ADPM 26

Chapter 26

“It says ‘in front of people’ right there in the contract. You should’ve read it carefully.”

Lishio walked up to her and knelt on one knee, meeting her eyes. The moonlight caught in his silver hair made him look even more striking.

“Look over there — they’re all watching us from the balconies.”

Apparently, everyone from the banquet hall had come out, because every balcony was crowded with onlookers.

“Why didn’t we just get straight into the carriage? Why come to the garden and become a spectacle?”
Ellen’s lips jutted out in a pout.

“They can’t hear us anyway,” she muttered.

“Then I’ll just show them.”

Before she could react, Lishio scooped her up into his arms. Ellen gasped and hit his shoulder, demanding to be let down.

“What are you doing?!”

“My sacred star.”

“What?”

“You seem to shine even brighter tonight.”

His dreamy words and hazy eyes looked suspicious.

“Are you drunk?”

“Feels like it.”

What? I barely had half a glass of wine thanks to that vixen earlier, and yet he drank enough to get tipsy on his own?

Judging by the lack of alcohol smell, it must’ve been something expensive.

Even as Ellen glared at him resentfully, Lishio just smiled.

“You teased me for being a heavy drinker, but you’re no different from me.”

“Heh. Don’t worry, I won’t pounce on you like you did on me.”

“Stop talking about that!”

Her cheeks flushed red, and she buried her face in his shoulder to hide it.

Her breath trembled slightly with tension, brushing against his scent.
That fragrance — it made time itself seem to stop, slowly filling her lungs.

It felt good.
The heartbeat that resonated in sync with his scent — it was so good she wanted to keep this night forever.

Ellen’s arms around him tightened just a little.
Lishio’s whisper brushed her ear.

“Shall we stay like this all night?”

His teasing voice made a bright, spontaneous smile bloom on her face.

“You’re a very peculiar drunk, my lord. I’ll stay until you sober up, and that’s all.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever sober up.”

How much did he drink? Will he even remember this tomorrow?
She felt a little indignant.

Hmph. I’ll forgive him because he’s handsome.

Ellen’s cheeks slowly turned a soft pink.

***

Throughout the banquet, Rohan’s gaze was fixed only on Anais.

He wanted to approach her, but the distance between a Holy Knight and a Duke’s wife was far too wide.

Would there be even a brief chance to speak to her? His head was full of her when the High Priest moved —
toward Duke Lishio Devesse, who had just finished talking with the Emperor and the royal family of the Holy Kingdom.

“You even joined the banquet. It seems the Duchess’s recovery has been remarkably swift,” the High Priest said with a greedy smile, trying to push Rohan forward.

It was obvious he meant: Go on, collect some donations from him.

But Rohan lowered his eyes to the floor, refusing to play along.

Noticing the priest’s calculating gaze, Lishio spoke up.

“It must be thanks to Sir Rohan’s holy power.”

“Hahaha, how gracious of you to say so.”

The priest rubbed his hands together, clearly not planning to leave empty-handed.

Of course, Lishio saw right through him.

“I’ll send a gratuity through my secretary tomorrow.”

“I promised the Duchess I would not accept any payment.”

Lishio’s pale blue eyes moved lazily, piercing through Rohan.

“She’s not anyone special. If she employed you, it’s only right to pay for your services.”

His words stabbed into Rohan’s heart like a blade.

Rohan clenched his fists, about to protest, but the High Priest stepped in front of him.

“Of course, we can call it a donation, can’t we?”

A mere knight — what could he possibly do?
The muscle in Rohan’s jaw twitched as he turned his face away.

Was he upset because the promise had been broken? Or because he’d hoped Lishio would call her someone special?

Rohan’s eyes, almost involuntarily, sought out Anais.

He knew he wasn’t supposed to leave his post, but he started walking toward her anyway. The young noblewomen surrounding her didn’t seem friendly.

Just as he suspected, Anais was being humiliated.

Unable to bear it, he stepped forward — only to have a large hand grip his shoulder with crushing strength.

“Go and guard the High Priest.”

Instead of helping Anais, Lishio simply watched with indifference.

“Why are you just standing there?”

“Because it’s entertaining.”

That calm, amused smile of his made Rohan grit his teeth.

“She may look strong, but she’s delicate. I’ll go.”

“This is nobles’ business. You don’t belong there. My woman, I’ll protect. You stay in your place, Holy Knight.”

It was a warning — You and she live in different worlds.

“Answer me.”

“…As you command.”

Rohan’s clenched fists trembled.

Lishio gave a haughty smile and slowly walked toward Anais.

He was like a towering mountain — the Empire’s greatest swordsman, and a man of the highest rank.

He rescued her like a hero — simply, but elegantly.

If Rohan had tried, he would’ve had to risk his life. He was just a commoner, after all.

He had never coveted a title, but in that moment, his lowly status burned bitterly in his chest.

The two of them left the banquet hall.

Foolishly, Rohan followed them out into the garden, watching silently from a distance.

Lishio must have felt his burning stare, because their eyes met.
Lishio smirked — then, as if to show off, he lifted Anais into his arms.

Rohan turned his head away. He couldn’t bear to watch her in another man’s embrace.

I don’t want to lose her again.

The only love that made his heart beat —
Ellen.

In every conversation and gesture with Anais, he had felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
That day, when tears welled in her eyes, he had felt Ellen again.

That familiar expression — the way her nose wrinkled slightly.

Ellen always did that when holding back tears. And every time, Rohan had wiped away the tears that never fell.

Tracing the redness near her eyes with his fingertips, he tried to read her energy —
and focusing all of his faint power, again and again.

Then came that electric tingle of golden holy power at his fingertips.

That thrilling sensation — how could he ever forget it?

Anais… she was Ellen!

When he was young, Rohan had first felt that same sensation at the temple he’d snuck into, chasing after Ellen.

It was the first time he saw her golden hair — hair he had only heard described before.

“You can distinguish holy power? Don’t lie, Rohan.”

“It’s true. Ellen, yours feels different. It’s golden, like the sun.”

“You can see that with your eyes?”

“No, I see it through my fingertips.”

“Pfft. Earlier you said you could see it. You probably just got confused by my hair color.”

But Rohan knew what he sensed through his fingertips was real — he just couldn’t explain it in words.

Would you ever know?
That from the moment I first felt your golden light, you were carved into me —
as if I were bound to you.

Why won’t you tell me that you’re Ellen?

It was an agony that burned like fire — waiting for her to admit it herself.
But that wait was over now.

No — consumed by impatience, Rohan decided he could wait no longer.

***

Lishio rested his chin on his hand, quietly watching Anais read a book.
Just looking at her lips pursed in focus and her blinking eyes lifted his mood.

“Is it interesting?”

“Ah! When did you get there?!”

She flinched as if she’d seen a wild beast, making Lishio’s brow furrow.

They’d been in the same room the whole time — had she really not noticed him?
A prickly discomfort twisted in his gut.

“I haven’t left the room.”

“Really? You must have a lot of free time today, then.”

She gave a polite smile for a moment, then turned back to her book.

Lishio reached out and slid the book out of her hands.

“If you want, I’ll take you for a walk.”

“I’m fine. Go by yourself.”

There it was again — telling him to go alone.
A stubborn cat. Lishio’s eyes narrowed.

“So that’s why you said you weren’t attached to the Duchess’s position?”

“I was just pretending to be tough. Why are you bringing that up again? That has nothing to do with taking a walk.”

Her calm expression only made his chest burn hotter.

She’d gotten used to him — so much that she hardly reacted anymore.

“It didn’t seem like you were pretending.”

“Don’t pick fights with someone who’s just sitting quietly.”

Her green eyes sparkled — though she was glaring, he loved the fierce energy in them.

He loved it when she trembled, when she got flustered — the dangerous charm that only came out when he provoked her.

And the more he tasted it, the more he craved it.

He needed to confirm that she belonged to him — only then could this impatient thirst be eased.

Lishio reached for the chain around Anais’s neck, slowly pulling it upward.

The pendant, hidden beneath her dress, snapped free and dangled before him.
His brows lifted sharply when he saw what it was.