30

Adrian was training with the knights. The training usually started at dawn and lasted until breakfast almost every day.

He was sweating heavily when he heard the voice of a servant calling for him.

It was unusual for anyone to seek Adrian during early morning training.

He called the servant and asked what was going on, and was surprised by the answer.

“Earl Portman has come to see you, Sir Adrian.”

It was odd for Earl Portman to visit him so early, so Adrian tilted his head and went inside.

After changing clothes and entering the drawing room, he found Earl Brightwell sitting upright and Earl Portman bowing in apology.

“I apologize for doubting you, Sir Adrian. I was angry because Elsia was suffering so much she lost her memory, so I must have lost my judgment for a while, Earl Brightwell.”

Earl Brightwell didn’t look pleased. They had been estranged for a long time, and now suddenly an apology. He must have thought it was unexpected.

But seeing Earl Portman apologize first, he didn’t seem too upset, and his lips twitched.

Earl Portman apologized to Adrian as well.

“I’m sorry for doubting you. There was someone else who caused Elsia to lose her memory. I’m truly sorry for jumping to conclusions without giving you a chance to explain.”

“It’s all right. Have you found the culprit?”

“No. There were many children visiting at the time, so I couldn’t tell who it was. Elsia hated him so much she doesn’t remember his face or name. So I decided not to try to find out. Since Elsia wants nothing to do with them, I don’t see any point.”

“I see…”

The brown-haired, golden-eyed child. Adrian suspected Mars might be the culprit, but since Earl Portman had no intention of searching further, Adrian felt there was no need to mention it.

Anyway, the engagement with Mars was broken, so Adrian thought there would be no further connection between Elsia and Mars.

If anyone tried to harm Elsia again, Adrian resolved to protect her himself.

“And…”

Earl Portman hesitated. Adrian wondered what more he had to say. Earl Portman’s face was turning red.

“Please, speak freely, Earl.”

Adrian found Earl Portman’s hesitation unfamiliar and was anxious about what might be said.

He worried Earl Portman might say that, aside from Mars, Adrian would never be allowed to marry Elsia.

“Earl Brightwell, it’s sudden, but I’d like Adrian and Elsia to be engaged. I thought it better to come in person than send a letter.”

But Earl Portman said the opposite of what Adrian expected.

Adrian’s heart began to race. For a moment, he wondered if he’d heard wrong.

“Cough, cough.”

Apparently, Adrian wasn’t the only one surprised.

Earl Brightwell, caught off guard by the unexpected words, began coughing repeatedly.

Adrian quickly instructed the maid to bring water, and Earl Brightwell calmed his surprise with a drink.

“You come here suddenly, apologize for past matters, and now say you want an engagement?”

Earl Brightwell asked, his face showing displeasure and curiosity as he tilted his head.

“If you’re offended, I apologize. But do you know, Earl, that Adrian and my daughter Elsia are in love? Adrian has proposed to Elsia three times, wanting to marry her. So now I wish to give permission, but I wanted your opinion, so I came as soon as I made up my mind.”

He knew Adrian had mentioned it before, but didn’t expect the engagement topic to come up so suddenly. Earl Brightwell squinted, glancing at Adrian.

“Why has everything moved so quickly? Adrian, did you do something to Miss Elsia?”

“I’d be grateful if you thought my sincere feelings reached Elsia.”

He had indeed done something, but couldn’t say it that way.

So Adrian looked at Earl Brightwell with earnest eyes as he replied.

Earl Brightwell sighed quietly at Adrian’s words.

“Sigh, all right. Anyway, Adrian never planned to marry anyone but Miss Elsia, and he rejected so many ladies. Now I finally feel relieved.”

His displeased expression melted away, and Earl Brightwell looked as if a decade’s worth of worries had vanished.

As Adrian’s abilities were recognized, his relationship with Earl Brightwell changed. The family’s heir was so outstanding that the Earl began to pay attention to his son’s wishes.

The Earl had always worried that Adrian would never marry anyone but Elsia, spending all his time training. He feared the family line might end if Adrian didn’t wed.

“Congratulations, Adrian. You’re engaged to Miss Elsia, just as you wished. Now there’s no need to worry about heirs.”

Earl Brightwell finally smiled with relief.

That night, Adrian visited the villa for a while. It was the last day of the contract, so he came to clean and reminisce.

He had memories with Elsia there, but no longer needed to meet her secretly at the villa. Now he could meet her openly.

He brought two servants with him. He could have left all the cleaning to them, but he wanted to clean the room he’d shared with Elsia himself.

As Adrian dusted, he noticed three swords above the fireplace.

They were like extensions of himself. He felt at ease with his swords nearby, and had left them at the villa while carrying a portable one.

He never imagined Elsia would touch those swords.

He gently picked up the sword engraved with her traces. Remembering Elsia’s jealous face when he talked about his first love, Adrian couldn’t help but smile.

“She was so adorable then.”

He wondered if she now knew his first love was Elsia.

He hoped she had realized, but it didn’t matter anymore. Her heart belonged to him now.

Adrian’s gaze shifted to the bed. Thinking it was the place where he had embraced all of her, he felt a sudden warmth inside.

He briefly messed up the blankets, which reminded him of their physical pleasure together.

The union that felt like their souls were connected seemed proof they were a perfect match.

“Adrian!”

At that moment, a voice called his name. He paused, thinking it was an illusion from thinking about Elsia, but quickly fixed the blankets. Then he felt a soft touch on his back.

Adrian turned sharply and saw Elsia smiling at him.

“How… how are you here?”

Seeing the woman he’d just imagined right in front of him, Adrian froze.

Elsia gently rubbed his back with her soft cheek.

“I heard you rented the villa until today and wanted to visit. It’s the place where we started together, filled with memories. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

This was what they called a connection of hearts. Adrian had felt it before—at the dessert café, at Fortuna Square.

“I heard Father visited Earl Brightwell and that he gave permission for our engagement. When I told Richel the news, she was delighted as if it was her own. I’m glad everything worked out.”

Elsia chattered excitedly, rubbing her cheek.

Adrian wanted to turn and embrace her, but stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

Elsia asked, eyes wide at his strange behavior.

“If I hold you now, I don’t think I’ll be able to let you go today…”

Adrian couldn’t embrace her. His instincts warned him he wouldn’t be able to stop.

He couldn’t lose control in the villa he’d have to return tomorrow.

Elsia, looking disappointed, stood on her tiptoes and briefly pressed her lips to Adrian’s.

“I’ll settle for this today. You’re cleaning, so should I help?”

Elsia looked around for something to clean.

Suddenly, Adrian grabbed her, pulling her into his arms.

Elsia looked up in surprise as Adrian passionately explored her mouth with his lips.

Adrian tried to resist, but Elsia’s kiss flipped his internal switch.

“Mmm… mm.”

‘Just kissing today. Only kissing.’

Adrian struggled to stick to his resolve and send Elsia home after only a kiss.

But Elsia’s sweet scent drifted to his nose and mind, shaking his will, and he finally surrendered to his instincts.

His tongue caressed every part of Elsia’s mouth, and his hand gripped her soft chest roughly.

“Ah! I’m sorry.”

Just then, one of the servants entered and cried out in surprise.

The sound snapped Adrian back to his senses. If the servant hadn’t come, things could have gotten out of hand.

Adrian quickly pushed Elsia away from his embrace.

But Elsia’s eyes still burned with desire for him.

Adrian knew he couldn’t let things go further. He had to send Elsia home quickly.

“If I help, won’t we finish faster? I don’t want to leave right after arriving.”

“I think it’s best for you to go home now. I’ll come to Portman tomorrow to pick you up. Wait for me.”

After promising to meet her the next day, Adrian tried to send Elsia home, but his resolve soon broke.