‘My lady.’

Being called that made her feel a bit dazed, but the joy was greater. Maybe she felt that way more because of the unexpected timing.

Adeline was stunned for a moment and showed a somewhat foolish reaction.

“…Yes?”

Her chest seemed to tighten a little. Overwhelming, in a good way.

“Since you’re taking medicine, you should probably avoid coffee.”

“Ah… you’re right.”

Saying the coffee on the table was his portion, Kailen took away the coffee cup. Then he set down a glass of juice in front of Adeline.

“Thank you.”

She’d been watching for the right timing to bring it up. But thanks to one coffee cup, it seemed the conversation had found an opening.

After taking a sip of the juice he’d kindly offered, Adeline slowly brought up the words she’d practiced many times.

“Kailen.”

“Yeah?”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from doing what you did last night. I was really startled.”

Please refrain. Once she said it, it was nothing special. It wasn’t an unreasonable request—it was a perfectly reasonable one.

It’s natural.

Even while thinking that, Adeline focused on maintaining the softest possible tone.

“What happened yesterday…”

Kailen repeated her words. The affectionate look from when he’d offered juice disappeared, and his indifferent gaze swept over her face. But Adeline didn’t stop the words she’d resolved to say.

“Yes, what happened yesterday. You can come home as late as you want, but from now on, please let me know to wait for you. Then I’ll wait without falling asleep.”

Thud, he set down his coffee cup.

“Let you know to wait—are those words really that important? I don’t see why it has to be that way.”

“…”

Why does it have to be that way…

The unexpected counter-question left her speechless. But perhaps because she’d repeated it tediously for two days, before long the answer came out smoothly like a chant.

“Well… the closer a married couple is, the more consideration and respect they need. And I already said it earlier. I was startled because it was so sudden. So I’d like you to at least say something in advance, like telling me not to sleep because you’ll be late.”

She couldn’t even bring up saying things like… must you act like you’re ravishing a sleeping person. The moment she spoke those words aloud, it seemed this conversation would go wrong beyond repair.

He adjusted his posture, took a sip of water, and lightly nodded his chin like he was agreeing.

“Mm… right. Consideration and respect… very important things.”

Then he wiped his mouth with a napkin like someone declaring the meal over.

“I understand what you mean. Since you’re uncomfortable, it would be right to refrain from what happened yesterday.”

Honestly, she didn’t think it was something to be grateful for.

But.

“…Thank you for understanding.”

The words of thanks came out inadvertently.

He still hadn’t furrowed a single eyebrow, but the atmosphere flowing across the table was ominous.

That hunch wasn’t entirely wrong, as a chilling remark flowed from his mouth.

“Then from now on, I won’t commit the rudeness of visiting your bedroom first.”

He spoke in a polite tone. It was tantamount to meaning he had no intention of accepting her earnest proposal.

Adeline inhaled and bit her lip.

“…Kailen.”

Somehow, contrary to her intentions, the conversation was gradually turning into an argument. 

Adeline was scared because she didn’t want to grow distant from him, but on the other hand, she couldn’t suppress the unjust feelings welling up. Her hurt burst out naturally.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying let’s observe basic courtesy between husband and wife.”

“Right. Thank you so much for reminding me this morning that I’m someone who never learned basic courtesy.”

He maintained a consistently calm voice and composed expression throughout. However, each word coming from his mouth carried coldness.

“Kailen.”

Contrary to her thought that she shouldn’t get excited and should stay calm, her voice calling him came out trembling.

“I, I really don’t want to fight with you. I hope you’ll please understand that I didn’t say it with that intention.”

The fingertips of her hand reaching for the water glass had gone pale white. She didn’t even want to argue about what was right or wrong anymore.

I wasn’t trying to corner someone I’m grateful to and sorry toward…

“I’m really not rejecting you. Rather, I waited for you to come every night…”

Kailen, who’d glanced at her muttering, put the water glass in her hand. Then he spoke soothingly.

“I was too harsh. I’m sorry for being sensitive.”

At Kailen’s one kind remark, strength entered the hand holding the water glass. Her defeat had been decided from the beginning anyway.

How could I ever win against you?

“No, I should have explained better…”

Adeline trailed off and lowered her gaze. It was not long after they’d reunited. As soon as she heard that Kailen had accepted Uncle William’s marriage proposal, she’d gone to find him.

And asked. Would he have readily accepted this marriage even if His Majesty had offered to match him with a woman other than her, Adeline?

How eternally long that brief moment of waiting for his answer had felt.

〈If I’d judged that my marriage would benefit the Varsen branch’s growth, yes, I wouldn’t have cared who the partner was.〉

Right, he was that kind of person. Someone who didn’t speak in roundabout ways.

〈But, would you believe me if I said I was sincerely happy that the marriage partner His Majesty proposed was you?〉

He truly had the strange talent of dropping someone into the abyss in one moment, then making them fly through the sky.

Wasn’t it the same now? Controlling her mood with a single word.

“Adeline, as you know, my work is like that. Cases where business trips suddenly get scheduled then canceled are common. There’s no point in telling you in advance, that’s why—it’s not that I deliberately didn’t inform you.”

“Yeah…”

“So it’ll be the same as now going forward.”

“Okay. I understand.”

“But… did you really wait for me?”

“Yeah…”

Having approached her side at some point, he gently cupped her cheek and chin and pulled.

“Look at me when you say it, Adeline.”

Adeline, complying with the request, looked up at him quietly.

“Yeah.”

His long eyes curved strangely. Adeline, who’d been watching his smile quietly, also showed a faint smile in response.

“I waited.”

“Then I’ll have to deliberately keep making you wait?”

“…Kailen.”

“Why? Is my taste too low-class and not to your liking?”

“Taste… no…”

Well no, my taste is a bit like that. But what can I do about it now?

His voice muttering like that was calm. Like saying, the weather’s nice.

“…Ah.”

Adeline blinked in momentary confusion. Not only was he mentioning bedroom preferences in broad daylight, but he’d suddenly grabbed her br*ast while his eyes gleamed sinisterly.

“Keep waiting from now on, dear.”

Kailen, who’d been kneading her br*ast as he pleased like last night, bit Adeline’s earlobe as she gasped and swallowed.

“Until I come to your bedroom.”

It was when Kailen’s lips, asking “Understand?” touched her trembling eyelids.

Knock, knock.

At the knocking sound, Adeline’s gaze turned to the door.

“It’s Vardi.”

When Adeline shrank her shoulders, Kailen, who’d laughed silently, removed his lips. Holding Adeline’s shoulders, he said.

“Come in.”

Soon the door opened and the neatly dressed Vardi appeared.

“I apologize for interrupting your meal, but Chief Secretary Collen Vark is requesting an audience.”

“Alright, show him to the study. I’ll be there shortly.”

Adeline looked at Kailen. Because she could see the end of this moment. Though things had worked out well, she felt regretful that time had passed with nothing but arguing.

Did he feel the same? Kailen was also looking down at Adeline intently.

“I should probably go first. Take your time finishing your meal.”

“Yeah.”

As soon as she forced out an answer, he headed straight for the door and disappeared with Vardi.

Adeline lifted the water glass he’d given her and took a sip. The cool sip of water quenched her thirst. But it did nothing to relieve the stuffiness in her chest that felt blocked somewhere.