Chapter 66: Rewards – 3

Vivian couldn’t find the words to speak.

The image of Serena holding onto Kailo’s face kept clouding her mind.

Their faces were too close.

Close enough to share a breath.

If she hadn’t walked in at that moment, it was obvious what would have happened.

No, had they already crossed that line?

Were they already at a point where every kiss to be shared had already been exchanged?

It was a strangely tender yet natural closeness.

Could it be that they had… experienced everything behind her back already?

Was that why, earlier, Kailo had followed Serena without any protest when she offered to stitch his wound?

This thought spiraled uncontrollably in Vivian’s mind.

Every vivid image of the two together painted a picture that made her heart ache, conjuring a mix of betrayal, jealousy, and frustration she could barely contain.

Her chest hurt so much, though she couldn’t pinpoint the exact source of the pain.

And mingled with that pain, an overwhelming rage surged within her.

“…Why are you here?”

Kailo’s voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts.

It was a calm, almost indifferent question.

But those words snapped something inside Vivian, the tenuous thread of rationality breaking clean.

“…Why… am I here?”

She repeated, her voice as icy as her glare.

She wasn’t even aware of how cold her voice had become.

Kailo opened his mouth, perhaps to explain or justify himself, but he quickly gave up and looked away.

That small gesture was far too insufficient to soothe Vivian’s fury.

“…So, you’re seriously asking me why I’m here? That’s all you can say?”

Her voice grew louder, more heated.

It was almost as if his words implied that her presence was a nuisance.

Though Kailo probably hadn’t meant it that way, it sounded no different to her ears.

The absurdity of the situation and the disbelief at what she had just witnessed fanned the flames of her anger even further.

As her emotions approached a breaking point, Serena began trembling nervously, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.

“Lady Vi-Vivian, please… that’s not what—”

“Take your hands off him, you pathetic insect.”

Serena quickly withdrew her hands, collapsing onto her knees in front of Vivian.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sor—”

“Shut up. I’ve heard your apologies before. But here you are, doing the same thing again, aren’t you?”

“Ugh… I’m so sorry…”

Kailo clicked his tongue in annoyance, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

From his perspective, this confrontation was probably unbearable.

And his irritation only poured oil onto Vivian’s burning fury.

His expression seemed to suggest he disapproved of her harsh treatment of Serena.

Of course, that only incensed Vivian further.

And then, Kailo spoke again.

“…She was just checking something in my eye—”

Vivian immediately invoked a spell, his glowing eyes a blazing red.

The magic didn’t lie.

But she cut him off before he could continue, her voice sharp with warning.

“Don’t you dare.”

The intensity of her anger was something Kailo could not have fathomed.

She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from biting her lips—if she did, she might draw blood.

“…If you lie for Serena in front of me one more time… she’ll be on the execution block by tomorrow morning.”

Serena froze like a statue, and Kailo let out an incredulous sigh.

“You’re kidding me. You’d execute someone over something so trivial—”

“Trivial?”

Vivian’s voice dripped with disbelief and venom.

How could they see this so differently?

Why couldn’t he understand what she was feeling?

“Kailo, you know better than anyone why I overturned this entire castle. Have you already forgotten?”

Vivian’s gaze fell on Serena.

The woman trembling before her seemed like nothing more than an actress playing a role.

Every movement felt insincere, calculated to gain Kailo’s sympathy.

She wanted to spit on her face.

But she held back, unsure if Kailo would even understand the effort it took to restrain herself.

Vivian spoke, her tone colder than ever.

“Anyone who doesn’t pledge their loyalty to me… is worthless. She blatantly disobeyed my orders, then lied to my face. What more should I tolerate? How much more do I have to endure from a liar who thinks they can stand in front of me?”

Kailo attempted once more to reason with her.

“…Even so, isn’t execution too much?”

“That’s why you need to behave properly.”

It wasn’t just a warning for Serena—it was directed at Kailo.

Serena’s actions were infuriating, yes, but what angered Vivian even more was Kailo’s attempt to protect her right in front of her.

“If you don’t lie to me, I’m willing to let this slide.”

Vivian looked Kailo up and down, scrutinizing him.

Her gaze lingered on him—the man who was both her prisoner and her possession.

And in that moment, a sliver of her true feelings slipped out before she could stop it.

“…Especially you. You’re not allowed to lie to me. Not you.”

Kailo shook his head, a sardonic smirk curling at his lips as he muttered under his breath.

“Us? What are we, exactly?”

“Using your own words, aren’t we enemies?”

…True.

But Kailo knew as well as she did.

True as it was, it was also utterly false.

His silence spoke volumes.

And when the silence stretched on, Kailo finally turned away from her, his back to her as he swung his legs off the bed.

He reached out his arm as if to help Serena up from her kneeling position.

“Ugh…!”

Serena squeezed her eyes shut and backed away from Kailo in fear, as if Vivian’s threat of dragging her to the execution stand had finally burned itself into her mind.

Vivian found the sight somewhat satisfying, but it was clear that Kailo did not feel the same.

His expression soon darkened with visible anger.

Kailo scratched his head in frustration and stood up.

He had removed his shirt earlier to tend to his wounds, and his bare upper body was now exposed in front of them.

When his muscular frame appeared right in front of her face, Vivian instinctively averted her gaze.

“But.”

Kailo began, his voice now colder than before,

“What does it even matter to you, huh? Why are you this upset over it?”

Vivian was taken aback.

“…What?”

But Kailo didn’t hesitate as he continued.

“Whatever I do with the maids—whether I sleep with them or fool around—what’s it to you?”

Vivian felt as if her breath had been stolen.

She knew she needed to say something quickly, but her mind was blank.

His brazen attitude left her at a loss for words.

“Your filthy lust—”

She began, but Kailo interrupted her.

“Lust isn’t filthy. It’s natural. For both men and women. People form relationships, they do what they want, and that’s that.”

Vivian couldn’t hide the scowl forming on her face.

Kailo, now 17 years old, seemed to have matured into an adult far ahead of her.

His body, too, reflected that change.

It was no longer that of a boy.

“…Kailo, you’re saying…”

“Do I need to apologize for this? If I tell you that I’ve done it with her, what exactly would I be in the wrong about?”

“K-Kailo…”

“I’m a person, too. Back in my hometown, people my age would have already had plenty of experience. What’s so bad about me doing this?”

“…What?”

Vivian opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, unable to form a coherent response.

Kailo’s pressed on.

“You’re fine with chopping off someone’s head, but this is unacceptable?”

He leaned in closer, his voice now soft enough for only her to hear.

“…You were the one who refused me in the first place.”

Vivian held her breath.

The scent she had once found repulsive now seemed intoxicating, even in this extreme moment.

She didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that she found his scent appealing under such circumstances.

Grinding her teeth, Vivian whispered back so only Kailo could hear.

“…I told you I’d do it with you tonight. But you couldn’t wait and ran off to someone else?”

“Why not?”

Kailo’s brazen reply made her chest tighten with pain.

She wished he could feel even a fraction of the ache stabbing through her heart.

“…It’s not okay.”

“Why not?”

Vivian’s voice was sharp with malice.

“Even if you’re a heir, if I had known you were a filthy man who sold his body, I would never have agreed to the contract in the first place.”

Veins bulged on Kailo’s forehead, and his breathing grew heavier.

His anger was palpable.

“…Even if I was a ‘filthy man,’ you’d still owe me what you promised.”

“Not ‘even if,’ but because you’re filthy.”

Vivian spat back, but even as she said the words, they wounded her.

It was her defense mechanism.

By condemning him as dirty first, she could shield herself.

But deep down, she desperately wished he had never been with anyone else.

The mere thought of him with another woman made her stomach churn.

Kailo finally snapped, unable to contain his anger any longer.

He placed a hand on her face—the same hand he had used to kill earlier.

But Vivian didn’t push it away.

She simply accepted it, knowing full well that if he wished, he could easily end her life.

Gripping her chin tightly, he said,

“…I’ve done nothing to deserve being called filthy.”

Kailo’s whisper was strained, his fury barely suppressed.

Vivian forced a bitter smile.

“Do you think anyone would believe that?”

“…Do you think I’m lying?”

Trembling inside, Vivian used her magic.

Kailo’s eyes glowed blue this time.

The ethereal color eased some of the crushing weight pressing down on her heart.

“…Ha.”

Kailo had neither touched Serena nor done anything related to it.

It was hard to believe, but it was the reality.

Kailo turned to Serena and gestured with his hand.

“Get out.”

“What?”

“…I said, get out.”

Serena hesitated, glancing nervously at Vivian.

Vivian was about to shake her head.

“Who said you could—”

“Shut up, Vivian.”

At that, Kailo’s eyes glinted dangerously.

Vivian instinctively closed her mouth under the pressure.

Even if she wanted to turn her head and glare at Serena, Kailo, holding her chin, didn’t allow it.

Vivian thought she had the upper hand, but now it was clear Kailo was the one dominating the room.

Serena seemed to sense it too.

After all, no matter how commanding someone sounded, it was hard to maintain dignity while having their face held.

Eventually, Serena limped to her feet and hurried out the door.

Kailo watched the maids lined up outside the narrow room with Vivian, then slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

—Bang!

Only then did Kailo release Vivian.

“Ugh!”

He pushed her onto the bed and locked the door behind him.

Click!

The short action reignited the timid side buried deep within Vivian.

…Along with that fear, a strange thrill coursed through her body.

“What are you doing…?”

Vivian mustered all her courage to ask.

She stood up immediately, feeling it was dangerous to remain lying on the bed.

“Do it now, right here.”

Kailo spoke as if his patience had run dry.

“What?”

Vivian asked, not fully comprehending his words.

But Kailo was already seated on the bed.

In the dim room lit only by a flickering candle, the two were alone.

Kailo sat with his top half bare.

He stared at Vivian intently, lightly brushing his lips with his fingers.

The motion was so leisurely and commanding that Vivian’s breath hitched for a moment.

“A kiss. Do it now.”

“Now?”

Vivian stammered, bewildered.

Her instincts screamed at her to refuse, leaving her mind in turmoil.

“I paid my price, and you owe me your part of the bargain.”

Vivian was too flustered to say anything, but Kailo merely scoffed at her silence.

Then, with his usual composure, he provoked her.

“…Now, tell me who’s the real whore.”

His voice was laced with a strange mixture of hatred and desire.