Salvation Through Delusion C101

Chapter 101

I swallowed my pride but asked just in case:

“Mm… but does the Koon family have any particularly unusual rules…?”

“They’re ordinary. Nothing anyone would object to.”

Well, that was a relief. I nodded. I wanted to hear at least one concrete example, but since I couldn’t reveal my condition yet, I had no right to ask for details either.

Ordinary was good. Ordinary meant safe.

And once relief settled in, urgency followed immediately.

“I want this promise written as a contract.”

“As you wish.”

…Seriously?

The suspicion I had been forcibly stomping down popped up again like a whack-a-mole. But this wasn’t the moment to waste time being suspicious.

What mattered most was documenting this while he was still in this strange, agreeable state.

I darted my eyes toward his desk, looking for paper—when he suddenly extended a hand toward me.

A handshake?

I lifted my gaze, but froze when I saw his expression.

His smile… felt wrong. Uneasy.

Shut up, instinct. Not now.

Grab it. You can’t afford to lose this chance.

Even if he’d extended a foot, I would have grabbed that.

The moment I reached out, his large hand engulfed mine before I even touched him.

His hand was so much bigger that mine nearly disappeared inside it—like being locked in a cage.

And maybe because of that feeling, a strange unease washed over me despite the situation being in my favor.

“I’d like to write the contract first.”

“All right.”

But contrary to the words, he didn’t release my hand.

He simply stared at me.

Was this some kind of test?

I asked again to make sure.

“You will truly grant me one request—whatever it may be?”

“Yes.”

As he answered, he squeezed my hand suddenly—hard enough to make me flinch.

Heat shot up my arm as if I’d been burned.

“In my name. Koon Tyroc.”

He paused, then spoke an unfamiliar word.

“Lam.”

Lam? What was that supposed to mean?

But before I could ask, he continued:

“And you?”

“I… I will uphold the Koon family’s rules and devote myself to our married life.”

“And say your name properly.”

“Yes. In my name—Adeye Rue.”

“Lam.”

Again with that strange word.

It seemed like I was expected to repeat it, so I echoed it obediently:

“Lam.”

But what did it even mean—?

That question died the moment his golden eyes shimmered like stars.

…Wow.

I hadn’t known human eyes could look like that.

I must have spaced out, because his deep voice snapped me back.

“For the record, you cannot withdraw from this agreement.”

“Of course.”

I matched his tone with one just as firm.

That seemed to please him; his face lit with a bright smile.

But… why?

It was just a handshake.

Solongo had rushed back alone after dropping Rue at the Koon estate because she was worried about her mistress.

She had delivered the good news for Madam Lantua’s health—but the bad news would also find its way soon enough.

Better the mistress heard it from her than from rumors.

But she was too late.

“She has already received a full report of everything that occurred during the Whitebranch Assembly.”

Another attendant’s words made Solongo wince.

At least Lantua hadn’t fainted this time.

But half-reclined on the bed, respirator over her mouth, she looked ready to collapse any moment.

“Madam…”

Solongo called softly, but there was no response.

One would think she’d first ask about Rue’s situation at House Koon, but instead Lantua kept staring sharply at the report.

At last, after removing the respirator, the first name she uttered was—

“So, Ma Hoiga, is it.”

Her eyes flickered viciously above the report.

“Solongo.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“The Ma family is famous for their filial affection. No matter how ridiculous Hoiga behaves, they support and encourage him wholeheartedly, don’t they?

How fortunate he must be in such a family. So very fortunate.”

Dr Kim had shown no overt anger toward the traitor, but the underlying frost in her voice was lethal.

Solongo understood perfectly why she was furious.

If betraying their original world had been influenced—even a little—by the happiness he found here, then no reason could be more unforgivable.

“And to think, Madam always praised the Ma family’s unity and affection.”

That wasn’t all. Solongo sighed quietly.

“Because of that goodwill, Madam tolerated their merchant guild copying the Adeye guild so openly, as long as they didn’t cross the line.”

“Yes. I practically helped push my enemy forward.”

Dr Kim spoke flatly, eyes still glued to the detailed report on the Whitebranch Assembly.

“So Hoiga revealed his true self there?”

“Yes. Not only did his appearance change, but his speech became calm and slow. Hoiga has always been known for talking quickly.

Ah—Madam has never met him in person, correct?”

“I’ve seen him from a distance. At the temple ceremony three years ago.

He was one of the few who treated Rue as a friend, so I observed him.

He was smiling among his family, blushing because they teased him.”

Her eyes sharpened as she recalled it.

“People show their true selves only when unguarded.

He didn’t seem loud or flamboyant at all.

So I wondered how someone like that could behave the way rumors claimed.”

“Aren’t nanorobots responsible for that, according to the informant?”

Dr Kim’s lips twisted faintly.

“Indeed. Unlike Rue, he must have used them flawlessly.”

Solongo let out a short ah.

True—Rue had every opportunity to execute a perfect disguise too.

The nanorobots should have fed him lines and behaviors to follow.

But Rue would never follow instructions he found distasteful.

He only excused himself with, I died and came back, that’s why my personality changed.

“To think he maintained such a flawless disguise. The traitor is not someone to underestimate.”

“No, he isn’t.

Had he met me in person, he may have immediately suspected I was the informant.”

But luck had been on her side.

Her poor health had kept her from crossing paths with him directly.

“That’s why we cannot let this chance slip.”

Dr Kim reached for a paper and pen on the table.

After a few coughs, she wrote swiftly and passed the sheet to Solongo.

Solongo’s eyes gleamed with fierce determination as she read it.

“Does this mean we can finally strike the sly Ma guild?”

“We must.

If the Ma family is Hoiga’s happiness, then crushing them is only fair.”

Dr Kim let out a soft laugh, eyes glittering dangerously.

“But we’ll do it slowly—so slowly that one day, when they finally come to their senses, they’ll realize they’re already at the edge of a cliff.

Only then will the fall hurt most.

Solongo, show them who truly stands at the top of Tuvine.”

Why?

The question clung to my mind even on the carriage ride back to the Adeye estate.

Why wasn’t Tyroc verifying whether I was the Savior?

Why didn’t he ask about my condition?

He had to know such vagueness could end up hurting him.

But my biggest “why” came from somewhere else entirely.

“What a terribly inattentive fiancé.”

Tyroc’s voice made that question explode in size.

Why was he in the carriage with me?

And why was he staring at me like that—eyes locked, lips faintly curved—every time our gazes met?

Meanwhile, every time he smiled, my expression stiffened.

“Me?”

“You’re sitting beside me yet thinking about something else.”

If I jokingly said, I’m thinking only of you, he might actually misunderstand, so I spouted nonsense:

“No, I was sleeping with my eyes open.”

“Oh, because even asleep you longed to look at me?”

His smile grew; my face hardened. Was he picking a fight?

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I am.”

Then why was he here?!

But I knew the answer.

When I’d stared at him incredulously as he tried to board the carriage, he’d smiled brightly and said:

“Of course I must escort my fiancé home.”

Naturally, I panicked and refused, but he cut me off smoothly:

“You were so in love with me that you proposed, remember? Escorting you is the least I can do.”

Right.

The world believed I had proposed out of infatuation.

Which meant I couldn’t refuse the escort publicly.

Especially with all the servants—and Rick—watching with hawk eyes.