Chapter 13

Keyller took a deep breath as the plane landed at Belfast International airport in Northern Ireland. He was glad that it was still early and the sun was just starting to rise. He would see the picturesque view of the place that was once ruled by his family. Mixed emotions crawled their way and reached his veins, making him shudder. He was ecstatic at the same time, the anger that was built deep inside him slowly bubbled and the steam was trying to evaporate its way out. Keyller clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white to refrain his anger before the plan he had brewed for a decade would turn to dust.

Keyller may not admit it, but he is looking forward to the day that he sets foot in his homeland. He was exiled, but he promised to take back his land even though it cost him to resurface his painful memories. A decade of not stepping into his hometown because Keyller couldn't bear to see those people who murdered his family, living inside the palace.

Keyller didn't plan on going to Northern Ireland. His original plan was to go straight to the south to meet Aoife, a woman in her fifties, who helped him financially, but he sells his body in return. He felt disgust and pity for himself, but Aoife was the only one who could help him take back the palace. She is rich, powerful, and has a lot of connections. Keyller knew her when he was still a gigolo, she was one of his satisfied customers, and for Aoife to own him, she bought Keyller as her secret lover.

He was just starting with Foedus when he met Aoife and the mission paid less. Disgust and anger flamed inside him every time he is meeting the woman but he bitterly swallowed it like a bitter pill, it stings but can cure. He needed Aoife because he needed her money.

The worst thing was, Keyller didn’t deal with Aoife alone. He also had to take care of Aoife's daughter, who was the same age as him. The painful truth was, he needed to bed these two together! Keyller felt disgusted that he just wanted to shove his dick into the mother and daughter's mouths until they choked and died, but stopped himself because he was not done with the two yet.

Aoife messaged Keyller that she would have something to discuss. But because Keyller didn’t want Aoife to discover that he was in Ireland, Keyller traveled earlier than his scheduled flight. He was in Italy and he had just finished a mission with his boss, Maverick Morelli, to kill one of his business rivals.

Keyller was with Ciaran for his last mission and that guy had just killed his uncle who had raised him since he was a child and Rodriguez didn’t have any remorse when doing it. He knew better why Ciaran did it. His uncle was Ciaran’s nightmare.

When he is on a mission, Keyller is always empty-handed and brings nothing but an old backpack. That’s the reason why he always went out easily from the arrival area to the taxi stand. He used a fake personality that he had used ever since he entered Las Dagas, a few years ago.

His brows furrowed when he saw the snaking queue of passengers on the taxi stand, lining up like there was an idol in front. He was sure that this time around should not be crowded. It was only mid-February and it was off-season because of freezing weather. It is not accurate to go sightseeing. This sea of people made Keyller think that something was going on. Old habits die hard, his guards heightened and his body naturally acted, alert as he observed that the security of the vicinity was tight.

The taxi stand was crowded but it didn't take long for Keyller’s turn to find a taxi. When it was his turn, he didn't dilly dally and jumped in the car with rush movements. After telling the driver his destination, he leaned his tired body on the backseat and did not mind putting the seatbelt on before closing his eyes.

He felt exhausted from the non-stop journey with no rest besides taking a nap on the plane. He was just thankful that, after his mission in Italy, Boss Trace and Morelli didn’t give him any missions. Mondragon contacted him earlier before his flight, but the transaction will only happen next week.

Keyller waited for the car to hit the asphalt road before breaking the silence inside the car by striking a question to the driver.

"An bhfuil rud éigin ar siúl?" Keyller casually asked and opened his eyes. His hands folded in front of his chest while eyeing the driver in the mirror deeply. He questioned what is happening and why there is tight security, not only for the locals but also for the tourists.

While the car was moving, Keyller's tired eyes couldn't help but gaze outside and saw that the place he was passing through did not change a lot. Nostalgic feelings crept their way until they reached his inside and gnawed at him, making his heart heavy. How he missed this place so much! Languished despair settled inside him and even though he tried his best to remain composed, hot tears started to settle in his eyes. He blinked to stop the tears from flowing and he succeeded, but his heart still felt heavy.

The street building that was familiar with Keyller was still the same as it was before. The park that he used to go to was still there. It was renovated but the original shape was still there.

Keyller was thankful for that. His memories of this place were sentimental. He could still picture himself living in the castle like ten years ago. He let out a bitter smile and chuckled coldly when he remembered that the ones living in the palace were now his enemies. How faith changes in an instant, like how fast the night changes. He still couldn't forget how he was exiled from his own country.

"Corónú na cuntair nua, a dhuine uasail," the driver answered. He glanced at him through the rearview mirror but continued with his fast driving.

Keyller was brought back to his reverie, and the memories floating in his mind scattered like a speck of dust and disappeared into thin air when his ear picked up the driver's answer. The corner of his lips perked up and he sneered when he heard the driver answer that there would be a crowning of the new Countess.

"A new countess, huh?" he murmured unbelievably.

Ever since Keyller left Ireland and lived in different countries, he hadn't had news about the new palace's rulers. His focus was on his revenge while preparing for a company that Aoife would inherit for him. Aoife was his only way to get rich again. His income from Foedus and from Morelli was not enough if he wanted his palace back. He needed assistance outside Foedus that could give him tons of money. Besides protection from Foedus, Keyller needed a powerful connection. He needs people that will support him, those people who supported his parents when they ruled the palace. Their help would be a big help to him, he only needed to find them.

The only reason that Aofei called Keyller back, was about the company, but Keyller didn’t know what service that old woman wanted from him. Giving something this big always comes fishy. As the old saying says, nothing comes for free. If he tied himself with Aofei, he would also make sure that he would get everything he wanted.

"Are you a tourist, Sir?"

Keyller was brought back to his reverie when the driver spoke. This time, he spoke in English when he realized that Keyller is a tourist. That he was just curious about the heavy security of the place.

Keyller let out a low chuckle before grabbing the driver and passenger seat and moving forward to get close to the driver. He said, "Bring me to the palace. I am a distant acquaintance of the new Countess and here for the ceremony. It had been so long since we last saw each other. I wanted to give them a pleasant surprise."

The car made a sudden stop after Keyller spoke and the driver let out an involuntary gasp. As if the driver couldn’t believe that he was an acquaintance of the Countess.

Because of the abrupt stop, Keyller almost kissed the dashboard. If not for his fast reflexes and balancing himself in his seat, he would have done so. He fiercely glared at the driver like a dagger.

"Can't you drive properly? Why did you suddenly stop? Couldn't believe that I am the royal family's acquaintance?" his voice turned cold and hard. He went back to his previous position, leaning his back on the seat while his feet rested on the back of the passenger seat. "Bring me to the palace, now."

The driver’s face was flooded with fear and his hands were on the wheel, trembling when Keyller’s tone of voice changed. He continued driving in a fast and furious style.

"Ah, no, sir! I just couldn't believe that the introverted countess had an acquaintance from outside. She's the only child of the former Earl and she's close with no one. It is known to everyone here in the North that the Countess is a lonely person."

Keyller brought his feet down and raised his brows. His interest was piqued. With his brows raised, he took out his phone from his khaki pants before asking the driver again. In actual fact, he knew nothing about the Countess of the palace, but he didn’t want the driver to know that he was pretending. He then proceeded to his pretensions.

"She was not like that the last time we met. Why did she change so much?"

When the driver spoke about the former Earl, it was branded on Keyller’s mind. If he is not mistaken, this former Earl was the one who led the revolt. He hopes that the driver will not buy his lies.

The driver just nodded and continued driving until they reached the vicinity of the palace where outsiders like him can go to. When the taxi stopped, Keyller paid the driver and quickly exited the car carrying his knapsack. When he inhaled the air of his old palace, every memory rushed back like a raging tornado. Painful and happy memories came back while gazing at the old palace longingly.

There were lots of guards stationed outside with guns clinging to their shoulders. Keyller needs to trade well if he doesn’t want to end his life instantly. No matter how much anger he had been keeping inside, he needed to restrain himself to execute his plan properly. That is to make the Countess fall in love with him!