Episode 66. The penalty for crossing the line is heart
It was quite some time later.
“...I can allow you to hold hands.”
Adele said haughtily.
She thought he would feel better if he could at least hold hands and sleep. It was too unsettling to leave a man who might turn into a wolf next to her.
It was definitely not because her side was empty or because she was sorry to lie down next to him like a stranger.
Absolutely not!
But he lay flat on his back and didn’t answer.
‘Are you asleep already?’
“Chris, huh? If you don’t sleep, it’s okay to sleep in my arms...”
He stirred.
The blanket shook as he tossed and turned.
‘You weren’t asleep after all. Well, you wouldn’t be able to sleep either.’
Adele smiled with satisfaction as if she had expected that.
“It’s okay. I promised not to cross the line.”
Surprisingly, his answer was firm.
Why? Why do I feel hurt?
“If you have that kind of mindset, I feel relieved. I actually tried it.”
“I think so.”
“Then I’ll sleep.”
“Hmm.”
The mattress shook as he tossed and turned.
However, Adele’s eyes became wider and wider open.
‘Are you really going to sleep like this?’
How much time had passed like that?
This time, he spoke first.
“I can give you an arm pillow.”
Adele hesitated for a moment and answered in a sleepy voice as if she had just woken up.
“Uh, an arm pillow...?”
“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
“No. Actually, this pillow is a bit uncomfortable.”
An excuse that was too obvious.
However, he didn’t tease her and held out his left arm, and Adele pretended to lose and cut his arm.
“Is it comfortable?”
“A little.”
“Then let’s go to sleep.”
Adele felt a sting. It was because she had caught him glancing at her while she couldn’t fall asleep.
Of course, it was probably just her imagination. There was no way he could see in this dark, right?
Still, she felt much more at ease with his arm like this.
“Good night. You too.”
The next morning.
Adele was startled when she opened her eyes.
The first thing that filled her vision was Christine’s wide chest. She had fallen asleep, clinging to him. She couldn’t say anything to him because the green ribbon was far behind Adele. On top of that, she had clung to him and was hugging him tightly.
This was ridiculous.
‘I couldn’t have crossed the line first!’
She had rejected him so arrogantly last night, and now she was crossing the line first.
Adele twisted her body to sneak away from him. At that moment, he put strength into his arms and hugged her tighter.
“Ugh!”
Her face was buried in his solid chest. Adele was flustered because her heart was pounding hard as she felt the familiar touch and smell.
With this level of heartbeat, she felt like she could wake him up by tapping him.
“I can’t sleep. Stop fidgeting.”
Gasp!
“It’s because I can’t breathe.”
Christine stared blankly down at Adele, who was quickly making excuses.
The moment their eyes met, Adele groaned without realizing it.
Are you really human? How can a face that has just woken up be this perfect?
His messy hair dazzled the morning sunlight, and his languid gaze between his silver eyelashes was dreamy and captivating.
“Don’t look at me like that. It makes me want to eat you up in the morning.”
That’s what I should say!
Even his slightly husky voice was perfect.
But Adele scolded him sharply.
“Could you relax your arms? I have to raise my head to breathe, so I can’t help but look at you.”
“I see. Then keep looking.”
“What?”
“It’s a penalty. Because you crossed the line.”
When did you realize that?
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, as if she had heard the two of them.
Chris, send her back...
The blanket shook as he tossed and turned.
‘You weren’t asleep after all. Well, you wouldn’t be able to sleep either.’
Adele smiled with satisfaction as if she had expected that.
“It’s okay. I promised not to cross the line.”
Surprisingly, his answer was firm.
Why? Why do I feel hurt?
“If you have that kind of mindset, I feel relieved. I actually tried it.”
“I think so.”
“Then I’ll sleep.”
“Hmm.”
The mattress shook as he tossed and turned.
However, Adele’s eyes became wider and wider open.
‘Are you really going to sleep like this?’
How much time had passed like that?
This time, he spoke first.
“I can give you an arm pillow.”
Adele hesitated for a moment and answered in a sleepy voice as if she had just woken up.
“Uh, an arm pillow...?”
“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
“No. Actually, this pillow is a bit uncomfortable.”
An excuse that was too obvious.
However, he didn’t tease her and held out his left arm, and Adele pretended to lose and cut his arm.
“Is it comfortable?”
“A little.”
“Then let’s go to sleep.”
Adele felt a sting. It was because she had caught him glancing at her while she couldn’t fall asleep.
Of course, it was probably just her imagination. There was no way he could see in this dark, right?
Still, she felt much more at ease with his arm like this.
“Good night. You too.”
***
The next morning.
Adele was startled when she opened her eyes.
The first thing that filled her vision was Christine’s wide chest. She had fallen asleep, clinging to him. She couldn’t say anything to him because the green ribbon was far behind Adele. On top of that, she had clung to him and was hugging him tightly.
This was ridiculous.
‘I couldn’t have crossed the line first!’
She had rejected him so arrogantly last night, and now she was crossing the line first.
Adele twisted her body to sneak away from him. At that moment, he put strength into his arms and hugged her tighter.
“Ugh!”
Her face was buried in his solid chest. Adele was flustered because her heart was pounding hard as she felt the familiar touch and smell.
With this level of heartbeat, she felt like she could wake him up by tapping him.
“I can’t sleep. Stop fidgeting.”
Gasp!
“It’s because I can’t breathe.”
Christine stared blankly down at Adele, who was quickly making excuses.
The moment their eyes met, Adele groaned without realizing it.
Are you really human? How can a face that has just woken up be this perfect?
His messy hair dazzled the morning sunlight, and his languid gaze between his silver eyelashes was dreamy and captivating.
“Don’t look at me like that. It makes me want to eat you up in the morning.”
That’s what I should say!
Even his slightly husky voice was perfect.
But Adele scolded him sharply.
“Could you relax your arms? I have to raise my head to breathe, so I can’t help but look at you.”
“I see. Then keep looking.”
“What?”
“It’s a penalty. Because you crossed the line.”
When did you realize that?
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, as if she had heard the two of them.
Chris, send her back...
Adele shook her head with that meaning. But he stretched out his lips and smiled.
“Wouldn’t it be less unsettling for the employees if we let them know that we’ve reconciled?”
“I agree with the idea, but I can’t agree with this method.”
“I like this.”
He gave a vulgar smile and ordered outside the door.
“Come in.”
“I said no!”
Bam!
As if they had been waiting, the door opened, and Tanya and the maids’ footsteps could be heard coming in. Even then, Christine did not let go of his arms that were holding Adele.
Let go!
Adele shouted with her mouth, but he responded with his mouth.
“Just pretend to be asleep, Adele.”
“No. Why should I...”
“If you don’t, I’ll kiss you.”
“...!”
Adele made a face as if protesting, but she couldn’t escape his embrace.
As the footsteps of people got closer, Christine smiled faintly.
“What?”
“Bad!”
Adele had no choice but to close her eyes and pretend to be asleep.
The maids who had been bringing water to wash and clothes to change into quickly looked down at the two people on the bed. They thought they were both awake because they heard someone. But wasn’t Adele asleep in Christine’s arms, oblivious to the world? Moreover, he had half of his sculpted body exposed.
“Did you sleep well, Count?”
Christine said in a slow voice to the maids who were blushing and politely greeting him.
“Well, leave what you brought there. I’ll wash Adele myself.”
“...!”
Adele squirmed in his arms, but the maids smiled with flushed faces.
“Then. I’ll leave now.”
Bang!
As soon as the door closed, Adele bit Christine’s forearm.
“Ugh!”
She barely escaped from his arms and slapped his wide chest.
“You bastard! What will everyone think of me if you say that?”
“Well, what do you think?”
He asked her slyly, grabbing her arm.
Adele, who was shocked, eventually picked up the pillow next to her and hit him hard.
***
“Good morning, miss.”
“Good morning, Miss Adele.”
Everyone she met on her way down to the dining room greeted her brightly. At that time, everyone blushed and laughed strangely.
It was clear that there was a deep meaning behind the good morning they said.
Of course, Adele didn’t want to know the details. As expected of the hostess of Marvel Palace, she just responded to their greetings with an elegant smile.
"Good morning, my lady."
“Good morning, my lady.”
In the end, Adele confessed her grievances to Tanya, whom she met in front of the restaurant.
“Last night was really not like that.”
“It’s okay, I understand everything. The Count is so amazing...”
“No!”
“Hey, what if it’s not? You two have reconciled, right?”
Adele nodded, feeling aggrieved.
“But what will the servants think of me? I was so cold until yesterday, and now I'm sleeping with him in just one day? They’ll think of me as a woman obsessed with men!”
“No. They’ll think that you really love the Count.”
Tanya added with a smile.
“You didn’t hug another man. You really loved him, so instead of showing off your pride, you tried to understand him. That’s why you reconciled. I think you’re understanding and wise.”
Adele was speechless.
“Tanya, I really don’t like you.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“You’re younger than me, but you talk like an older sister.”
Tanya smiled brightly.
“Understand. I’m such an old man.”
“So please always stay by my side. Yes?”
“Of course.”
“And let me tell you one thing for sure: yesterday was really not the case!”
“Yes, yes.”
But Adele groaned again as she opened the door to the restaurant and went in.
“Welcome, Miss Adele.”
As Henry spoke in a polite voice, servants lined up on both sides.
On the long table were flowers in the shape of hearts, and various foods were laid out. And all the foods were decorated in the shape of hearts. Carrots cut into heart shapes, strawberries shaped like hearts, jelly shaped like hearts, and even grilled chicken breasts were all heart-shaped.
“Henry, what is all this?”
“This is a special breakfast to celebrate your reconciliation.”
“That was too much.”
Christine groaned softly, looking embarrassed at how he had come to visit.
“It’s our small wish for your love and happiness.”
Henry’s face didn’t change at all, and he was quite serious and solemn.
Then everyone clasped their hands together politely and stared at the two of them. It was as if they were asking them not to fight again.
“Yes, Henry. Can you all just leave?”
Henry bowed his head politely in response to Adele’s words.
“Yes, then we’ll be far away, so have a good time...”
“You don’t have to go that far!”
What on earth were they all thinking?
When she thought about it, Henry might be the most cunning.
After dinner, Christine went to work at the main palace, and Adele made dessert for the first time in a long time.
She planned to take it with her when she went to give Mia a present tomorrow. She also made bear cookies for Mark’s sons, Jade and Pauline.
The Empress’s servant came when she was just taking the cookies out of the oven.
“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you to the gathering.”
The feeling that had been swollen and bloated all morning was suddenly splashed with cold water.
“When?”
“If you get ready and leave now, it will be perfect.”
“Tanya, I really don’t like you.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“You’re younger than me, but you talk like an older sister.”
Tanya smiled brightly.
“Understand. I’m such an old man.”
“So please always stay by my side. Yes?”
“Of course.”
“And let me tell you one thing for sure: yesterday was really not the case!”
“Yes, yes.”
But Adele groaned again as she opened the door to the restaurant and went in.
“Welcome, Miss Adele.”
As Henry spoke in a polite voice, servants lined up on both sides.
On the long table were flowers in the shape of hearts, and various foods were laid out. And all the foods were decorated in the shape of hearts. Carrots cut into heart shapes, strawberries shaped like hearts, jelly shaped like hearts, and even grilled chicken breasts were all heart-shaped.
“Henry, what is all this?”
“This is a special breakfast to celebrate your reconciliation.”
“That was too much.”
Christine groaned softly, looking embarrassed at how he had come to visit.
“It’s our small wish for your love and happiness.”
Henry’s face didn’t change at all, and he was quite serious and solemn.
Then everyone clasped their hands together politely and stared at the two of them. It was as if they were asking them not to fight again.
“Yes, Henry. Can you all just leave?”
Henry bowed his head politely in response to Adele’s words.
“Yes, then we’ll be far away, so have a good time...”
“You don’t have to go that far!”
What on earth were they all thinking?
When she thought about it, Henry might be the most cunning.
***
After dinner, Christine went to work at the main palace, and Adele made dessert for the first time in a long time.
She planned to take it with her when she went to give Mia a present tomorrow. She also made bear cookies for Mark’s sons, Jade and Pauline.
The Empress’s servant came when she was just taking the cookies out of the oven.
“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you to the gathering.”
The feeling that had been swollen and bloated all morning was suddenly splashed with cold water.
“When?”
“If you get ready and leave now, it will be perfect.”
“It seems you didn’t invite me, but asked you to bring me.”
“Get ready and leave.”
She wanted to ignore the Empress’s invitation and all. Besides, she knew why the Empress had invited her.
She would definitely try to discourage her by talking about Stone and April’s marriage.
However, this was the palace, and she couldn’t confront the Empress, even for Christine’s sake.
She could only sympathize with them for joining hands with the devil.
The Empress’s audience room.
As Adele entered, the laughter stopped, and everyone turned to look at her.
Most of the noble ladies of Kalime were gathered in the spacious audience room. Even the former Empress Isabelle could be seen.
The Empress and April sat in the front, and a long table and chairs were placed facing each other on either side of them.
“You’re late, Miss Adele. It was hard coming from the distant Marble Palace.”
Adele was taken aback by the Empress’s sarcasm.
She came right after being called, but she was a lazy bum who was late.
It was obvious that the Empress was trying to embarrass her in front of many people. However, she couldn’t object because she was worried about the Empress’s face.
“I’m sorry. I was late because I was invited to a special event and was preparing a gift, Your Majesty.”
Adele handed the dessert box she had made all morning to the Empress’s maid. She had brought it thinking it was a simple tea party, but if she had known the atmosphere would be like this, she wouldn’t have brought it.
“Get ready and leave.”
She wanted to ignore the Empress’s invitation and all. Besides, she knew why the Empress had invited her.
She would definitely try to discourage her by talking about Stone and April’s marriage.
However, this was the palace, and she couldn’t confront the Empress, even for Christine’s sake.
She could only sympathize with them for joining hands with the devil.
The Empress’s audience room.
As Adele entered, the laughter stopped, and everyone turned to look at her.
Most of the noble ladies of Kalime were gathered in the spacious audience room. Even the former Empress Isabelle could be seen.
The Empress and April sat in the front, and a long table and chairs were placed facing each other on either side of them.
“You’re late, Miss Adele. It was hard coming from the distant Marble Palace.”
Adele was taken aback by the Empress’s sarcasm.
She came right after being called, but she was a lazy bum who was late.
It was obvious that the Empress was trying to embarrass her in front of many people. However, she couldn’t object because she was worried about the Empress’s face.
“I’m sorry. I was late because I was invited to a special event and was preparing a gift, Your Majesty.”
Adele handed the dessert box she had made all morning to the Empress’s maid. She had brought it thinking it was a simple tea party, but if she had known the atmosphere would be like this, she wouldn’t have brought it.
“You don’t have to bring something like that next time. I ask that you behave in a manner that is appropriate for the palace at regular meetings, Miss Adele.”
Adele’s dessert had instantly become something that degraded the palace’s formality.
The women whispered as if they had been waiting for it.
“Your Majesty, you are too much. Do you think someone who has been hiding in a remote corner of the country would know what the formality of regular meetings is?”
“That’s right. You are blatantly embarrassing me.”
Everyone pretended to take Adele’s side and belittled her.
However, Adele had to stand in the middle of the audience room and listen to all of that.
There was no empty chair for her to sit in any of the rows.
Adele’s dessert had instantly become something that degraded the palace’s formality.
The women whispered as if they had been waiting for it.
“Your Majesty, you are too much. Do you think someone who has been hiding in a remote corner of the country would know what the formality of regular meetings is?”
“That’s right. You are blatantly embarrassing me.”
Everyone pretended to take Adele’s side and belittled her.
However, Adele had to stand in the middle of the audience room and listen to all of that.
There was no empty chair for her to sit in any of the rows.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment