Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 38
Chapter 19.2
Lillian set the glass down on the table, now filled with only ice.
The clinking sound of the ice, the chaotic noise of the world outside, the sharp scent of lime in the air, and Lillian’s lips curling into an indifferent smile.
It was all making Ian’s nerves stand on edge.
What does she really want?
“I want to form a temporary alliance with you. I want Van Helgram, and you want Winter Frost.”
“…That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? You don’t care that Winter, that naïve young woman, is being toyed with by Van Helgram?”
In a flash, Ian drew his concealed gladius and leveled it at her neck.
The blade hovered just a breath away from her skin. One wrong move from either of them, and it could easily pierce her delicate throat.
Yet, Lillian’s smile only widened.
“You men seem to have the habit of drawing your swords at the slightest provocation. Van Helgram did the same.”
“…What exactly are you trying to say?”
Their eyes locked in the air between them.
“Come on, Sir Ian. It’s time we be honest with each other. No matter how much you try to deny it, your eyes betray the look of a man in love. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have even come here.”
Lillian let out a long sigh, gently pushing the gladius aside with her fingertips.
“Don’t be foolish. Think about what’s truly in your best interest.”
Ian averted his eyes, unsure of how to proceed. Lillian already had the upper hand in this negotiation.
The only thing he could do now was find a way to save Winter from her schemes.
“What are you proposing?”
“Lady Winter is far too soft to live as Van Helgram’s woman, let alone become empress. Are you really going to let the woman you love get dragged into that mess? Like some helpless fool?”
Ian fell into deep thought.
This woman was offering everything he had ever dreamed of—Winter giving up revenge, living a peaceful life, and he would be the one to protect her.
But could he really trust her?
“Someone like you doesn’t need the help of a knight like me. You have the Antherden family behind you.”
“True, it would be much easier that way. Especially since she’s already refused my offer once, my next approach will be less pleasant.”
“Then why haven’t you done it already?”
“I need a shield. You might not realize it, but… Van Helgram appears to be sincere about her. That madman—I’m not ready to die for this, especially since she isn’t even my enemy. Why should I risk my life? It may be a bit more of a hassle, but this method is safer.”
Lillian ran her fingers along her neck as if remembering something unpleasant, then picked up her glass.
“Anything will do. Don’t you have some information that could cause trouble between them? Some fatal flaw that would ruin Winter’s chances of becoming empress? Something like, I don’t know, maybe she sold herself before being adopted by her foster parents? Oh, not that I’m trying to insult her. It just reminds me of Empress Consort Tetijan.”
Her crude remarks barely registered.
Ian needed time to think.
Reaching for the glass she had set aside earlier, he filled it with the lime-scented liquor and downed it.
The liquid burned its way down his throat, but the heat and bitterness didn’t cloud his mind. Instead, it sharpened his thoughts even more.
Even with clarity, though, no solution came.
Lillian’s words kept reinforcing a subtle desire in his heart.
A desire to have Winter for himself.
‘For Her Ladyship’s sake…’
Ian remembered the scars on Winter’s wounded back.
The scars covering her body were a testament to the harsh life she had to live. How many close calls had she faced, all while he remained unaware?
He couldn’t stand by and let her continue down that path anymore.
But if she stayed with Van Helgram, she would constantly walk through a storm of swords for revenge.
At last, Ian spoke, having drained all the liquor from his glass.
“Can you keep what I’m about to say a secret? Even from your father?”
“If it’s something that will drive a wedge between her and Van Helgram, I’m all ears.”
“Lady Winter is actually…”
Ian hesitated at the very last second.
If the truth about her being Ilisias got out, she would no longer be able to stay in the capital.
But was this the right thing to do?
Could he really betray her?
“Give her a better life. Lady Winter doesn’t belong in the muck of the imperial palace. She belongs with a man full of pure love. Someone like you.”
In that moment, Lillian seemed like a witch. Maybe she had secretly spiked his drink with some kind of mysterious potion.
That must be why his resolve kept crumbling. Why he was about to betray her. To save her from Van Helgram.
“She’s the daughter of House Ruhen.”
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