Chapter 53

53. Childish Jealousy

With a click, the ink fell from the nib and spread in circles across the paper. Adelaide sighed and crumpled the paper. She held the pen but couldn’t focus.

“Stupid.”

‘Why does this bother me so much when it’s none of my business.’

She was confident in telling Callion to meet with Shayla Lephisto, but she couldn’t understand why she felt this way.

“Maybe I’m just tired.”

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. Adelaide rubbed at her blurry vision and tugged at the cord.

“Margaret, will you bring me a cup of tea? With plenty of honey.”

“Yes.”

Adelaide put down her pen as she watched Margaret leave the room. She couldn’t quite make up her mind.

‘Childish huh? How ridiculous.’

She thought and then burst out laughing.

‘Jealousy? Was Shayla Lephisto even a worthy object of jealousy?’ she thought sarcastically

Aside from the fact that Shayla Lephisto was Callion’s former fiancée, she was an extraordinary woman.

As the honored daughter of the Duke of Lephisto and close confidant to the Duchess of Howard, she had a solid background, not to mention a reputation for being wise and chaste.

If she had not been Callion’s fiancée, Elkius would have made Shayla his empress.

‘Come to think of it,…… what happened to Shayla Lephisto in her previous life?’

In a past life, Elkius met Shayla Lephisto…….

Ding.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Adelaide spoke dryly without looking up.

“Come in and leave it there.”

“Can’t I get a drink, too?”

“Your Grace?”

Callion walked into the room with a tray in his hand. She jumped to her feet, and he set it down on the table.

“Why are you…?”

“Margaret was carrying a tray, so I thought I might as well come in and have a cup of tea.”

He added nonchalantly, as if there was anything wrong with a husband coming into his wife’s room.

“Why don’t you join me here?”

With a gesture of insistence, Adelaide moved towards the sofa.

Callion poured the tea.

His awkward handling of the teapot made her laugh. Water dripped from the spout. Adelaide quickly took the teapot from him.

“I’ll do it.”

Callion shrugged and lowered his hand.

Adelaide poured strong black tea for Callion and generously added honey to her own cup. The taste of sweetness seemed to alleviate the bitterness that had settled on her tongue.

She was enjoying the languid, peaceful afternoon tea when Callion spoke up.

“If you don’t want me to meet her, I won’t meet her.”

“What?”

Adelaide raised her head abruptly. It seemed she had accidentally revealed her hidden thoughts.

“We have nothing to talk about, and it’s just too uncomfortable. If you hadn’t said that earlier, I would have refused.”

“No, you should. You should meet her.”

“Are you sure?”

Callion asked, looking away. Adelaide answered without meeting his eyes.

“You had a special relationship with Lady Lephisto.”

“When did I say that?”

“You know that human bonds are not so easily severed.”

“So it doesn’t matter if I see Shayla or not?”

“I’m not saying that…….”

Adelaide said, pursing her lips and then releasing them.

“Who am I to interfere with something like that?”

“My wife.”

“…….”

“I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a wife to ask her husband not to see another woman.”

The playful tone was tinged with seriousness.

“Tell him not to see her.”

“You can see her. I’m fine.”

He sighed. Callion looked at Adelaide, his head tilted pointedly.

“Is it because you trust me so much, or because you don’t care what I do?”

In an uncharacteristic fit of petulance, Adelaide widened her eyes. Callion spoke with a hint of hurt.

“Can’t you be a little jealous?”

“…….”

“I don’t mind if you pretend to be jealous.”

“…….”

‘How could I be jealous, especially of Shayla Lephisto?’

“Adele.”

Her heart thudded in her chest. Callion cupped her cheek gently when she didn’t answer.

“Sometimes, it seems like you’re only thinking about pushing me away.”

“I don’t…….”

Their lips touched lightly, then parted. Adelaide’s eyes widened.

“Tell me what I can do to make you trust me.”

“I already tru…”

Once again, Callion covered her mouth. He gently bit her lower lips..

“Are you going to keep lying to me?”

“It’s not a matter of faith…….”

“Enough.”

Adelaide closed her eyes tightly as his face drew closer again.

“Since you don’t believe me, I guess I’ll have to make you believe.”

With a snap, the straps tied tightly behind her back came undone. Adelaide shoved him away, startled.

“Your Grace, it’s too early…….”

“What does it matter?”

The laces were completely undone. A chemise was revealed beneath the loose dress. Callion swept Adelaide into a quick hug and opened the bedroom door.

“Wait a minute, Your Grace, if anyone hears…….”

“Don’t worry, they won’t.”

Her back touched the fluffy sheets. Laying her down, Callion trapped her between his legs and hastily stripped off his clothes, his uncharacteristically violent thrusts making her gasp.

“Ahhh!”

Her tender flesh under her neck stung as he bit down. Warm breath brushed against her skin through the thin fabric. Lips trailed down her neck.

Adelaide clutched the hem of the sheet and turned her head away. She squeezed her eyes shut against the clear sky.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

A low rumble soaked her ears. Her lips quivered at the sensation of biting her earlobe. In her momentary distraction, she was pulled down to the last piece of fabric.

“Cal… Callion… mm…”

Callion’s lips closed over hers as if to devour her. The softness of his lips slid across her mouth. The sweet flavor of honey tantalized the tip of her tongue.

Out of breath, she pushed again against his chest, but he didn’t budge.

A large, rough hand gently stroked the white, fair skin. She couldn’t think straight, as her whole body felt like it was going to explode.

Adelaide surrendered herself to him without hesitation.

It was still midday.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Ugh…….”

Feeling stifled, Adelaide opened her eyes. It was pitch black. As she tried to adjust her position, someone forcefully pulled her shoulder.

Blinking in confusion, Adelaide looked at Callion. Suddenly, she remembered what had happened before she fell asleep.

He had entered the bedroom during midday, but how many hours had passed since then?

Seeing that no one had woken her up for dinner, they must have all realized.

‘I’m crazy.’

Despite having never shared a room after coming to the estate, she couldn’t imagine what the household staff would think.

‘So I guess it was more…….’

Adelaide absentmindedly recalled the persistent Callion before biting her tongue. It was uncharacteristic behavior from him, but… It was partly her fault for not being able to resist.

She tried not to show it.

She looked at the sleeping Callion with a wry smile.

Truly, he had such a masculine face. Strong features, a sturdy nose, and neat lips.

As Adelaide touched his well-defined eyebrows, he furrowed his brows even in his sleep. Not having seen him so defenseless before, she brushed his brows again, causing him to open his eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh.”

She quickly withdrew her hand, but he caught her wrist.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you…….”

“You didn’t mean to touch a sleeping person and wake them?”

Callion said teasingly.

“Even though I may seem indifferent, that’s a bit much.”

He lightly kissed the back of her hand, still holding her wrist firmly.

“Shall we arrange for the wedding ceremony?”

Adelaide trembled at the soft whispering voice.

She’d originally promised to have it performed while she was in Tiflis, but she’d been unwilling to ask Samuel Dorfman, and while she’d been searching for a suitable priest, she’d been summoned to the Capital by Elkius, so it had been pushed back.

“Let’s ask His Holiness to officiate.”

“I don’t want to make too much of a fuss…….”

“Whatever, let’s have a wedding while we’re at it. A big one.”

Callion whispered, sounding rather excited. Adelaide didn’t realize he was doing it more on purpose to reassure her.

“It’s always bothered me that I didn’t get you a wedding dress.”

The hand that held hers tightened.

She’d been forced into a marriage she didn’t want, so she hadn’t had a wedding until later, but now, given her position, she realized how lightly she’d made that decision.

“Wouldn’t a church be a good venue? I’ll speak to His Holiness about it.”

“I prefer Tiflis over the capital.”

“Isn’t the capital better? His Holiness would be there, and it would be easier for Earl Cornwall to attend.”

“True, but there are people in Tiflis who genuinely want to congratulate us.”

Although some of the staff had come up to the estate with Callion, there were still many left in Tiflis. Of course, postponing the wedding was just an excuse, but…

Callion saw through Adelaide’s excuses easily. And he understood why she felt burdened.

As long as she was in the Capital, she would be under Elkius’ watchful eye.

“Okay, then. Let’s take our time.”

With that, Callion buried his face in her hair.