Episode 125. You Need to Breathe, Adele.
Adele realized that someone was in the royal seats next to her, which had been empty all along.
The theater was dark, but Adele knew who it was without even looking.
Damn, she could tell just by looking at a single strand of his hair. No, the air was strangely different where he was.
But you forgot about me, didn’t you?
The meaning of this theater, the memories of that song, they’re all mine alone...
Adele, who had been glaring resentfully, quickly ran out of the royal seats.
Stop. Before she knew it, he was standing there blocking the entrance to the royal seats.
Even though he was just in front of her, the overwhelming atmosphere was still there.
Is the pain all better now? Thank goodness.
“Get out of the way... Your Majesty.”
Adele calmly requested, barely able to control her voice.
She didn’t want him to get sick because of her. She also hated him for creating this situation.
“Why are you crying?”
But it was impossible to hide her crying face from his bright eyes.
“Everyone cries.”
Adele avoided eye contact for fear of being caught. But he would not allow it. He grabbed Adele’s chin and made her look at him.
Even in the dark, his gaze was so persistent and hot that her whole body felt like it was burning.
“Let go.”
“Did you cry thinking of me?”
“My husband will come soon...!”
“Stop!”
Hot breath suffocated her, and a familiar sensation fiercely attacked her.
“Hmph! Ugh...!”
He grabbed Adele’s two arms and pushed her against the wall, rubbing her dry lips.
Adele was trapped between her rock-hard chest and the wall. Her breath caught in her throat, his lips desperately seeking hers, and she lost her mind.
It felt like he would come at her like a storm and devour her fiercely. And in the end, she would be torn to pieces and thrown away...
But when he released the grip on her wrists, she could no longer push them away. All the strength left her body, and she felt like she was going to collapse.
As if he had noticed that, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and hugged the back of her head. Their bodies were pressed together, and she could feel their eager body heat. A thrill ran down her spine. Adele’s mind was becoming a mess.
Her pride, resentment, and fear all disappeared. She wanted him like a hungry person.
Even when their lips parted for a moment, a sigh of longing escaped her.
“You need to breathe, Adele.”
His soft voice, as if teasing, was heard. He then ran his fingers through her disheveled hair.
Now that she looked, her hat had fallen to the floor and her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was loose.
At that moment, Adele came to her senses.
What am I doing...?
“Let me go.”
She wanted to run away. It was so shameful to have revealed her desire for him.
“You go between fire and ice in an instant.”
Christine obediently stepped aside.
Adele quickly picked up her hat and opened the door to the royal box, and went out.
“Haaah!”
As soon as she turned the corner, she stood with her hands on the windowsill as if she were about to collapse. Her lips were still sore and hot. As she caressed her lips with her trembling fingertips, the feeling of his touch came back to her, and her heart raced.
‘I’m crazy, I’m crazy!’
Her face must have been flushed red as if she were drunk. Anyone who saw it would think it was strange.
The performance was over, so she had to hurry and leave before the people came out.
Adele pulled down the brim of her hat and barely managed to stand up straight on her trembling legs.
“Adele.”
At that moment, she heard Mark’s voice.
The person she least wanted to see right now.
However, Adele quickly fixed her expression and smiled at him.
“Are you done with the treatment?”
“I’m sorry. It took a long time because the patient was in critical condition. But why didn’t you watch the performance...?”
“It’s almost over, but I came out because my head hurt a little.”
“Please take a look.”
When Mark lifted the large brim of her hat, Adele slapped his hand away in surprise.
Knock!
It was louder than she had expected.
“I’m sorry, I’m really okay now...”
But Mark’s gaze was cold. He seemed to have figured out what had happened to her a moment ago.
“Let’s go, Mark.”
When Adele, who found the gaze unbearable, turned around, Mark grabbed her shoulder and turned her around again.
“Adele...”
Adele shrugged her shoulders as his hand tightened.
“Mark... It hurts.”
“I want to make Aaron a younger sibling tonight. What do you think?”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, Aaron’s younger sibling?
“We meet again. Countess Castler.”
At that moment, Christine’s voice was heard from behind her.
‘Did you say that on purpose for him to hear?’
In the meantime, Christine approached Mark and Adele. Leana followed him like a shadow. The two of them looked better together than she had expected, so Adele turned her gaze without realizing it.
“It’s an honor to meet you like this, Your Majesty.”
Mark bowed to the Emperor.
“I’m taking a quiet walk right now, so please refrain from using such titles.”
“But you don’t look so good.”
“I think I’ve gotten a little better since I met and talked to your wife. I hope you had a good time, too.”
Then Christine ran her thumb over my lips, as if to remind me of the kiss from earlier.
Adele couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
Was he trying to embarrass her, or was he trying to provoke Mark...?
“Then my wife and I will be leaving now, Your Majesty.”
“If you want, go to the Emperor, Adele.”
“Yes?”
“Look in the mirror. What kind of face do you have?”
"What is that?”
“I’ve never seen you so excited as you are now.”
“...!”
“Are you meeting the Emperor again?”
Adele couldn’t answer. Mark’s words were both right and wrong.
“Don’t make such an apologetic face. In fact, you and I are not related at all. We were just pretending to be a couple for each other’s purposes. If the Emperor finds out whose child Aaron is, the Emperor will accept you.”
“...You said you didn’t want me taken away.”
“Yes, I don’t want to. Even if he’s not the damn Emperor but a God, I don’t want you to be taken away. Do you know how low of a human being I am? I’ve thought about forcing you to commit adultery countless times. That’s why I won’t be able to leave if I get you pregnant, Aaron’s younger sister. I want to hold on to you even like that.”
“Mark...”
“And I even imagine killing the Emperor.”
Mark’s eyes became bloodshot and wet as he said those horrible words.
Adele eventually hugged Mark quietly.
“I’m sorry, Mark. I ruined everything for you.”
He was a wise and dignified man. She could tell how much he must have hated himself for thinking such thoughts.
Mark forced a smile as he pushed Adele away.
“Adele. Don’t stay by my side because you’re sorry. That’s too miserable.”
“If you’re miserable, I’m miserable. I was so happy when I was by your side. Yes. I still like him. I want him so much that it’s foolish. But... I won’t see him anymore. Because love can’t be everything in life.”
Adele’s voice was calm as she murmured while looking out the carriage window. She was thinking of going back to her life before meeting him again. Just as Christine chose his clan, she also had precious people she had to protect.
After a while, the carriage stopped. They had already arrived at the mansion.
Mark, who was getting out of the carriage first, was flustered.
It wasn’t even time to sleep yet, but all the lights in the mansion were turned off. The Count and his wife came back, but not even the servants came out to see them.
“I think something happened at the mansion. Stay there for a moment.”
Unlike Mark, who was nervous, Adele smiled quietly as if she had remembered something. “It’s okay, don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“Oh. I completely forgot.”
“What was that...?”
That was when.
Bang!
The garden lights all lit up at once, and people holding candles surrounded Mark in a circle.
“Happy birthday, Count Castler!”
“Happy birthday, Dad!”
The children, Mia’s family, and many acquaintances gathered to congratulate him.
“Ah, my birthday!”
Mark muttered as if he had just remembered.
“Happy birthday, Dad!”
At that moment, Aaron, dressed in a suit, and Casey, in a dress, appeared holding a cake. The servants followed behind the children with food.
The garden was already perfectly prepared for the garden party. Large braziers were placed here and there in case the weather was cold, and even a band was there.
Mark’s eyes widened.
“Who would do all this...?”
Mia answered playfully.
“Of course, the Countess. And all the food. I want to be born as Adele’s husband next time.”
“Sorry, I’m going to be born as a man.”
“Hehe, I hate Adele!”
At that moment, the children shouted.
“Dad, blow out the candles quickly!”
“Oh, right! But there are too many candles?”
Aaron smiled and confessed.
“Don’t worry, Dad. Aaron will help you.”
“Casey will help you, too!”
“Yes, thanks to you, I’ll be ten years older.”
The three blew out the candles on the cake with the laughter of the people. And then the lively party began. The garden was soon filled with lively chatter, singing, and people dancing freely.
Mark, who was watching them, seemed to understand what Adele had meant a little while ago.
“Because love can’t be everything in life.”
Yes, this kind of life might be okay enough...
If only Christine could go back, they could be happy as if nothing had happened.
“Dad, Mom, let’s dance too!”
At that moment, Aaron grabbed Mark and Adele’s hands and pulled them. The two had no choice but to stand up from their seats at the child’s slap in the face.
“Would you like to dance a song, ma’am?”
When Mark politely requested to dance,
“Are you sure you won’t step on my feet?”
Adele asked sarcastically.
“Of course. I used to dream of being a dancer.”
“A con artist. I used to dream of being an actor.”
The two joined the line of people dancing while holding hands. Just as the party was getting more and more exciting, a man came running across the garden, panting.
“Count, Count, get out of here!”
All the noise in the party hall suddenly died down, and Adele asked.
“What’s going on?”
He was the office manager of the clinic.
“The palace is searching the clinic! They’ll be here soon to arrest the Count!”
“Let me see His Majesty!”
Adele ran to the palace with Mia in one stride. But they were stopped by guards at the main gate.
“It’s late at night, come back tomorrow morning.”
“Please! Tell them that Adele Grills wants an audience!”
Adele begged, but the guards pushed her away even more harshly.
“Go back immediately. If you don’t, I’ll use force.”
Then Mia shouted fiercely.
“You guys! Don’t you know who Adele Grills is? She was His Majesty’s fiancée! If His Majesty finds out, you’re all dead!”
Adele was embarrassed, but it seemed to be effective. A guard ran into the palace, telling her to wait a moment.
“What is it, Adele?”
A moment later, Leana emerged from the darkness. She was wearing a red cape with a hood over her head, as if she had just returned from an outing.
“Let me see His Majesty, right now!”
“If you came here for your husband’s business, isn’t that too much?”
“Mark’s business... you already knew about it?”
“Of course. It happened right under His Majesty’s nose.”
Adele’s mind was in disarray.
The WG knights directly under the Emperor had stormed into the mansion where the party had just been held. They had arrested Mark and dragged him away. They hadn’t even told her what crime he was accused of.
Just one word. Other than the grim news that he would soon be executed.
“What crime did he commit? He only knows how to treat people at the clinic.”
But Leana answered with a cold expression.
“He’s a traitor. He was in league with those who were trying to assassinate the Emperor.”
“...What?”
Adele realized that someone was in the royal seats next to her, which had been empty all along.
The theater was dark, but Adele knew who it was without even looking.
Damn, she could tell just by looking at a single strand of his hair. No, the air was strangely different where he was.
But you forgot about me, didn’t you?
The meaning of this theater, the memories of that song, they’re all mine alone...
Adele, who had been glaring resentfully, quickly ran out of the royal seats.
Stop. Before she knew it, he was standing there blocking the entrance to the royal seats.
Even though he was just in front of her, the overwhelming atmosphere was still there.
Is the pain all better now? Thank goodness.
“Get out of the way... Your Majesty.”
Adele calmly requested, barely able to control her voice.
She didn’t want him to get sick because of her. She also hated him for creating this situation.
“Why are you crying?”
But it was impossible to hide her crying face from his bright eyes.
“Everyone cries.”
Adele avoided eye contact for fear of being caught. But he would not allow it. He grabbed Adele’s chin and made her look at him.
Even in the dark, his gaze was so persistent and hot that her whole body felt like it was burning.
“Let go.”
“Did you cry thinking of me?”
“My husband will come soon...!”
“Stop!”
Hot breath suffocated her, and a familiar sensation fiercely attacked her.
“Hmph! Ugh...!”
He grabbed Adele’s two arms and pushed her against the wall, rubbing her dry lips.
Adele was trapped between her rock-hard chest and the wall. Her breath caught in her throat, his lips desperately seeking hers, and she lost her mind.
It felt like he would come at her like a storm and devour her fiercely. And in the end, she would be torn to pieces and thrown away...
But when he released the grip on her wrists, she could no longer push them away. All the strength left her body, and she felt like she was going to collapse.
As if he had noticed that, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and hugged the back of her head. Their bodies were pressed together, and she could feel their eager body heat. A thrill ran down her spine. Adele’s mind was becoming a mess.
Her pride, resentment, and fear all disappeared. She wanted him like a hungry person.
Even when their lips parted for a moment, a sigh of longing escaped her.
“You need to breathe, Adele.”
His soft voice, as if teasing, was heard. He then ran his fingers through her disheveled hair.
Now that she looked, her hat had fallen to the floor and her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was loose.
At that moment, Adele came to her senses.
What am I doing...?
“Let me go.”
She wanted to run away. It was so shameful to have revealed her desire for him.
“You go between fire and ice in an instant.”
Christine obediently stepped aside.
Adele quickly picked up her hat and opened the door to the royal box, and went out.
***
“Haaah!”
As soon as she turned the corner, she stood with her hands on the windowsill as if she were about to collapse. Her lips were still sore and hot. As she caressed her lips with her trembling fingertips, the feeling of his touch came back to her, and her heart raced.
‘I’m crazy, I’m crazy!’
Her face must have been flushed red as if she were drunk. Anyone who saw it would think it was strange.
The performance was over, so she had to hurry and leave before the people came out.
Adele pulled down the brim of her hat and barely managed to stand up straight on her trembling legs.
“Adele.”
At that moment, she heard Mark’s voice.
The person she least wanted to see right now.
However, Adele quickly fixed her expression and smiled at him.
“Are you done with the treatment?”
“I’m sorry. It took a long time because the patient was in critical condition. But why didn’t you watch the performance...?”
“It’s almost over, but I came out because my head hurt a little.”
“Please take a look.”
When Mark lifted the large brim of her hat, Adele slapped his hand away in surprise.
Knock!
It was louder than she had expected.
“I’m sorry, I’m really okay now...”
But Mark’s gaze was cold. He seemed to have figured out what had happened to her a moment ago.
“Let’s go, Mark.”
When Adele, who found the gaze unbearable, turned around, Mark grabbed her shoulder and turned her around again.
“Adele...”
Adele shrugged her shoulders as his hand tightened.
“Mark... It hurts.”
“I want to make Aaron a younger sibling tonight. What do you think?”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, Aaron’s younger sibling?
“We meet again. Countess Castler.”
At that moment, Christine’s voice was heard from behind her.
‘Did you say that on purpose for him to hear?’
In the meantime, Christine approached Mark and Adele. Leana followed him like a shadow. The two of them looked better together than she had expected, so Adele turned her gaze without realizing it.
“It’s an honor to meet you like this, Your Majesty.”
Mark bowed to the Emperor.
“I’m taking a quiet walk right now, so please refrain from using such titles.”
“But you don’t look so good.”
“I think I’ve gotten a little better since I met and talked to your wife. I hope you had a good time, too.”
Then Christine ran her thumb over my lips, as if to remind me of the kiss from earlier.
Adele couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
Was he trying to embarrass her, or was he trying to provoke Mark...?
“Then my wife and I will be leaving now, Your Majesty.”
She barely managed to say goodbye and left him.
There was silence in the carriage for a while.
Only the noise of the street and the sound of horseshoes flowed into the dark and quiet interior.
Adele had a hard time enduring the silence.
Mark was a smart man, so he must have noticed what had happened with Christine. That must have been why he had mentioned Aaron’s younger brother.
In the end, she spoke first.
“Mark..."
***
There was silence in the carriage for a while.
Only the noise of the street and the sound of horseshoes flowed into the dark and quiet interior.
Adele had a hard time enduring the silence.
Mark was a smart man, so he must have noticed what had happened with Christine. That must have been why he had mentioned Aaron’s younger brother.
In the end, she spoke first.
“Mark..."
“If you want, go to the Emperor, Adele.”
“Yes?”
“Look in the mirror. What kind of face do you have?”
"What is that?”
“I’ve never seen you so excited as you are now.”
“...!”
“Are you meeting the Emperor again?”
Adele couldn’t answer. Mark’s words were both right and wrong.
“Don’t make such an apologetic face. In fact, you and I are not related at all. We were just pretending to be a couple for each other’s purposes. If the Emperor finds out whose child Aaron is, the Emperor will accept you.”
“...You said you didn’t want me taken away.”
“Yes, I don’t want to. Even if he’s not the damn Emperor but a God, I don’t want you to be taken away. Do you know how low of a human being I am? I’ve thought about forcing you to commit adultery countless times. That’s why I won’t be able to leave if I get you pregnant, Aaron’s younger sister. I want to hold on to you even like that.”
“Mark...”
“And I even imagine killing the Emperor.”
Mark’s eyes became bloodshot and wet as he said those horrible words.
Adele eventually hugged Mark quietly.
“I’m sorry, Mark. I ruined everything for you.”
He was a wise and dignified man. She could tell how much he must have hated himself for thinking such thoughts.
Mark forced a smile as he pushed Adele away.
“Adele. Don’t stay by my side because you’re sorry. That’s too miserable.”
“If you’re miserable, I’m miserable. I was so happy when I was by your side. Yes. I still like him. I want him so much that it’s foolish. But... I won’t see him anymore. Because love can’t be everything in life.”
Adele’s voice was calm as she murmured while looking out the carriage window. She was thinking of going back to her life before meeting him again. Just as Christine chose his clan, she also had precious people she had to protect.
***
After a while, the carriage stopped. They had already arrived at the mansion.
Mark, who was getting out of the carriage first, was flustered.
It wasn’t even time to sleep yet, but all the lights in the mansion were turned off. The Count and his wife came back, but not even the servants came out to see them.
“I think something happened at the mansion. Stay there for a moment.”
Unlike Mark, who was nervous, Adele smiled quietly as if she had remembered something. “It’s okay, don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“Oh. I completely forgot.”
“What was that...?”
That was when.
Bang!
The garden lights all lit up at once, and people holding candles surrounded Mark in a circle.
“Happy birthday, Count Castler!”
“Happy birthday, Dad!”
The children, Mia’s family, and many acquaintances gathered to congratulate him.
“Ah, my birthday!”
Mark muttered as if he had just remembered.
“Happy birthday, Dad!”
At that moment, Aaron, dressed in a suit, and Casey, in a dress, appeared holding a cake. The servants followed behind the children with food.
The garden was already perfectly prepared for the garden party. Large braziers were placed here and there in case the weather was cold, and even a band was there.
Mark’s eyes widened.
“Who would do all this...?”
Mia answered playfully.
“Of course, the Countess. And all the food. I want to be born as Adele’s husband next time.”
“Sorry, I’m going to be born as a man.”
“Hehe, I hate Adele!”
At that moment, the children shouted.
“Dad, blow out the candles quickly!”
“Oh, right! But there are too many candles?”
Aaron smiled and confessed.
“Don’t worry, Dad. Aaron will help you.”
“Casey will help you, too!”
“Yes, thanks to you, I’ll be ten years older.”
The three blew out the candles on the cake with the laughter of the people. And then the lively party began. The garden was soon filled with lively chatter, singing, and people dancing freely.
Mark, who was watching them, seemed to understand what Adele had meant a little while ago.
“Because love can’t be everything in life.”
Yes, this kind of life might be okay enough...
If only Christine could go back, they could be happy as if nothing had happened.
“Dad, Mom, let’s dance too!”
At that moment, Aaron grabbed Mark and Adele’s hands and pulled them. The two had no choice but to stand up from their seats at the child’s slap in the face.
“Would you like to dance a song, ma’am?”
When Mark politely requested to dance,
“Are you sure you won’t step on my feet?”
Adele asked sarcastically.
“Of course. I used to dream of being a dancer.”
“A con artist. I used to dream of being an actor.”
The two joined the line of people dancing while holding hands. Just as the party was getting more and more exciting, a man came running across the garden, panting.
“Count, Count, get out of here!”
All the noise in the party hall suddenly died down, and Adele asked.
“What’s going on?”
He was the office manager of the clinic.
“The palace is searching the clinic! They’ll be here soon to arrest the Count!”
***
“Let me see His Majesty!”
Adele ran to the palace with Mia in one stride. But they were stopped by guards at the main gate.
“It’s late at night, come back tomorrow morning.”
“Please! Tell them that Adele Grills wants an audience!”
Adele begged, but the guards pushed her away even more harshly.
“Go back immediately. If you don’t, I’ll use force.”
Then Mia shouted fiercely.
“You guys! Don’t you know who Adele Grills is? She was His Majesty’s fiancée! If His Majesty finds out, you’re all dead!”
Adele was embarrassed, but it seemed to be effective. A guard ran into the palace, telling her to wait a moment.
“What is it, Adele?”
A moment later, Leana emerged from the darkness. She was wearing a red cape with a hood over her head, as if she had just returned from an outing.
“Let me see His Majesty, right now!”
“If you came here for your husband’s business, isn’t that too much?”
“Mark’s business... you already knew about it?”
“Of course. It happened right under His Majesty’s nose.”
Adele’s mind was in disarray.
The WG knights directly under the Emperor had stormed into the mansion where the party had just been held. They had arrested Mark and dragged him away. They hadn’t even told her what crime he was accused of.
Just one word. Other than the grim news that he would soon be executed.
“What crime did he commit? He only knows how to treat people at the clinic.”
But Leana answered with a cold expression.
“He’s a traitor. He was in league with those who were trying to assassinate the Emperor.”
“...What?”
Comments
Post a Comment