Episode 17. Was it a dream?
It was early morning when Tanya woke up.
“Ahhhh!”
Stretching her legs, she trudged to the kitchen. She had fallen asleep early yesterday, so she planned to hurry up and prepare breakfast today and wake Adele. She also had to prepare the ingredients for the desserts to be delivered to the royal family. By the way, didn’t Count Weiss come in yesterday?
“Oh, I really wish things had worked out with you.”
It was when she opened the kitchen door and went in, feeling regretful and licking her lips.
“...!”
Startled, she stood still for a while like a statue. Adele was lying face down on the counter, sleeping. On the other side, Count Weiss was also lying face down, facing Adele. They were so close that their faces were almost touching. The morning sunlight that was just beginning to rise was casting a warm orange glow over their heads. The slightly disheveled and slightly languid atmosphere of the two men and women was somehow strange. It felt like she was peeking into their secret private lives that she shouldn’t have seen.
“...Huh!”
She quickly covered her mouth and carefully closed the kitchen door as she walked back out.
“Ah, surprise!”
The moment she turned around, she was startled to see Zimmer.
“Do you have a fever? Why is your face...”
Zimmer pointed to Tanya's flushed cheeks.
“Shh, be quiet!”
She quickly dragged Zimmer into the living room so that the two people wouldn't wake up.
“Why are you like that? Our leader is...?”
“Go to sleep.”
Then, as Tanya gestured toward the kitchen with her eyes, Zimmer looked even more puzzled.
“Isn’t that the kitchen?”
"Yes."
“You’re not saying he's sleeping there?”
“I think he fell asleep after spending the night with our young lady.”
“Huh? So, our leader was in the kitchen with the Marchioness all night and fell asleep there?”
"Yes!"
“What clothes is he wearing...?”
“Unfortunately.”
“That’s too bad.”
A sigh of regret also came out of Zimmer's mouth.
'Shit...'
Christine's brow furrowed as he lay face down on the counter with his eyes closed. The two spoke in low voices, but they were not small voices at all. Especially to Christine, who had sharp ears.
***
Christine came up to the second-floor room as if nothing had happened. He changed his clothes as usual and buttoned up his shirt, and when his eyes met Zimmer’s in the mirror.
“Shut up. Don’t say anything.”
He gave a dire warning.
“Of course, Sir.”
But the warning didn't seem to have much effect on Zimmer. The smile in his eyes was clearly that of a sly rascal who had fallen asleep in the kitchen trying to win the woman's favor.
'Shit...'
Christine also didn't like the fact that Tanya kept smiling at him as they sat down at the table.
“If anything is missing, please let me know, Count.”
“If I need anything, I’ll call you, so go and get to work.”
He gave the order with the utmost solemnity. As the commander of the knights, he had dignity and solemnity ingrained in him from the beginning.
“Understood, Count.”
Tanya glanced at Adele, smiled, and turned around. Then Adele, who was sitting across from her, cautiously opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry, Chris, but I’ve been eating at the same table with Tanya so far. So...”
“So, you want that maid to sit at my table with me?”
“Yeah, since you’re here at my house, I want you to do things my way.”
Christine's eyes were so full of life that Tanya, who was behind him, hurriedly waved her hand. She didn't want to incur the Count's hatred by carelessly interfering with the two of them.
“Enjoy your meal. I don’t think I’ll have breakfast because I’m sick.”
Tanya tried to make up some excuse and run away.
“Then even Sir Zimmer...”
When Adele looked up, Zimmer also waved his hand violently.
“No! I don’t usually eat breakfast. Enjoy your meal...”
Tanya and Zimmer exchanged meaningful glances and were about to quickly leave when they heard a quiet command.
“Everyone sit down.”
“Huh, yeah!”
“Yes, Count!”
At the speed of light, they sat down at the dining table. Christine looked around at the three of them with a displeased expression, then solemnly picked up his fork and knife again.
“Don’t eat.”
Then Adele smiled brightly and said,
“Enjoy your meal. The bread will be especially delicious today.”
“Adele, stop!”
Christine threatened her with a knife, but it was no use.
“The Count kneaded the bread dough.”
Phew! Zimmer and Tanya, who were drinking soup and water, ended up spitting it out.
"Shit...!"
Count Christine Weiss, hero of the Empire. Commander of the White Ghost Knights, who can even make crying children stop crying. The Emperor's most trusted subject. The lover of the heart of the Princess and all the women of society. Not only was he in the kitchen all night, but he was also kneading bread. It was definitely the hottest news in Kalym today.
“Shut up. Don’t say anything.”
He gave a dire warning.
“Of course, Sir.”
But the warning didn't seem to have much effect on Zimmer. The smile in his eyes was clearly that of a sly rascal who had fallen asleep in the kitchen trying to win the woman's favor.
'Shit...'
Christine also didn't like the fact that Tanya kept smiling at him as they sat down at the table.
“If anything is missing, please let me know, Count.”
“If I need anything, I’ll call you, so go and get to work.”
He gave the order with the utmost solemnity. As the commander of the knights, he had dignity and solemnity ingrained in him from the beginning.
“Understood, Count.”
Tanya glanced at Adele, smiled, and turned around. Then Adele, who was sitting across from her, cautiously opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry, Chris, but I’ve been eating at the same table with Tanya so far. So...”
“So, you want that maid to sit at my table with me?”
“Yeah, since you’re here at my house, I want you to do things my way.”
Christine's eyes were so full of life that Tanya, who was behind him, hurriedly waved her hand. She didn't want to incur the Count's hatred by carelessly interfering with the two of them.
“Enjoy your meal. I don’t think I’ll have breakfast because I’m sick.”
Tanya tried to make up some excuse and run away.
“Then even Sir Zimmer...”
When Adele looked up, Zimmer also waved his hand violently.
“No! I don’t usually eat breakfast. Enjoy your meal...”
Tanya and Zimmer exchanged meaningful glances and were about to quickly leave when they heard a quiet command.
“Everyone sit down.”
“Huh, yeah!”
“Yes, Count!”
At the speed of light, they sat down at the dining table. Christine looked around at the three of them with a displeased expression, then solemnly picked up his fork and knife again.
“Don’t eat.”
Then Adele smiled brightly and said,
“Enjoy your meal. The bread will be especially delicious today.”
“Adele, stop!”
Christine threatened her with a knife, but it was no use.
“The Count kneaded the bread dough.”
Phew! Zimmer and Tanya, who were drinking soup and water, ended up spitting it out.
"Shit...!"
Count Christine Weiss, hero of the Empire. Commander of the White Ghost Knights, who can even make crying children stop crying. The Emperor's most trusted subject. The lover of the heart of the Princess and all the women of society. Not only was he in the kitchen all night, but he was also kneading bread. It was definitely the hottest news in Kalym today.
***
“Did you find the document?”
As soon as he got into the carriage, Christine asked. He was dressed in his uniform and looked very dignified. It was hard to believe that he had been kneading bread in the kitchen all night. Zimmer also answered with his usual serious and polite attitude.
“I searched the entire house under the pretense of repairs, but I didn’t see any documents or anything.”
“Adele’s bedroom?”
“I couldn’t look there because Madam forbade me from entering.”
In fact, Zimmer had been searching for blank documents that Adele might have under the pretext of repairing the house. He had intended to use that as an excuse to fulfill his romantic dream of royal floral wallpaper.
“The most suspicious place.”
“So this time I’m going to have my employees look for it.”
“Yes. Leave the bedroom alone for now.”
“Yes, but I have one question.”
Zimmer asked cautiously, but his superior coolly refused to talk.
“I have a lot to think about, so don’t tell me to talk.”
Then he crossed his arms and looked out the window. His sharp profile was as cold as a knife, and he was in no mood to talk. Zimmer had no choice but to stroke his chin and mutter to himself.
“But did you two really just knead the dough last night? I’m dying to know.”
Christine's eyes moved from the window to Zimmer, slowly raising his spirits. But Zimmer naturally closed his eyes and continued muttering.
“Especially in the winter, when desire is at its peak, the Marchioness’s smell is unbearable. If you really did nothing but knead the dough all night, then this is a real problem...”
“Zimmer Crichton.”
Zimmer slowly opened his eyes at the cold voice calling his full name. Then, he was startled when he met eyes full of murder.
“Oh, sorry! The sound of my heart came out of my mouth!”
“If I hear that voice one more time, this place will be your grave.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Zimmer quickly and tactfully answered.
“But I really respect you.”
“Yes. Don’t respect me. Don’t say anything.”
Despite Christine's warning, Zimmer remained confident in his respect for his superior.
“It is truly a patience that will make a person cry.”
Shuk!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Christine’s sword moved, creating a gust of wind. The carriage cushion that Zimmer had been sitting on a moment ago was horribly split in two. Of course, Zimmer dodged with a face that had endured for ten years.
Surprisingly, they were a pair that worked well together.
***
Meanwhile, after seeing Christine and Zimmer off, Adele and Tanya got down to the real work of dessert.
“I was surprised. The Count, who has the beauty of the other world and the aura of hell, kneaded bread all night long.”
As Tanya laughed out loud, Adele winked and whispered.
“I was a little surprised, too. I really didn’t know he would do it.”
“I think he listens to everything you say.”
“It was the same when he was little. He would grumble and say he shouldn’t do things, but he would eventually do them all. That was really cute.”
“I can’t imagine. A cute Count.”
“Actually, I can barely remember his cute appearance. His image is too strong now.”
“He is the hero of Kalime.”
“So, everything that happened today is a secret? To maintain the hero’s image.”
“Of course. If I tell anyone, my life will be in danger.”
Tanya nodded cleverly. And that clever Tanya sensed that Adele was unusually cheerful. Wasn't she humming as she whipped up the custard and clapping her hands as she took the well-baked choux out of the oven? It was definitely not her usual calm self.
“But did you two really just knead the bread all night?”
Oops! Adele's hand slipped as she filled the custard cream into the round choux.
“Of course! Then what else would you do in the kitchen?”
Adele's voice grew awkwardly loud. Tanya couldn't help but notice.
"Hmm..."
“I told you, I just kneaded the dough!”
“Of course. What would you do with someone who is like your younger sibling? Right?”
“Of course. But isn’t it a little hot? Let’s open the window.”
Adele quickly went to the window to cool her flushed face.
“I was surprised. The Count, who has the beauty of the other world and the aura of hell, kneaded bread all night long.”
As Tanya laughed out loud, Adele winked and whispered.
“I was a little surprised, too. I really didn’t know he would do it.”
“I think he listens to everything you say.”
“It was the same when he was little. He would grumble and say he shouldn’t do things, but he would eventually do them all. That was really cute.”
“I can’t imagine. A cute Count.”
“Actually, I can barely remember his cute appearance. His image is too strong now.”
“He is the hero of Kalime.”
“So, everything that happened today is a secret? To maintain the hero’s image.”
“Of course. If I tell anyone, my life will be in danger.”
Tanya nodded cleverly. And that clever Tanya sensed that Adele was unusually cheerful. Wasn't she humming as she whipped up the custard and clapping her hands as she took the well-baked choux out of the oven? It was definitely not her usual calm self.
“But did you two really just knead the bread all night?”
Oops! Adele's hand slipped as she filled the custard cream into the round choux.
“Of course! Then what else would you do in the kitchen?”
Adele's voice grew awkwardly loud. Tanya couldn't help but notice.
"Hmm..."
“I told you, I just kneaded the dough!”
“Of course. What would you do with someone who is like your younger sibling? Right?”
“Of course. But isn’t it a little hot? Let’s open the window.”
Adele quickly went to the window to cool her flushed face.
Bam! As she opened the kitchen window, a cool winter breeze brushed her cheek. The wind blowing through the pure white birch trees felt good, so Adele quietly closed her eyes. And without realizing it, she gently caressed her lips. Was it a dream?
***
Adele, who had left the bread dough with Christine, dozed off on the counter. Then she opened her eyes because her right hand was tickling. He was applying medicine, and his side profile, looking down at the wound, was affectionate. It was as if he was feeling sorry for it, as if it was his own wound. Could it be because of the dim light?
“Adele...”
The soft voice calling her name was also particularly pleasant to hear.
“From now on, don’t try to solve anything on your own. Don’t endure it, don’t tolerate it.”
Does he know I'm awake? Or is he talking to himself? ...Or am I dreaming?
'Yes, it must be a dream. I am so happy and warm.'
Adele closed her eyes again, trying not to wake up from this blissful dream.
“I’ll make sure you don’t swing a dagger that you don’t even know how to use...”
“Adele...”
The soft voice calling her name was also particularly pleasant to hear.
“From now on, don’t try to solve anything on your own. Don’t endure it, don’t tolerate it.”
Does he know I'm awake? Or is he talking to himself? ...Or am I dreaming?
'Yes, it must be a dream. I am so happy and warm.'
Adele closed her eyes again, trying not to wake up from this blissful dream.
“I’ll make sure you don’t swing a dagger that you don’t even know how to use...”
His voice, his words, were so comforting that Adele's eyes grew hot. Even if it was a dream, she didn't know how reassuring it was to not be alone. That must be why she cried. Her eyes were moist where his fingers had brushed past. Adele finally opened her eyes. When she met his blue-gray eyes filled with blue light, she involuntarily sucked in a breath.
"Chris..."
“Sleep more.”
A voice that sounds like a spell. And a soft breath that touches her lips.
'Yeah, it's all a dream. That's why it's so sweet.'
***
Recalling the events of last night, Adele traced her lips with her fingers as if drawing a line. She closed her eyes and recalled the sensations of her lips touching each other.
'Did we really touch? Or did our breaths just brush past?'
Just thinking about it sent a shiver down Adele's spine.
“Adele! Adele!”
At that moment, she finally came back to reality when she heard Mia's voice from behind her. When she looked back, she was running into the kitchen, panting and clutching at the hem of her skirt.
“Are you here?”
Adele greeted her with a calm expression, as it was a common occurrence. But Mia looked around at the inside of her house and was amazed at how it had changed in a day.
“Oh my God! What has the Count done to this house!”
“That’s right. If I hadn’t sent the workers back in the middle, I almost wouldn’t have been able to find my house.”
“So the house repairs are all finished?”
"Yes."
“Then what are all those carriages coming in over there?”
'Did we really touch? Or did our breaths just brush past?'
Just thinking about it sent a shiver down Adele's spine.
“Adele! Adele!”
At that moment, she finally came back to reality when she heard Mia's voice from behind her. When she looked back, she was running into the kitchen, panting and clutching at the hem of her skirt.
“Are you here?”
Adele greeted her with a calm expression, as it was a common occurrence. But Mia looked around at the inside of her house and was amazed at how it had changed in a day.
“Oh my God! What has the Count done to this house!”
“That’s right. If I hadn’t sent the workers back in the middle, I almost wouldn’t have been able to find my house.”
“So the house repairs are all finished?”
"Yes."
“Then what are all those carriages coming in over there?”
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