Chapter 103: I am afraid of you – 1

After Vivian’s last birthday, six months were spent preparing for war with Robert, followed by four months of actual war.

Now, just two months remain until she comes of age.

Vivian had finally restored the former glory of the Rondor family.

Her name would now be forever engraved in the history of the house.

At just thirteen, she had been despised and ridiculed by all her vassals.

The obstacles she overcame to reach her current position were immeasurable.

She first faced the chaotic discipline of the household.

Then there was the downfall of Loctana into ruin.

Countless enemies lurking in the shadows.

But she resolved and addressed each of those problems, one by one.

Some she subdued; others she exiled.

In the process, she was never afraid of cruelty—there was no room for such hesitation.

A man by her side persistently reminded her of this truth.

“Vivian! Vivian! Vivian!”

“Rondor!! Rondor!! Rondor!!”

Vivian watched from a distance as the soldiers celebrated their victory with a triumphal ceremony.

Despite their fatigue, the soldiers shouted her name together with the citizens of Loctana.

They were all people who owed their glory to the opportunities Vivian had granted them.

But even among the soldiers showing such unwavering loyalty, Vivian’s gaze focused on only one person.

The crimson bear-headed helmet was visible even from afar.

Even without that helmet, she would have recognized him instantly.

Kailo.

He was her sword and her shield.

Her enemy, her ally… her friend, her family.

Without him, she would not have reached this moment.

Every time she faltered, he provoked her to rise again, and whenever she struggled, he silently supported her.

Vivian looked at him and suddenly thought:

Could he ever understand the deep emotions she felt for him?

At times, even she couldn’t fully grasp her feelings toward him.

The depth was so profound that she didn’t know how far she could go for him.

Countless moments they had shared together flashed through her mind.

Perhaps it was because they had truly reached this moment together that these memories came to her now.

The time he yelled at her to stop crying.

The moment he desperately put his fingers in her mouth to make her vomit poison through her blurry vision.

The hand that reached through smoke-filled flames.

His unwavering presence by her side, even while being chased by a dragon.

The dawn when he took out assassins for her, and even the kiss they shared.

Both were clumsy at expressing their emotions in words.

Kailo had tried, but Vivian could never match his efforts.

She still hid her true feelings, snapping and turning away, cheeks flushed like a lovestruck teenager.

There were so many things she wanted to say but couldn’t.

But now, she had made up her mind.

Someday, she would surely convey her true feelings to him.

—Thud!

“…What?”

An unwelcome figure appeared before Vivian.

A man flaunting now-fading crimson hair.

“…Niece, it’s been a while.”

Robert Rondor had been brought by Kailo’s hand.

Vivian gagged Robert and threw him into the underground prison.

It wasn’t as though she had never considered this possibility.

She had thought it might happen.

But that was the extent of it.

She had only considered the chance of their meeting.

Vivian had openly threatened Robert, and judging by Kailo’s attitude, the threat had worked.

Yet imagining and facing the reality were two entirely different things.

It didn’t seem like Robert had spoken yet, but the unease was still there.

…It’ll be fine.

Vivian reassured herself.

The threats were made precisely for a moment like this.

No matter how desperate Robert was, he wouldn’t gamble with his family’s lives.

To avoid an even more agonizing death for himself, he had to keep silent.

The punishment for someone targeting only Vivian versus someone who had murdered the Rondor family’s patriarch, successor, and tried to kill the daughter would not be the same.

If he opened his mouth, the records of history would forever tarnish his name.

A man blinded by greed who sought to kill the duke, the prince, and even the daughter.

A grave would be mercy for such a traitor.

So, it would be fine.

If Robert had any reason left, he would stay silent.

“Oh, you didn’t kill him?”

Vivian asked as she entered the room, led by Kailo.

Though she wanted to throw herself into his arms after seeing him after so long, there was no time for that now.

“…Did you want him dead?”

Kailo asked.

There was a strange curiosity hidden in his question, and Vivian closed her eyes tightly.

Kailo still didn’t know.

However, she could tell what Robert had done.

“…No, I didn’t think it was necessary to show mercy. He targeted me… and you all this time, didn’t he?”

When Vivian grew up in the fear of death, it was always Kailo who stayed by her side.

And it was Robert who had gifted them both that fear.

So, whether they wanted it or not, both of them held a grudge against Robert.

Vivian tried to bring that out.

“If he had surrendered immediately, there would have been chance. But now he will die on the execution platform.”

Kailo, with a slightly subdued demeanor, walked over slowly and hugged Vivian tightly.

Vivian accepted his embrace.

It was a gesture that had become so familiar now.

“…Vivian.”

“Yes?”

“Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Vivian’s heart sank.

Her eyes trembled slightly, and her mouth felt dry.

She swallowed quietly, ensuring no sound escaped, and replied carefully to avoid trembling.

“…What do you mean?”

“Robert’s behavior seemed strange. He mentioned some… agreement with you.”

“…What nonsense wouldn’t a person spout right before death? He’s just trying to confuse you.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

The thought of Kailo’s warmth disappearing made her blood run cold.

If he believed her torment all this time had no reason or justification, she feared how Kailo might react.

With trembling hands, she clutched Kailo tightly.

The more her hands shook, the more strength she applied.

The deeper her feelings for him grew, the greater her fear became.

She wondered if she hadn’t been less afraid even when assassins came after her.

It was all over now.

She had overcome every hardship.

No retainers would doubt her in the future, and no one would disregard Rondor.

She wouldn’t have to eat in fear of being poisoned or wake up at every little noise in the night.

It was all settled.

She had done it all.

From now on, there was only happiness ahead.

If she just sacrificed her womb… she would pay off all her debts.

She could live out all the dreams she had envisioned with Kailo.

Kailo had chosen her too.

He had said he wouldn’t return to his homeland.

Vivian firmly believed in those words.

…She just needed to get through this one crisis.

Once Robert was gone, the truth would be buried.

She had done everything.

She had come this far…

She couldn’t lose Kailo now.

How ironic would that be?

To have come this far, only to lose Kailo—her pillar of support—now that it was all over?

What would it all mean then?

For better or worse, Vivian had lived to prove herself to Kailo.

As a child, she had gritted her teeth and stood up because she didn’t want to show him her weakness.

As she grew older, she worked hard to present an admirable image to him.

And later, through her complex emotions for him, she endured to stay close to him.

Now, all the promises they had fiercely made to each other were fulfilled.

But if he was to leave now, what would their past struggles even mean?

“…Kiss me, Kailo.”

Without realizing it, Vivian grabbed Kailo by the collar.

The more anxious she felt, the more she used her weapon—a weapon she had learned from Lady Linne as she grew up.

For now, it was her greatest strength.

Lady Linne had always said a woman’s charm came from her appearance.

Vivian had never been more grateful for her beauty than she was now.

When Kailo hesitated briefly, Vivian cupped his face and pulled him in.

Then, they shared a deep kiss.

On a night when everyone was asleep, Vivian walked into the underground prison.

With no one targeting her anymore, she no longer needed guards.

Her footsteps echoed clearly against the stone floor.

Hearing the sound, the figure in the cell slowly raised his upper body.

There was no need for greetings or other words.

As she looked at the true culprit behind her family’s murder, Vivian had to hold back her tears of blood.

The man, gagged and drooling as if mocking her, grinned, making her blood boil.

She started with a threat.

“…If you so much as open your mouth.”

“Aghuh—”

“…I’ll burn you alive. You, and your entire family.”

Only then did Robert’s smile slowly fade.

When he had been dragged here, his attitude hadn’t been like this, but he seemed to understand now.

He was truly going to die, and even the method would be his choice.

“…Witch… demon…”

Mumbling through the gag, his words were clear to Vivian.

A witch-like woman.

Vivian clenched her teeth.

Robert could never understand her desire to act even more witch-like.

“Remember this, Robert Rondor. I want to tear you to shreds… torture you and your entire family to death!”

“Huff… huff…”

“…But I’m holding back. So take this as your last mercy.”

Vivian turned her back.

A few days later, the execution was held.