Hopefully, at Your Mercy - Chapter 34
Chapter 18.1
‘Sob… sniff…’
It was the sound of someone crying. Inside a dark bedroom, a woman sat alone, tears streaming down her face. This was the sorrow of the woman who had once lived as Delinda Schultz.
Memories flooded her mind, turning into razor-sharp blades that cut right into her.
All at once, a torrent of painful emotions flooded her body. These were emotions that Delinda had once experienced. The despair of losing her “precious red eyes.” The agony she felt watching the happy couple from the shadows.
A storm of emotions crashed through her as if they were her own.
Clutching her chest, Delinda struggled for air, her breathing shallow and ragged. Her eyes clamped shut, desperate to block out the overwhelming tide of pain.
For what felt like an eternity, she wrestled with those feelings. Finally, as her breathing steadied and she opened her eyes, she watched the light in the watchtower dim.
She massaged her throbbing temples.
Damn them.
Embracing these emotions Delinda’s original self had felt, a sudden wave of anger gripped her.
“Feelings aside, if you’re engaged, the least you can do is be loyal to your fiancée. That count is a spineless jerk… He wants the prestige of the Schultz family while keeping his little affair with Rose? And he has the nerve to treat his fiancée like she’s a fool?”
Poor Delinda. I can’t let her marry someone like that. At the very least, I owe her a decent man before I give her back this body.
F*ck all of you! There’ll be hell to pay!
‘Just you wait. I’ll make sure you both regret it. I’ll make you suffer.’
Rubbing her aching head, a deep frown creased her brow.
Suddenly, the light above her went dark. A large shadow loomed over her.
She sensed someone else’s presence.
“…”
Delinda stared at the person’s feet, then slowly looked up.
In the dark, his eyes gleamed with a sharp clarity. And although they seemed focused on her, his eyes held a cold, empty stillness. As if he weren’t truly seeing her at all.
Standing before her, veiled by the deep night, was someone she hadn’t expected to encounter here.
Iskan Anagrok.
“You seem to have a talent for showing up in the most unexpected places, my lady.”
His voice was low and steady, carrying the chill of the night air.
“Well, tonight, it’s you who found me, Your Highness…”
Delinda couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.
His chin lifted with a touch of arrogance, the perfect, sharp angle of his jaw, and those eyes that looked down upon others shone with an understated elegance beneath the tousled strands of hair framing his face.
His red eyes were bright, even in the dark. They looked wild, like an untamed beast, yet held a calm depth, like an ancient tree that had witnessed all the world’s events.
‘Those eyes… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere… but where… where could it have been…’
As Delinda squinted, trying to remember, Isakn extended his hand toward her.
“Allow me to help you up. The castle walls grow chilly after dark.”
He was right. The cold from the stone floor was starting to seep into her bones.
Hesitant, Delina reached out and placed her hand in his, watching as his large hand completely enveloped her.
His grip was strong, and his hand was rough with calluses from years of wielding a sword, which was somehow still surprising. He had the hands of a warrior, which clashed with his regal, sculpture-like appearance.
With little effort, he pulled Delinda to her feet, as if she were no heavier than a leaf. Even once she stood on her own, he didn’t immediately let go.
“…Your Highness?” she murmured softly, and only then did Iskan release her small hand.
Delinda discreetly rubbed her sweaty palm against her dress. She didn’t want him to know how much he’d made her nervous.
She didn’t understand why her heart was racing just from holding his hand. Nor could she make sense of the confusion that swept over her each time she faced him.
“What brings you here?” Delinda asked, leaning back against the stone wall of the watchtower.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he stood beside her, gazing out over the sprawling fields beyond. His sharp, watchful expression reminded her of a lion surveying its domain.
Why is he always so quiet…? Delinda grumbled to herself, peering down at the castle grounds. The count and Rose were gone now, leaving only dry branches swaying in the wind.
“It’s a habit,” Iskan said suddenly.
“Pardon?”
Caught off guard, Delinda turned to him. He stood perfectly still, his gaze fixed on the plains.
“After years on the battlefield, you develop habits. Staying alert. Scanning your surroundings.”
So he was answering her question after all.
That sounds exhausting, Delinda muttered to herself, letting her hand fall from the cold stone railing.
Before she’d even realized it, night had fallen. The sun had long set, and now the crimson hues of the garden below shimmered silver under the moonlight.
“It’s a bit late to say this, but… thank you. For helping us today, through Master Carlot. I was uneasy about the contract and unsure how to go about resolving it.”
“There’s no need to thank me. It was simply a choice I made to protect my investment.”
“…Oh, right…”
Why is he always like this? Why is it so hard for him to simply accept a thank you?
Delinda internally grumbled again. Of course, she kept her expression as polite as possible.
“But, Your Highness, if I may speak frankly… isn’t it my father’s mansion you’re after? If that’s the case, wouldn’t it benefit you if my father’s business failed?”
She had heard it from the duke on the way here. Prince Anagrok, after leaving the imperial palace, had built himself an empire of wealth through various business ventures.