Episode 68. Late Night Date
Christine and Adele ate at a fancy restaurant in the city and headed to the theater in a carriage.
Since it was the most popular opera performance these days, the theater was packed with people.
“I heard it’s hard to get tickets, but how did you get them?”
It was a performance that Mia and Tanya had wanted to see a while ago.
“I sponsored it. On the condition that one royal seat would be left empty at all times during the performance.”
“You didn’t sponsor it to date me... did you?”
“If that’s not the reason?”
“Wow, the scale is different.”
Christine looked out the carriage window with an indifferent expression as he watched Adele in surprise.
“You don’t need to be touched. I just came to ask for my sponsorship and signed it.”
He said that, but he felt embarrassed for some reason.
Now that he thinks about it, Adele wasn’t the only one who wanted to do something together. It was surprising that he had even thought of this.
“Tell me. What else have you prepared to date me?”
“What else should I prepare?”
When Christine made a troubled expression, Adele stuck out her tongue and laughed.
“Because you’re so capable, my expectations keep going up.”
“Nothing. Don’t expect anything!”
When the carriage door opened, Adele got out under Christine’s escort. Even though they had intentionally parked the carriage in a secluded place and walked away, people immediately recognized them.
“Hello, Count, Miss Adele!”
Some greeted them as if they had known each other for a long time, and some handed them papers for autographs. Some even came to the royal seats on the second floor to look around and leave.
“I feel like a monkey.”
Adele consoled him as he rested his chin on his hand and grumbled.
“It seems like your popularity is growing day by day.”
“Next time, let’s just travel to a quiet place.”
“Yeah, somewhere where we can be cozy together.”
Did Adele’s words cast a spell? Christine’s expression quickly became sinister.
“Should we just go somewhere cozy now?”
“No, that’s not it. I really wanted to see this performance.”
“Tch!”
Even in the meantime, the glances at the two continued.
“You seem to be getting along well?”
“That’s all a show.”
Christine stood up from his seat with a stiff face at the voice mixed in with the whispering.
“The performance is about to start. Where are you going?”
Adele, who had no idea what was going on, looked at him curiously.
“I’ll be right back.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled kindly.
***
People hesitated and stepped back as they watched Christine leave the royal box. His expression was completely different from when he was with Adele.
As he glanced at the people, he saw a man holding a ‘Colored Tabloid’.
When he held out his hand, the man handed him a newsletter with a frightened face.
“No? This article is wrong, right?”
“You hit Miss Adele.”
People asked cautiously as if trying to confirm the truth.
Adele and Christine were a couple who made the front page of the newsletter every day.
Most of the news was about the two people’s awkward and strange love affair.
However, a few days ago, a rather sensational article was published.
[The truth about the Marvel Palace couple stained with violence!]
There was a provocative title and an illustration of Christine holding Adele underneath.
Adele in the illustration had her dress ripped and her whole body covered in wounds. It was as if she had been assaulted by Christine. The content of the article also cleverly led to such speculation.
It was the work of the reporters who had visited Marvel Palace with Stone a while ago.
Christine arrested them and made a firm threat not to write an article about the silver wolf. Then, the reporters, who had a grudge, wrote a slanderous article.
Of course, Stone was behind it all, so such a bold act was possible.
Christine realized why so many people were flocking to him today.
‘If Adele reads this article!’
He was worried that she might get hurt, even though he had tried to cheer her up.
He was about to quickly return to where Adele was.
“Ugh!”
A desperate scream was heard.
It came from the royal chamber where she was.
However, Christine, who had come running in surprise, was dumbfounded.
“You came?”
Adele was smiling refreshingly while pointing a dagger at a man’s neck.
“It seems like we’re old friends.”
Christine frowned at the man with a pale face.
He was one of the reporters he had arrested and detained a while ago.
“Oh, you know him? I thought he was another pervert.”
Nevertheless, Adele did not put the knife to the man’s neck.
“Not really. We’re not that close.”
Christine didn’t care about that part and sat down indifferently.
“Then he’s a pervert. He kept coming in here and pestering me.”
As Adele held the dagger closer to his neck, the man broke out in a cold sweat and pleaded.
“Please spare me, Miss Adele!”
“Shall I spare him, Chris?”
“As you wish.”
“If I kill him, you’ll take care of the rest?”
“I think I can do that much.”
“Well, you’re capable. I guess I’ll get to see some blood after a long time.”
Their rather serious conversation finally made the man scream in fear.
“Yes, I was wrong! I was just asking for directions!”
He looked pale and trembling, as if he might faint at any moment.
Adele had no choice but to lower the dagger from the man’s neck.
“You, you clearly said earlier that you were a reporter for the Kalame tabloid.”
“It’s polite to reveal your identity as a gentleman.”
“Huh, you call yourself a gentleman after you tarnished my fiancé’s reputation with a nonsensical novel?”
“That’s because I was angry because you wouldn’t let me write an article about the Silver Wolf...”
Pfft!
In that moment, the dagger struck the man’s head with a fierce blow. Christine had snatched the dagger from Adele’s hand and thrown it away.
When Adele turned around in surprise, he softly ordered,
“Go and post a correction right now.”
“Understood!”
Perhaps thinking that he had barely survived, the man ran away on unsteady legs.
Watching him run away with his tail between his legs, Christine asked,
“What did he say?”
“He didn’t say anything. I just scared him because he was a reporter for the Kalame tabloid and kept asking questions about our relationship.”
“Did you see the article?”
Adele sat down on her chair and made a face that was nothing special.
“Tanya brought me a letter from Jade earlier. She had some ridiculous stuff written in it, so I was going to go and ask you anyway, but you caught me.”
Adele seemed unconcerned. Instead, she studied his expression and asked,
“Why, were you worried that I would get hurt?”
“A little.”
“It’s not true, so why me? I was more worried that you would get hurt.”
“That’s all?”
“I’ve become resistant to being unfairly criticized, but you’ve only been praised as a hero.”
“That’s good. I’ll be able to understand you better this time.”
Adele laughed brightly.
“I should have thanked that reporter earlier.”
People were hanging around and checking on the mood between the two. They were all just putting on a show, no, they were talking a lot.
Maybe they were more interested in watching the two than in the performance today.
“I heard earlier that the lineup today is not that great.”
He replied to Adele’s whisper.
“Then shall we go?”
The two left the performance hall and went to a nearby park.
People could be seen walking here and there in the warmer weather than a few days ago. Street artists were lined up along the riverside, drawing portraits.
“Chris, let’s have them draw us, too.”
“Ours?”
“Yeah, because I lost my mind because of the ridiculous illustrations in the newsletter.”
When she asked with sparkling eyes, Christine had no choice but to accept.
The two went to the oldest-looking man and sat on a folding chair.
“Aren’t you two a couple? Be a little more affectionate.”
The old man clicked his tongue as he watched them sitting next to each other.
“Like this?”
Adele approached Christine and leaned her shoulder gently.
“Hey, be a little more affectionate. Like the couple next to you.”
Now that she looked at it, the couple next to her was clinging to each other, caressing and rubbing each other, causing a scene. The onlookers felt like they were going to swear, but the two looked very happy.
“No, we’re just like this...”
Adele, who had been waving her hand, felt a heavy arm wrap around her waist. And in an instant, she was sitting on his lap. Furthermore, Christine had Adele put her arm around hia neck.
Fortunately, no one recognized them, perhaps because it was dark.
“Is this okay?”
“Yes, good! Stay where you are!”
The old man shouted with satisfaction and quickly began to move his brush. The serious and solemn expression seemed to show the craftsman’s artistic spirit.
“Is this also showtime?”
“No, it’s just a competitive spirit.”
“Anyway.”
However, Adele was happy just sitting there doing nothing. She could put aside her anxiety about having to do something for a moment.
“You’re cute.”
Adele smiled shyly at the sudden sound of his voice.
“I’m past the age of being cute.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
Now that she looked, Christine was looking at a baby who was just starting to walk.
“That’s why babies are so cute. There’s no way a baby like that will ever be cute! Hohoho!”
The baby, who had just started walking, smiled brightly with excitement every time he took a step. Next to him, the baby’s parents cheered him on.
Christine smiled quietly as he watched them. His expression was so peaceful and warm.
Just like when he fought with Jade, he seemed to like children.
Adele imagined them cheering their child on like that later.
Wishing him happiness, helping him when he was having a hard time, and comforting him when he was in despair.
Even if it was put off for now, it could happen someday, right?
Just thinking about it brought a faint smile to her face.
The river breeze felt like spring, and it was a night when the sound of the violin from a musician in the distance went very well with it.
And when the painting was finally completed, both of them opened their mouths at the same time.
“Is this me? Wow, my eyes are half my face.”
“Still, it’s better than the hair on my chest.”
The painting, which contained the artist’s artistic spirit, was closer to an abstract painting than a portrait. Thanks to that, she was able to hold her stomach and laugh for a while.
“I have to keep it well.”
Adele rolled up the picture and put it in her bag.
“Throw it away. No, burn it!”
“No. I can’t help but smile when I see it on a gloomy day.”
Then she quickly linked arms with him.
“You know what? If you keep linking arms until you cross this bridge, that couple won’t break up.”
The two who had been walking had now reached the bridge that crossed the river.
“It’s a superstition.”
“But it’s still fun. So Chris, don’t let go of my arm until we cross this bridge.”
As if it were a superstition, he tightly held Adele’s hand, which was holding his.
Tap tap tap.
The sound of their footsteps seemed to match the beat. The waves swaying as the wind blew sparkled in the streetlight.
“That’s the baby from earlier.”
It seemed that the baby family, who had been learning to walk, had also come out for a walk to the bridge.
However, the baby seemed to have given up on walking and suddenly changed direction and began crawling toward the bridge railing. The parents, surprised by the faster-than-expected movement,
shouted,
“Please hold him!”
In that moment, Christine quickly flew forward and grabbed the baby who was leaning out between the railings.
And then the two of them realized at the same time.
“...!”
Their arms had loosened.
“It’s okay, it’s all superstition.”
Adele smiled nonchalantly.
“I never believed it in the first place.”
Christine coolly agreed.
Nevertheless, the two of them looked at the other couples walking arm in arm.
“Chris, should we start walking arm in arm again?”
“No. Let’s go back.”
It was when Christine turned around. Adele, who had been following him, stopped walking.
She had run into someone she hadn’t expected.
“We meet again, Miss Adele.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Maybe they were more interested in watching the two than in the performance today.
“I heard earlier that the lineup today is not that great.”
He replied to Adele’s whisper.
“Then shall we go?”
***
The two left the performance hall and went to a nearby park.
People could be seen walking here and there in the warmer weather than a few days ago. Street artists were lined up along the riverside, drawing portraits.
“Chris, let’s have them draw us, too.”
“Ours?”
“Yeah, because I lost my mind because of the ridiculous illustrations in the newsletter.”
When she asked with sparkling eyes, Christine had no choice but to accept.
The two went to the oldest-looking man and sat on a folding chair.
“Aren’t you two a couple? Be a little more affectionate.”
The old man clicked his tongue as he watched them sitting next to each other.
“Like this?”
Adele approached Christine and leaned her shoulder gently.
“Hey, be a little more affectionate. Like the couple next to you.”
Now that she looked at it, the couple next to her was clinging to each other, caressing and rubbing each other, causing a scene. The onlookers felt like they were going to swear, but the two looked very happy.
“No, we’re just like this...”
Adele, who had been waving her hand, felt a heavy arm wrap around her waist. And in an instant, she was sitting on his lap. Furthermore, Christine had Adele put her arm around hia neck.
Fortunately, no one recognized them, perhaps because it was dark.
“Is this okay?”
“Yes, good! Stay where you are!”
The old man shouted with satisfaction and quickly began to move his brush. The serious and solemn expression seemed to show the craftsman’s artistic spirit.
“Is this also showtime?”
“No, it’s just a competitive spirit.”
“Anyway.”
However, Adele was happy just sitting there doing nothing. She could put aside her anxiety about having to do something for a moment.
“You’re cute.”
Adele smiled shyly at the sudden sound of his voice.
“I’m past the age of being cute.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
Now that she looked, Christine was looking at a baby who was just starting to walk.
“That’s why babies are so cute. There’s no way a baby like that will ever be cute! Hohoho!”
The baby, who had just started walking, smiled brightly with excitement every time he took a step. Next to him, the baby’s parents cheered him on.
Christine smiled quietly as he watched them. His expression was so peaceful and warm.
Just like when he fought with Jade, he seemed to like children.
Adele imagined them cheering their child on like that later.
Wishing him happiness, helping him when he was having a hard time, and comforting him when he was in despair.
Even if it was put off for now, it could happen someday, right?
Just thinking about it brought a faint smile to her face.
The river breeze felt like spring, and it was a night when the sound of the violin from a musician in the distance went very well with it.
And when the painting was finally completed, both of them opened their mouths at the same time.
***
“Is this me? Wow, my eyes are half my face.”
“Still, it’s better than the hair on my chest.”
The painting, which contained the artist’s artistic spirit, was closer to an abstract painting than a portrait. Thanks to that, she was able to hold her stomach and laugh for a while.
“I have to keep it well.”
Adele rolled up the picture and put it in her bag.
“Throw it away. No, burn it!”
“No. I can’t help but smile when I see it on a gloomy day.”
Then she quickly linked arms with him.
“You know what? If you keep linking arms until you cross this bridge, that couple won’t break up.”
The two who had been walking had now reached the bridge that crossed the river.
“It’s a superstition.”
“But it’s still fun. So Chris, don’t let go of my arm until we cross this bridge.”
As if it were a superstition, he tightly held Adele’s hand, which was holding his.
Tap tap tap.
The sound of their footsteps seemed to match the beat. The waves swaying as the wind blew sparkled in the streetlight.
“That’s the baby from earlier.”
It seemed that the baby family, who had been learning to walk, had also come out for a walk to the bridge.
However, the baby seemed to have given up on walking and suddenly changed direction and began crawling toward the bridge railing. The parents, surprised by the faster-than-expected movement,
shouted,
“Please hold him!”
In that moment, Christine quickly flew forward and grabbed the baby who was leaning out between the railings.
And then the two of them realized at the same time.
“...!”
Their arms had loosened.
“It’s okay, it’s all superstition.”
Adele smiled nonchalantly.
“I never believed it in the first place.”
Christine coolly agreed.
Nevertheless, the two of them looked at the other couples walking arm in arm.
“Chris, should we start walking arm in arm again?”
“No. Let’s go back.”
It was when Christine turned around. Adele, who had been following him, stopped walking.
She had run into someone she hadn’t expected.
“We meet again, Miss Adele.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
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