Evelyn struggled to catch her breath.

Dismay, unease, and embarrassment swept over her at the sight of someone she had never expected to see.

“……H-how did you know to come here? Did you hear about Father?”

Her voice slowly faded. Between the cold air brushing her skin and his chilling gaze, her fingertips began to tremble.

“I’m sorry, but the funeral is already over. And there’s really no need to offer your condolences……”

“Condolences?”

Killian tilted his head, repeating the word. The corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile, and a low chuckle escaped him.

Then he burst into uncontrollable laughter, the sound lashing sharply at Evelyn’s ears. Confusion clouded her violet eyes.

“Wh-what are you doing……?”

She instinctively stepped back, but he closed the distance in an instant, his shadow enveloping her.

“What a sweet, foolish little lady.”

“……”

Killian studied her rigid form as though savoring the sight, then slowly stroked her cheek.

“It seems we have quite a lot to discuss. Why don’t we go inside and talk over a cup of tea?”

***

Evelyn watched Killian from the sofa opposite him.

His gaze slowly swept over the barren drawing room. It felt as though he were taking stock of every last detail of her downfall.

She deliberately straightened her back before speaking.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I never realized you were so impatient. Sitting a guest down and immediately demanding to know his business……”

Evelyn’s brow tightened into a deep frown.

He knew perfectly well how dire her circumstances were, yet he still had the gall to lecture her about hospitality.

It was a blatant insult.

“Well, very well. I’ve never been one to mince words, either.”

He uncrossed his legs.

“I thought I’d pay a visit and see my debtor’s face for myself.”

“……What?”

The bewildered question escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

She could see no connection between her family’s debts and the man sitting in front of her.

Then Killian drew a thick folder from his coat and casually tossed it onto the table.

“Take a look.”

The documents were full of the names of people from whom his father had borrowed money in his lifetime to fund his investments. The largest sum had been borrowed from the Marquis Bernadotte, followed by the Count of Valois, the Viscount Eisenhardt, and the Duke of Albert, to name a few.

Then she turned the final page.

Evelyn’s mind went blank.

At the end of the extensive list of creditors was Killian’s signature, written in neat handwriting.

All of House Lemaire’s debts had been transferred to him.

“……Wh-what is all this? Are you saying you bought up all of Father’s debts?”

Killian gave a brief nod. His utter composure only deepened her confusion.

“B-but……why? What for? You know perfectly well that our family has……”

‘Nothing left to repay you with.’

She was just about to give voice to that wretched reality.

“Evelyn.”

Killian’s voice dropped.

“What matters now is not why your debts were transferred to me.”

He leaned toward her, his vast shadow falling heavily across her face.

“It’s that every right you have is now in my hands.”

His words bore down on both her shoulders.

Each breath scraped sharply through her lungs. A metallic tang of blood filled her mouth.

“……Surely you didn’t come back just to threaten me like this.”

Determined not to let him see her fear, she deliberately lifted her gaze to meet his.

“What do you want? If you came to demand repayment, you should have come while Father was still alive. Surely you haven’t become so stupid that you couldn’t even work that out?”

The weight bearing down on her shoulders lifted, followed by a chilling laugh.

His voice was thick with amusement as he replied.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t have come back merely to threaten you. Not when I’ve missed you so much.”

Then, his expression composed once more, Killian sank to one knee.

Looking up at Evelyn, he whispered softly.

“Marry me, Evelyn.”

“……What?”

The word escaped her in a strangled cry; her lips clamped shut as she spoke.

She could not tell if he was serious. Maybe she had imagined his words, even though she had heard them so clearly.

As this thought crossed her mind, she felt an unfamiliar warmth spread across the back of her hand. Killian had drawn her hand towards him and pressed his lips to her skin.

“All you have to do is take my name. Then this wretched mountain of debt, and the future that would eat away at you, will disappear completely. No, you’ll have more than that. As Lady Wallenstein—”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Evelyn tore her hand from his grasp with a cry.

“Y-you expect me to become your wife? Do you honestly think that makes any sense? Just demand money instead! Go on with your vile threats!”

She scrambled to her feet and backed away. But before she had taken more than a few steps, the cold wall stopped her short.

“You must want revenge for what happened back then. But do you think having a little money makes you my master? All you hold is a claim to a debt. Don’t get ahead of yourself!”

Ignoring the burning in her chest, she pressed on.

“So……never say anything like that again. I would rather die than become your wife.”

“……Is that so?”

Despite the venom in her words, Killian remained utterly composed. He merely narrowed his eyes and looked down at her with an unreadable gaze.

Reaching out, he gently stroked her cheek.

“But what am I to do? I have no intention of letting you go.”

His touch slipped from her cheek to her chin. Before she could pull away, he began turning her face from side to side.

“Well, I suppose waiting to see how long you can hold out might be entertaining……”

“What do you mean……?”

Then his grip tightened around her chin. The pressure was so heavy that she could not even think of turning her head to escape.

“I’m not a particularly patient man, but for you, I can wait as long as it takes.”

“……”

Tears blurred Evelyn’s vision. She felt a crushing sense of helplessness at the way he had already decided how it would all end.

Mocking her reaction, Killian curled his lips into a smile.

“I’m staying at the posting inn on the outskirts of town. I’ll be there for the time being, so come and see me whenever you change your mind.”

With that, he turned away without hesitation. Evelyn could not utter a word until he turned the door handle of the drawing room and disappeared from sight.

Still rigid, she brushed a hand over the cheek he had touched.

A few minutes later, his footsteps faded completely.

Evelyn crumpled to the floor.

“……Ah.”

Her shoulders shook uncontrollably. The tears she had fought so hard to hold back spilled down her face.

‘Why do I have to suffer like this?’

She swallowed the words she couldn’t bring herself to say and asked herself the question again. Of course, there was no answer.

All she felt was an overwhelming sense of shame.

She was ashamed that the knight who had once sworn loyalty to her family had become her only lifeline.

She was also ashamed that she had wavered at his vile demand, even if only for a moment.