Late that night, Killian sat in his study, his shirt open, revealing a muscular chest marked by scars from countless battles. A dim candle flickered on the desk as he scanned through documents, his glasses resting low on his nose. But his thoughts kept drifting away from the reports in front of him, drawn instead to the memory of Lord Arlecia. Though he had only encountered the young lord a few times, mostly during the reign of the former baron, each interaction left a bitter taste in his mouth. The old baron had been selfish, far more interested in his wealth than the well-being of his people.
After the baron's death, rumors had spread—whispers of poison and betrayal, with the young lord accused of murdering his own parents. Killian had always had the means to uncover the truth, yet no matter how deep he dug, the details surrounding Baron Arlecia remained elusive, as if someone had wiped the information from existence.
What stoked Killian's hatred most was how Lord Arlecia had shown no concern when his people starved or froze during the harsh winters. The man seemed indifferent to their suffering. And yet today, the lord he had met was nothing like the tyrant he had imagined. Calm, composed, and almost smug, as if everything were going according to plan—Lord Seth had completely shattered the image Killian had built in his mind.
Still, the resentment lingered. Pushing thoughts of the lord aside, Killian refocused on his work.
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A week had passed since that fateful meeting, and Seth had yet to receive any word from Killian. He knew the Raven Guild would need time to confirm the information about Viscount Ludwig's secret facility, especially given the difficulty of reaching the neighboring territory through the mountainous terrain.
In the meantime, Seth indulged in the luxuries of noble life. Despite maintaining his villainous façade, the ease of such a lifestyle came naturally to him. His days followed a routine of morning tea prepared by Royfield, leisurely walks through the castle gardens, or visits to the training grounds where he observed the knights of Arlecia spar.
The servants gossiped endlessly about how much time Seth had been spending with Aiden. They often shared quiet lunches or picnics near the pond on the castle grounds, and the sight of them together fueled speculation. The young maid who had once collided with Seth was quick to spread rumors, claiming that the lord had changed—that he was now kind, even gentle. Many of the other servants quietly agreed.
Royfield, ever watchful, kept a close eye on both Seth and Aiden. The lord's behavior was suspiciously out of character. Although Royfield had known Aiden's true identity since the day he joined the knights, he chose to remain silent. Aiden posed no threat to the young lord—at least, not yet.
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After finishing dinner one evening, Seth made his way back to his chamber. By now, he had memorized the castle's layout and no longer worried about losing his way.
But as soon as he entered his room, something felt wrong. A faint disturbance lingered in the air. His gaze drifted toward the balcony, where faint footprints marked the floor. Someone's been here, Seth thought, his pulse quickening. Still, he kept calm, refusing to let fear creep in.
Suddenly, a large hand clamped over his mouth, pulling him back into a firm hold. The scent of cedarwood from the glove was unmistakable. Tilting his head up, Seth met a familiar gaze—Killian's.
Killian leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous. "You know, Lord Arlecia, I could kill you right now if I wanted to."
He was clearly trying to intimidate Seth, but instead of fear, Seth smirked, his defiance plain. Killian's expression darkened in response, and his grip tightened, pressing their bodies together. It was obvious Killian wanted to throttle the cocky lord.
Seth struggled to breathe under Killian's crushing hold. At 192 centimeters tall, Killian towered over Seth's 172 centimeters, making any attempt at escape futile. Seth gasped for air, his breaths becoming shallow as the suffocating grip became unbearable.
Finally, Killian released him, allowing Seth to cough and gulp down air. Initially, Killian had only intended to demonstrate his power, to show just how easily he could end Seth—even in his own castle. But now, a slight smile curled across his lips as he watched Seth's struggle to recover.
Seth staggered and collapsed onto a nearby couch, glancing up at Killian, who loomed over him, clearly relishing his discomfort. Seth didn't mind—it was natural for Killian to want to punish him.
Kneeling in front of Seth, Killian met his gaze. "I've confirmed the information you gave me. There's definitely something suspicious happening beneath Viscount Ludwig's castle."
He continued, his tone begrudging. "We had an agreement, so I've come here of my own accord. Though I'm not happy about it."
Killian's expression remained cold, but without another word, he stripped off his black coat, revealing a muscular body covered in scars—a testament to the countless battles he had fought.
Still catching his breath, Seth was momentarily stunned by the sight. He had nearly forgotten the misunderstanding Aiden had caused, interpreting Seth's request for Killian as something far more intimate.
Trying to dispel the awkwardness, Seth asked, "How did you get so many scars?"
Killian, uninterested in idle conversation, stared at Seth with a bored expression. He hadn't come here to talk about his past.
Sensing the tension, Seth stood and walked toward the bed. Without turning back, he said, "You'll be my bedmate for tonight."
Killian's face remained impassive, but he didn't argue. He climbed onto the bed and lay down. Seth followed, though the air between them was undeniably tense as they settled beside one another. The situation reminded Seth of his past life—back when he was a rising ranker, sharing cramped rooms with fellow adventurers to save money. It hadn't been a big deal then, and it wasn't now. He soon drifted off to sleep.
Killian, however, felt nothing. He was simply fulfilling the terms of their agreement. But as he watched Seth sleep, a thought crossed his mind: How defenseless he is.
Without thinking, Killian reached out and pinched Seth's cheek. The lord's skin was soft, almost unnaturally so. Amused by the sensation, Killian pushed further, slipping a finger into Seth's nose, making it difficult for him to breathe. Every time Seth inhaled, he struggled slightly, and Killian found himself entertained by the lord's helplessness. He continued this game for a while before finally settling down to sleep beside him.
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Early the next morning, Killian left Seth's chamber before anyone could notice. But before departing, he left a note for Seth, instructing him to visit the guild later with Aiden. As he prepared to slip away, he paused by the bed, gazing at Seth's peaceful form. Leaning closer, he gently took the lord's hand and placed a soft kiss on it.
Seth awoke later than usual, shaken by the remnants of a vivid nightmare. In the dream, Killian had been drowning him, forcing his head beneath the water each time he begged for air. It was one of the most terrifying dreams Seth had ever experienced.
Royfield entered the room, greeting Seth with his usual formality. His sharp senses quickly detected that someone else had been in the room. Though curious, Royfield chose not to press the issue since Seth appeared unharmed.
Later, Seth instructed Royfield to bring Aiden to his chamber. When Aiden arrived, they discussed their plans to return to town. As always, Aiden would accompany him.
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The atmosphere in town was tense, filled with hostility. As Seth's carriage rolled through the streets, disdainful glares followed. The townspeople's resentment was palpable. From his seat inside, Seth observed them with detached indifference. He knew there was no quick fix for the growing discontent in Arlecia. Although the barony had amassed wealth, implementing meaningful change would take time and resources—something Seth was still calculating.
As usual, Seth and Aiden entered the Raven Guild through Cecilia, the bartender. Killian awaited them in the guild's hidden quarters. The moment Seth stepped inside, Killian's smirk betrayed his amusement, clearly recalling the events of the previous night. The memory of Seth's struggle for breath still entertained him, and that amusement lingered in his eyes.
Killian greeted Aiden warmly but offered no such courtesy to Seth. Though slightly annoyed, Seth let it pass without comment.
With a heavy thud, Killian dropped a stack of documents onto the table—evidence his men had gathered about Viscount Ludwig. Among the findings was proof that the Viscount had been seen at illegal auctions, particularly those involving slaves.
As Killian explained the extent of the Viscount's illicit activities, he mentioned something that took Seth by surprise. "Two months ago, Lord Seth was seen with Viscount Ludwig at Count Marley's birthday party."
Seth frowned. The novel hadn't mentioned any connection between Baron Arlecia and Viscount Ludwig. In fact, Seth couldn't recall any event like that, especially since the original Seth had died early in the story.
Attempting to brush it off, Seth responded, "I don't remember that."
Aiden, who had been listening closely, tensed at the revelation. The thought of Seth being close to Viscount Ludwig—a man involved in horrific experiments on beastmen—left him conflicted. He wanted to believe Seth wasn't involved in such atrocities, but if he was… Aiden wasn't sure he could forgive him.
Sensing the tension, Killian broke the silence. "How do you want to proceed?"
Seth took a moment, considering his options. "We need to be patient," he finally said. "If we're going to take down the Viscount, we have to strike at the right time."
Though Aiden's desire for revenge burned within him, he knew Seth was right. He reluctantly agreed to wait.
"There's only one entrance to the facility," Seth continued, his expression serious. "Through the front gate."
He paused, knowing the weight of what he was about to say. "There's no law protecting non-human races in the kingdom. Slavery, experiments—it all exists in a legal gray area. We can't rely on the law to take down Viscount Ludwig."
Killian and Aiden listened carefully as Seth laid out the plan.
"The only way to deal with the Viscount is to declare a territorial war." A smirk tugged at the corner of Seth's mouth as the plan began to take shape.
"The Viscount controls fertile land on the border of Arlecia. If you lend me your strength," Seth locked eyes with Killian, "I'll declare war on his territory. But my lands are underpopulated, and I'll need your help to build them up first."
Reaching into his coat, Seth pulled out a gleaming gold coin and dropped it onto the table. It sparkled under the light, a symbol of the wealth that could fuel their ambitions.
"Let's start by mining these," Seth said, his confidence unwavering.