CHGD 16

Chapter 16

Deliana let out a hollow laugh, as if she hadn’t expected such a flimsy excuse. Though it made his blood boil even more, having resolved to stick to his story, he couldn’t back down now.

“Yes, an illusion. There was an intruder in Milady’s room… a Llo… There was an intruder. This is all an illusion shown by him.”

It sounded plausible at first glance. Moreover, since Deliana couldn’t possibly have any information about Lloigor, it was a convenient cover story.

However, as if she had anticipated this excuse, Deliana countered lightly.

“Then, where is this intruder now?”

“Well…”

Lloigor came and went like a phantom, so he must have escaped by means Ickabel couldn’t fathom. But explaining that to a mere human was complicated.

As Ickabel hesitated, Deliana suddenly thrust her face toward him.

“If there really was an intruder, shouldn’t His Excellency the Count know about it?”

“No.”

That was the worst possible option.

No matter how much he insisted it was Lloigor’s illusion, there was no way Hastur would believe it easily.

Rather, if Deliana described Ickabel’s true form in detail, Hastur would suspect him more than Lloigor’s illusion. Unless he could capture Lloigor on the spot, there was no way to prove his innocence.

‘And it would be strange to say she’s using Lloigor, too.’

The idea that the proud being Lloigor would work for Deliana was something even Mirdy wouldn’t believe.

“Why not? His Excellency always says to tell him whenever something happens.”

“There’s no need to trouble him with this. I will handle everything myself.”

So please, just keep your mouth shut.

Ickabel spoke with anxious eyes.

As long as it didn’t reach Hastur’s ears, there was still room to salvage the situation.

“So you’re asking me not to tell His Excellency?”

“Yes… I beg of you.”

Ickabel even bowed his head in request. The fact that he had to bow to a mere mortal made his teeth grind, and veins bulged in his neck.

If only he had abilities like hypnosis or memory manipulation, he would have scrambled her brain on the spot.

Though his words begged for mercy, his aura radiated murderous intent—as if he could kill her at any moment. Deliana murmured softly, watching him.

“I don’t really feel the sincerity.”

Click.

Ickabel ground his teeth. Even after bowing his head like this, Deliana’s attitude hadn’t changed at all, which only fueled his rage.

Deliana patted Ickabel on the shoulder and said.

“But what do we do about this? Even if you try to hide it from His Excellency… I’ve already called for him.”

“What?”

Called? Who?

Ickabel lifted his head, eyes wide. Deliana took a step back, covering her mouth with a smile.

“Actually, I asked a servant on my way here. I told them to summon His Excellency.”

“Why, why would you do that?! You said you were going to call for Mirdy!”

“I just… wanted to see him.”

It was a barefaced lie.

Ickabel barely suppressed the urge to curse out the human.

He wanted to scream—since when had she ever wanted to see Hastur that badly?

“Th-Then, he’ll be here soon…!”

“He should be. I just told them, so in about five minutes…”

Just as Deliana was about to estimate the time, a knock came from the door.

“Deliana! I’m here!”

Even Deliana hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly. It seemed he had rushed over the moment she said she wanted to see him.

Pale as a ghost, Ickabel grabbed Deliana’s hand.

“W-Wait, Milady. First, hear me out—”

“Yep- I’ll open the door for you—”

“Milady!”

He tried to block her from moving toward the door, but somehow, he ended up being dragged along. He was so flustered that he failed to notice Deliana’s shadow clinging to his feet.

“Please, please! Don’t tell him!”

But Deliana did not stop.

Ignoring Ickabel’s pleas entirely, she grabbed the doorknob of the bedroom without hesitation.

Ickabel’s face turned as pale as a corpse.

‘From the very beginning—from the moment she said she’d hold the interview in the bedroom—this was her plan all along!’

The reason she had gone so far as to lie and summon the Count was obvious. It meant she had never intended to listen to Ickabel’s excuses from the start.

All of this was to inform the Count of his failure.

Countless questions swirled in his mind—why was she doing this to him, why was Lloigor by her side—but the approaching death before his eyes left him unable to utter a single word.

“Deliana? Who’s with you?”

The door opened.

In the dark corridor, clear death stood before him.

“Oh, Sir Ickabel is here with me.”

The trivial fact that she only used ‘Sir’ at times like this was irrelevant now.

His master, whose very gaze would naturally stir loyalty within him, was now looking at him with eyes already tainted with suspicion.

“L-Lord Hastur…”

“Ickabel, why are you here?”

Unable to figure out what to say, Ickabel tried to step back. But Deliana instead grabbed his arm and positioned him in front of her.

At that action, Hastur’s brow twitched.

“Your Excellency. Actually—”

“Milady!”

Ickabel urgently called out to Deliana, desperately signaling with his eyes. Finding it rather amusing, Deliana gave him a faint smile.

Hastur, arms crossed, glared with even more intensity.

“Sir Ickabel, you see…”

‘I’m dead.’

Realizing he couldn’t stop her, Ickabel squeezed his eyes shut. He frantically racked his brain for any excuse that might save him, but not a single one came to mind.

Engulfed in despair and terror, he hung his head low, waiting for punishment—

“He’s agreed to become my guard knight.”

An unexpected statement reached his ears.

“…Pardon?”

He lifted his head again and looked at Deliana. Catching a glimpse of his bewildered face, Deliana continued in a voice devoid of amusement.

“I was moved by Sir Ickabel’s loyalty. During the interview, his devotion to Your Excellency was remarkably evident.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, very—it was quite admirable. With someone so dependable, I believe I can entrust him with my protection.”

And then the inexplicable praise continued.

Hastur still seemed unconvinced, but Deliana’s earnest demeanor made him back down slightly.

“I thought Deliana would choose Mirdy.”

“Sir Mirdy seems to be an outstanding knight as well… but I think Sir Ickabel would be better. Don’t you think he’s a loyal subordinate, Your Excellency?”

“That is… true.”

Even Hastur couldn’t deny that Ickabel was a subordinate whose loyalty was so excessive it was a problem.

“Milady…”

Was she trying to cover up his mistake?

Ickabel couldn’t hide his shaken expression.

As if comforting him, Deliana secretly stroked his back.

“The reason I called His Excellency was to tell him this. I thought that if my guard was decided quickly, His Excellency would be at ease.”

“Are you truly fine with Ickabel?”

“Of course.”

Deliana smiled faintly.

Unlike the smile she had shown Ickabel, this one was slightly more endearing.

“I can trust and entrust Sir Ickabel.”

Contrasting Deliana’s clear-cut answer, Hastur frowned as if something didn’t sit well with him.

He turned to the dazed Ickabel and asked.

“Ickabel, do you think so too? That you can protect Deliana better than Mirdy?”

“Well…”

As he stammered, about to speak, Deliana mouthed silently, only for Ickabel to see.

‘Trust me.’

It meant she would definitely keep his secret.

At that detestable sight, Ickabel bit his lip. He wanted to tell Hastur that the whole situation was orchestrated, but it was impossible. He knew that his excuse, with no clear evidence to back it up, would sound pitiful.

Whatever ill feelings he had toward Deliana, now was not the time to dwell on them.

Even knowing it was a rotten rope, if it meant survival, he had to hold on.

“Yes, I will… do my best.”

A humiliating moment of swearing loyalty to a human.

Ickabel concealed his expression from Hastur and accepted the position of guard.