Chapter 21

“He’s here to visit you while you’re unwell. He wants to have lunch together.”

Logan offered the bouquet. Joy quickly took it from him.

Alexa left for the sitting room and closed the bedroom door. Then, in a combative stance, she approached Braden.

“Hey, Sir Braden. It’s rude to show up without an appointment. Even if you’re Her Highness’s ‘lover’.”

Alexa acted even more high-handed, worried he might take Adela lightly.

“Sir? I’m just a gladiator slave. And do gladiator slaves even have manners? Tell the Princess I want to have lunch with her alone in her bedroom. She doesn’t need to change clothes.”

Braden spoke in a relaxed voice.

“What did you say?”

Alexa nearly drew her sword.

“If you tell her that the hotel maids will bring a special meal to her bedroom, I think Her Highness will understand.”

“What are you saying, you bonehead? Are you here to disgrace Her Highness….”

“Enough.”

Logan stopped Alexa, who looked ready to draw her sword.

“Go tell Her Highness just that.”

Logan’s face was miserable as he spoke to Alexa.

“Why are you taking his side?”

Alexa was confused when Joy opened the door.

“Her Highness said to let you in.”

Joy said politely to Braden.

“The Princess says to come in. When the hotel maids arrive, make sure they knock first.”

Braden teased Alexa as he entered the bedroom.

“Ugh, ugh…. When this is over, I’ll definitely kill that guy.”

Alexa ground her teeth, unable to contain her anger.

“Think of the baby, Madame.”

Logan soothed Alexa.

“He really has a rotten personality. I’m disappointed.”

Joy’s romantic fantasy was shattered, and she pouted sadly.

***

“Are you all right?”

Braden approached Adela and asked.

“There was no need to come all the way here. What’s with the bouquet?”

Adela, wearing a robe over her nightgown, sat on the sofa, touching the petals of the vibrant peonies.

Receiving a bouquet from a man felt strange.

“I wanted to fulfill my duty.”

Standing before her, Braden bowed his head and kissed her hand instead of greeting her with formal etiquette.

“Ah….”

Caught off guard by the unexpected kiss, Adela blinked.

“Looks like you haven’t been doing your homework.”

Braden lightly scolded her as he sat on the large sofa.

“Homework?”

“I told you to desire me more.”

“Oh, that homework.”

Only then did Adela remember.

“Since you didn’t do your homework, you should be punished, right?”

“It’s only been a day, hasn’t it? There’s still a whole week left.”

Adela lowered her gaze, looking dignified as royalty, even in her nightgown.

Yesterday, she’d cried and clung to him because she was sick, making cute sounds. Now, whatever she did, she seemed adorable.

Braden suppressed a laugh.

No wonder he wanted to come.

Maybe he woke up at dawn just to see this cute side of her.

“A week? Did we ever set a time frame?”

“Isn’t your match in a week?”

“So you weren’t planning to see me until then? How would the scandal ever reach Edel Kingdom at that rate? It’d disappear before it got there.”

Braden felt annoyed at the thought that she planned not to see him for a week.

“I hadn’t thought that far.”

“Then, as a sign of reflection, come here.”

Braden patted his broad thigh.

“Sit there?”

“The hotel maids will bring a special meal soon. Do I have to explain everything?”

When she heard that they’d eat together in the bedroom and that the hotel maids would bring a special meal, she realized it was all part of a plan to spread rumors.

No one but a husband could enter a woman’s bedroom. Not even a fiancé.

The only exception was a lover. Of course, even then, not so openly.

She was impressed by how he’d thought of things she hadn’t, but it seemed he had an even bigger plan.

When the hotel maids entered, they’d see the two of them sitting close together.

“Oh, sorry.”

Adela quickly got up and sat on his thigh. The feel of his firm thigh under her thin nightgown gave her a strange sensation.

Do lovers really sit in such uncomfortable positions?

She thought romance was quite a tiring thing.

But why did the places where they touched feel so hot?

Suddenly, she was very warm.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

He instructed Adela, who was sitting stiffly on his thigh.

“Like this? Gasp!”

Adela reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, facing him. But their faces were closer than she expected, and she couldn’t help but gasp.

“Why are you so startled?”

“I’m still not used to it.”

“Really? Then today, you need more practice looking at me up close.”

He smiled playfully and kissed her again.

Soft, soft, each time he pressed and released his lips, a gentle friction sound was heard.

It tickled—her lips, her heart.

“Are you teasing me?”

Her voice was slightly sulky as she lowered her eyes, sending a storm through Braden’s heart.

Every time she, whom everyone called sacred, showed the side of a woman before him, he felt a deep satisfaction.

‘Yes, become a woman before me.’

‘Only before me.’

“Not at all. I just don’t like you looking away from me, Adela.”

Braden’s voice grew lower, seductive like a flower that lures butterflies with sweet honey.

“Get used to looking at me, Adela. And to my kisses.”

‘Look only at me.’

‘Accept only my kisses.’

‘Just as you are special to me, I must be a special man to you.’

When Braden sought her lips again, it was no longer a playful, light kiss. It was a passionate kiss, exploring her lips and tongue, stealing her breath—a fiercely greedy kiss.

“Haa.”

Adela entwined her tongue with his hot tongue. Her breath grew heated.

His hands roamed over Adela’s chest, slender waist, and hips, sometimes gripping her firmly. With his touch, a burning desire spread from her core throughout her body.

Her center, melted by the heat, grew damp.

Bang bang bang!

With a loud knock at the door, Joy’s voice, “Your Highness! Your Highness!” echoed distantly.

“They must be here.”

Braden parted his lips.

“Oh dear.”

Adela was flustered. She’d been so caught up in the kiss, she hadn’t heard the knocking.

She hurriedly pulled away, instinctively trying to tidy herself.

“No, you’re perfect as you are. You look delightfully disheveled.”

Braden smiled, stopping her hand.

Her small, plump lips were red, and her cheeks were flushed. Anyone could tell what they’d just been doing.

Rather than looking wanton, she actually looked extremely lovely.

“But….”

He had already seen her disheveled appearance, but she still resisted showing it to others.

“You don’t want anyone else to see that face?”

“Not yet.”

“Then, bury your face in my shoulder.”

‘I don’t want to show it either.’

Braden hid her face in his embrace.

“Come in.”

Braden said.

The door opened and, following Joy, the hotel maids wheeled in trays and wagons.

The maids, trying not to look at the two clinging together who hadn’t heard the knocking, quickly set up lunch.

“Enjoy your meal.”

After their greeting, the maids hurried out of the heated bedroom.

“Phew.”

Adela sighed and lifted her head.

“Can I sit properly on the sofa now?”

“I like this.”

“I don’t.”

Adela frowned slightly, slid off his thigh, and sat beside him.

She didn’t think she could eat properly sitting so close to him.

“That’s unexpected.”

Braden handed Adela some bread before the meal. She dipped it in olive oil and ate it.

“What is?”

“When you came to me wanting a scandal, you seemed good at everything. But you’re struggling with even this.”

“I’m just inexperienced. I learn fast, so I’ll get better soon.”

Her pride wounded, Adela held her head high.

“That’s good. I’m looking forward to it.”

His sly smile annoyed her, but Adela ignored it.

“Will this really help with the scandal?”

“Of course. The maids will spread the rumors quickly.”

“This hotel only hosts high-level guests, so the staff are well-trained. Plus, it’s associated with Duchess Shutal.”

“You know that?”

Duke Shutal’s wife was the daughter of the guildmaster of the Marsha Merchant Guild, one of the two major powers in Lasve’s neutral territory.

The hotel was officially owned by the guild, but in practice, the Duchess owned and operated it. Few people knew this.

“I found out while trying to meet Duke Shutal. If rumors spread, it could hurt the hotel’s image, and I’d hate to trouble the Duke.”

Adela commented, impressed by the sweet and sour fruit salad.

“Why worry about that?”

“Of course I should.”

“No. Don’t think about it from now on. Your only task is the scandal, so just focus on me.”

“How can I do that?”

“I’ll take care of everything else. So Adela, just think about me.”

He smiled sweetly, eyes crinkling. Hearing her name from his lips, Adela was momentarily dazed.