Chapter 39

“Coconut shrimp and green mussel gratin.”

The waiter served the food and withdrew.

Braden speared a coconut-scented fried shrimp with his fork and held it to Adela’s lips. Her mouth opened automatically.

“How is it?”

“Crispy and fragrant.”

Adela chewed, enjoying the taste of the shrimp.

Habits are frightening things.

At first, it was awkward and uncomfortable being fed by him, but now it was nothing.

The people around them felt the same.

Maybe because gossip magazines had covered their lovey-dovey antics for so long, people only glanced once or twice now, no longer showing such blatant curiosity.

And it wasn’t just Braden feeding his lady—he’d changed dating culture.

If a man truly loved his woman, he fed her. Otherwise, it meant no affection.

Because of that, in couples’ restaurants, men were busy feeding their ladies.

Men had gotten much more tired, thanks to it.

“So cute.”

Braden wiped the crumbs from Adela’s lips with his thumb and put it in his own mouth. The way he licked his thumb was so s*xy, Adela’s heart pounded.

Why was he so s*xy, even while eating? Not seeing him for a day had made him even more attractive.

“What’s so cute about the way I eat?”

“Exactly. I’m jealous of the shrimp going into your mouth.”

“Ugh, stop it. You’re making my hands curl up.”

Adela shuddered in disgust.

“It’s because we slept separately last night. Withdrawal symptoms.”

“You’re acting like this after just one night?”

Even though she had missed him all night, Adela pretended not to care.

“I never knew the night could feel so long.”

Braden joked, and Adela simply smiled.

As Adela reached for the green mussel gratin, he stopped her.

“I’ll do it. It might be hot.”

Braden grabbed a mussel and carefully scraped the cheese-covered meat with a fork. Then he blew on it and placed it in Adela’s mouth.

“It’s not that hot.”

“Your skin’s delicate, you could get burned.”

His gaze dripped with honey as he looked at Adela.

“You should eat some too.”

Adela speared a shrimp with her fork and fed it to him. He accepted the food and smiled dazzlingly, for no good reason.

“Why are you so flirty today?”

It was a waste.

He was always sweet and affectionate, but today he was overdoing it, pouring out a lethal dose.

“Seduction is one of the arts of the bedroom, isn’t it?”

“That’s only when it’s just the two of us. Are you trying to break up other couples?”

Adela narrowed her eyes.

Every time he smiled, the other women’s gazes fixed on him, and their male partners looked visibly annoyed.

“It’s a complete loss.”

Braden grumbled.

“What now?”

“You keep getting distracted.”

“When did I?”

“I only see you, but you’re aware of everything around you.”

“Let’s not talk about it.”

She felt full, and her throat was a bit dry.

At that moment, Braden slid a glass of glühwein in front of Adela.

He was always like this. Whenever Adela needed something, he unfailingly provided it.

She had to admit—he really did only have eyes for her.

“Thank you.”

For dessert, chocolate-coated strawberries appeared. Once again, Braden skewered one and fed it to Adela.

She’d probably eaten only a third of her meal by herself. Meanwhile, Braden had finished all of his own food—impressive.

“Do you like the gift?”

Adela finally asked what she’d been curious about all along. She’d been waiting for the right moment.

She wasn’t fishing for compliments, but she was curious. When she bought the gift, she hadn’t thought much, but after giving it, she hoped he’d be satisfied.

After meeting Adamante, she’d managed to recover from her low spirits by convincing herself Braden would be happy with the gift.

“Curious?”

Despite her warning, he folded his eyes into a gentle, lazy smile.

“No.”

Adela feigned indifference, a little embarrassed by how eager she felt.

“Ah, you’re really cute today. Why are you like this to me?”

“You’re the weird one. I didn’t do anything.”

“Didn’t do anything? You’re curious but pretending not to be. And that’s cute.”

“When did I?”

Adela’s cheeks flushed pink. Braden chuckled at the sight.

“Do you know what your expression looks like right now?”

“You said cute?”

“It’s the face of a woman in love.”

“……”

“Are you acting?”

For a moment, Braden’s eyes grew sharp.

“What answer do you want?”

Adela asked, her face suddenly serious.

“Adela, I love you.”

Braden whispered low.

“Is that acting too?”

Adela’s expression turned subtle.

“It’s not acting. I love you.”

“Don’t.”

Adela shook her head.

He’d joked about becoming a knight commander to marry her, about secret weddings, about running away together as lovers.

Maybe there was love in those words. But saying it aloud was something else entirely.

“Is it because I’m a slave that you can’t accept my love?”

“It’s not because you’re a slave. It’s because my situation right now can’t take responsibility for love.”

Lazing in bed with him, dreaming of a romantic future, things had been different. After facing her grandfather, reality had come flooding back—so much it made her hair stand on end.

“Do you love me?”

It was a disconcerting question.

She liked being with him. She was happy, comfortable, her heart raced.

Was this love?

“I’m swept up in feelings I’ve never known before. But I don’t even know their names. I don’t know if these feelings are real, or just fake emotions from pretending to be in love with a gladiator.”

Adela seemed calm, but her eyes were full of confusion.

“If it’s real, it’ll pile up in my heart. If it’s fake, it’ll swirl around and fade away.”

Adela concluded.

“Yeah, maybe so. But my feelings are real. I love you.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m not asking you to accept it. I’m not forcing love. Just want you to know. It feels unfair if I don’t express it.”

Braden smiled softly.

“If you’re done eating, let’s go. We can’t ruin a date over this. Oh, and I really liked the gift. Thank you. It’ll be my most cherished treasure.”

Braden kissed Adela lightly on the cheek.

“It’s not worth being a treasure.”

“That’s my choice.”

Adela stared at him and said,

“…If we meet again, I’ll tell you then. Whether this is love or not.”

Adela wanted to know too.

Whether the pounding in her heart and trembling in her body when she was with him was love, or just a fleeting rush of hormones.

“Alright.”

Braden smiled and held out his hand, and Adela took it and stood up.

“By the way, Adela. Did you get your ears pierced?”

Braden asked as they climbed into the carriage.

“Yes.”

“Take a look at this.”

Braden opened a small jewelry case made of high-quality material.

“Piercing?”

“It’s the new detox artifact. Limited edition.”

“The artifact is this small?”

Adela peered at the piercing with fascination. It was platinum with sparkling opal and onyx-like stones embedded.

“This is a magic stone, right?”

It looked like a jewel, but magic stones glimmered subtly with flowing energy.

“Yes.”

“Even though it’s a magic stone, it looks just like a jewel. The craftsmanship is elegant.”

Adela turned the piercing over, examining it.

“The Edel Kingdom has lots of guilds that make magical tools, but nothing this small. Miniaturizing magical tools is hard. Where’s it from?”

Adela’s eyes sparkled.

Braden knew why she was like this. It wasn’t greed for artifacts—she had little desire for things.

But she was full of ambition for work.

“Would they share the technology?”

“There you go again, thinking about work. You never let your guard down.”

“How is asking where it’s from some big deal?”

Adela looked sheepish.

“It’s probably from a merchant guild connected to the Duchess. The Duchess gave it to me as a gift, saying they made a lot from shows inspired by our story.”

“It’s this expensive?”

Adela’s eyes widened.

“The Duchy is pretty generous. Since she gave me two, I guess one’s for you.”

“Really, I owe them so much.”

They’d even upgraded the hotel for her.

“Told you—I brought in more profit.”

“No one’s as arrogant as you.”

Adela shook her head.

“We’ll do this together, right? I’ll wear black like your hair, you wear platinum like mine. I have to pierce my ear—left or right?”

Braden alternated presenting his left and right ear with a sweet smile that made it impossible for Adela to refuse.

‘What to do. Now he was even cute.’

Adela found herself stroking his hair.

The cute one was this man.