12.2

“Although my confession was rejected, the one thing you said—that you didn’t hate me—gave me hope. I couldn’t let go of that hope, and I followed you here. I’m sorry if it’s burdensome. It might sound like an excuse, but I couldn’t help myself…”  

“Ah…”  

Hearing his heartfelt confession again, Ella felt her face heat up slightly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she turned her head, and her eyes caught the tissues on the table. Suddenly, the events of the day flashed through her mind.  

“Wait, but why did you throw the glass? Saying the wine tasted bad doesn’t make sense. You even enjoyed the ginseng tea!”  

“That’s…”  

Adolf hesitated, unable to answer. Ella’s relaxed expression tightened once more.  

Right, there’s no guarantee that everything he’s saying is true!  

Ella resolved not to naively believe everything he said.

“Because I’m scared of bugs…”  

“What? Bugs?”  

Adolf’s ears turned red once again.  

“Did you just say you’re scared of bugs? Are you serious?”  

Ella asked incredulously, her eyes wide with disbelief. Adolf avoided her gaze, staring down at the edge of the table for a moment before reluctantly opening his mouth with a troubled expression.  

“Actually… I’ve been scared of them since I was a child. When I saw a cockroach crawling across, I got so startled that I instinctively threw the glass. I didn’t think it would shatter like that…”  

“Oh… I see.”  

Ella was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected revelation but quickly pressed for more details.  

“Then why didn’t you just admit you were scared of bugs? Why did you say the wine tasted bad? That doesn’t make sense to anyone.”  

“That’s…”  

“That’s what?”  

Adolf hesitated briefly before speaking with a resigned expression.  

“Because saying something like that in front of someone I like… It’s just too embarrassing.”  

His voice trailed off, and his face turned even redder.  

‘Oh my, how adorable…’  

Ella found herself averting her gaze, feeling her own face heat up. She fanned herself with her hand, trying to cool the sudden warmth.  

Adolf, noticing her reaction, spoke again in a voice tinged with frustration.  

“I didn’t realize it when I was younger, but by now, I’m well aware of how people see me. I also know what they expect from me. My only redeeming quality is that I appear strong, but if even that disappears, the day you might come to like me would become even more distant. I’ve always wanted to appear as a cool and dependable man to you. But it seems I’ve failed at that too…”  

He paused, took a deep breath, and continued.  

“And honestly, the ginseng tea was so bitter that I deliberately spilled it on my thigh, ha.”  

Sigh…

Adolf suddenly leaned back against the sofa, letting out a long sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, his face filled with anguish. Ella stopped fanning herself and quietly watched him.  

“Why did I even bring up the ginseng tea…? I’ve never resented my inability to hide my feelings from you more than I do now.”  

Adolf covered his face with both hands as he leaned back against the sofa.  

“I just wanted to impress you…”  

His voice was filled with melancholy as he uttered his last words before falling silent.  

‘This is the first time I’ve seen him so despondent…’  

Ella felt a pang of sadness as she looked at him. His usually large and imposing figure now seemed so small and vulnerable. She felt an urge to comfort him and spoke in a cheerful voice.  

“What’s so wrong about being scared of bugs? I hate bugs too! And big people can be scared of bugs too! From a bug’s perspective, you and I probably look the same. Also, I can’t drink ginseng tea either! Every time my father drank it, I wondered if it was really something meant for humans. Of course, I shouldn’t say that as someone who served it to you, ha.”  

When Adolf remained silent, Ella quickly continued.  

“And when did I ever say your charm was your strength? I like you because you’re adorable! Being scared of bugs and having a childish palate with such a big body—it’s so cute I can’t stand it! Isn’t that the ultimate unexpected charm?”  

As Ella rambled on, trying to lift Adolf’s spirits, he suddenly leaned forward with astonishing speed, startling her into letting out a small scream.  

“Eek! What’s wrong? Why are you doing that?”  

Adolf urgently asked, 

“What did you just say?”  

“What? What are you talking about?”  

Ella looked at him, confused by his sudden question. He bent slightly forward, placing his hands on her shoulders, and spoke with a sense of urgency.  

“You just said something very important.”  

Ella, slightly shrinking back, tried to recall what she had just said.  

“What did I say? Unexpected charm…?”  

“Before that!”  

“Childish palate…?”  

“Just before that!”  

“That I like you because you’re adorable…?”  

At that moment, Adolf’s grip on her shoulders tightened slightly. His voice was filled with emotion as he spoke.  

“Did you just say you like me?”  

“Uh? Did I… say that?”  

Ella, momentarily unable to process the situation, asked in a slightly dazed voice. Adolf nodded fervently.  

“Yes, you definitely said that. Do you really like me?”  

‘Wait, when did I say that? Am I drunk?’  

Ella, flustered by his passionate reaction, tried to calm herself and organize her thoughts.  

‘He does seem adorable, but do I really like him…?’  

As Ella became lost in her thoughts, Adolf’s expression grew increasingly anxious. Noticing his impatience, Ella quickly stopped thinking and blurted out an excuse.  

“If I had to choose between liking and disliking, then yes, I like you. I like macarons, I like cake, and I like you, Adolf, ha ha ha.”  

“Oh, I see…”  

Adolf’s body, which had seemed to swell with anticipation, suddenly deflated. He let go of her shoulders, his face darkening as he sank into the chair in front of the table. In a hollow voice, he muttered, 

“Macarons…”  

Adolf, with heavy steps, returned to his seat and collapsed onto the sofa. He raised his arm to cover his eyes and spoke in a calm tone.  

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding. It’s very late, so please sleep in the bedroom. I insist. I’ll sleep here in the living room, so don’t worry. You can use the bathroom first.”  

“Oh… okay. Thank you.”  

Ella, unable to refuse his offer in the current atmosphere, cautiously stood up from the sofa, glancing at him nervously. She quickly headed to the bathroom without looking back, eager to escape the situation.  

When she looked in the mirror, she saw a woman with a slightly flushed face staring back at her with a regretful expression.  

‘Ella, you idiot! Why did you say that?’  

She splashed water on her face, her eyes and nose turning red from the rough washing. After hastily drying herself, she stepped out of the bathroom. Adolf was still sitting on the sofa in the same position as before, seemingly lost in thought.  

Ella tried to sneak quietly into the bedroom, but just as she was about to enter, she heard Adolf’s voice, tinged with sorrow.  

“Of course… there’s no way a lady like her would like someone like me…”  

‘Is he crying…?’  

Ella turned to look at him. Adolf looked as though he was carrying the weight of the world’s sadness. He seemed so lonely that it made her heart ache.  

And then, without thinking, she reached out.

Without realizing it, Ella’s lips gently brushed against Adolf’s before pulling away. Adolf, startled, stared ahead, only to find Ella, even more surprised, touching her lips while looking at him.

‘Why did I do that?!’  

Adolf remained motionless, gazing up at Ella. But within his damp eyes, a sudden flame seemed to ignite. Ella, flustered, stammered.  

“I-I just… You looked so sad, and I wanted to comfort you. I didn’t even realize…”  

Adolf continued to stare at her intently, saying nothing. Ella, unsure of what to do, turned to flee to the bedroom. But just as she was about to leave, Adolf grabbed her arm and pleaded in a heated voice.  

“More…”  

“What?”  

Ella trembled slightly, her body feeling as though it might burn under the heat of his voice.  

“You said you wanted to comfort me… Please, I beg of you.”  

“Comfort you… how?”  

“If I cannot yet have your heart, may I at least receive your touch?”  

His gaze, as if he might burst into flames at any moment, locked onto Ella.  

“Could you… comfort me a little more?”  

“I… I…”  

Ella, looking into his tear-filled yet fiery eyes, felt her face grow hot again, despite having just cooled it down. The warmth of the alcohol seemed to surge back, leaving her mind hazy.  

But something told her that if she gave in now, it would be crossing a line she could never return from. Just as Ella, struggling to hold onto her reason, tried to pull her hand away from his grip, Adolf whispered in a low, pleading voice.  

“Please…”  

‘I don’t care anymore.’  

Ella stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding as if in a trance.  

Adolf, who had been sitting tensely, immediately stood and gently lifted Ella into his arms as if she were a fragile baby.  

Clatter… Crash!  

The teacup, which had been sitting on the table, rolled off and shattered on the floor as Adolf’s movements jostled the table.  

“The teacup…!”  

Ella exclaimed in alarm, realizing too late that it had been an expensive-looking cup.  

But the cup had already fallen to the ground and shattered.  

The cup, a precious gift bestowed by the Emperor in honor of the first Duke of Ludwig’s victory over the Western Monster Corps during the early days of the Empire’s founding, lay in pieces. Yet Adolf seemed not to hear a thing, his focus solely on Ella’s face.  

“It’s fine. Please, just look at me, my lady.”  

Kiss. Kiss.  

Despite his rough movements, Adolf’s voice remained gentle as he showered Ella’s face with kisses, his expression filled with adoration. Starting from her forehead, his kisses trailed down to her eyes, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, and even her nostrils, before finally reaching her lips. Ella shook her head slightly.  

“Ugh, it tickles…”  

In response, Adolf tilted his head and kissed her deeply, still cradling her in his arms. His lips tasted faintly of wine.  

The heat radiating from him seemed to transfer to Ella, leaving her unable to think of anything else. Her legs wrapped around his torso as his arms tightened around her.  

“Ha…”  

Adolf’s lips were as warm as ever. Overwhelmed by the heat, Ella surrendered herself to his kiss, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth. Adolf’s tongue traced every fold of her lips, the roof of her mouth, and even the base of her tongue, as if determined to savor every part of her. Ella’s entire body grew sensitive, as though her mouth had become an erogenous zone.  

Meanwhile, Adolf began taking slow, deliberate steps. Ella, clinging to him as if she had lost all sense of herself, felt the soft texture of a bed against her back. Adolf had laid her down on the bed.  

“Ah…”  

Ella froze, a sudden sense of reality crashing over her. Adolf, noticing her hesitation, stopped and pulled back, his face strained as he spoke.  

“If you wish for me to stop here… I will stop.”  

‘Idiot, I just froze for a moment…’  

Ella propped herself up on her elbows and looked up at Adolf, who was gazing down at her. Her eyes lingered on his face before settling on the tear-streaked corners of his eyes.  

“I cried last time, and now it’s your turn, huh.”  

Ella reached out and gently stroked the damp corners of his eyes, her expression softening.  

Kiss…  

As if entranced, she pressed a kiss to the spot she had just touched. Adolf closed his eyes tightly, his body trembling at the sensation.  

‘Honestly… how adorable.’  

Ella wrapped her arms around Adolf’s neck, pulling him closer.  

It was a clear signal of consent.