Chapter 35

35. Why are you angry?

“Did something happen between you and the Second Prince?”

“Nothing happened; why do you ask?”

“You’ve seemed unhappy. You haven’t smiled once since morning.”

“Did I?”

Callion swiped a hand across his parched face. A faint smile tugged at his tired-looking face.

Calion nonchalantly replied to Adelaide’s concerned gaze.

“It’s probably just exhaustion. There really wasn’t anything significant.”

A lie. He wore his sour mood like a badge, evident enough for the maids to notice. They weren’t oblivious enough to not distinguish between tiredness and a sour mood. Adelaide spoke straightforwardly.

“Yesterday, I overheard your conversation with the Second Prince.”

The thin smile that had been hanging at the corners of Callion’s mouth faded.

Adelaide looked up at him discreetly. The bright moonlight was obscured by clouds, casting darkness over the terrace.

“I don’t know what conversation you heard, but it wasn’t meaningful.”

Callion stammered, embarrassed. Adelaide shook her head.

“If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, please don’t.”

“Adele…….”

“The Second Prince is right, marrying a princess of the kingdom will put you in a much stronger position than you are now.”

Callion frowned. Adelaide continued calmly.

“So if you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Callion’s eyes sank deep into the darkness. The protruding collar of his neck moved again and again. He exhaled harshly and spoke in a stifled voice.

“You have no idea what I’m angry about.”

“…….”

“What I’m angry about is that people are taking things too lightly between you and me.”

“Your Grace.”

“How much of a joke must they have considered me to openly suggest marrying someone else to a married man!”

“…….”

“So I got angry. Is that enough?”

Every word of his voice was filled with anger. Adelaide, who had never seen Callion reveal his emotions to this extent, stared at him in astonishment.

“And you, too.”

“…….”

“How can you ask me to think positively of marrying another woman?”

“That’s because…….”

‘Because it’s for your own good.’

I swallowed hard, knowing that if I said the excuse that was on the tip of my tongue, she’d get angry again.

“If you heard what he said, you should have jumped in and either gotten mad at him or grabbed him by the throat. Why did you just stand there and listen?”

“I don’t want to be rude.”

“Who was the one who was rude in the first place?”

“I’m not mad enough to jump in…….”

“They want you to be a concubine; why is that not something to be upset about?”

‘Oh no, he’s drunk.’

Before his words could leak out onto the terrace, she held up a hand to cover his mouth.

“Please calm down, Your Grace.”

Adelaide shook her head, embarrassed. But Callion was having none of it.

He simply removed the hand clamped over his mouth and spoke again.

“You heard me, and you know how much I love you……!”

‘Ha. That’s crazy.’

Callion muttered too loudly to be talking to himself, and nervously shook his head.

He must be drunk. There’s no way this stuffy, high-minded man would act like this without being drunk.

Adelaide took his hand and soothed him, deciding it was better to let him in before he made a bigger mistake.

“Your Grace, I think you’re being sensitive because you’re tired, so please go in and get some sleep. I’ll clean up after myself—huh?”

Before she could finish speaking, Callion pulled her by the neck. Before she had time to resist, their lips met.

Startled, Adelaide grabbed him by the collar and shoved, but he didn’t budge.

He kissed her fiercely, with no hint of consideration, and the smell of alcohol on his breath made her even more intoxicated.

Out of breath, Adelaide pounded on his chest, only to be met with a crushing embrace.

Their lips barely parted before Adelaide bit the tip of his tongue, unable to resist.

“Hah.”

Adelaide gasped, pulling away from Callion, the silver dangling between their parted lips. Callion rubbed the back of his hand across his wet lips.

“Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only one who likes you-.”

Callion smiled bitterly, his face filled with regret.

He must be really drunk to be talking nonsense.

Callion stared into her moonlit blue eyes in silence.

She was still so d*mn beautiful, even when he was too drunk to control his emotions, and it made him feel even more shabby.

As she stared at him wordlessly, Adelaide reached for her dress and necklace. It was the sapphire necklace he had given her.

“This necklace…….”

‘..Is she going to reject it? ’

Hesitating, Adelaide continued.

“I brought it out because I wanted you to put it on for me, but I never got the chance to say it.”

She laid the necklace down in Callion’s palm.

“Will you put it on for me now?”

Leaving the necklace in his care, Adelaide gathered her luscious hair into her hands. His mouth went dry against the dizzyingly white nape of her neck.

The hand that held the necklace trembled slightly.

“I’m not good at this…….”

“It’s okay; you can take your time.”

With careful fingers, Callion slipped the necklace on and fastened the loop. Adelaide, her hair down, turned toward him.

“Does it look good?”

“Well, it suits you.”

Adelaide smiled warmly at Callion’s answer.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“-Callion.”

His hand slid through her hair, lightly.

“Call me Callion.”

Their lips touched. The second time was so much softer.

That night, no one remembered how the banquet ended.

That was fortunate for Adelaide. It wasn’t polite for the host of the reception to disappear in the middle of it.

Carrying Adelaide, Callion leapt from the ballroom terrace and headed for his room.

No one realized that the two had returned to their room, as almost everyone was mobilized for the banquet.

Once back in her room, Callion clumsily removed her dress. He had never realized the intricacies of a banquet dress.

The body hidden beneath the large dress was absurdly small and frail.

He carefully placed his lips over the wounds, noting the bruises where the dress had been tightened.

A soft moan escaped her with each brush of his lips. Callion ran his hands over her body, unhurriedly and calmly.

When he lifted the thin cloth to caress her soft flesh, Adelaide opened her mouth in surprise.

“I, Your Grace, please, turn off the light.”

“If you call me Callion.”

“……Ca, Callion.”

Adelaide’s eyes narrowed as she barely managed to say his name. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked like a girl.

He blew out the candle he’d left burning as he removed her dress. The moonlight was not bright enough to hide her embarrassment.

The cumbersome piece of fabric fell to the floor with a crackle.

Callion grabbed Adelaide’s tense hands to immobilize her and sank his teeth into the nape of her neck.

“Ahhh.”

All of her senses were sharp enough to make her regret that she hadn’t been drinking while she was out in the air. Adelaide shuddered at the shiver that ran through her body.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Callion drank them like holy water.

The tears were so sweet that he regretted not sharing them sooner.

“Your Grace, please stop…….”

“Name, call my name.”

“Calli…… ahhh!”

The night was too short.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After five days, the delegation departed for Helenia early in the morning.

Despite some minor troubles, both sides were satisfied with the results, so the atmosphere remained cordial until the end.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“I am grateful for the hospitality you extended to me.”

Prince Klaus reached out his hand first, offering a handshake. Callion graciously clasped his hand.

“If there is ever anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to send me a message.”

“I will.”

The goodbye was brief, as the tribute negotiations had kept them together the entire time. Adelaide stepped forward, waiting for him to finish.

“Though there may have been shortcomings, please take only good memories with you.”

“I won’t get this kind of hospitality anywhere else.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

Adelaide smiled lightly, then turned to look at Siegfried, who stood behind his brother.

Siegfried met his brother’s gaze, then bowed grimly.

“Goodbye, Your Grace.”

“Be careful on your way back, Eighth Prince.”

“I appreciated your company.”

His voice was a mumble, and there was no energy in it.

Once he leaves, the castle will become quiet. Adelaide felt a pang of regret, wondering if she had developed any affection during his stay.

“I appreciated yours too. Come again sometime.”

“Yes, I will definitely come back. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact me. Promise!”

“Take care of yourself, prince, and don’t run away again, okay?”

“I won’t do that anymore.”

“Okay, now, off you go.”

Adelaide patted Siegfried on the shoulder and pushed him off. As he mounted his horse, Siegfried waved wistfully at her.

“Goodbye.”

Prince Klaus, on his white horse, was the first to leave the castle, just as he had come. He was followed by Siegfried and his entourage through the gates.

Once the envoys were gone, the castle quickly became deserted. Adelaide watched the gates close, then turned her head away.

Her gaze, previously fixed on those departing, softened towards the one who remained.

“Now, it’s just the two of us.”

The deep eyes sank meaningfully.

“Don’t even think about leaving your room for a few days.”