"Hey, Marquess Hadrian, it's not that I want to meddle in your family matters, but aren't you raising your son too well?"
Chas sat on the sofa in Hadrian's study, watching the door where Desmond had just disappeared. Then he turned to Hadrian, whose eyes never left the pile of documents on his desk.
"Rheannon used to tell me not to be too hard on Desmond and now you say I'm too nice to Desmond," sighed Hadrian. He took off his glasses. "Actually, what do you want?"
Rheannon said so? thought Chas. If Rheannon had said so, it meant that Desmond would be fine. But well, who knows?
"It's obviously one of your relatives wants to swallow Desmond alive."
"I'm not going to let that happen," Hadrian said. "Whether it's Desmond or Rheannon."
"You really behave like a good father and husband, huh?" Chas commented.
"I promised you, Lord Chas. You needn't worry about Rheannon if that's what brought you here."
"Yes, I'm really worried about Rhea's condition," Chas admitted slowly.
Is Rheannon living a decent life? Was she treated like a human? Did someone hurt her here? Is her body okay? Is she able to talk and eat well?
Chas wanted to know. Chas wanted to see her get better. Chas wants him to fix Rheannon. But instead of him, this captor in front of him cured Rheannon in the end.
"You don't have to bother checking until you come here," Hadrian said.
"Well, in case you killed Rheannon first," Chas replied, annoyed.
Hadrian let out a long breath. "I never said I would do that," he said earnestly. "Actually, what do you think about me?"
"The king's loyal dog."
"I did it for the sake of the kingdom."
"That means if this kingdom needed Rheannon dead, you would kill her?"
Chas could not decipher Hadrian's long silence. Hadrian was a dutiful person and very loyal to the kingdom. He will not hesitate to do anything for the good of the people. That was what Chas believed at least.
But what's with that dreamy expression?
Chas stood up from his seat. "If everyone wishes her dead, even if it's my own father, I will defend Rheannon to the death," he said. "So don't even think you can kill Rheannon, Marquess Hadrian."
"I'm not going to just do it," Hadrian said quietly before Chas actually walked out of his room.
Chas paused to say, "Maybe you can say it that easily now. But if you're already faced with other options and pressed for it… I'm sure you'll change your mind."
The door to Hadrian's study closed with a soft thump.
***
That evening Chas attended a dinner with Melchoir's relatives in the banquet hall. Even though Chas' silhouette is almost the same as theirs (dark black hair and straight posture), in fact, his presence still attracts attention. Many people merely glanced up to see him openly in the banquet hall.
But that all changed once Rheannon entered the banquet hall. Hadrian's long hair and towering figure standing tall beside him robbed Chas of all attention.
And, well, that night Rheannon looked so dazzling. Not because Rheannon appeared so elegant and beautiful, but because her appearance was as stern and cold as Hadrian's.
Chas and Rheannon's eyes met briefly. Rheannon smiled faintly at him.
Well, fuck it. The important thing is that Rhea looks healthy, thought Chas.
"Is that the new soon-to-be marchioness?"
"Yes. Though I hear the situation is awful. But she looks fine."
"She's so small..."
"We still can't underestimate it. Remember, she is a demon controller."
After dessert was served and things lit up a bit, Rheannon signaled Chas to follow her. It turned out that Rheannon had taken him to one of the balconies at the end of the room, looking for a place to talk alone.
"Is it okay for you to go out at this time of night?" Chas asked worriedly as he draped his coat over Rheannon's body.
"I can warm myself," Rheannon said meaningfully. She raised her hand and a small spark rose from it.
Chas's golden eyes reflected the flames of those beautiful sparks. "Since when?"
"Right after exiting the Tower of Shadow." The spark in Rheannon's hand vanished. "I've also been trying to hunt down a contract binder."
"That means… Marquess Hadrian knows?"
"He only knew that I killed the person who… tailed our entourage with the demon I controlled."
"Dad said not to push yourself too hard."
"Don't worry, that's the last time I will use demonic powers," Rheannon said. She smiled at Chas. Her hand reached into Chas's and touched his wrist. Chloe's cufflinks were there. "Looks like a lot of things happened... while you at Ozera Capital."
Chas's mind automatically replayed the events between him and Chloe. Also with Luciell.
"Please don't remind me," Chas grumbled. Rheannon chuckled at that. "I'm not here to talk about myself."
"Yes." Rheannon turned and noticed the balcony door. "But there are too many people watching."
Chas turned his head toward the balcony door. "Earlier, I met one who looked like he really wanted to strangle Desmond," he breathed out. "It's great that Marquess Hadrian could maintain his position until now."
"Unexpectedly, he's pretty tough, you know," Rheannon told, amused. "It seems because the hair ribbon is blessed by Axelle."
"What? He still thinks of other people when he already has you as a wife?"
"I've never seen anyone… be able to love someone like that."
Chas mouth opened, about to say something.
How have you seen me all this time?
The mischievous glint in Rheannon's eyes suggested something. From his late aunt, Chas learned to close his mind to outside distractions. Rheannon couldn't read her mind, but she seemed to know how Chas felt.
"Chas, your cufflinks must be beautiful. You just put it on."