25

Feeling uneasy, Adrian had to ask Richel.

“Yes. Actually, Mars isn’t close with Richel from childhood, but they did exchange greetings.”

Mars, too, was someone Elsia had known since childhood. But Richel seemed unaware of what had happened between them.

“I can’t give up like this.”

Feeling unsettled, Adrian couldn’t let go of his feelings for Elsia. He decided he had to investigate Mars.

Mars traveled between Welsley and his own territory.

So, when Mars went to his territory, Adrian took two knights and followed him, discovering something shocking.

Mars was nothing like the rumors.

He had a dual personality. In Welsley, he wore the mask of a gentle, caring person, but in his own territory, he was violent and rude.

—Are you going to defy me?

—If the Earl finds out, it’ll be a big problem. Shouldn’t you be more careful?

—Who are you to defy me?

Adrian witnessed Mars kicking a servant in the street. Shocked, Adrian observed Mars more closely.

Mars often beat servants who displeased him and held unruly parties every night.

After learning the truth about Elsia’s fiancé, Adrian couldn’t let go.

“Does Elsia love her fiancé?”

“It’s just a contract between families. Elsia got engaged because her father wanted it.”

Knowing Elsia didn’t love her fiancé made Adrian even more determined.

He couldn’t bear to see her with such a man—he wanted to make her happy himself.

So Adrian had to ask Richel for help.

He begged her, saying he couldn’t watch Elsia marry such a man.

“Why the sudden change? You always just watched from afar—why are you so proactive now?”

Richel asked, surprised by Adrian’s request.

“I investigated Elsia’s fiancé… He’s not a good person.”

“What?”

Richel, hearing Adrian, said she would investigate and hurried to her own house.

And after a short while, she contacted him again.

It seemed Richel, who always opposed Adrian’s feelings, had changed her mind and decided to help him. She brought the hopeful news that she would help Elsia’s heart turn toward Adrian.

Adrian was skeptical, since feelings couldn’t be forced, but he chose to trust Richel for now.

“It would be nice if Elsia fell for you at first sight, but that’s rare. So aim for physical attraction first, then hope it grows into real feelings. You need to seduce innocent Elsia well.”

Richel gave Adrian a sly smile and a meaningful comment.

Physical attraction first… surely not…

“Don’t look at me like that. I have a plan. Just follow my lead. I’ll make sure you get another chance to meet Elsia, so trust me and wait.”

Adrian didn’t fully understand her, but decided to trust her and wait for Richel’s message.

A few days later, Richel came to Adrian and handed him a gemstone and an invitation. The gemstone was a deep blue, similar to his eyes.

“On the date I tell you, just hide the gemstone somewhere on your body and show up at the place I tell you.”

Adrian opened the invitation and was surprised. It was an invitation to the secret club he’d only heard about in rumors.

A place not just anyone could enter. As a secret club, it was known only to those who were invited, and if rumors spread, it would be ruined.

“Who am I? As the eldest daughter of Lennox Duchy, there’s nothing I can’t do. If you want to avoid Earl Portman’s surveillance, a hidden party like this is perfect.”

“Will Elsia really come?”

“I’ve set the bait, so just wait. If she doesn’t want to go, I’ll drag her there by her hair if I have to.”

“By her hair…”

Adrian was shocked by Richel’s extreme expression, but her confidence made him trust her.

On the day written on the invitation, Adrian’s heart raced from morning. He would finally be able to see Elsia up close after so long.

After a long wait, Richel sent him a letter. Elsia would attend.

He must not show any excitement at seeing her. She wouldn’t remember him, and even if she did, he had changed so much since childhood that she wouldn’t recognize him.

So Adrian had to pretend it was their first meeting.

He practiced a neutral expression in front of the mirror many times.

Whenever he thought of Elsia, he couldn’t help but smile, but he practiced dozens of times to hide his feelings.

He arrived at the club much earlier than Richel’s suggested time.

Adrian was nervous until the two arrived.

His lips felt dry, his throat parched. He was so tense he drank water several times.

Finally, he saw Richel and Elsia enter.

It had been so long since Adrian saw Elsia up close. As she approached, his heart felt like it stopped, then began beating faster.

She seemed beautiful from afar, but up close, Elsia was truly stunning.

Her blonde hair was neatly pinned up, her features harmoniously arranged, her pale skin, her calming smile, her graceful movements—Adrian saw no one else. Only Elsia existed in his eyes.

He had been told not to speak first, so Adrian followed Richel’s instructions and hovered near Elsia without talking to her.

But when he realized her gaze lingered on him for a long time, he couldn’t resist.

The feelings he’d held back threatened to burst. He turned to approach Elsia instead of walking past.

At that moment, she suddenly dropped her glass on the floor.

Adrian was startled by the unexpected event. He thought maybe it happened because he was about to break Richel’s rule.

He couldn’t leave Elsia to clean up the glass herself.

So he walked over to her before she could hurt her hand.

Fortunately, Elsia’s hand wasn’t injured, but she left the club right away.

“What magic did you use to make Elsia’s gaze stay on me?”

Adrian secretly met Richel to ask her. He couldn’t understand it.

“I used real magic.”

Richel was always joking, so Adrian didn’t believe her, but it was amazing. Just as Richel said, Elsia had come near him.

But Richel’s next words disappointed him.

“I tried to create physical attraction, but innocent Elsia is too difficult. I think my help ends here. She probably won’t go to the club again.”

Adrian hadn’t expected much, so he was okay.

Just seeing Elsia up close was enough for him, so he decided to be satisfied with that.

“Thanks. I’ll try the rest with my own strength.”

He had tried so hard to see Elsia, but even that was difficult, so Adrian was half resigned.

So he was surprised when Richel sent another invitation.

Elsia herself wanted to come again, and Richel’s letter said she seemed interested in Adrian. Adrian was so shocked he nearly dropped the letter.

Again, Richel’s note at the end said not to greet Elsia first.

Adrian’s heart felt like it would explode.

When he met Elsia again at the secret club, Richel helped them talk.

With a wink, Richel signaled him to do well, then left the two of them alone.

But Elsia wouldn’t look directly at Adrian, and didn’t answer his questions.

It felt like Richel was giving him false hope.

Maybe Richel had just given him hope for nothing, since Elsia showed no interest.

So Adrian decided to leave before making Elsia uncomfortable.

But then something unexpected happened. Elsia grabbed him.

In that moment, Adrian’s heart beat so fast he couldn’t control it.

He felt he couldn’t stand straight in front of her.

He wanted to rely on the power of alcohol and drink with her.

So, knowing she’d already emptied a glass, he suggested they have another together.

Talking with Elsia was delightful. She did most of the talking, but the way her small lips moved as she chattered was adorable.

When the conversation faded, Adrian felt the urge to kiss her moist lips.

But he couldn’t. She seemed so fragile, he felt she might break if he pressed too hard. He wanted to treat her gently.

Adrian struggled to control his feelings, but then something unexpected happened. Elsia’s hand touched his chest.

Adrian couldn’t hold back anymore. He wanted to embrace her, but couldn’t, so when his patience reached its limit, he grabbed Elsia’s hand.

She seemed very drunk. She probably didn’t mean to, but if she kept provoking him like this, something bigger might happen.

Adrian signaled Richel, who rushed to Elsia. Elsia, regaining composure, left with Richel without saying goodbye.

If he had acted on instinct, it would have been disastrous.

Richel later told him Elsia had said she would never return to the club.

Just as expected, weeks passed without another invitation, but Adrian didn’t lose hope.

Elsia didn’t seem to dislike him. The more he met her, the more Adrian wanted her heart.