Translator: Nox

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

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While Krua was getting her wounds treated by Nias, Argenta's personal physician,

Nirua was left alone with Dielo.

The frail head of the Argenta family, who had inherited the title at a young age.

Nirua's gaze scrutinized him.

Since Krua Alloze, who had decided to become his master, had joined hands with him, she needed to understand him well.

—Thud.

Dielo was as quiet as the rumors suggested.

But he didn't have as gentle an aura as the rumors claimed.

Nirua paused, watching Dielo unbutton his shirt.

Just a silent gaze in this direction, and it's enough to send shivers down my spine?

After unbuttoning three or four buttons, the black Lily tattooed on Dielo's collarbone became clearly visible.

Nirua's gaze was drawn to the Lily, which seemed to possess a strange magic.

"So, this is the head of the family's Lily."

The head of the family's Lily, which could only be removed one by one by truly connecting with Pero.

As an assassin of Alloze, Nirua knew more about the head of the family's abilities and the Lily than the people of the other three families.

"How is it? Can you conceal it?"

Dielo's voice echoed.

Even though he was the head of Argenta, who controlled fire, his voice was chilling.

Nirua, unknowingly tense, examined the Lily.

Concealing its appearance was, of course, no problem at all.

The issue was the magic emanating from the Lily.

Nirua nodded, considering the secret technique passed down in her family.

"It's definitely possible."

"Then let's proceed immediately. I need to know to what extent it can be concealed."

Dielo leaned back in his chair.

As if telling her to do as she pleased.

No matter how you looked at it, it was far from the Dielo Argenta known to the world.

A gentle person? This person?

If Krua Alloze, who had now become his master, hadn't introduced him directly, she might not have believed it was Dielo Argenta even after seeing him with her own eyes.

He certainly didn't have this cold demeanor when she saw him a few years ago.

Could it be that all of that was a disguise?

He exuded the ease of a predator.

Nirua swallowed nervously without realizing it.

Even though she was clearly tense, she could feel it. She was now within the predator's territory.

"It seems the priest explained things on the way here."

The word "priest" had a strangely gentle feel, causing Nirua to raise an eyebrow.

"Argenta doesn't welcome outsiders. That's why you signed a contract… and at the end of it, you've earned enough trust to stay here. But that's it."

His cold gaze turned to Nirua.

"I don't know on what basis the priest trusts you, but I will verify you in my own way. And if you are…."

Dielo whispered to Nirua.

"If you are someone who harms the priest and Argenta, I will not hesitate to cut your throat."

The killing intent he briefly revealed was genuine.

Nirua was convinced.

The Dielo Argenta known to the outside world was all a lie.

"…Is this the real Duke Argenta?"

At her question, Dielo smiled coldly.

"You know it's better not to be known, right?"

He didn't deny it. His words meant to keep it a secret.

Even in the midst of the killing intent that would make an ordinary person lose consciousness, Nirua had to ask.

"…Does your master know about this side of you?"

The blood of the Shadow Swordsmen Clan prioritized the safety of the one they acknowledged as their master.

Dielo Argenta was clearly still hiding his true self from Krua.

Nirua didn't know how Dielo would react if she revealed it to Krua herself.

She had to ask, even to prepare for the worst.

Does her master know about this side? Or…

…Is she being deceived?

"Hmm."

At those words, Dielo's eyes widened, then softened into a gentle smile.

* * *

Dielo looked at Nirua with interest.

But on the other hand, he felt uncomfortable.

It wasn't just because he was revealing his true colors to Nirua.

It was because, in revealing his true colors, he was newly aware of who he was deceiving.

His priest, who only knew him as a pure person.

Deceiving her was so uncomfortable.

It was strange.

He had deceived countless people until now, but it was funny that he was only feeling guilty now.

For over a decade, he had deceived not only the people below the 3rd floor, who were likely to have spies mixed in, but also all the people outside, except for the real Argenta people on the 4th floor.

He even pretended not to know about the existence of spies, even though he knew they were there.

'The frail head of Argenta.'

'Argenta will be over soon.'

'How can such a person become the head of the family….'

He waited for an opportunity, knowing he was being ignored.

Whenever he heard stories about himself, he deliberately acted even more frail and gentle.

Yet, he had never once felt a pang of conscience.

He thought that deceiving people like this was also part of who he was.

But.

'I am Krua Argenta.'

From the moment he heard those words, it felt like that thought had been cracked.

"Krua Argenta."

He repeated the name without realizing it.

Not knowing that a gentle smile was forming.

This was a real smile. Not one he always made up.

Krua Argenta.

That is, Krua herself was saying that she belonged to Argenta, not Alloze.

Of course, it was natural since they were married, but Dielo remembered her confident voice.

Krua's voice sounded so sweet that it quenched his thirst just a little.

Just the fact that she had the Argenta name, the same name as him, and that she was his priest, made him feel an indescribable emotion.

And immediately after that, he felt an even greater thirst.

Just one more time.

I want more. I want to get closer.

But.

"…Does your master know about this side of you?"

A cold voice awakened his reason.

Nirua's eyes, as if she was ready to tell the truth if necessary, were staring intently at him.

Her conviction to protect her master, even in the face of his killing intent, was commendable.

However, it would be troublesome if she revealed the secret.

A warning bell rang in Dielo's head.

What if Nirua opened her mouth?

Should he have deceived her as well?

But it was necessary to 'verify' whether she was worthy to be by Krua's side.

He narrowed his eyes.

What if she opened her mouth?

If she told the priest that Dielo Argenta's outward appearance was all a lie, and that his true nature was cruel.

That wouldn't do.

Dielo's inner self whispered to him. At the same time, he felt a tightness in his heart.

'I love you, Dielo.'

Even though he knew that Krua's words were also an act.

'Head of the family. The madam is trying to buy the Daisy Forest. What should we do?'

'The forest? Then….'

Even though he knew she was only thinking of leaving.

'Dielo!'

Even though he knew that he was the only one who had fallen for her dazzling appearance in the sea.

He wanted her.

He suddenly felt impatient.

If he courted her as he was now, would she accept him?

She probably knew him as this frail person.

A harmless-looking man.

Of course, it was okay to approach him, but still…

He was greedy.

I want to be loved as myself.

I want to seduce her as myself.

As the true Dielo Argenta, not the fake one.

A different thought suddenly popped up, unlike all the times until now when he had comforted himself that even his acting was part of who he was.

But he couldn't reveal it now.

"That's how it is now. But."

Dielo opened his mouth. Just as Nirua was about to be wary, he continued.

"That's the same for the priest as well."

That he had hidden his true self.

"…."

Nirua seemed to agree with those words.

"Who said she was a villain who wielded power and authority without thinking?"

Dielo tilted his head slightly.

Wasn't her appearance here completely different?

Nirua was noticeably tense.

She seemed to suspect that he would antagonize Krua.

Was that the loyalty that 'some of the Alloze assassins' had?

As Argenta's intelligence was excellent, Dielo had also heard about those who blindly pledged allegiance to Alloze for some unknown reason.

Someone inside Argenta who prioritized someone other than me.

I should be upset.

It was as if another sword had been inserted into Argenta, not just the sword for Argenta.

Why was he being so lenient?

Above all.

I was clearly deceived by Krua, and I thought she was just such a villain.

Why do I feel more pleasure in meeting 'a new you' than feeling deceived?

Is it just so good that I'm the only one seeing your true self that others don't know?

"It's a preliminary exploration. But one thing is certain, the priest and I need each other. From the beginning."

He looked straight at Nirua.

"The priest was the one who proposed this deal first. So."

The eyes of the two men met.

"You protect your master according to the contract."

"I will eliminate anything that harms my former master."

Nirua's stiff voice echoed.

Dielo nodded lightly.

"Even if it is Duke Argenta."

Dielo felt nothing at those words.

He was thinking so naturally. This person can't harm me.

Because I won't do anything that harms her.

Like that.