Night Monarch's Cannon Fodder Bride-Chapter 39: Dichotomy In Killian’s Behavior

[Killian Rhett King found himself back in the Luminar Manor, a place where he had spent most of his childhood.

All he wanted was peace—perhaps even the same happiness he had once enjoyed.

It wasn’t there anymore.

The business world had always been muddy, and he was skilled at swimming through it. Yet for some reason, he felt utterly tired and bored.

What was the point anyway?

Then, on an evening stroll, he saw her. Alina Hart, the supposed ray of sunshine that had caused him so much trouble.

He was rather amused as she wandered toward him, like a fool heading for her execution.

An hour long walk from her home didn’t seem to register in her mind. Her yellow eyes were dull, lacking the clarity they should have.

’Where the hell is the sunshine that Damien always brags about in his circle?’

A simple grab and snap... Her delicate neck would break.

He chuckled at his thoughts.]

Since Severine had been absent—and technically dead—for a year, she didn’t know the full sequence of events that followed.

Those hazy memories only told her a vague outline, and that Killian had soon vanished from the business world after meeting Alina.

There were rumors that he had lost his mind. Some even said that he was being caged in a mental asylum.

All of this only cemented Damien’s prestige as a fierce wolf who dared to challenge the King and managed to come out victorious.

Hence, the happy ending.

Something doesn’t add up.

Her delicate brows furrowed further.

If Killian had truly been weak, Damien could have defeated him long ago. There would have been no need to form an alliance with his second biggest enemy, Emmett D’Arden.

Yet the villain had clearly been far more brilliant than the hot-blooded wolf—and the serpent, a little more than a child in his eyes.

What kind of blow could drive someone like that insane?

Or rather, what kind of Awakener caused him to... "lose his mind?" she whispered.

"Who lost his mind?" A low, almost curious voice asked, startling her.

Gray eyes snapped toward the door.

For a second, Severine felt a strange sense of stillness amidst the chaos that was erupting within.

Tap. Tap. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The clacking of the shoes against the floor continued as the owner of the Luminar Manor neared her.

Each black hair was arranged articulately and neatly, framing the face that had haunted Severine’s dreams.

Red eyes gleamed with a strange emotion that she didn’t want to name.

Even his simple curiosity was unhealthy for her.

When the young lord didn’t get any answer, his eyes lit up with recognition.

"Ah, look at me," he patted his own forehead with a guilty smile. "I nearly forgot that your neck is rather delicate."

The way he said the word irked Severine. All of her frustration and anger seemed to resurface just by looking at that face.

Killian pulled the chair before sitting beside her bed, at the exact place Samuel had been.

Considering it was his own house, his gestures weren’t out of line.

However, couldn’t he at least knock before entering?

Severine gave a nod before grabbing her phone. With her throat like this, all she could do was whisper.

It was shocking that Killian had actually heard it from such a long distance.

Awakener of his level is terrifying.

Years of practice kept her facial muscles in check. From outside, she looked serene, almost cold to the point of being arrogant.

[Thank you for your help.]

She showed the screen to Killian, who let out a soft laugh.

"This is the third time we’ve met, right?"

Severine affirmed. "Hmm."

One was at Fiala ground, where Killian had helped her, the second was her visit to the farm of red tulips, and this was the third.

"Don’t you think it is quite a coincidence? I almost thought that my whereabouts were leaked," Killian joked.

Nonetheless, Severine easily caught the chilly aura spreading in the room.

As someone who was surrounded by Awakeners, she wasn’t unfamiliar with the meaning.

Killian was a cautious person. It was normal for him not to trust her. Not to mention that even she might have suspected the same thing if their roles were reversed.

She typed a reply, [I am not sure either.]

And then wrote another question that had been bugging her all this time.

[Why not send me to the hospital?]

Killian rested his chin over his knuckles. His posture was languid like a lazy cat bathing in the sunlight.

"Your assistant looked terrified. And honestly," he drawled. "You looked like a princess straight out of a horror story about to gut everyone with that hammer."

Then, recalling the scene when he had caught her, sending his friends into a frenzy made his lips quirk up.

Severine’s ears, hidden under her dark hair, slowly turned red. If she were sent to the hospital, it would have caused a scene.

As for what kind of news would spread about her and the precious grandson of the leader of their country... she didn’t dare to think.

[I am sorry for the trouble.]

"No need to apologize," Killian shook his head, amused by how serious she looked. "I think fate wanted us to meet, don’t you think?"

The moment Severine heard ’fate,’ her heart skipped a beat. Not the kind induced from Killian’s low, gravely voice, but caused by fear.

[No.]

Her fingers typed before her mind could decipher the meaning of Killian’s intent gaze.

"Huh?" The young lord tilted his head, and a few strands fell to his forehead, ruining his meticulously perfected hairstyle.

But it only gave him a different kind of charm.

Why is Killian acting so differently?

Severine recalled how gentlemanly he was when they were standing in the sea of red tulips, and how cold he was to Emily.

Whereas this Killian was far too casual, not matching the novel description at all.

Then it hit her.

This Killian was still young. He wasn’t the cold monster portrayed by Alina and Damien Rhodes in the latter half of the novel.

This was the source of the dichotomy in his behavior.

So that’s why... Severine gave the young lord another careful look.

The things she had missed caught her eye.

Killian was slouching in the chair without any care, but he kept tapping the armrest.

He was resting his chin on the back of his hand. However, his pinky fingers kept curling and losing with the same rhythm of his tapping.

He was... nervous?

The realization baffled her more than when she figured she was staying in Luminar Manor.