Do What You Want
"Erm…" Guilt clenched Derila's stomach as she reluctantly asked, "W-When did you come?"
"Fifteen minutes ago."
Daemon dropped his gaze to look at the wine in his glass.
"I…"
Derila tried to think of an excuse, but couldn't come up with one. She knew she couldn't involve William, so she lied, "The room was too stuffy. I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"Next time, if you want to go anywhere or do anything, go through the door and not through the window. It will be a shame if you fall and become the snow leopards' food."
Daemon set his glass on the table and got up to leave.
Mixed feelings stirred within Derila as she watched him leave.
Fifteen minutes ago, she had just gone out through the window. That meant Daemon had been sitting there for fifteen minutes, silently waiting for her return.
With his character, he should demand her to spill her whereabouts and what she did in that period. Yet he didn't ask anything. Could it be that he knows where I went? But he didn't say anything. What exactly is he thinking?
The more he acted out of character, the more uneasiness Derila felt.
Sounds of door knocking next door pulled her out of her thoughts. She heard the door open and Clark's respectful greeting. "Mr. Lierger."
"Is William asleep?"
Daemon strode right into William's room.
"No, please come in, Mr. Lierger."
Panic flood Clark's chest at Daemon's sudden visitation.
The uneasiness grew within Derila. Has Daemon gone to find fault with William?
I'm not afraid of anything, but I don't want to implicate anyone. Yet, I can't ask them now, or I might as well be admitting to Daemon that I was there!
Meanwhile, William was sitting on the sofa, sipping on the tonic Norah brought.
When he saw Daemon, he asked with a smile, "L, you're not asleep yet?"
"No."
Daemon's gaze swung to the window and noticed it was shut with the curtains pulled close. It might seem like there was no trace, but there was a small stain on the pristine Whyte carpet.
Without commenting about the stain, he took a seat on the sofa and asked straightforwardly, "William, why are you here this time?"
"Grorf and Edward had each met with me separately back in M Nation, saying they had something to discuss. I postponed their meeting and insisted to wait for you, but they persisted and even wanted to visit me at my place. I didn't want to invite any troubles, so I came to find you."
William was telling the truth. He was aware Daemon was the decision-maker in their collaboration, so he wouldn't simply make any decision without discussing it with Daemon first.
However, Edward and Grorf kept wanting to bribe him and use him to take down Daemon.
Not wanting to offend both sides, William came up with an excuse and came to Erihal to meet with Daemon.
He proved his loyalty and sincerity to Daemon and also avoided trouble at the same time.
"They were too impatient." Daemon reached for the glass of wine in Clark's hand, gently swirling the red liquid. "It's good that you're staying here for a while. You can attend my wedding."
"You really want to get married?" William asked softly. "As the figure of authority of the Lierger family, your marriage is a matter of great importance.
"Every faction wants to ally with the Lierger family through marriage. I heard it wasn't just the three major families, but even the bureaucrats of Erihal wanted to marry their daughters to you.
"Have you thought things through? Are you sure you want to marry Ms. Riri?"
"Of course, she is the only woman I want to marry." Daemon was sure and firm. "A true man expands his empire through his wits and fists, not marriage."
"You're right but reality is cruel-"
"William." Daemon cut William off and insinuated, "You're born a royalty. It's not a surprise that you have such thoughts.
"However, I'm different from you. The reason I work so hard to stand on top of the world is so that I can live my life however I want.
"If a powerful man turned his love life into a bargaining chip for power, that's incompetence."
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