Episode 121. It’s Up to You
Someone was standing in front of the bed.
The light pouring in from outside was dim, so she couldn’t see it completely, but Adele instinctively knew who it was.
How could she not know? The person who was imprinted on her heart and would never be erased. However, she was somehow afraid to be alone like this.
What was he thinking as he watched her sleeping in this darkness?
It definitely wasn’t because he was longing. She could feel a cool chill along with the faint smell of alcohol coming from him. She was afraid, as if she were in front of a wild beast that might come and bite her neck at any moment.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I dozed off because I was tired.”
Adele got out of bed as calmly as she could. Then she distanced herself from Christine and stepped back a little.
As if he had read her mind, his brow furrowed. Of course, Adele didn’t see it.
“I understand that guests are guided to the reception room. Does Madam have a habit of going to any bedroom and falling asleep when she's tired? Or...”
Then Christine came closer and whispered,
“Or... did you miss me?”
Adele, startled, glared and shouted.
“No!”
His soft laughter could be heard through the silent darkness.
“No? You lay on the bed and sobbed. Oh, sometimes you even called my name. Very sweetly.”
Adele’s face flushed.
Could it be that she really had been crying in her dream, missing him?
A woman who still couldn’t forget the man who had mercilessly abandoned her.
How foolish and funny would that have seemed?
“You drank too much, Your Majesty. It would be better to talk to you later when you is sober.”
Adele quickly turned around, feeling like she wanted to disappear like this.
Then Christine grabbed her shoulder and made them face each other again. The back of his hand naturally caressed her cheek, then caressed her slender neck, and their lips came close.
“Your Majesty...”
His breath that she had missed so much.
His touch.
Adele felt terrible that her heart was pounding even in this situation.
She quickly turned her head and looked away,
“There are rumors. You are a couple that is quite close to Mark Castler.”
At that moment, Adele felt an eerie feeling and glared at him.
“Could it be that you did something to Mark...?”
Seeing her worrying about Mark, Christine’s temper grew fierce.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, his emotions and actions kept losing control and acting out of control.
“It’s up to you.”
He grabbed Adele’s chin and slowly rubbed her lips with his thumb. Her soft, moist skin was as delicate and beautiful as a flower petal that would easily tear if force was applied.
A tingling thrill stimulated his heart. His gums tingled, and he felt something unbearable.
It was like a desire to tear the flower apart because it was so beautiful and luscious. It might have been his spite to mess up the pure white snow without a single footprint.
Damn it... Again...
At that moment, the spot where Adele’s name was engraved felt painful as if it was being cut with a blade again.
Knowing that this pain was caused by her, Christine was filled with anger.
Who the hell are you to me?
Why would you, someone like you, go to another man?
“Your Majesty...”
When Adele stepped back, noticing Christine’s fierce emotions, he stretched out his arms and wrapped them tightly around her waist. He was angry at her for trying to run away.
How dare you!
“What do you want from me?”
The moment they met, green eyes. The cold gaze filled with resentment seemed to stab his heart deeply. Then, as if a spell had been cast on him, he could do nothing.
He really didn’t like this situation. How could he, the so-called Emperor of Blood, feel fear at the sight of this woman’s gaze?
That’s why he acted even worse. Like a frightened animal.
“Well, what do I want?”
“Ha, after leaving me so miserably...?”
Adele glared at him with dark, dark eyes. Tears were on the verge of coming, but she held them back with all her might.
Her lover, Christine, had already died long ago.
Instead of that beloved person, the one who was here now was the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire.
Of course, he was just the Emperor of an occupied country that held the life and death of her family in his hands.
However, he couldn’t hold back his anger at Adele’s accusations. Even though he knew that he had done something worthy of being criticized, the eyes that looked at him as if they were criticizing him were hard to bear.
“Wasn’t it you who had to be without a man? As soon as you broke up with me, you had that doctor’s child...”
In that moment, Adele’s eyes froze coldly.
As expected, you didn’t receive the letter I sent!
However, if he had believed in her, he would have known that Aaron was his child.
‘Was that all you had in me?’
She thought that he would believe her, even if no one else would. That was the only way to protect her child.
Stupid Adele...
Did you think that he would come and ask you how you had been?
Did you think that he would console you and tell you how hard it had been?
He was a man who abandoned you and chose power.
“Yes, you were that kind of person in the end. It was my fault. I didn’t recognize the great person who would become the Emperor and believed in love...”
She barely held back her tears, but her eyes became hollow and empty.
It seemed that she still had a heart that needed to empty him. Foolishly.
“I’ll let you go today, so go back. Madam.”
Christine finally released the arm that had been wrapped around Adele’s waist.
“I am deeply touched by your consideration, Your Majesty.”
After sarcastically raising her skirt and greeting him, Adele turned around and left.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
At the same time, Christine clutched his left breast and collapsed on the bed. Before he knew it, the left side of his white shirt was soaked in blood.
“Ugh!”
Faint afterimages emerged into his distant memories. Blurry and unclear scenes, like a hazy fog. They were single memories or continuous memories.
He saw a man and a woman passionately in love on this bed. He saw young boys and girls dancing in an old barn.
There were also lovers happily proposing to each other by putting rings on each other.
There was also a man who was so happy to see a sleeping woman that he wrote a letter.
Meanwhile... the name carved with a knife on his chest was completely revealed.
That name was...
ADELE!!!
“Mom!”
When Adele came out into the garden of the Marvel Palace, Aaron and the children ran to her.
Regardless of her troubled circumstances, the three children seemed to be having fun. Their flushed cheeks and eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Did you all have fun?”
Adele asked the children while holding Aaron.
“Yes, we sparred with the WG knights. It felt like a real fight!”
Jade, whose future dream was to become a White Storm Knight, looked extremely satisfied.
Aaron, not to be outdone, added.
“Aaron did it too!”
“Really? Everyone must have had a good time. But what about Casey?”
Pauline said with dignity, as expected from the eldest.
“The Count got drunk a lot, so Aunt Mia and her family went back first.”
“I see. Then I’ll bring your father. Let’s go back quickly. You all must be sleepy.”
Then the valet who came out to see Adele off answered.
“The Count is waiting in the carriage. He said he drank too much and wants to rest a bit...”
Adele was relieved. Still, it seemed that Mark was fine.
“I see. Then let’s go back quickly.”
Adele walked to the carriage with the children, guided by the servants. Tanya followed him and asked cautiously,
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Adele made a natural expression as if nothing had happened.
“No, I was just worried again..."
“Worried? What?”
“That’s... I asked the Duke of Crichton, but it seems he didn’t receive the letter you sent. So I was going to tell him about Aaron, but...”
Adele covered Tanya’s mouth in surprise.
“No! Never talk about Aaron!”
Tanya nodded as if she understood, and Adele put her hand down.
“Sorry. I was flustered.”
“Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
Someone was standing in front of the bed.
The light pouring in from outside was dim, so she couldn’t see it completely, but Adele instinctively knew who it was.
How could she not know? The person who was imprinted on her heart and would never be erased. However, she was somehow afraid to be alone like this.
What was he thinking as he watched her sleeping in this darkness?
It definitely wasn’t because he was longing. She could feel a cool chill along with the faint smell of alcohol coming from him. She was afraid, as if she were in front of a wild beast that might come and bite her neck at any moment.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I dozed off because I was tired.”
Adele got out of bed as calmly as she could. Then she distanced herself from Christine and stepped back a little.
As if he had read her mind, his brow furrowed. Of course, Adele didn’t see it.
“I understand that guests are guided to the reception room. Does Madam have a habit of going to any bedroom and falling asleep when she's tired? Or...”
Then Christine came closer and whispered,
“Or... did you miss me?”
Adele, startled, glared and shouted.
“No!”
His soft laughter could be heard through the silent darkness.
“No? You lay on the bed and sobbed. Oh, sometimes you even called my name. Very sweetly.”
Adele’s face flushed.
Could it be that she really had been crying in her dream, missing him?
A woman who still couldn’t forget the man who had mercilessly abandoned her.
How foolish and funny would that have seemed?
“You drank too much, Your Majesty. It would be better to talk to you later when you is sober.”
Adele quickly turned around, feeling like she wanted to disappear like this.
Then Christine grabbed her shoulder and made them face each other again. The back of his hand naturally caressed her cheek, then caressed her slender neck, and their lips came close.
“Your Majesty...”
His breath that she had missed so much.
His touch.
Adele felt terrible that her heart was pounding even in this situation.
She quickly turned her head and looked away,
“There are rumors. You are a couple that is quite close to Mark Castler.”
At that moment, Adele felt an eerie feeling and glared at him.
“Could it be that you did something to Mark...?”
Seeing her worrying about Mark, Christine’s temper grew fierce.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, his emotions and actions kept losing control and acting out of control.
“It’s up to you.”
He grabbed Adele’s chin and slowly rubbed her lips with his thumb. Her soft, moist skin was as delicate and beautiful as a flower petal that would easily tear if force was applied.
A tingling thrill stimulated his heart. His gums tingled, and he felt something unbearable.
It was like a desire to tear the flower apart because it was so beautiful and luscious. It might have been his spite to mess up the pure white snow without a single footprint.
Damn it... Again...
At that moment, the spot where Adele’s name was engraved felt painful as if it was being cut with a blade again.
Knowing that this pain was caused by her, Christine was filled with anger.
Who the hell are you to me?
Why would you, someone like you, go to another man?
“Your Majesty...”
When Adele stepped back, noticing Christine’s fierce emotions, he stretched out his arms and wrapped them tightly around her waist. He was angry at her for trying to run away.
How dare you!
“What do you want from me?”
The moment they met, green eyes. The cold gaze filled with resentment seemed to stab his heart deeply. Then, as if a spell had been cast on him, he could do nothing.
He really didn’t like this situation. How could he, the so-called Emperor of Blood, feel fear at the sight of this woman’s gaze?
That’s why he acted even worse. Like a frightened animal.
“Well, what do I want?”
“Ha, after leaving me so miserably...?”
Adele glared at him with dark, dark eyes. Tears were on the verge of coming, but she held them back with all her might.
Her lover, Christine, had already died long ago.
Instead of that beloved person, the one who was here now was the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire.
Of course, he was just the Emperor of an occupied country that held the life and death of her family in his hands.
However, he couldn’t hold back his anger at Adele’s accusations. Even though he knew that he had done something worthy of being criticized, the eyes that looked at him as if they were criticizing him were hard to bear.
“Wasn’t it you who had to be without a man? As soon as you broke up with me, you had that doctor’s child...”
In that moment, Adele’s eyes froze coldly.
As expected, you didn’t receive the letter I sent!
However, if he had believed in her, he would have known that Aaron was his child.
‘Was that all you had in me?’
She thought that he would believe her, even if no one else would. That was the only way to protect her child.
Stupid Adele...
Did you think that he would come and ask you how you had been?
Did you think that he would console you and tell you how hard it had been?
He was a man who abandoned you and chose power.
“Yes, you were that kind of person in the end. It was my fault. I didn’t recognize the great person who would become the Emperor and believed in love...”
She barely held back her tears, but her eyes became hollow and empty.
It seemed that she still had a heart that needed to empty him. Foolishly.
“I’ll let you go today, so go back. Madam.”
Christine finally released the arm that had been wrapped around Adele’s waist.
“I am deeply touched by your consideration, Your Majesty.”
After sarcastically raising her skirt and greeting him, Adele turned around and left.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
At the same time, Christine clutched his left breast and collapsed on the bed. Before he knew it, the left side of his white shirt was soaked in blood.
“Ugh!”
Faint afterimages emerged into his distant memories. Blurry and unclear scenes, like a hazy fog. They were single memories or continuous memories.
He saw a man and a woman passionately in love on this bed. He saw young boys and girls dancing in an old barn.
There were also lovers happily proposing to each other by putting rings on each other.
There was also a man who was so happy to see a sleeping woman that he wrote a letter.
Meanwhile... the name carved with a knife on his chest was completely revealed.
That name was...
ADELE!!!
***
“Mom!”
When Adele came out into the garden of the Marvel Palace, Aaron and the children ran to her.
Regardless of her troubled circumstances, the three children seemed to be having fun. Their flushed cheeks and eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Did you all have fun?”
Adele asked the children while holding Aaron.
“Yes, we sparred with the WG knights. It felt like a real fight!”
Jade, whose future dream was to become a White Storm Knight, looked extremely satisfied.
Aaron, not to be outdone, added.
“Aaron did it too!”
“Really? Everyone must have had a good time. But what about Casey?”
Pauline said with dignity, as expected from the eldest.
“The Count got drunk a lot, so Aunt Mia and her family went back first.”
“I see. Then I’ll bring your father. Let’s go back quickly. You all must be sleepy.”
Then the valet who came out to see Adele off answered.
“The Count is waiting in the carriage. He said he drank too much and wants to rest a bit...”
Adele was relieved. Still, it seemed that Mark was fine.
“I see. Then let’s go back quickly.”
Adele walked to the carriage with the children, guided by the servants. Tanya followed him and asked cautiously,
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Adele made a natural expression as if nothing had happened.
“No, I was just worried again..."
“Worried? What?”
“That’s... I asked the Duke of Crichton, but it seems he didn’t receive the letter you sent. So I was going to tell him about Aaron, but...”
Adele covered Tanya’s mouth in surprise.
“No! Never talk about Aaron!”
Tanya nodded as if she understood, and Adele put her hand down.
“Sorry. I was flustered.”
“Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“Yes, he’s the Emperor of the empire now. He can do anything.”
Adele had made up her mind. She would not tell Christine about Aaron’s birth.
He wasn’t the lover Adele had been waiting for. He was just an Emperor with power and authority.
She was afraid that if he found out that Aaron was his child, he would take him away.
Mark was sitting in the carriage with his arms folded and his eyes closed.
Had he fallen asleep after drinking too much?
Adele hushed the children and ordered the coachman to start.
In fact, she hoped he would stay asleep. For some reason, she couldn’t see his face properly right now.
She was sorry that she hadn’t done anything wrong with Christine.
They had fought, saying hurtful words to each other, but her heart raced when his lips came near. She had to fight hard not to break down. Maybe the fact that she hated him meant that she had feelings for him. Maybe she hated him as much as she missed him...
Stupid Adele. Just erase that kind of person!
“What are you thinking?”
Adele was startled by Mark’s voice.
“Mark, are you awake?”
“I’m almost home.”
Before she knew it, she could see their mansion outside the window. Aaron was asleep, his head on Adele’s lap.
Mark just stared blankly at Adele without saying a word.
For some reason, she felt like he knew what had happened with Christine.
“Aaron, let’s get off.”
As if escaping from Mark’s gaze, Adele picked up the sleeping Aaron. All the other children had already gotten out of the carriage.
“Give it to me. I’ll carry him and get off.”
Mark tried to hug Aaron.
“I just...”
Adele stubbornly held Aaron in her arms.
“Why, because you're afraid I might get drunk and drop him?”
“No, when holding a child, a mother is stronger than a father.”
She barely smiled as if it were a joke.
“That’s weird.”
“You’ll understand when you become a mother.”
“You’ll never know.”
When Adele got out of the carriage holding the child, the servants quickly ran over to pick him up. Adele told them that it was okay.
She felt that she would feel at ease if the child were in her arms.
“Mom...”
Aaron, as if he had just woken up from a light sleep, rubbed his eyes and dove into Adele’s arms. Adele patted the child’s back and whispered.
“Oh, Aaron. Mommy is here.”
The soft and sweet smell coming from the child was so lovely. When she smelled that scent, all her worries disappeared, and her heart became peaceful.
“His Majesty?”
The hand that was patting his back stopped.
“His Majesty is in the castle. This is our home. So keep snoring...”
“Ugh....”
The child, who closed his eyes again, hugged Adele’s neck tightly.
In fact, she knew why he was so anxious. It was because Aaron kept worrying about Christine.
It was as if he were tied by an inevitable string.
If he knew who he was, it seemed like Aaron would be the first to follow him.
“Mark.”
He quickly turned around at Adele’s voice.
“I think I should stay with Aaron today. I’m sorry I can’t go to you.”
“Let’s do that. I don’t think I can be gentlemanly tonight either.”
“...!”
Adele looked at him in surprise, but he had already turned around and gone to the annex.
“Damn it!”
Mark frowned as he felt Adele’s gaze on his back.
He had promised himself not to do that, but he kept getting greedy.
He had promised himself that he would let her go when the time came, since Christine would return someday. He had thought countless times that it was enough to be a happy family for a little while.
However, as time passed, he must have gotten greedier. He must have believed that Adele and Aaron were his.
So he didn't want to be taken away by that guy.
Christine Weiss.
Why did you show up now...
Adele had made up her mind. She would not tell Christine about Aaron’s birth.
He wasn’t the lover Adele had been waiting for. He was just an Emperor with power and authority.
She was afraid that if he found out that Aaron was his child, he would take him away.
***
Mark was sitting in the carriage with his arms folded and his eyes closed.
Had he fallen asleep after drinking too much?
Adele hushed the children and ordered the coachman to start.
In fact, she hoped he would stay asleep. For some reason, she couldn’t see his face properly right now.
She was sorry that she hadn’t done anything wrong with Christine.
They had fought, saying hurtful words to each other, but her heart raced when his lips came near. She had to fight hard not to break down. Maybe the fact that she hated him meant that she had feelings for him. Maybe she hated him as much as she missed him...
Stupid Adele. Just erase that kind of person!
“What are you thinking?”
Adele was startled by Mark’s voice.
“Mark, are you awake?”
“I’m almost home.”
Before she knew it, she could see their mansion outside the window. Aaron was asleep, his head on Adele’s lap.
Mark just stared blankly at Adele without saying a word.
For some reason, she felt like he knew what had happened with Christine.
“Aaron, let’s get off.”
As if escaping from Mark’s gaze, Adele picked up the sleeping Aaron. All the other children had already gotten out of the carriage.
“Give it to me. I’ll carry him and get off.”
Mark tried to hug Aaron.
“I just...”
Adele stubbornly held Aaron in her arms.
“Why, because you're afraid I might get drunk and drop him?”
“No, when holding a child, a mother is stronger than a father.”
She barely smiled as if it were a joke.
“That’s weird.”
“You’ll understand when you become a mother.”
“You’ll never know.”
When Adele got out of the carriage holding the child, the servants quickly ran over to pick him up. Adele told them that it was okay.
She felt that she would feel at ease if the child were in her arms.
“Mom...”
Aaron, as if he had just woken up from a light sleep, rubbed his eyes and dove into Adele’s arms. Adele patted the child’s back and whispered.
“Oh, Aaron. Mommy is here.”
The soft and sweet smell coming from the child was so lovely. When she smelled that scent, all her worries disappeared, and her heart became peaceful.
“His Majesty?”
The hand that was patting his back stopped.
“His Majesty is in the castle. This is our home. So keep snoring...”
“Ugh....”
The child, who closed his eyes again, hugged Adele’s neck tightly.
In fact, she knew why he was so anxious. It was because Aaron kept worrying about Christine.
It was as if he were tied by an inevitable string.
If he knew who he was, it seemed like Aaron would be the first to follow him.
“Mark.”
He quickly turned around at Adele’s voice.
“I think I should stay with Aaron today. I’m sorry I can’t go to you.”
“Let’s do that. I don’t think I can be gentlemanly tonight either.”
“...!”
Adele looked at him in surprise, but he had already turned around and gone to the annex.
“Damn it!”
Mark frowned as he felt Adele’s gaze on his back.
He had promised himself not to do that, but he kept getting greedy.
He had promised himself that he would let her go when the time came, since Christine would return someday. He had thought countless times that it was enough to be a happy family for a little while.
However, as time passed, he must have gotten greedier. He must have believed that Adele and Aaron were his.
So he didn't want to be taken away by that guy.
Christine Weiss.
Why did you show up now...
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