Chapter 33

“You scoundrel! What a mess over one little thief!”

The Imperial Knight scolded the child, who was still dazed.

“No, I’m not.”

“What?”

“I’m not a thief!”

The child, now coming to his senses, glared at the knights with tears in his eyes.

“If you’re not a thief, are you saying you caught the rabbit?”

The Imperial Knight grabbed the child’s neck and dragged him away. They intended to make the child pay dearly for causing this mess and killing the Princess’s hunting dog.

Adelina helped Hailyn wrap several layers of handkerchiefs around the man’s leg.

“Thank you, Miss. I will go to the village for further treatment.”

“No, I should thank you. If it weren’t for you, the child could have been seriously hurt. What’s your name?”

“It’s Edwick. I just didn’t want the child to get hurt.”

Adelina tore off the buttons from her jacket and placed them in Edwick’s hand.

“They’re mixed with gold. Selling them should cover your medical expenses. If you ever need my help, come find me. I think you’ll know who I am since I stand out quite a bit.”

Hearing the rumors, people who appeared to be the man’s companions were hovering around, watching the situation. 

Once Adelina and Hailyn left, they would take care of the man.

“Miss Adelina Florin, you’re quite famous.”

“Hahaha, indeed. Take care of yourself.”

Adelina and Hailyn mounted their horses and headed back to the clearing. With the sun setting, it was almost time for Lexion to arrive.

+++

“Were you very startled?”

Lexion entered Adelina’s tent instead of the Duke’s tent.

Having hastily eaten dinner provided by Austin, they took out paper and pen once the servants had left.

“I’m fine. But I’m worried about that boy. Everyone thinks he’s a thief.”

Adelina wrote on the paper and handed the pen to Lexion.

“I’ll go find out about the boy.”

Seeing the concern on Adelina’s face, Stephan stood up. There was nothing else he could do for her at the moment, so he had to hurry.

<Success?>

Lexion moved the pen after reading what Adelina had written.

<Success. Departure tonight.>

<Are both of you leaving?>

Adelina kept her head down, not looking up. Although it was right for both Lexion and Stephan to go help, she felt uneasy being alone tonight.

<I’ll be back soon.>

As expected, Lexion would be leaving tonight, leaving her alone here.

Without showing her disappointment, Adelina gathered the paper and tossed it into the fireplace in the corner of the tent. Watching the paper quickly burn and turn black, she let her disappointment burn away with it.

+++

The servant in charge of food supplies at the hunting competition had counted the rabbits in the supply tent five times already.

The knight who came to investigate looked at him with disdain, causing cold sweat to run down his back.

“I’m sure… that boy must have stolen them…”

“Then why, instead of decreasing, has the number of rabbits increased?”

When the knight finally lost his temper, the servant bowed his head and clasped his hands politely.

‘How could a child catch a rabbit!’

He was the first to see the child carrying a rabbit. That’s why he had immediately informed the knights preparing the hunting dogs, not expecting things to escalate like this.

“You should apologize to the boy tomorrow.”

The knight discarded the paper with the numbers the servant had written. It was obvious. Someone who didn’t want the boy to get hurt must have caught the rabbits and secretly put them in the storage.

“If you want to keep your life, the number should be 11, not 13.”

“Yes? Yes, understood, Sir.”

The servant, having caught on, quickly picked up the paper and put it in his pocket. The knight sighed and left the storage. Now, he just needed to report appropriately to Princess Isabelle and wrap things up. Princess Isabelle wouldn’t care whether the boy lived or died.

‘One must be Duke Lexion or Marquis Stephan, and the other Jaeyon? Who’s the last one?’

The knight heading to Isabelle’s tent suddenly stopped.

‘Damn! The boy really didn’t steal the rabbits!’

The knight let out a hollow laugh and ruffled his hair in frustration.

+++

“Lady Adelina, may I see you for a moment?”

That night, Leophris called out to Adelina from outside her tent.

“Sir Leophris, what brings you here at this hour? Please come during the day.”

Approaching the door and seeing that the latch was securely fastened, Adelina sighed in relief. No matter how much he was the Empress’s nephew, he couldn’t just barge into a lady’s tent at this late hour.

‘The Imperial Guard is standing watch outside. He won’t dare do anything strange.’

Adelina turned away from the door and headed for the table instead of the bed. Despite everything, she was still uneasy.

“I heard you were quite startled today. I’d like to see you for a moment.”

“I’m fine!”

As Leophris persistently pressed, Adelina irritably glared at the tent door.

Clunk-. The door shook violently as if Leophris tried to open it.

“Sir Leophris, what are you doing!”

Adelina was startled and stood up.

“Shh!”

A hand suddenly appeared from behind, covering Adelina’s mouth and grabbing a blanket from the bed.

+++

“Lady Adelina, were you startled? The wind must have blown hard and shook the door.”

Leophris’s voice continued to come from outside.

Lexion, who had hugged Adelina from behind, wrapped her in the blanket.

“Stay like this.”

He whispered softly to Adelina and then strode towards the door…

“Lady Adelina, are you alright? If you don’t answer, I’ll open the door.”

Before Adelina could respond, the door rattled. Lexion had already undone the buttons on his shirt.

“Sir Leophris, it’s late. Let’s meet tomorrow during the day.”

As Lexion grabbed the doorknob, Adelina shook her head from side to side. 

‘Hey! Don’t make this difficult! Just let him go!’

When Lexion pushed the doorknob aside, Adelina resignedly sat on the bed.

“Lady Adelina.”

When Leophris called her name once more, Lexion flung the door open.

“Lex… Duke Lexion.”

Lexion blocked the door with his body, looking down at Leophris.

“Why are you at the door of my lover at this hour, Leophris?”

“Haha. I heard she was startled during the day. Have you been… together until now?”

Leophris leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse of Adelina between Lexion and the door.

Adelina, sitting on the bed wrapped in a blanket, turned her head shyly. Lexion, with his shirt undone.

‘Could they really be lovers? They only met a week ago!’

For a moment, Leophris’s face turned grim, but he soon returned to his usual gentle expression.

“Indeed, we’ve been together all along. So, you should leave now. We’ll continue to be together.”

As Lexion stepped forward, Leophris was pushed back a step. Even that wounded his pride, making his face flush.

Closing the door behind him, Lexion crossed his arms and glared at the Imperial Knights standing guard.

“Are you not leaving? Do I have to escort you myself?”

“No, Sir. Then…”

Leophris concealed his anger and turned around. He couldn’t bring himself to say goodnight.

“Thanks for the greeting. Have a pleasant night. Sleep well.”

Leophris ground his teeth at Lexion’s cheeky farewell from behind.

‘You Ernst-born brat! Arrogant Lexion! I’ll take what’s yours and have what you can’t!’

Lexion’s woman, Adelina. He would have her for himself.

+++

“You could have just sent him away politely.”

Adelina sighed, knowing there would be rumors again, and flopped onto the bed.

“That guy is more persistent than you think. This is the only way to shake him off.”

Lexion sat lightly beside Adelina and gently tugged at the edge of the blanket wrapped around her.

“Don’t even dream about it. I’m holding it tightly.”

“That’s a pity.”

Lexion pushed Adelina further into the bed and lay down beside her. Adelina turned her head and mouthed her words.

“How did you get here so quickly?”

Lexion also turned his head and mouthed his response.

“Did you miss me?”

“No. What about Father Stephan?”

“I missed you, too.”

Adelina pursed her lips tightly. When he acted like this, it was best not to indulge him.

Lexion chuckled and hugged Adelina. Even wrapped up in a blanket like this, she was quite charming.

“I want to kiss you, too.”

“Go away!”

Even though he whispered sweetly in her ear, her response was bitter and cold.

But giving up here wouldn’t be manly. 

‘In Ernst, persistence is a virtue.’

Lexion turned Adelina’s body to face him. Wrapped in the blanket, she couldn’t resist, and her annoyed expression showed her displeasure.

“Practice makes perfect in everything.”

“I’m naturally good at kissing without practice.”

Adelina replied primly, casting a sidelong glance.

“Ah, I’m quite a novice.”

Before their soft lips could touch, their noses bumped slightly, which wasn’t unpleasant.

That was the signal to tilt his head slightly for the perfect angle for a kiss.

‘Adelina?’

As soon as their noses touched, she turned her head sharply.

“Ah!”

“Adelina? What’s wrong?”

When Adelina flinched, Lexion quickly pulled back slightly.

“Are you hurt somewhere? Did I press somewhere wrong?”

It was possible. Her body was so soft and tender that even a little pressure might hurt.

“No, I think my hair got caught in the button.”

Fortunately, Adelina straightened her head and lowered her chin.

Following her gaze, it seemed a few strands of her hair were caught in the front button of her dress.

“I’ll untangle it for you.”

Lexion loosened the blanket around Adelina and reached for the front button of her dress.

+++

“Lexion, should I just cut it?”

Adelina felt very embarrassed by the situation. She could do it herself now that her hands were free, but Lexion was so focused on untangling the hair from the button, proving how dedicated he was once fixated on something.

“Don’t cut it. Just wait a moment.”

Her hair was tightly tangled in the thread of the button. Since her hair was silver, it was similar in color to the thread, making it even harder to untangle.

The most awkward part was…

‘Heart, stay still!’

The button of the dress was right above her cleavage. Since she chose the most comfortable outfit instead of pajamas, it was quite low-cut.

Every time Lexion’s hand moved, she worried that the rounded part of her chest might brush against his arm.