06

Elsia began telling Adrian her story without even realizing it.  

She spoke about how this was her second time at the club, how she hadn’t known such places existed, how people who seemed dignified outside acted very differently here, and how she came with her friend—her words spilled out without her meaning to.  

“Ahahaha. Isn’t this boring to hear?”  

Elsia suddenly remembered Mars, who never listened well to her stories.  

Mars would intentionally clear his throat and interrupt whenever Elsia’s stories ran long.  

“No, I’m actually enjoying our conversation so much I didn’t notice the time.”  

Adrian smiled with crescent-shaped eyes as he answered.  

Whether he meant it or not, hearing that he was interested in her words made Elsia’s heart flutter.  

Feeling as if she could really talk with him, Elsia chatted even more excitedly.  

“….”  

Their conversation continued for a long time, but then, at some point, fell silent.  

Adrian seemed a little tipsy, just like Elsia.  

Neither spoke, but Elsia felt something different from when she was with her fiancé. With Mars, even the air felt awkward and unfamiliar.  

So she always avoided Mars’s gaze whenever their eyes met.  

“…Strange.”  

But Adrian was different. This situation, sitting face-to-face, wasn’t boring at all; even without conversation, it wasn’t awkward.  

So the word “strange” kept circling in Elsia’s mind.  

When she met Adrian’s eyes, his deep gaze made her heart tremble even more, so Elsia didn’t avoid it.  

The more she looked at Adrian, the more uncontrollable her desire seemed to creep up inside her.  

It wasn’t just his gaze. The sweet scent she sensed from him and his restrained but beautiful movements stimulated Elsia.  

Elsia tried to ignore these feelings.  

She struggled to control her body, which disobeyed her mind because of the alcohol.  

But before she knew it, her hand touched Adrian’s arm, slowly sliding along it, then moving toward his firm chest muscles.  

At that moment, Adrian grabbed Elsia’s wrist.  

“You seem quite drunk.”  

Elsia suddenly came to her senses and realized her hand was touching his chest.  

‘Ah, what have I done!’  

Elsia quickly covered her face with her hand, unable to look Adrian in the face.  

Just then, Richel approached Elsia at perfect timing.  

“You look drunk. Let’s go home.”  

Richel had apparently seen Elsia’s embarrassing action.  

Elsia quickly linked arms with Richel and bowed her head as she left.  

She didn’t want Adrian to see her blushing face, so she kept her head down as much as possible.  

At times like this, she wished her long, loose hair would cover her face, but since it was braided up, no matter how she shook it, it wouldn’t come down.  

Elsia continued to feel Adrian’s gaze on her, but she hurried out without even saying goodbye.  

“So bold, Elsia.”  

Richel teased Elsia in the swaying carriage.  

Even though she knew it was just a mischievous joke, Elsia couldn’t help but feel her face burning.  

“I… I was just drunk. I’ll never go to such a strange place again.”  

It made no sense that her mind couldn’t control her body.  

Because of Richel’s strange words, Elsia felt as if she’d been bewitched.  

To stop her body from acting against her thoughts, she decided never to go to such places again. That seemed best to Elsia.  

Just before arriving at the Portman mansion, Elsia quickly let down her hair. She couldn’t return to the mansion with a flushed face from drinking.  

Thankfully, Marie, who was quick-witted, quietly escorted Elsia to her room without the other maids noticing.  

Only after Marie left, having helped Elsia prepare for bed, did Elsia blame herself alone in her room.  

“What have I done with a man I barely know!”  

She hugged her pillow and buried her face deep into it, rubbing it.  

‘Acting so differently from usual… It’s all because of the necklace and Richel’s encouragement!’  

The magic necklace Richel gave her seemed to awaken not only compatibility but also hidden instincts.  

Elsia kept recalling her embarrassing actions and promised herself, really and truly, never to go back there again.  

When Elsia opened her eyes, she was surprised—it was morning.  

‘I was sitting on the bed, wasn’t I?’  

Without realizing it, she must have fallen asleep while sitting. Her legs were still on the floor and only her body on the bed.  

Elsia quickly got up. Sleeping all night in an uncomfortable position made her whole body stiff.  

Especially her twisted back ached whenever she moved.  

But—  

‘Even though it was uncomfortable, I slept well!’  

Elsia could hardly believe she hadn’t had nightmares again.  

“How long has it been since I woke up clear-headed like this?”  

Once could be a coincidence, but twice was not.  

Not having nightmares twice meant the solution was definitely related to Adrian.  

And this time, she slept deeply without dreaming.  

Elsia never imagined she could sleep so well without relying on medicine.  

“I decided yesterday never to go back there… Do I have to take it back now?”  

While Elsia was agonizing, Marie entered her room and was surprised to see her.  

The medicine was untouched, but Elsia’s skin was soft and fresh, as if she’d slept well all night.  

“Oh my! You finally slept without relying on medicine!”  

Seeing Elsia sleep well for two nights in a row, Marie was so moved she looked about to cry.  

“No, it’s not certain yet. Just keep it to yourself!”  

Elsia couldn’t say that her “insomnia cure” was a man, so she silenced Marie and asked her to bring her jewelry box.  

“You’ve been working hard lately, haven’t you? It’s thanks to you.”  

While looking through her favorite jewels, Elsia put a few stones in her pocket and handed them to Marie.  

“Do I really deserve something like this?”  

Marie’s eyes widened. Even a single small jewel was worth more than a year’s wages, and there were five, so she was understandably shocked.  

“It’s fine. It makes me feel better.”  

Elsia smiled as if it was nothing.  

She said it was to thank Marie for helping her solve her insomnia, but in truth, it was because she felt guilty for using Marie’s name as her alias the night before.  

Of course, Marie had no way of knowing, but Elsia felt better giving her something like this.  

“I’ll work even harder!”  

“Okay.”  

Seeing Marie so happy, whatever the reason, made Elsia feel relieved as well.  

* * *

After that day, Elsia’s heart began to change.  

Her life didn’t really change, but the dull and boring feelings she sometimes had seemed to decrease.  

“Is something good happening to you?”  

Marie asked Elsia as she hummed without realizing it while walking down the hallway.  

“Do I look happy?”  

“Yes.”  

Elsia’s changed mood must have shown on her face.  

Whether it was because she’d found a way to escape the nightmares that had tormented her so much, or because she’d met a man who seemed likely to be compatible with her, or simply because she’d met a man who taught her unfamiliar feelings, Elsia couldn’t say.  

But one thing was clear: the thirst she’d felt from always the same boring routine, which had sometimes made her feel suffocated and impossible to fill, was now somewhat relieved.  

“By the way, Lady Elsia, did you hear? A new dessert cafe just opened downtown!”  

Marie spoke with an expectant face.  

Whenever a new dessert shop opened, Elsia would buy treats for her servants, so Marie seemed to be hoping for the same this time.  

“Really? Shall I go with you this time?”  

Marie’s eyes widened at Elsia’s words.  

Since she usually needed her father’s permission to go out, Elsia had never visited a newly opened shop herself.  

“You always send me to buy things. Are you really going to go with me this time?”  

Marie asked again, not quite believing it.  

“Yes. Let’s go together. I want to see it for myself.”  

Elsia felt a change in her heart—she wanted to go herself.  

So she went straight to her father and got permission to visit the dessert cafe.  

He was surprised she wanted to go somewhere she’d never been, but agreed on the condition she took three knights with her.  

“It’s your first time going yourself, Lady Elsia.”  

Marie said, sitting beside Elsia in the swaying carriage.  

“I just felt like going today.”  

“Don’t be surprised when you see it. Ohoho.”  

Marie chatted excitedly in the carriage, happy that Elsia wanted to go together.  

Arriving at the square, they got out of the carriage, and Marie led Elsia to the dessert shop, making Elsia’s eyes widen.  

The shop was much bigger than she’d expected. It was a three-story building, with large parasols and tables on each floor for outdoor seating, and every seat was packed with people.  

Elsia, led by Marie’s excited hand, entered the shop.  

She wasn’t fond of sweets, but everything she saw—pound cake, Mont Blanc, tarts—looked delicious.  

Elsia sat with Marie and ordered things to eat and things to take away.  

“Go get them.”  

After instructing Marie to fetch the bread and drinks, Elsia went to the reserved table on the first floor and sat down.  

The dessert shop had only recently opened, but customers flowed in and out without pause.  

Elsia waited for Marie, absentmindedly watching people come and go. Then—  

She suddenly saw the familiar profile of a man. His large build, dazzling silver hair, and sculpted features….  

The man was Adrian.  

The moment she realized it was Adrian, her heart began to race, and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.  

She never imagined she’d meet him in such an unexpected place, so Elsia stood up in surprise with wide eyes.  

Adrian, sensing her presence, turned his head toward Elsia. Seeing him, Elsia instinctively tried to greet him.  

‘Shh!’  

Adrian, meeting her gaze, touched his index finger to his lips as if signaling a secret.  

Seeing him, Elsia covered her own mouth. She almost called his name out loud.  

When Richel took her to the secret club, she’d told her about their rules.