Chapter 22

When would she ever get used to that sweet smile that melted people?

A gentle ripple spread, making her heart flutter.

He’s not good, that handsome man.

She was the one who’d learned bedroom arts, yet he was the one wielding all the charm.

Whenever he spoke, she felt like she had to listen to everything he said. Oh dear.

“Are you trying to make me a fool?”

“Is it possible to become one?”

With nothing particular to say, Adela shrugged her shoulders.

“Trust me, Adela. Have I ever disappointed you?”

“No.”

He was right. He handled things much more practically and thoroughly than Adela did.

She had chosen the right person.

“So trust me and leave it to me. No one will blame you for slacking off a bit and having fun.”

“It’s not easy.”

At his words, Adela let out a shallow sigh.

If one had to pick something Adela, who excelled in all fields, wasn’t good at, it might be playing around.

“Leave that to me too. I’ll make sure you have fun for a whole month. By then, your work skills might have completely rusted.”

At his exaggerated joke, Adela smiled faintly.

“There’s nothing missing here. Seafood is rare.”

Adela commented as she looked at the steamed seafood dish with shrimp, lobster, and various other types of seafood, all cooked with sweet coconut.

“This is Lasve. It’s easier to look for what isn’t here.”

“It’s really amazing. The place with nothing has the most things.”

Southern sweet fruits and the highest quality cheese from the east—these two were hard to find together, but now they sat as a salad before her.

“Do you want some shrimp?”

At his question, Adela nodded.

He peeled the shrimp and placed it on Adela’s plate.

“I could do it myself.”

Adela said, spearing the peeled shrimp with her fork and eating it. The coconut-flavored shrimp tasted wonderful.

“You’d get your hands dirty. I’m the one who chose this troublesome dish, so I’ll do it.”

Braden then started cracking open the lobster.

“There’s no need for that.”

“Don’t worry about such things. After all, I’m just a slave. Use me as much as you like.”

“I don’t treat my subordinates carelessly.”

And he didn’t look like a slave at all.

“For royalty, you’re overly considerate.”

“It’s not excessive, it’s just respect. Everyone, regardless of rank, deserves respect.”

“Yes, yes. I’ve heard the rumors that you have the heart of a Saintess, Princess. Say ‘ah’.”

He brought the lobster meat to Adela’s lips. Unconsciously, she opened her mouth and accepted what he gave.

“Next, squid?”

Adela nodded again, and once more, he fed her the squid.

“Do I have to keep accepting what you give me?”

As she ate the squid, Adela blinked.

‘So she blinked like this when embarrassed. How cute.’

Braden enjoyed remembering the real Adela hidden within the shell of a dignified royal Princess.

“If you want to be natural in front of others, you have to get used to it.”

Braden spoke in a deliberately serious voice, as if this were a grave matter.

“In front of others?”

“One of the virtues of a lover is feeding like this.”

“Who said that?”

“Lasve expert opinion, ah.”

When he said ‘ah’ again, Adela opened her mouth and took the food.

“There are experts like that?”

“Yes, there are.”

“Lasve really has everything.”

Since he said it was expert advice, Adela stopped resisting. She tended to respect teachers and experts.

But still, Braden was impressive. Calling in experts just for a scandal.

She needed to step up her game.

Adela fired herself up internally. She tended to do any given task not just 100% but 200%. There was never any real competition for someone like her.

Was this the first time someone had stirred her competitive spirit?

“You don’t have to worry about the hotel’s reputation. Those maids were specially hired as day laborers just for today.”

“Day laborers?”

“I picked chatty maids, and after today’s work, each will ‘accidentally’ meet one of the three major Lasve gossip reporters.”

“You planned that far ahead?”

How far did his thoughts reach? Her own plan felt so small and clumsy in comparison.

Braden was perfecting it without a single flaw.

“I told you. For the price you paid, I will give you the perfect scandal you desire. I’ll drag you down all the way to the bottom.”

Why did her heart flutter when he said he’d drag her to the bottom?

“Amazing. Anyone would think you’re a scandal-making expert.”

Adela stuck out her tongue.

“That’s why I said only I could do it. Admit it now?”

He wiped the sauce from Adela’s lips with his thumb, then put it in his mouth and sucked it off. The way he licked his finger was so alluring.

What was that?

Adela felt like she couldn’t breathe, but forced herself not to turn away.

She had to get used to this side of him, too. And to him.

She couldn’t let herself be swept away by a handsome man.

She needed a strong mind.

“I already admit it.”

“Really?”

He narrowed his eyes as if doubting her.

“I admit what should be admitted.”

“I don’t like just words. If you admit it, show me with your actions.”

“What kind of action?”

“After lunch, let’s spend some fun time together?”

He seductively stroked Adela’s hair. It was just hair, but for some reason, it sent a tingle through her body.

“Fun time?”

“I was gentle yesterday since it was the first time. Today’s satisfaction will be completely different.”

His whisper was as sweet as a devil’s.

“In this room?”

Adela unconsciously lowered her voice, finally realizing ‘fun time’ meant intimacy.

“Yes.”

“No, no.”

Adela quickly waved her hand.

“I thought your body had fully recovered.”

“My attendants are here. Not in this place.”

Adela stood her ground.

“But your attendants know about the plan, don’t they?”

“Knowing and experiencing are different.”

“You need this scandal, though?”

“This is an unseen space. Just being together is enough. Our plan never included actually sleeping together. I only accepted your logic because it made sense.”

“If you accepted it, they should too. Even now, you’re back to your ‘Princess’ self. The pleasure of intimacy should naturally radiate from your body.”

Adela sighed softly.

She knew what he meant.

The royal bearing ingrained in her over years wouldn’t disappear easily.

If it were a situation she’d experienced often, maybe, but she’d never even felt romantic feelings before, so acting as if she was deeply into a man was especially hard.

So she understood why she needed to learn through frequent intimacy. But—

“My attendants are already suffering emotionally. I don’t want to add to their pain with things happening in here. They’re the ones who always have to be with me.”

“Sigh, you really are an overly considerate Princess.”

“…….”

“So, intimacy has to be somewhere without attendants?”

Adela nodded.

“All right. I’ll yield for today. Then what will you do after lunch?”

“Stay here longer?”

“Adela, remember. We’re making a scandal.”

“I know.”

“I’m staying until dinner. Even if we don’t actually sleep together, others will believe we’re rolling around in bed.”

“Really, it’s harder than I thought.”

Adela groaned.

“Did you think deceiving the world would be easy?”

“My mistake.”

Still, she couldn’t back out now.

“Hmm…. Then, how about chess?”

“Sigh, chess.”

Braden sighed again. He’d come to use his body, but now he had to use his mind.

“Do you know how to play chess? Or do you prefer cards?”

Adela tilted her head slightly, pursing her lips. Her coaxing voice was cute.

She could even act cute? It drove him crazy.

Braden chuckled.

If she was this adorable just like this, what would happen if she really tried to use her charms? Melting a man would be no trouble at all.

Well, she was pretty, so he’d let it slide.

“Anything’s fine, but I don’t play without a bet.”

“A bet? Fine, let’s bet.”

Thus, the two reached a dramatic agreement.