Chapter 44

“Marquis Adamante has arrived.”

Joy announced as she entered the bedroom where Adela was.

“Tell him to wait, I’m eating.”

Adela said, stabbing her steak with a fork.

“Yes.”

Joy went back out to the drawing room.

“You’re not going out?”

Braden, who was eating with her, asked.

“I’m eating. More wine.”

Adela held out her glass.

“You’re really scary when you’re angry. I’d better not make you mad.”

“Are you joking?”

Adela glanced at him.

“I’m not joking.”

Braden poured red wine into her glass.

“Hurry up and finish, then go.”

“You’re kicking me out?”

“I don’t want to talk about you and the Marquis in front of you.”

Adela’s voice was firm.

“Understood, Princess. But can I come early tomorrow?”

Adela sighed, her expression suggesting he was hopeless.

“You’re something else. After all that happened, you still insist on seeing me.”

“Love is greater than the sword.”

“Shut up.”

Adela threw her napkin at him.

“Oh, you can say things like that? Tough. And you were really cool earlier. What happened?”

“What?”

“You dealt with that guy who threatened you with a knife to your neck—using your hairpin.”

“I’m royalty. I may not swing a sword, but I was taught basic self-defense. I always carry self-defense weap*ns.”

Some of her accessories were actually self-defense weap*ns.

“Is there anything you can’t do? You’re amazing in bed, and your self-defense skills are no joke. You killed him instantly with a hairpin. That’s hard to do. I fell for you all over again.”

“Anyone can do it with practice.”

She’d killed an assassin, but she hadn’t expected to receive praise for it.

“Practice? So your bedroom skills are a result of practice too?”

“What?”

“Who did you practice with? Should I go kill them?”

She thought he was joking, but Braden looked deadly serious.

“Are you going to make them commit s*icide?”

“S*icide?”

“You said you’d kill your practice partner.”

“Was I the practice partner?”

“Didn’t you say theory and practice are different, and you taught me?”

“Hahaha.”

Braden was very satisfied with her answer, laughing loudly.

“You mustn’t do that.”

There was noise outside, and then the door burst open. Adamante entered.

His eyes were filled with rage as he saw Adela with Braden.

“You entered without being called. That’s rude, Marquis.”

Adela’s tone was cold.

Adamante didn’t miss that Adela called him ‘Marquis’ instead of ‘Grandfather,’ which she only did outside of formal occasions.

“Did you keep me waiting because you were eating with that man, Your Highness?”

“He saved me from assassins. Isn’t it proper to treat the savior of my life to a meal?”

“That’s…”

Adamante stopped himself. He couldn’t say he’d tried to kill Braden and that Adela wouldn’t have been harmed.

“This is my bedroom. Wait outside. I’ll come out after I finish eating. If you can’t wait, just leave.”

Adela turned her head, signaling the conversation was over.

Adamante had no choice but to leave. Just before stepping out, he saw Braden’s smirking face.

***

Adamante, out in the drawing room, trembled with shame.

Unbelievable. To be humiliated like this in front of that lowborn man.

His insides churned.

The meal didn’t take long, but Adamante waited stubbornly.

He’d rushed over after hearing Adela was hurt. He could’ve left after learning she was safe, but now he felt compelled to finish things.

At last, the bedroom door opened.

Braden walked out.

“You scoundrel!”

Adamante radiated murderous intent.

“A toothless tiger. No strength in your k*lling aura at all.”

Braden looked at him pityingly.

“And if you’re going to send people, at least send someone competent.”

Braden’s mocking aura made Adamante cough, blood rising in his throat.

“The Princess will be out soon after changing. Have a good talk. She’s very angry.”

Braden left, still provoking him until the end.

Adamante trembled with rage. He was Edel Kingdom’s greatest swordsman, undefeated.

Yet he’d been overwhelmed by the k*lling aura of a mere gladiator slave. 

‘I will kill that man, no matter what.’

As a knight, Adamante’s pride was shattered.

“You sent assassins, and now you come looking for me? How shameless.”

Adela’s expression was icy and hard.

She’s figured it out. That’s why she’s so cold.

“You know I wasn’t targeting you, Your Highness.”

If he’d been after Adela, he wouldn’t be facing her now.

“I didn’t know you valued human life so cheaply. You were the one who taught me the importance of the people.”

Adela narrowed her eyes.

“If k*lling one person can save hundreds of thousands, there’s no reason not to.”

“What did that man do to deserve death?”

“He tarnished your reputation.”

“My reputation is more important than a life?”

“It’s the reputation that sustains Edel Kingdom.”

Adamante’s gaze was icy.

“Again, is my reputation more important than a life?”

“Not all lives are equal. He’s just a slave who wields a sword. How does he compare to your reputation, Your Highness?”

“I’m warning you. Leave him alone. He’s done nothing wrong. He just happened to catch my eye and was chosen.”

“Because he was chosen, he deserves to die.”

“We’re not getting anywhere. Let’s end this conversation. Don’t send any more assassins. If you do, I’ll hold you accountable.”

Adela’s warning was chilling.

“When will you return to the Kingdom?”

“When I want to.”

“And you’ll keep seeing that gladiator slave?”

“Do I need your permission?”

“Do you love that gladiator slave?”

“…Once I return to the Kingdom, I’ll have no reason to see him again.”

“You do love him. That lowborn man.”

Adamante saw straight through Adela’s heart.

Adela hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject instead of answering.

That was her habit—she hated lying, so she’d divert with other words.

It was so natural and skillful that most people didn’t notice and got swept up in her words, but not the Marquis.

Just the scandal was bad enough, but to love such a lowborn man?

The Princess of Edel Kingdom, who should be flawless and pure?

Ironically, this gave him leverage.

‘So, she loves him.’

‘Let’s see how great that love is.’

“Return to the Kingdom. Then I won’t send any more assassins.”

Adamante’s voice was heavy, regaining his composure.

“Why should I make deals with you? I’m the Princess of Edel Kingdom. I could order your execution.”

“Without any pretext, merely on the authority of a ‘mere’ princess?”

“Did you just call me a ‘mere’ princess?”

“And a Princess whose reputation has fallen endlessly due to scandal. If you want to kill me, there’s a way. Become the Monarch.”

“Marquis!”

“Or just return. If you accept my proposal now, I’ll leave him alone. But if you refuse, I’ll keep sending assassins after him even after you part ways. As a grandfather whose granddaughter has been ruined.”

Adamante’s blue eyes flashed with madness.

If Adela truly loved him, this was an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Just as Adamante knew her well, Adela also knew that once he said something, he would see it through.

“Still, since you’ve shared some time together, I’ll give you at least time to say goodbye. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

Adamante bowed politely and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Adela gave a hollow laugh.

Why hadn’t she seen the Marquis’s ambition before?

He’d always claimed to work for the Kingdom’s prosperity, as if his words were always right.

But in truth, he was just a man full of ambition, shaking the royal family’s power by exploiting weaknesses, satisfied to be above the king.

Adamante’s threats could not be taken lightly.

He was the kind of person who would patiently wait and use any means necessary to achieve his goals. That’s how he’d amassed such wealth and power.

Under the pretense of being a supporter of the royal family, he had never been checked.

“Truly, I was blind.”

To have such a corrupt person right in front of her and not notice.

Even knowing this, Adela felt even more defeated.

In this fight, Adela had lost.

She loved Braden.

Adamante had given her the answer she hadn’t been sure of.

Sadly, at the very moment she realized her love, all those sweet times shattered into pieces.