Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 37

Chapter 19.1

Meanwhile, Ian, dressed in dark, casual clothes, hesitated to step outside, fiddling with the slip of paper in his hand.

He could guess who had sent it, but he had no idea their intentions in reaching out to him.

[ I’d like to meet with the knight of Ruhen. 25 Stion Street, when the moon is at its highest. ]

Ian burned the note, then shrugged on the last of his coats and headed out.

It wouldn’t be a problem if it were revealed he had once been a knight of Ruhen. It wasn’t even a secret to begin with.

Unlike many of Ruhen’s knights who had become fugitives, those who responded to the emperor’s summons and fought in the war had earned recognition for their valor. Their merits had cleared them of the charges that had destroyed the Ruhen name.

That was why Ian could live freely as a knight without hiding his identity.

Though he felt indebted to Ruhen, it wasn’t a weakness that could be used against him.

Which meant the note was undoubtedly about “Winter.”

It most likely came from Lillian, that woman.

Ian replayed the questions she had asked him while he escorted her back to her estate. He regretted not doing a better job of masking his reactions.

It had only been ten years since Ruhen was wiped out for treason. If she had picked up even the slightest clue, she might suspect that Winter was a surviving member of the Ruhen family, even without solid proof.

Her hair and eye color were uncommon.

‘I acted like a fool.’

Ian carried a concealed gladius^[1] inside his coat. He wasn’t entirely used to the weight of it, but it was a good weapon in case things went south.

If the woman he was meeting proved a threat to Ilisias—or to Winter—he would have to eliminate her on the spot.

He arrived slightly later than the agreed time, only to find a man, dressed in all black like himself, waiting in the shadows instead of Lillian.

The man gave Ian a silent look, then gestured for him to follow. They walked toward Stion Street, often called “Dark Street” or “The Black Market.”

It was where all the capital’s darkness thrived.

The alleyways twisted like a spider’s web, with trade happening in every corner. Alchemist potions, curses, even human lives—everything had a price here.

After navigating the tangled streets, they arrived at a shabby underground tavern.

Like other shops, it was decorated to look like any ordinary bar, but the people inside reeked of blood, glancing at Ian from all directions.

“If you just talk, you’ll walk out of here no problem.”

The man finally spoke for the first time, warning him not to try anything rash, as everyone here was on their payroll.

They moved behind the bar, and a door to a private room opened, revealing a far more luxurious space than the dingy tavern outside.

And there she was, the woman he had been expecting.

Lillian Antherden. She greeted Ian with a bright smile.

“We meet again, Sir Ian.”

“What’s your reason for calling me to a place like this?”

“You’re no fun. How about a drink first? This is going to take a while. My treat.”

“How do I know it’s safe to drink?”

Lillian’s hand paused mid-air, the empty glass she was about to hand to him still in her grasp. She set the glass down and poured herself a drink of liquor instead.

“Is that so? I even went through the trouble of ordering the most expensive one. What a shame. My neck’s starting to hurt, won’t you sit? You’re not going to make me look up at you, are you?”

Lillian leaned her elbows on the table, propping her chin in her hands as she gazed up at him. Ian sighed, then pulled out a chair and sat.

She watched as he sat with his fists resting on his knees. Realizing how it might look, Ian moved his hands to the table, resting them lightly on the soft cloth, a silent signal that he had no intent to attack.

“Now, we can begin.”

“What’s your real motive for calling me here in secret?”

“Motive? Sir Ian, I simply thought you and I would make good allies. I was only cautious in my approach because I didn’t want prying eyes.”

Lillian was a hard woman to read. On the surface, she always smiled, often wearing a vulnerable expression, but she was sharp and skilled with words.

Even now, by using the word “allies,” she was implying she already understood Van and Winter’s true goals.

“I have no reason or interest in becoming your ally, Lady Lillian. I’m simply a knight of Helgram.”

“And that makes us allies, doesn’t it? Even a child could tell you that the Helgram and Antherden houses oppose the emperor. Or do you have other thoughts brewing in that head of yours?”

“…I do not.”

Lillian smiled in amusement as she brought the lime-scented drink to her lips.

To her, Ian was like the clear liquor in her glass—transparent and foolish, a man who couldn’t tell a single lie.

He tried so hard to maintain a neutral expression, but the faint redness creeping into his ears gave him away. How unfortunate for him.

“I’d love to tease you more, but I’ll spare you. Beating around the bush would only tire me out.”

“If you have something to say, get to the point.”

Translator’s Note:

1. “Gladius” is a Latin word properly referring to the type of sword that was used by ancient Roman foot soldiers. ↩