Bad Born Blood - Chapter 105



Only Noblemtl

105

The Kartika family’s meeting ended in tragedy.

The attack by the armed helicopter targeting me resulted in twenty-two deaths, one of which was killed by Ilay.

On the surface, it will be announced as a terrorist attack. If you think about it, a terrorist organization is a group that is quite convenient for the ruler. If there is something inconvenient or something that needs to be hidden, they can just blame it all on the terrorists.

I reported the current situation to Heilas through the terminal. Heilas also seemed to be busy investigating where the information was leaked.

-Iskando was attacked. Information must have leaked from within the guards. They are investigating the guardsmen who were relatives of the nobles who died in the torture facility.

If Heilas’s guess is true, it would be bittersweet.

‘Ivan Krachia knew the raid was coming.’

But it is unlikely that the imperial family planned it. They must have found out about the attack in advance through the imperial family’s information network. The imperial family’s ears must be everywhere in the empire.

‘So, did Ivan really come to see me with good intentions? To warn me in advance?’

Thanks to Ivan, I was able to respond to the attack. Without his warning, I might have been in a worse situation than I am now, or I might have died.

It felt strange.

Ilay, as the next head of the family, took charge of the accident. Since many Kartika family members had also died, no one questioned Garcia’s death.

“I sincerely regret that this happened at an event I was invited to.”

Ilay said as he saw Giselle and me off. He apologized politely to Giselle.

Giselle nodded silently and entered the airship. There were bloodstains on her dress.

Ilay, who had been talking to Giselle, came up to me. He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

“Luka, I won’t ask you for details. If you could tell me, you would have already told me.”

Illei didn’t ask for the inside story. He was always so clever that he was cunning. And I will also remain silent about Garcia’s death.

We didn’t say it out loud, but we had a deal.

“The gun was cool.”

I mentioned Illei’s exclusive weapon.

“Today is the first time I’ve used it in real combat. It’s more useful than I thought. And, Luca… … .”

As she spoke, Illai glanced at the air vehicle that Giselle was entering.

“If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

“Remember Lillian Ramones?”

Every time I remember her, I can’t forget her. She’s a woman I can’t forget no matter how hard I try.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t make excuses while pretending to be realistic. You only get one chance in life. Nothing comes back once it’s gone.”

“You’re talking nonsense. Are you drunk?”

I pushed past Ilay’s shoulder. Ilay added something behind my back.

“I still regret it. I made excuses to myself. I didn’t grab it when I could.”

I let his voice escape my ear and entered the airbus. Giselle, who had gotten in first, was already sitting in her seat.

Giselle turned her head when she saw me and just stared out the window. We didn’t say anything.

Wheeing.

The aerial vehicle we were in entered automatic operation and rose into the air. Dawn was breaking as we headed towards the Custoria mansion.

“The raid is related to you?”

These were Giselle’s first words. I responded with silence, neither denying nor confirming.

“You were acting strangely just before the helicopter attacked.”

At that time, I found Ivan and chased after him. I didn’t know about the attack in advance, but it seemed to Giselle that she was involved.

“so?”

I didn’t realize that my tone was cold. It was because my nerves were on edge due to what happened the night before.

“… … You were like a father just now. You never answered my questions. You were always someone who did great things for the family. If I asked you, you would answer the same way, right? Everything was for the Custoria family. I shouldn’t know.”

“I know you well.”

I didn’t have the mental capacity to listen to Giselle’s complaints.

‘The Imperial Family and House Custoria, Yuri Kratia, Ivan Kratia, Kinuan, Heilas, Iskan, Iley Kartika… … .’

My head was spinning furiously trying to figure out the cause and effect of the current situation. My headache hadn’t subsided since a while ago. The area above my nostrils was throbbing hotly, as if blood was about to come out.

This is not an accident that I can control. Just as the heart beats without my awareness, the intuition and thinking that developed through Archie’s Victory were working on their own. The overload in my brain did not stop.

Thanks to this mechanism, I was able to prepare for unexpected surprises and situations as if I was predicting them. However, it was now working as a disadvantage. I had to somehow divert my consciousness elsewhere.

“… … When the attack happened, I was worried about you. Even as I was running away after Ilay, my heart felt like it was going to burst because of all the bad thoughts.”

Giselle’s voice was wet. I didn’t look at her face. I just stared at the blue scenery of dawn flowing outside the window.

“I wasn’t worried about you. I trusted Ilay. He would protect you no matter what.”

“Is that why you got engaged to Illei?”

“I told you I was only doing this until the guy gets settled in.”

“Father said that if Ilay likes him, we can get engaged for real. I think he trusts Ilay’s abilities more than her background as a Kartika family.”

“If I hadn’t been there, Illei would have been the best of this class. He’s a good guy with good skills. He’ll definitely be successful.”

“If I marry Ilay, you’ll be happy too. We’re such close friends.”

I’m starting to get annoyed.

“… … Either that or not. Or what kind of answer do you want? We are siblings, but I am the adopted child. I have no say in your marriage.”

“Tell me that… … .”

I cut Giselle off.

“Listen carefully, Miss Giselle Custoria. I have come this far through hardship. And I am busy dealing with the things that are right in front of me. I am involved in all sorts of problems just by breathing. I don’t have the time to worry about you anymore. Do you understand?”

I said this while looking straight at Giselle. Her pupils dilated. I had been thinking that her eyes would turn red, and they really were.

… …Fuck.

I don’t mean to insult you, but I don’t understand Giselle’s behavior.

The emotions that had been blocked up like a dam broke leaked out of my throat. Unable to hold it back, I continued speaking as if I was gagging Giselle.

“Be realistic. I don’t want to destroy what I’ve built because of a temporary emotion. And neither do you. I don’t understand why you, who used to be so smart and so great, would act like this. Me too… … .”

I was speechless. And not just because of the tears streaming down Giselle’s cheeks.

I don’t want to say weak words. You shouldn’t show your weakness. This is a world where even if you are born as a sheep, you have to wear the mask of a wolf. You shouldn’t reveal that you are the prey.

… … It wasn’t that it wasn’t hard for me either. I felt like I was going crazy. There were so many times when I wanted to throw it all away. There was a limit to just looking forward and moving forward.

All around me are monsters that are worse than me. There are beings beyond my understanding. In order not to be eaten by them, I have to pretend to be a monster too.

But I can’t tell anyone this.

Giselle, who had been listening to me blankly, tried to wipe away her tears with the bottom of her palm. However, more flowed out.

“Uh, sorry. Wait a minute, uh, look somewhere else, please.”

She was trying to keep her expression straight.

I bit my lower lip and flicked it. Again, I didn’t want to yell. I don’t have any ill feelings toward Giselle.

Woohoo.

The sound of the air vehicle’s engine was spreading like vibration.

Even after a long time, Giselle’s agitation did not stop. She was pouring out her emotions alone.

Yes, we should settle the relationship cleanly today. It’s not my fault for being ambiguous. I should have expressed myself more clearly.

“… … It’s all done.”

Giselle lifted her head as she spoke. I turned my gaze to her as well.

Giselle’s cheeks and eyes were red enough to make anyone who saw her feel embarrassed. Her collar and sleeves were also wet. However, a faint spark of determination returned to her eyes.

Before I knew it, the aerial vehicle was approaching the Custoria mansion. I planned to drop her off and return to the guard quarters.

“This is my plan for the future. I have no intention of becoming the head of the household. Jupe simply sees me as a rival. Especially my adoptive mother… … Eva will do whatever it takes to stop me. She will never support me.”

I said as if changing the subject. Giselle remained silent and continued listening to me.

“But Eva won’t hold you back if you, her real daughter, become the head of the household. If you have the will, I will support you by overthrowing Jupe, just like I promised before. Then, even those who are reluctant to become the head of the household, not soldiers, will support you.”

This was true. I was not a good fit for the family. I would be lying if I said I never considered becoming the family head, but… … not now.

Giselle’s expression also calmed down. She pursed her lips and then blurted out the words that had become cold.

“Luka, I’m sorry I acted so emotionally. Looking back now, I feel like I was really stupid.”

“Okay, I know.”

I said in relief.

“I don’t think I’m fit for the position of head of the household. Up until now, I’ve just been struggling to be recognized as a useful person within the household. A head of the household should have the power to protect the people who bear the name of Custoria. But I don’t have that power yet.”

Giselle spoke with calm eyes. The light of reason filled her pupils.

“Jupe and I are both weak.”

“I don’t know about Jupe, but you will have power in the future. You are also favored by your father. So I have decided. Thanks to you coming to my senses, I now know what I must do.”

Giselle’s expression was calm, almost frozen. Her pupils were also unfocused, as if empty.

OMG.

The air vehicle stopped above the airfield of the Custoria mansion. As the thrusters’ power decreased, the noise also died down. And Giselle’s voice sounded that much clearer.

“I will tell my father that I will have a formal engagement with Ilay Kartika, not a fake one. It is a reasonable decision. It will benefit everyone.”

Yeah, this is enough.

“Ilay is a good guy. He will take care of you.”

“It’s okay if you’re not a good person. It’s okay if you don’t care about me. In a noble marriage, it’s important that your interests match. With this, I’ll be useful to the Custoria family. Luca, my marriage with Ile will be helpful to you too. It’s like your best friends becoming relatives.”

It sounded like it was a decision made for my own good.

Kuung.

The air vehicle has landed.

Giselle stood up slowly. I don’t know if she was really slow or if it was just me feeling that way.

Everything is sorted out. She will get off here and tell Haylas that she will marry Ilay. It will probably be next year or the year after.

Heilas will also readily agree and hurry. In order to solidify Illeido’s position, it would be good to become related to the powerful Custoria family.

It’s a win-win. The sooner the better.

And once you make a decision, you can’t change it. This isn’t child’s play. It’s definitely not something you do in the heat of the moment.

“Goodbye, and take care from now on. Luca.”

Giselle stood in front of the door of the airship and bowed her head politely as she spoke. If she just extended her hand, the door of the airship would open.

‘Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t make excuses while pretending to be realistic. You only get one chance in life. Nothing comes back once it’s gone.’

Illai’s advice came to mind.

Nothing comes back once it has passed.

The present moment and emotions too.

Something inside me fell apart. I was falling without a bottom. Everything about me was falling down there.

“ah…….”

These are the words I blurted out. Before I knew it, I was standing up and holding Giselle’s wrist. Even I was surprised by my own sudden action.

Giselle’s eyes dilated and swayed. Her thin mask crumbled.

thud!

I grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the wall of the car.

“You say that’s stupid?”

Giselle looked up at me with an expression that made it hard to tell whether she was laughing or crying.

I had never said it out loud, and I had tried not to even think about it. But I had no choice but to admit it.

… … I like this woman.

Giselle closes her eyes. I bring my face closer. I feel her excited breath first. I realize anew how sweet her scent is.

Our lips met. My front teeth and hers lightly clicked together. I instinctively pushed my tongue in, even though I didn’t learn it from somewhere. She did the same. We shared breath and saliva as if we had made a promise before we were born. There was a reason why those who fell into this deep emotion had the vain illusion that they were destined for each other. Every moment was sweet.

It seemed like I could forget even the terrible reality, that waiting was doom.