Chapter 23

“What are they doing?”

Alexa grabbed Joy as she came out of the bedroom.

Ever since Braden had entered the Princess’s bedroom, the three had spent the whole day anxiously waiting outside the door.

At least Joy went in and out running errands, so she knew what was happening inside.

“Playing cards.”

“What? It was chess earlier, now cards after dinner?”

“What exactly are you expecting?”

Logan scolded Alexa.

“I wasn’t expecting anything, but every time the maids brought food, it looked like something would happen, but they’re just playing so decently, it’s strange.”

“Well, Her Highness looked very happy.”

Joy added.

“She looked happy? Playing chess and cards?”

Alexa, who hated using her head, couldn’t understand.

“She was laughing out loud.”

“……?”

Alexa and Logan looked at each other at Joy’s words.

Her Highness, laughing out loud.

Had they ever seen such a Princess?

???

Their minds filled with question marks. They’d served Adela for a long time, but never seen her like this.

***

“I won!”

Adela triumphantly laid out her cards.

“What!”

Braden looked stunned.

“You’re really smart.”

“It’s nothing. Just a card game.”

Adela spoke as if it were no big deal.

But it wasn’t ‘just’ a card game. The game they were playing was one mercenaries played at monster hunting grounds, and it took days just to understand the rules, and a long time to master enough to win.

Adela was playing for the first time today.

Yet in just a few rounds, she’d mastered it and was on a winning streak. How could it be ‘just’ a card game?

“Can you hit me with your lips this time? My forehead hurts from all the slaps.”

Braden rubbed his forehead with his palm, sticking out his lips.

“Don’t be dramatic. Forehead, Braden.”

Adela’s eyes sparkled as she aimed for his forehead. The joy of victory shone in her eyes like starlight.

“You’re too much. You’re over-considerate to your attendants, but never go easy on me.”

Braden, not wanting to be hit, curled up in the corner of the sofa, folding his big body like a seven-year-old child.

The image of a gladiator slicing monsters with a single blow, or making opponents bleed in the Colosseum, was nowhere to be seen.

“Haha, where are you running?”

Adela laughed out loud, lunging at him. Braden grabbed her waist and pulled her close.

They faced each other, sitting very close. A soft smile lingered on Braden’s lips.

“You look so beautiful when you laugh.”

She’d always been beautiful, but her laughter made her several times more so. She radiated freshness and life, like a leaf soaked in morning dew.

He loved that.

He wanted to make her laugh more.

“I don’t know when I last laughed like this.”

No, actually, she couldn’t remember. Adela had to act like a proper Princess from a very young age.

Even if something was funny, she couldn’t laugh out loud, and even if she was angry, she couldn’t cry or shout and show her feelings.

She’d never played like this with anyone, never hit someone’s forehead for a penalty, never chased someone to carry out a penalty.

So she was surprised herself, realizing she could laugh out loud.

“Did you have fun?”

Braden looked at her with gentle eyes.

“It was fun. Does everyone play like this?”

“It depends who you play with. It’s fun because you’re playing with me.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

Adela admitted honestly, still smiling.

When she lost, Braden slapped her forehead.

He hit so hard she nearly cried. Who else would play with her like this? Only this unruly slave.

After that, Adela burned with determination to win, and when she had the chance to slap his forehead, she never held back.

She’d just learned that playing happily could make her feel elated.

“Then give me a prize.”

Braden tucked her messy black hair behind her ear.

“I won, though?”

“Then I’ll give myself as a prize. Take me.”

He smiled sweetly, as if asking, ‘Will you really not take me?’

“Adela. Tonight, I want to be with you.”

His voice was so sweet.

Her heart wavered. She had been with him all day, yet she still wanted more.

That was why Adela shook her head even more firmly.

“No.”

“You said you had fun, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“Then why?”

“Because I don’t think I can sleep.”

She managed to say such things in a calm voice.

Braden felt like he’d been struck unexpectedly. Of course, it was a pleasant surprise.

“There are other things we could do.”

He teasingly rubbed the red flower marks scattered along her neck with his thumb.

“I’ll lick you down there. You seemed to really like it.”

“I didn’t like it.”

Even though there was no one around to hear, Adela was startled, glancing around and whispering in a small voice.

“No, you liked it. Today you’ll like it even more, I guarantee.”

He chuckled playfully, and Adela gave up on arguing. Now wasn’t the time for a war of words over things like this.

Meanwhile, his hand crept up, lifting her nightgown, sliding past her calf, and gently rubbing her rounded knee.

As his hand moved to her inner thigh, her arousal soaked her underwear.

Just from this much stimulation. It was really crazy.

If this kept up, she’d lose her mind and do something reckless right here.

Adela quickly removed his hand from her thigh.

“I told you earlier, right? I can’t be intimate in a space where my attendants are present.”

“Did they even teach you in bedroom arts how to torment a man like this?”

Braden let out a deep sigh.

“What?”

“With just a word, you lift me up and throw me down.”

Whether it was true or not, seeing him so eager made Adela’s heart flutter.

How many times had her heart fluttered because of this man today?

It seemed she was getting used to it. At first, she didn’t know if she liked it or not, but now she was leaning toward ‘like’. This fluttering wasn’t bad. No, maybe it was even good.

“Go on now.”

Adela pressed her lips firmly to his forehead instead of giving a flick.

“Is this the prize?”

Braden looked dumbfounded.

“It’s better than a flick.”

Adela stood up from his knee, as if she’d finished her business.

“Then, what about a goodnight kiss?”

“That’s not happening either.”

Adela shook her head firmly. Kissing him was far too dangerous.

“Sigh, you’re really cold. Fine, I’ll go for tonight. See you tomorrow.”

Braden raised both hands in surrender.

“You’re coming tomorrow too?”