If You Wish to Have Me - Chapter 113

Afterwards, Seyard gave Brother Vischius one of the many guest rooms in the Hillan ducal residence and invited him to dinner with Kisa.

Since it was just around sunset, they left Vischius’s luggage with the servants and the three of them headed straight to the dining room.

The young monk sitting at the dining table couldn’t hide his amazement at the dishes laid out before him.

“Wow! This is truly befitting of the Hillan family. It’s making my mouth water. I wonder if it’s okay for me alone to receive such generous treatment.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Seyard shrugged his shoulders once and tilted his wine glass, while Brother Vischius looked at Kisa and Seyard and uttered flattering praise.

“Looking at you both like this, you really make a perfect couple. Like a pair of lovers from a famous painting.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Brother Vischius.”

Kisa smiled and responded to his words while keeping her senses sharp to gauge the atmosphere flowing between the two men.

If by any chance Vischius was truly Seyard’s accomplice, he might reveal some hint during their conversation.

“By the way, Brother Vischius, how is St. Pavela Monastery? Is everyone doing well?”

“Of course. Thanks to the Hillan family’s patronage, both the monastery and Bonzmos are prospering day by day, so there’s no reason for anyone not to be doing well.”

“That’s good to hear then.”

“Oh, by the way, Brother Emil left a few days ago saying there was trouble at his family home. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Really? Wasn’t there any detailed explanation?”

“No, well. As you know, he’s not one to easily reveal his personal affairs.”

“That was always his way.”

“How have you been lately, Duke? Even today you seemed quite busy.”

“I try not to show it, but it is rather overwhelming. I’ve only just recently gotten used to leading the family. Plus there are wedding preparations.”

However, the sight of the two men catching up on each other’s recent news seemed perfectly ordinary.

“Marriage! What an exciting word just to hear. Come to think of it, the abbot seemed to be pondering what to send as a congratulatory gift. Even among the regular monks, there was talk about collecting money to prepare at least a modest gift. Isn’t it amusing? Half of them are the very ones who used to constantly gossip about you when you were at the monastery.”

“It must be an uncomfortable situation for them.”

Listening quietly, most of the talking came from Brother Vischius’s mouth while Seyard simply responded appropriately.

‘…Is he being cautious about something?’

But it was hard to conclude that, as it also seemed like his words had naturally become fewer in response to dealing with the talkative Brother Vischius.

“It’s truly regrettable, though.”

Just then, Vischius, who had been rambling about the monastery’s trivial daily affairs, let out a deep sigh.

“Since it’s none other than Duke Hillan’s wedding, I would have liked to congratulate you in person. To think I can only offer my congratulations so far in advance like this.”

At those words, Seyard, who had been gazing at his former colleague for a moment, made an unexpected suggestion.

“Then why don’t you attend the wedding too?”

“Pardon?”

“Instead of staying just tonight, you could continue staying here and return after witnessing the wedding ceremony, couldn’t you?”

“But I’m here on an errand after all…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll send a letter to the abbot to get his permission.”

Brother Vischius swallowed and asked cautiously.

“Would that really be alright?”

“Of course. I too would be happy if a friend I’ve known since my time at St. Pavela Monastery attended as a wedding guest to congratulate me.”

An exclamation escaped Brother Vischius’s lips.

“I would certainly want nothing more if that could happen. The abbot would surely gladly grant Brother Hillan’s request. Thank you!”

“No need to thank me. But if the title ‘Duke’ doesn’t sit well with you, just call me as you used to. I find that more affectionate and comfortable too.”

“Oh my, I’ve been making mistakes since earlier… Anyway, I understand. Brother Hillan, please accept this drink.”

Brother Vischius smiled broadly and respectfully poured wine into Seyard’s glass.

A cheerful atmosphere hung over the table, and not only Vischius but Seyard also seemed to be enjoying himself.

However, to tell the truth, only Kisa couldn’t laugh with peace of mind.

‘Brother Vischius is staying here…?’

At that moment, the image of one person flashed through her mind.

Cobi Brown. According to Brother Emil’s confession, he was Seyard’s accomplice and currently a man whose whereabouts were unknown.

He had suddenly appeared before them like Brother Vischius sitting there, only to disappear without a trace not long after.

Logically speaking, it was unreasonable to connect the two men based on just that, but for some reason Kisa kept being bothered by Cobi’s existence.

What if, as Kisa suspected, Brother Vischius was truly another of Seyard’s collaborators?

If Seyard had truly… murdered his brother and even disposed of his accomplice Cobi to silence him.

‘Brother Vischius isn’t safe either!’

To bury the truth forever, wouldn’t he have to eliminate everyone who knew of his crime?

As her hand holding the fork was about to tremble, Kisa forcibly put strength into both hands to maintain her composure.

“……”

It was still in the realm of imagination built upon assumptions, so there was no need to worry excessively.

She steadied her mind with such thoughts, but couldn’t help the increasingly anxious feeling.

She wanted to prevent Vischius from staying here at all, but she had no proper justification for it.

‘If I act too forcefully, I’ll only arouse suspicion. Then rather…’

It was after dinner ended that Kisa voiced what she had secretly resolved.

After Vischius left first for the guest room assigned to him, Seyard and Kisa headed to the entrance hall alone.

Unless there was something special, Seyard always escorted Kisa to where the carriage was.

“Um, Seyard.”

After gauging her lover’s mood for a moment, Kisa moved her lips with a subdued voice.

“I have a favor to ask.”

He responded with his usual affectionate attitude.

“Please tell me anything.”

“Could I also stay here for a while?”

“…Would you tell me the reason?”

Kisa lowered her eyes and gave the excuse she had pondered during dinner.

“Actually, ever since that day when you woke me from sleep paralysis, I’ve been having nightmares continuously.”

It was a voice so fragile it seemed ready to break at her own hearing.

“In my dreams, I’m always being chased by a faceless pursuer. No matter how much I run and run again, he follows me. Now I’m afraid to fall asleep.”

“Kisa…”

“Couldn’t Seyard stay by my side?”

Kisa, who had gently leaned against his solid embrace, lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“More than that house where mother passed away….more than that house where my frightening father lives, I feel more at peace when I’m here.”

In reality it was the opposite, but Kisa willingly spoke the lie.

“Most of all, you’re here, aren’t you?”

Did her acting, done with all her might, work?

“So that’s what happened.”

Seyard, looking down at Kisa, gently stroked her shoulder and back as she leaned against him.

“I’m failing as a lover. I didn’t realize you were suffering so much.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t say anything because I was afraid of making you worry unnecessarily. But…”

“Yes, please stay here as long as you wish. After all, this will soon be Kisa’s home.”

She buried her face in her lover’s embrace and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you. I’m so glad that Seyard is here by my side.”

But her mind was actually full of other thoughts.

****

The next day, Kisa sent someone to the Vansfelt mansion to bring clothes and other items she would need for several days.

Count Vansfelt, who heard the story through the servant, left word for his daughter to focus on wedding preparations without any particular reproach.

Since she had often stayed there before, adapting to the Hillan ducal residence wasn’t particularly difficult.

She spent her time in the now quite familiar guest room, being attended to by Lily.

At first, she was extremely tense trying to closely observe the contact between Seyard and Brother Vischius, but soon realized there was no need for such vigilance.

Because Seyard was too busy.

The family business that had previously required meetings with related parties continued to cause problems, and he was away from the mansion day and night.

“The winter was colder than expected, so the raw materials imported from abroad froze. But please don’t worry too much. I just want to resolve it quickly before the wedding – it’s not such a serious problem. More importantly, how was last night? Don’t tell me you had nightmares again?”

Seyard, who embodied the ideal lover, stayed by Kisa’s side whenever he had time.

Vischius, for his part, lived quietly within the mansion without wandering outside.

It was unexpected if anything, but thinking about it, while he was quite spirited for a monk, he was fundamentally a monk who practiced in seclusion from the secular world.

However, perhaps because he was bored with nothing to do, he volunteered to help with the mansion’s work, and whenever Kisa occasionally invited him for tea time, he never refused.

While drinking tea, he would often complain that it was regrettable he had so few opportunities to properly talk with Seyard despite staying at the ducal residence for once.

Several days passed like this.

It was an extremely peaceful time, and whenever Kisa had time, she explored here and there, but nothing that could be called criminal evidence emerged.

The suspicion planted by Brother Emil gradually faded, and Kisa was also unconsciously letting her guard down when…

The unexpected happened.

“What? What did you say?”

One morning, at breakfast. Seyard faced Kisa with a calm expression and said:

“Brother Vischius, I mean. He returned to St. Pavela Monastery at dawn today.”

“…Why?”

“The abbot sent urgent news. Saying important work had arisen that Brother Vischius needed to handle.”

Her heart grew cold.