word landed with calm precision.

It was him.