TBDNS - Chapter 92

Episode 92. A competent trainer, Adele


“Yeah, now we have to have a child.”

Adele’s face turned red as she looked at Christine, who was so calm.

“The reason I didn’t want to have a child... was because I was worried that it would be revealed that I was part of the wolf clan.”

“I know. Because if our child were born like that, your true identity would be revealed.”

“That’s true. In fact, I didn’t trust myself either. I wasn’t sure that I was the one who killed your mother. Because I didn’t remember that day.”

“You don’t remember?”

“Well, that was when I first realized that I was different from a normal person. I wasn’t in my right mind because of the sudden changes that came over my body. Hair grew all over my body, and my desire to kill and reproduce became so strong that I was scared. That’s why I ran like crazy. I thought I would hurt the people I loved if I didn’t.”

Adele was so surprised by the unexpected story that she couldn’t close her mouth.

“Chris...”

“When I finally came to, several days had passed, and I was lying naked in the forest. When I came back, your mother had passed away, and the funeral was over.”

Christine’s expression darkened as he recalled the memory.

“That’s why I couldn’t help but suspect myself when you said it was the Silver Wolf’s doing. That’s why I needed Stone’s confirmation. If it was really me... You wouldn’t have forgiven me.”

He shook his head, his expression horrifying just thinking about it.

Adele finally understood everything.

The reason he wasn’t by her side ten years ago. And the rumors of people seeing him naked in the forest.

“Adele, I’m so sorry I couldn’t mourn your mother’s death with you. She was like a mother to me. I still miss those days. The days when your mother would bake pies for us and look at us with joy.”

Adele gently hugged Christine and patted him on the back, like the kind older sister who had taken care of him when he was young.

“Thank you. For telling me everything. And remember this one thing. It doesn’t matter who you are anymore.”

“Adele...”

When Christine looked up, she smiled and brushed his bangs back.

“Even if you’re not a wolf clan member, to me, you’re still Chris.”

Thinking that he might be wrong, she kept thinking that.

If he comes back alive, nothing else matters.

Please stay by my side no matter what.

Gurgle.

Adele and Christine’s eyes met at the blunt voice that had not been able to read the mood.

He smiled awkwardly.

“I suddenly got hungry when you mentioned pie.”

Only then did Adele remember that he hadn’t eaten anything for several days.

“Look at my mind. Should I bring you some warm soup?”

He grinned and stood up.

“I think I could eat a whole cow right now.”　

*** 

Before he knew it, the sky outside the window had taken on a faint blue hue.

Mark, an early morning person, woke up early as usual today. He looked around the bedroom where the children were sleeping as usual, and stopped on his way down to the first floor. He heard something coming from the first-floor restaurant. And this fragrant and sweet smell spreads throughout the house...

‘Who’s up at this hour?’

His face hardened as he walked to the restaurant, wondering.

“Count Weiss?”

Mark doubted his eyes. His eyes met with Christine’s, who was tearing open a chicken leg with his bare hands.

He looked like a boy in his growing years, wearing his old shirt and pants and eating food absentmindedly.

It was a bit of a shock to Mark, who had always remembered his arrogant and cold appearance.

And he said it jokingly...

“It’s a little early, but would you like to eat with me?”
　
This time, Mark couldn’t believe his ears.

The Christine he knew would never have said something like that. Even if this was his house, his restaurant.

Did he come back to life after dying and become a different person?

“Um... You know who I am, right?”

Christine swallowed what was in his mouth and elegantly wiped his hands on a napkin as if nothing had happened.

“Baron Mark Kessler. A widower raising a spoiled brat. A veterinarian who shamelessly practices illegal medicine, pretending to be a doctor. Well, I admit that you're more skilled than most doctors. Once upon a time, with my fiancée...”

“Fine, that’s all.”

Judging from the way he still spoke with a sour expression, his personality hadn’t changed.

“The apple pie is done...”

Adele, who was just coming in with a tray of pie, stopped when she saw Mark.

“You’re up early, Mark.”

Adele smiled brightly, holding a steaming pie.

Last night, she looked haggard as if she might collapse at any moment, but now, despite her tired appearance, her flushed cheeks and bright eyes were full of life.

She had changed just because Christine had recovered.

This was something he could never do for her.

Mark felt bitter, even though he already knew this.

But he also felt a strange sense of resentment.

“Well, it kills the smell of pie. I have my share, right, Adele?”

“Of course. Would you like to share?”

“Of course. Adele, if you really want.”

Then, when Mark pulled out the dining chair,

“I offered it to you out of courtesy. Can’t you tell just by looking at it?”

Christine made a displeased expression.

But Mark wasn’t going to back down easily.

“Was it really just out of courtesy, Adele?”

“No. I couldn’t wake you up because it was so early. It would be more fun if you could join us.”

“Did you hear that, Count?”

“Yes, then sit down.”

“Oh, you forgot, this is my house, and it’s my place to say that.”

Christine made a displeased expression as he watched Mark, who didn’t back down even once.

Then Adele, who noticed the war of nerves between the two men, quietly intervened.

“I’m sorry, Mark. Count Weiss, if nothing else, is a little rude.”

“Adele.”

Christine furrowed his brows and warned her,

“Not only is he rude, but he’s also impatient, Adele.”

Mark went even further and added.

“Ha, impatient? Me?”

Adele laughed in agreement with Mark, as if she didn’t hear him.

“You saw it right, Mark.”

These people were getting...!

Christine frowned, but they didn’t care.

“I have a keen eye for detail.”

“As expected, a great doctor is different.”

Kwang!

Finally, Christine slammed the table.

He smiled at the two who were looking at him in surprise. Of course, it was very murderous.

“Yes, I admit it. I lack manners and patience. So stop there, and both of you sit down. I want to have a peaceful breakfast. This is a warning disguised as a request.”

Mark and Adele winked at each other and sat down.

“And! Don’t make that face without me. This is a threat.”

He grabbed the knife on the table and smiled even more fiercely.

However, it wasn’t a threat to Adele at all. Instead, she put the apple pie down in front of him slyly.

“While you’re at it, cut it nicely, Chris.”

Christine made a face of bewilderment, but she grinned as if urging him on.

“Come on, Chris~.”

Christine’s eyes widened at the unexpected cuteness.

“Ha! That gave me goosebumps.”

“What!”

Even so, he began to cut the pie obediently with the knife he was holding.

Mark, who was watching, stuck out his tongue. The infamous silver wolf, Count Weiss, was like a docile lamb, or rather, a puppy, in front of Adele.

Adele must have been a capable trainer.

“Here, take it.”

Then, he was bewildered when he saw the piece of pie held out in front of him.

It was the first piece of pie that Christine had cut.

“Um... Are you not cognitively impaired right now, Count?”

When Christine’s eyes turned fierce, he smiled kindly.

“I thought you might have mixed up what you were going to give to Adele.”

“I have a feeling this pie will be your last supper.”

“No way.”

When Mark quickly accepted the pie,

“It’s just a thank you.”

He added, ignoring Mark’s wide-eyed gaze.

“Of course, I plan to pay a generous amount for the medical bills.”

“I plan to charge a generous amount for the food as well.”

It was unclear whether he was trying to replenish the starvation he had been experiencing or whether he needed a lot of nutrients to recover. Christine ate everything in an instant, and the evidence was that there were many empty plates on the table.

“As much as you want.”

Christine finished his words and put a piece of pie in his mouth.

Then Adele quickly filled his teacup and placed it in front of him. Her expression as she watched him eat looked incredibly happy.

This was something he couldn’t do.

Mark felt bad for himself for constantly checking and getting hurt, even though he knew it.

But Mark wasn’t the only one who kept checking and getting hurt even though he knew.

***

“Oh, what happened this morning?”

Jennifer, who was walking to the restaurant as if entranced by the smell of food, ran into Judy in the hallway.

Her expression was dark enough for him, who was not very perceptive, to notice. Her eyes were moist...

“What’s going on?”

Judy lowered her head and tried to quickly leave. Then, as if she remembered something, she said.

“Oh, the captain is up. Congratulations.”

“Oh! Really?”

Jennifer, who had been smiling brightly at the news of Christine’s recovery, tilted his head.

Wasn’t Judy the one who had been diligently helping Mark with his treatment for the past few days? However, that dark expression somehow seemed to displease Christine’s recovery.

“Did our Captain get in trouble...?”

“What did he say...?”

“No.”

Jennifer was about to walk back to the restaurant when Judy stopped her.

“Come to think of it, I think it would be better to go later.”

“No, why?” 

“Just. The atmosphere is a bit off right now.”

The more she said that, the more curious Jennifer became.

Was there some kind of secret and mysterious adult world unfolding in the restaurant?

Like, kissing, kissing... 

‘Well, you must have been hungry for a long time.’ 

As she looked around the restaurant with curious eyes, she saw Christine, Adele, and Mark sitting there. She was quite disappointed. Although she didn’t know why. 

“I told you to come out!” 

Judy quickly dragged Jennifer’s arm and led him out of the hallway. The woman, who was as delicate as a dried cucumber, was much stronger than he had thought, so Jennifer couldn’t resist. 

“Oh, what on earth are you doing!” 

Jennifer, who was eventually dragged out to the mansion garden, shouted as she pushed him away. Then Judy pouted and started to cry. He was very embarrassed when he saw the woman crying. 

“No, I’m not angry, I’m just curious about the whole story...” 

“I hate Miss Adele. I really hate her.” 

Jennifer couldn't understand the context of the conversation at first. 

"Why, Miss Adele? You two used to get along so well." 

It was true. Adele and Judy had become close while taking care of Christine, helping each other out. 

"Because she made our master sick." 

"Where did Miss Adele make him sick...?" 

Judy glared in bewilderment. 

"Oh, stop it. What would I say to a muscle idiot like that?" 

"That... muscle idiot?" 

Jennifer grabbed the back of his neck and frowned, but Judy had already run away. Jennifer said something to the back of his head. 

"Do you really like the doctor?" 

"...!" 

When Judy's steps stopped, he looked as if he had solved a difficult homework assignment. 

"Heh, I'm also a ghost when it comes to intuition." 

Of course, it was his own fault. In the end, Judy turned around and shouted at him. 

“Yes. I like our master! Why is that!” 

“No, who said anything...” 

“But our teacher is not the only woman in the world, Miss Adele... I still can’t forget her. And why did that woman bring her dying lover to our teacher? And if the two of them are laughing so happily, how much more hurt would our master be? I really wish they would both go back!” 

Judy, who had been pouring out her hidden feelings, couldn’t control her emotions and eventually started to cry out loud. 

“Ugh! Sob!” 

Jennifer felt embarrassed as she buried her face in her hands and cried out loud. He had never tried to comfort a crying woman before. 

“There... Stop...!” 

“Whaaang! Aaah!” 

Judy’s crying grew louder. Jennifer was flustered and even broke out in a cold sweat on his back. 

“I, I was wrong. So stop crying now! Ah, please...” 

He begged and pleaded. If only he could make her stop crying like this. But he didn't know why he was feeling so excited again. Was it when he heard that she liked Mark? Or when she cried, saying she liked Mark? No, but what does that have to do with him? The world of adults is complicated and mysterious.

Previous                        Next

Support Novellate!