Episode 45. The Mark He Left
“Father!”
At that moment, April approached Jan and his party from afar.
The maids who followed April hurriedly lifted their skirts and bowed their heads when they saw the Emperor.
“Oh, April. What’s going on here?”
“I left the window open, and Kami ran away, and I came out to look for him.”
She smiled while stroking the black kitten in her arms.
April’s expression, which had been depressed for a while because of Christine, brightened. It was all thanks to this black cat. According to the maids, it never left her side from morning to night.
Jan didn’t like cats, but he decided to pretend not to notice while his daughter was getting her bearings.
“But did it hurt its leg?”
There was a white handkerchief tied to the kitten’s leg.
“It got hurt when it climbed a tree and couldn’t come down, so someone took it down. He even tied the handkerchief for it.”
“Who?”
“It was a young man, and I was seeing him for the first time. He said he came to see my father...”
Jan asked Christine, who was behind him.
“Is there anyone I have a special audience with today?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so? Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask his name."
April muttered with a regretful expression.
“Wow, you seem to like him quite a bit. What a regrettable face.”
April glanced at Christine unconsciously and sneered.
“No! I’m just worried that I didn’t properly thank him for his help.”
However, Jan smiled even more mischievously and asked April’s maids.
“What do you think? Do you think he’s a good man?”
The maids quickly exchanged glances. The Emperor must have wanted to raise April’s spirits in front of Christine.
“He was an unusually tall and handsome man.”
“His actions and speech were full of dignity. He was clearly the son of a noble family.”
“Really? I’m really curious to know who it is.”
Then the nobles around Jan chimed in as if they had a good idea.
“Can’t we tell by looking at the handkerchief tied to the cat’s leg?”
“Yes, there might be a family crest on it.”
“That’s a good idea. Take a look.”
The maids carefully untied the handkerchief from the cat’s leg and examined it.
“There it is!”
As if they had found a treasure, one of the maids quickly showed the handkerchief to Jan. However, everyone who saw the pattern on the handkerchief tilted their heads. It wasn’t a family crest.
“It must be the initials of the family.”
Everyone agreed with Jan.
“I guess so. I can’t think of any family right away just by looking at the initials.”
Jan laughed as if it were nothing.
“Well, since you came to see me, I’ll be there soon. I’ll tell you who it is, April.”
“Oh, no. Father! Then I’ll take my leave.”
April, who had bowed her head to Jan, quickly greeted Christine and turned around. Christine couldn’t take his eyes off the Princess’s back for a while. Jan, who was walking a few steps ahead, asked in a puzzled manner.
“Why, do you have something to say to that child?”
“No, I'm just glad she looks good.”
And Christine quickly followed behind Jan., but he clearly felt it. The unpleasant smell had permeated the handkerchief tied to the cat’s leg. It was definitely... the smell of human blood, mixed with the smell of blood from the cat’s wound.
***
Christine, who was returning home to the Marvel Palace after work, stopped. The sweet smell of apple pie was wafting in the air.
“Apple pie for dinner tonight.”
“Is that so? I don’t smell anything. It’s a dog’s nose after all...”
Zimmer answered absentmindedly, but when his eyes met Christine’s, he laughed slyly.
“Wolf’s nose, isn’t it a bit strange? Hahaha!”
“Stop talking like a dog and follow me.”
Christine crossed the hall and down the corridor and headed for the kitchen. He didn’t care where the kitchen was, but he knew he would follow the sweet smell.
“Have you come, Count?”
The servants who saw him quickly lowered their heads and leaned against the wall. But he didn’t notice anyone else. Before he knew it, he was heading back ten years to Adele’s mother’s bakery. The sweet smell filled the alley when he returned hungry after working in the mines.
The smell used to feel like it was coming out to greet him when he was tired. The mere fact that someone was making food for him made him smile with fullness.
And when he opened the door with anticipation,
“Are you home, Chris? Let’s have dinner quickly.”
Yes, even then, she greeted him with such a bright smile.
With a pure white apron, neatly tied hair, and such a dazzlingly pretty face.
Such things were nothing special in everyday life.
And he believed that it would last forever.
But it took more than ten years for it to return.
Christine walked briskly and pulled Adele into her arms.
“Chris?”
He buried his face in the nape of Adele’s neck, which was filled with the scent of rich butter and sweet apples.
“Wait, wait, just like this.”
Yes, this wasn’t an illusion. It didn’t disappear.
All of this was reality. She was definitely here, more beautiful than before, and exuding a fragrance that drove people crazy.
In his arms.
“I’m really happy, Adele.”
In fact, it had been on his mind all day.
He couldn’t give the same answer to Adele, who had said that with a happy face at the breakfast table.
Was her heart the same as his at that time?
Was her heart so full that she felt like it would burst if she didn’t say it?
“Thank goodness. I was worried because you seemed to be in a bad mood in the morning.”
And when he opened the door with anticipation,
“Are you home, Chris? Let’s have dinner quickly.”
Yes, even then, she greeted him with such a bright smile.
With a pure white apron, neatly tied hair, and such a dazzlingly pretty face.
Such things were nothing special in everyday life.
And he believed that it would last forever.
But it took more than ten years for it to return.
Christine walked briskly and pulled Adele into her arms.
“Chris?”
He buried his face in the nape of Adele’s neck, which was filled with the scent of rich butter and sweet apples.
“Wait, wait, just like this.”
Yes, this wasn’t an illusion. It didn’t disappear.
All of this was reality. She was definitely here, more beautiful than before, and exuding a fragrance that drove people crazy.
In his arms.
“I’m really happy, Adele.”
In fact, it had been on his mind all day.
He couldn’t give the same answer to Adele, who had said that with a happy face at the breakfast table.
Was her heart the same as his at that time?
Was her heart so full that she felt like it would burst if she didn’t say it?
“Thank goodness. I was worried because you seemed to be in a bad mood in the morning.”
“I’m usually a bit down in the morning.”
“I see. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
“I see. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Adele hugged Christine’s waist tightly and whispered,
“I’m really happy too, Chris.”
The two hugged each other for a long time, not knowing how to let go.
Meanwhile, the people gathered on one side of the kitchen continued to watch them anxiously.
“If you don’t take the pie out now, it’ll turn into charcoal.”
When the cook worriedly muttered, Tanya whispered,
“You two will be happy even if you eat the charcoal pie.”
“That’s true.”
Christine and Adele were hugging each other in front of the oven where the apple pie was baking. But she couldn’t ask them to step aside because she had to take out the pie. The sweet smell of the pie was changing into a pungent burnt smell, but the servants quietly left the kitchen.
The atmosphere between the two was so hot that they felt like they would soon become pies in the oven.
“Sorry. I’ll make a really delicious pie next time.”
“No. It’s delicious.”
Fortunately, Adele came to her senses when the pie was half-burned. Thanks to that, she was able to save half of it intact. Of course, there was nothing she could do about the strong burnt smell.
However, Christine, who had a wolf’s nose that was more sensitive than a dog’s, couldn’t smell the burnt smell. He was lost in the illusion that he was eating the most delicious pie in the world.
He scraped off the burnt part and ate the tattered piece of pie with great relish.
This was truly the power of love.
“Pfft!”
Adele, sitting at the table across from him, finally couldn’t hold back her laughter and let out a sound.
“Why?”
“Your lips. They’re covered in soot.”
“Come and wipe them off.”
Christine lifted his chin and stuck out his lips.
“What, you’re not a little kid?”
Adele approached him with a napkin.
In an instant, Christine pulled her waist and sat on his lap.
“Is this why you asked me to come?”
“No. I thought this position would be comfortable.”
“It’s not comfortable at all.”
“Are you nervous?”
Adele felt a sting, but...
“I think you’re the one who’s nervous, Count?”
She playfully smiled and wiped Christine’s lips with a napkin.
As they were close to each other, their bodies pressed against each other, she felt her heart pounding. She didn’t know if it was her own or the other person’s...
But Adele pretended not to care and focused only on wiping his lips.
Then Christine naturally wrapped his hand around her and kissed her finger. As if that wasn’t enough, he observed Adele’s expression and gently took the finger between his lips.
A hot and strange sensation.
“Uh! What, what!”
Adele suddenly came to her senses and got up from his lap.
“Your fingers look so sweet.”
He said casually, licking his lips.
“Is my finger some kind of candy?”
“I don’t know because I haven’t tasted it properly. Maybe it’s sweeter?”
Adele’s face turned red at his strange eyes and tone.
If this really continued, she might not be able to sleep all night due to her sexual frustration.
“Oh, I forgot to tell Tanya something...”
When Adele turned around to escape the strange atmosphere,
“Wait a minute!”
Christine hugged Adele tightly and stood with his back to the window.
“Why?”
He walked to the window without answering. His eyes, which had been strange and hot just a moment ago, had become sharp and cold like a beast.
When he opened the window and looked outside, there was nothing but bare trees with fallen leaves and the sound of the wind.
“Why, what’s wrong?”
When Adele approached him with an anxious face, he shook his head and smiled as if to reassure her.
“No, maybe a wild animal just passed by.”
“Did you feel it here?”
“I’m a bit more sensitive because I live in a battlefield.”
Adele looked at Christine with pity. He had endured a difficult time just like her. How terrifying and horrible must each day be on the battlefield, where he had to fight for his life?
“Don’t worry. This isn’t a battlefield, and no one would dare harm Count Weiss.”
“Yes.”
“And if anyone tries, I’ll protect you.”
“Adele, you?”
Christine snorted and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Adele answered confidently.
“I’m the villainess of Kalame again. I can be a villainess for my fiancé.”
Christine, who had been looking at her in absurdity, soon ruffled her hair as if he found it cute.
“You’re so dependable.”
“Oh my, it’s not an empty promise!”
“Yes, yes, I don’t know how dependable it is to monopolize the love of the villainess.”
“Chris!”
After drinking tea, Christine sent Adele into the bedroom.
He had to be satisfied with a light goodnight kiss, but after a few days, he could bear it. He felt like he could become celibate for the rest of his life.
However, as he went out to the garden of Marvel Palace, his expression was completely different from when he was with Adele.
“Was there an intruder?”
Zimmer approached him as he looked around with sharp eyes.
“I guess so.”
Christine walked toward the restaurant window.
He had clearly felt it a moment ago. The gaze that had been watching them from there. How could he have sensed no movement while they had come so close?
When he approached the restaurant window, there were dry branches broken off, and the grass was pressed down.
“He has the weight and physique of an average adult male.”
“Wasn’t he patrolling the guards?”
Christine shook her head firmly.
“No, not the guards.”
He could faintly smell the unpleasant smell of blood.
It was similar to the one that had wafted from the handkerchief during the day.
“Strengthen security for the time being. And around Adele.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“I’m really happy too, Chris.”
The two hugged each other for a long time, not knowing how to let go.
Meanwhile, the people gathered on one side of the kitchen continued to watch them anxiously.
“If you don’t take the pie out now, it’ll turn into charcoal.”
When the cook worriedly muttered, Tanya whispered,
“You two will be happy even if you eat the charcoal pie.”
“That’s true.”
Christine and Adele were hugging each other in front of the oven where the apple pie was baking. But she couldn’t ask them to step aside because she had to take out the pie. The sweet smell of the pie was changing into a pungent burnt smell, but the servants quietly left the kitchen.
The atmosphere between the two was so hot that they felt like they would soon become pies in the oven.
***
“Sorry. I’ll make a really delicious pie next time.”
“No. It’s delicious.”
Fortunately, Adele came to her senses when the pie was half-burned. Thanks to that, she was able to save half of it intact. Of course, there was nothing she could do about the strong burnt smell.
However, Christine, who had a wolf’s nose that was more sensitive than a dog’s, couldn’t smell the burnt smell. He was lost in the illusion that he was eating the most delicious pie in the world.
He scraped off the burnt part and ate the tattered piece of pie with great relish.
This was truly the power of love.
“Pfft!”
Adele, sitting at the table across from him, finally couldn’t hold back her laughter and let out a sound.
“Why?”
“Your lips. They’re covered in soot.”
“Come and wipe them off.”
Christine lifted his chin and stuck out his lips.
“What, you’re not a little kid?”
Adele approached him with a napkin.
In an instant, Christine pulled her waist and sat on his lap.
“Is this why you asked me to come?”
“No. I thought this position would be comfortable.”
“It’s not comfortable at all.”
“Are you nervous?”
Adele felt a sting, but...
“I think you’re the one who’s nervous, Count?”
She playfully smiled and wiped Christine’s lips with a napkin.
As they were close to each other, their bodies pressed against each other, she felt her heart pounding. She didn’t know if it was her own or the other person’s...
But Adele pretended not to care and focused only on wiping his lips.
Then Christine naturally wrapped his hand around her and kissed her finger. As if that wasn’t enough, he observed Adele’s expression and gently took the finger between his lips.
A hot and strange sensation.
“Uh! What, what!”
Adele suddenly came to her senses and got up from his lap.
“Your fingers look so sweet.”
He said casually, licking his lips.
“Is my finger some kind of candy?”
“I don’t know because I haven’t tasted it properly. Maybe it’s sweeter?”
Adele’s face turned red at his strange eyes and tone.
If this really continued, she might not be able to sleep all night due to her sexual frustration.
“Oh, I forgot to tell Tanya something...”
When Adele turned around to escape the strange atmosphere,
“Wait a minute!”
Christine hugged Adele tightly and stood with his back to the window.
“Why?”
He walked to the window without answering. His eyes, which had been strange and hot just a moment ago, had become sharp and cold like a beast.
When he opened the window and looked outside, there was nothing but bare trees with fallen leaves and the sound of the wind.
“Why, what’s wrong?”
When Adele approached him with an anxious face, he shook his head and smiled as if to reassure her.
“No, maybe a wild animal just passed by.”
“Did you feel it here?”
“I’m a bit more sensitive because I live in a battlefield.”
Adele looked at Christine with pity. He had endured a difficult time just like her. How terrifying and horrible must each day be on the battlefield, where he had to fight for his life?
“Don’t worry. This isn’t a battlefield, and no one would dare harm Count Weiss.”
“Yes.”
“And if anyone tries, I’ll protect you.”
“Adele, you?”
Christine snorted and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Adele answered confidently.
“I’m the villainess of Kalame again. I can be a villainess for my fiancé.”
Christine, who had been looking at her in absurdity, soon ruffled her hair as if he found it cute.
“You’re so dependable.”
“Oh my, it’s not an empty promise!”
“Yes, yes, I don’t know how dependable it is to monopolize the love of the villainess.”
“Chris!”
***
After drinking tea, Christine sent Adele into the bedroom.
He had to be satisfied with a light goodnight kiss, but after a few days, he could bear it. He felt like he could become celibate for the rest of his life.
However, as he went out to the garden of Marvel Palace, his expression was completely different from when he was with Adele.
“Was there an intruder?”
Zimmer approached him as he looked around with sharp eyes.
“I guess so.”
Christine walked toward the restaurant window.
He had clearly felt it a moment ago. The gaze that had been watching them from there. How could he have sensed no movement while they had come so close?
When he approached the restaurant window, there were dry branches broken off, and the grass was pressed down.
“He has the weight and physique of an average adult male.”
“Wasn’t he patrolling the guards?”
Christine shook her head firmly.
“No, not the guards.”
He could faintly smell the unpleasant smell of blood.
It was similar to the one that had wafted from the handkerchief during the day.
“Strengthen security for the time being. And around Adele.”
“Yes, Captain!”
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