Like A Dry Branch In The Wind (Like Wind on a Dry Branch) - Chapter 2

Translator: Wawaa

Editor: WilsonWilson

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

“Who’s she?”

“Ah…”

Frederick hesitated for a while, unable to air his family’s dirty linen in public. Eventually, he opened his mouth after an awkward cough.

“About that… My father asked to be buried with her… She will be buried alive.”

After a short silence, a cold sneer directed towards them could be seen in Killian’s expression. Frederick’s wife, Segnithia, read the air and changed the subject for her husband who was feeling embarrassed after losing face.

“Come to think of it, Ferdian was acquainted with that woman. You must have felt upset.”

Ferdian, Casarius’s second son, turned his head without answering. Segnithia went on with a tone that showed that she felt pity for her.

“He wasn’t someone who would leave a will like that… I guess, a temptress is a temptress after all.”

It was a remark that subtly appealed to the fact that they had no choice but to follow Casarius’ will and that it was not something that they felt good doing. Frederick stopped his wife.

“My wife, this is father’s funeral. Be careful of your speech.

“Yes.” Segnithia bowed politely and stepped back. Frederick sighed with relief and inwardly complimented his wise wife. This much was enough. Although it was embarrassing that he had to show something that could be his flaw, he effectively avoided it. Frederick, barely feeling like he had saved his face, looked up to see the expression of the Archduke of Axias. And he was a little surprised.

“A temptress, huh?” He was smiling as if he were having fun. “Now I’m interested.”

The people who were close studied his face, not knowing what to do. Frederick recalled the rumor that Killian liked women a step later.

The Archduke of Axias’ East Annex. Among the people who were angry at him for being a crazy guy who dared to have a harem despite not being the Emperor, how many people could honestly say that they did not envy him? It was said that he brought the annex ladies with him wherever he went, be it the temple or battlefield. It seemed he did not bring them today, however.

The Archduke of Axias tilted his head, smiled, and continued.

“Everyone here seems to feel sorry for her, and I had something to get from Casarius. If I took her instead of the debt, everyone would be happy.”

The Sevitas family opened their eyes wide and looked at him at the unexpected suggestion. Killian grinned.

“How’s that? Do you agree?”

Before he knew it, Frederick had opened his mouth.

Is he serious? The debt that Casarius had acquired is not a small amount!

“Are you saying that you will write off the debt in full?”

Frederick said, barely stuttering. Killian assured him, without batting an eye.

“I’m going to take away the dead’s companion for his last journey. Isn’t that the least I could do? If there’s any difference, just count it as condolence money.”

Frederick gulped and glanced at Rietta. If he could write off that huge debt by giving up someone who would be a corpse anyway, then with hardly a thought, it would be a good bargain.

However, he still had his dignity, so he could not just agree with open arms. Thus, he pretended to be hesitant.

Killian smirked as if Frederick’s action was absurd to him.

“Aah, of course, it would be hard to go against your father’s will. Just pretend I didn’t say that.”

Once again, people’s expressions changed rapidly. Segnithia turned her head as fast as she could and looked at Frederick. No one knew when the Archduke of Axias would change his mind. It was not the time to hesitate while thinking about dignity. Frederick clenched his fist nervously. He quickly made his decision.

“Bring the woman.”

“You can’t, milord!”

This time, someone else quickly turned his head and looked at him. People’s attention turned to Cedric Cavalam, who was the loyal servant to the late Casarius. Flustered by the sudden cold gazes from the grand seigneurs, he quickly bowed down.

“A-all the preparation has been made and it was his will. You can’t just ignore his will like this!”

Frederick stared coldly at his tactless inferior.

“Hmm, so you have a way to take responsibility for father’s 20 million gold debt?”

It did not work to play tricks on the Archduke of Axias. Rather, being honest was a way not to offend him. Confused by the arrow that was headed towards him, Cedric stammered.

“J-just because of money… Are you trying to give up your father’s last hope for money? Rietta Tristi will forever serve Lord Casarius…!”

“What tearful loyalty.”

Killian said as if he was being deeply impressed. As soon as he cut off Cavalam’s words, he pulled out his sword. People’s expressions changed rapidly. Even the escort knights who were near Frederick could not respond immediately. Under a cold stare, the side of the sword landed on the palm of the Archduke of Axias. Killian turned his head and smiled gently.

“Well, I don’t really have any gifts for Casarius’ last journey… How about this? You take her place and be the one to forever serve him. A loyal retainer who would serve him for eternity would be the most perfect gift.”

He glanced at the blade with his red eyes filled with a smile. When he raised the sword towards Cedric Cavalam, Cedric’s face turned white.

“Wouldn’t that be a beautiful story? I’m sure even Casarius will be happy.”

Cedric became frozen and faltered back in a cold sweat. Killian smirked and tilted his head. A sweet voice fell on Cedric’s head like a death sentence.

“Don’t say no.”

Just as he cleared his hand from his sword and took a step forward, Cedric Cavalam sank to the floor.

“I-I, I was presumptuous! P-p-please forgive me!”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The Sevitas family and the Archduke of Axias seemed to have a conversation, making the procession stop. Some words were conveyed to the handmaidens through the escort guard by Frederick’s side. The handmaidens came and went, exchanging words that were hard to hear. Then, they supported Rietta and turned back.

When the procession suddenly stopped, Rietta changed her direction and was led towards the Sevitas family. Unaware of the current situation, the crowd became confused and began to murmur.

Rietta moved her feet as the handmaidens led her with a blank stare. The handmaidens tried to introduce her politely to the Archduke. In a hazy consciousness where she did not even know what she was doing, Rietta bowed awkwardly with unfocused eyes.

Killian’s knights, as well as Frederick, did not dare tell him to remove his sword. Thus, the unsheathed sword was still in his hand. Killian calmly stretched out his sword towards Rietta, he lifted the black veil covering her face with the tip of his sword.

When the veil was lifted, the face of a beautiful, pale, and expressionless woman was revealed. The unfocused sky blue eyes blinked slowly, unable to come round.

Cold red eyes scanned through the woman’s face. A cold smirk appeared indifferently on the man’s face.

“Pretty.”

Killian smiled and titled his head. Then, with an attitude like a drowsy beast under the spring sun, he gave a sweet greeting.

“Hello, temptress.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

That night, upon entering his room in the Sevitas manor, Killian unexpectedly found someone already occupying his bed. Rietta, with her blonde hair loose and wearing a see-through slip, sat on the bed with a blank look on her face. When she saw him entering the room, she stood up and bowed her head.

“Archduke of Axias.”

A weak, cracked voice came from the woman.

“Thank you for saving my life… I will serve you with all my heart.”

She looked too dumbfounded to be saying she would present a happy night for Killian.

Does she even know what she’s talking about?

It was a soulless voice.

“…I’m not sure if I really did save your life.”

Killian came closer and raised the woman’s chin. Her sky blue eyes were blank, empty, and without focus.

“You don’t really look like you’re alive.”

Hearing the remark that pointed out her attitude, after a period of silence, a dull answer came from her expressionless face.

“…My apologies.”

Killian clicked his tongue.

Like hell she was a temptress.

Killian left the woman behind and turned around.

“Forget it. Just go back. I don’t think it’s right to be with a woman at a funeral.”

The woman stood absentmindedly without declining even once. Then, without questioning anything, she gave her greeting and stepped back.

“Yes…”

I like how I didn’t have to repeat myself. Still, it offends me how she stepped back as if she had been waiting for it.

Killian glanced and asked her name.

“What’s your name?”

A dull answer came back slowly.

“Rietta… Tristi.”

Killian looked at her up and down.

She was certainly a rare beauty in the countryside. But what’s the fun in spending the night with a woman who looks like she’s going to die? What a bad habit that old man has.

“Okay, Rietta. Go outside and tell Leonard to come in.”

“Yes…”

He looked away from Rietta’s back as she walked out of the door and took off his coat.

How kind of him to send the woman I asked for during the funeral into my room right away. Moreover, the woman was supposed to be with his father on his last journey.

Killian snorted half-heartedly. 

Heh, Casarius did a fine job raising such an oh-so-respectful son.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“You called for me?”

Killian’s knight, Leonard, paid his respects to his master. Killian nodded indifferently while stripping off his clothes and gave his order.

“Find out what happened to that woman.”

Leonard began to give his report as if he had been waiting for that order.

“She’s just an ordinary widow. I heard they were such a good couple…”

“…You’ve already done a report.”

Leonard nodded briefly.

“Of course. How can I just let any woman enter your room, Your Grace?”

“Keep going.”

“It’s been four months since her husband died of illness. After that, Count Casarius began to flirt with her, urging her to be his concubine. When Madam Tristi refused, Casarius became angry and took away her 3-year-old daughter, and sold her to a wandering slave dealer.”

Killian took off his clothes while looking at the corner of the room and put on his sleepwear. Leonard’s indifferent voice kept on going.

“Madam Tristi could not overcome that, and finally agreed to become his concubine if he brought her daughter back. But unfortunately, Casarius fell ill with the plague and died without finding her daughter. In his will, he asked for Madam Tristi to be buried with him.”

Killian, who had been listening silently, sat on the sofa and said with a blank face.

“What a dirty story. Good riddance he’s dead.”

“Furthermore…”

“There’s more?”

“I’m not exactly sure about this. But there is something suspicious about his husband’s death. I heard he died of the plague.”

Killian glanced at Leonard.

“Didn’t you say that her husband died four months ago?”

“Yes. It was at the time when the plague hadn’t spread in Sevitas. The timing does not match. There seems to be a rumor that Count Sevitas, who coveted Rietta, killed her husband and disguised his cause of death as the plague. Some people were saying that Casarius got the real plague because of the curse her late husband had cast upon him.”

Killian smirked.

Curse, huh? People love stories like that.

Leonard continued.

“The place where Casarius stayed is an ordinary mansion, so it does not have the effect of the magic circle’s blessing like in a citadel. But as a count, he must have been protected by the blessings of affiliate priests. It was a rare case for such a blessing to be penetrated.”

Leonard held out a summary report. Topics like the date of the occurrence of the plague and the date of death of Casarius were briefly summarized.

“In fact, he was one of the first people to suffer from the plague in Sevitas. It is said that he progressed to death at an unusually fast pace. Should I find out more?”

Killian did not care more than that.

“Nevermind. Great job. Go back.”

Leonard bowed to show his respect and left.

A widow… I see.

Killian was nonchalantly convinced and sat on the sofa.

He just stopped by the County of Sevitas because he was passing by. He was disgusted with Casarius, who was avoiding him without any news. But he was dead. He was not interested in collecting the debts of the dead from their children. It was not even much money by his standards anyway. Frederick’s straightforward and polite attitude was not bad either.

He was not even expecting a really amazing temptress. It was just a boring one-time entertainment because whatever the nobles were doing was ridiculous. Killian crossed his legs, threw Leonard’s report on the table, and opened a book.

He soon forgot about her, retired to bed, and went to sleep.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Why don’t you stay longer?”

Segnithia greeted with a sad face.

“Next time.”

Killian replied with a clear look. He had an indifferent attitude that did not care if he sounded like he did not mean it. But no one cared because it was coming from such an influential person. It was already encouraging that Killian Axias was treating them in such a gentlemanly manner.

Still, Frederick and Segnithia felt sorry to see him leave. It was a rare opportunity for a person with incomparable influence in the Empire—whether financially or in power— to stay at their home. He was definitely a person who would be helpful if a positive relationship was established.

Frederick was caught with something that could be detrimental to him, but it ended warmly and unexpectedly. Unlike what Frederick was nervous about at first, Killian was not a picky person. Furthermore, the attitude of the Archduke of Axias, who had lightly written off a huge debt, was impressive to their minds.

But he was not someone who could be told to stay just because they wanted to. Sevitas was not in the position to cling to Axias. Unfortunately, Frederick had to be satisfied by giving the Archduke of Axias and his knights the red carpet treatment, adorning the woman that was dedicated to him, and providing a top-notch carriage to bring her in.

The preparation for the Archduke of Axias ended when Rietta, beautifully dressed in a black and violet dress made of the finest fabric, climbed into the carriage.

“Then.”

Killian turned away, glancing indifferently at the woman who paid the high price. Frederick was a little flustered by the farewell that ended in an instant without any special greetings. He only said goodbye to Killian’s back.

“Have a comfortable journey.”

Without even looking back, the Archduke of Axias raised only one hand as a response to his greeting and drove off on his horse.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅