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Chapter 21
“Shall We Undress Right Here?”
“Good idea.”
“Let’s make it a set with the necklace. Anklets are in style these days too, so buying them together would be better.”
“I was thinking of two rings.”
“Matching couple rings are popular too. We can discuss the rest in detail at the shop.”
“How about talking about it at my house instead of your shop?”
“Why would I do that?”
“I just replaced the bed. A very expensive one that you like.”
“If you want to brag, do it to someone else. And step back a bit.”
As if she could no longer entertain his teasing, Adeline tried to push the Grand Duke’s shoulder away. And then it happened.
The sound of people rushing in—imperial knights, Blackwood family knights, and even temple holy knights—erupted all at once.
“His Grace, the Blackwood Grand Duke!”
“Your Grace, are you alright?”
“Grand Duke!”
***
Not a single person who rushed into the garden was worried about Adeline.
‘Winston really does live in a completely different world from me.’
It was only natural that he would worry about himself. So there was no reason to feel bitter.
Returning to the banquet hall surrounded by knights alongside Winston, Adeline looked at the scene before her and forced herself to clap. Even under the moonlight, the man shone brilliantly, and under the chandelier’s light he seemed even more radiant.
After the thunderous applause died down, Emperor Philip released his embrace of Winston’s broad shoulders.
“Winston, my beloved nephew. Do you know how surprised I was when I heard you had urgent matters?”
“I had no intention of causing concern.”
Winston glanced toward Adeline and gave a brief, faint smile. Squeals erupted nearby, but the noble ladies quickly covered their mouths and whispered.
“Grand Duke, isn’t he amazing? He’s so different from the rumors—I like him even more.”
“There were even rumors he wore a mask because of some strange illness, but I guess that was all nonsense.”
“Why did he hide such a handsome face all this time?”
“Exactly. I want to see him every day.”
“He looks scary, but I bet he’s gentle only with his woman, right?”
Their ecstatic whispers rose and fell endlessly like waves even after the initial screams faded. Adeline calmly flicked her ear as if used to it. Even back at the Central Academy, this kind of reaction had been common.
‘They’re all being deceived.’
She clicked her tongue inwardly. Then a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Boss, I finally found you.”
“Ian, how did you find me?”
“I happened to see you enter after His Grace the Blackwood Grand Duke arrived earlier.”
“You’re sweating. Did you run here?”
“Well… yes.”
“Was it urgent?”
“…Something like that.”
A few drops of sweat ran down his pale forehead. Adeline took out a handkerchief and wiped it for him.
“We’re not here for work, so don’t rush so much.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Ian gave an awkward smile, Emperor Philip’s voice rang out again.
“I remember the promise I made before you departed. I have dreamed of this day alone for so long.”
Before the Leucos War broke out, Emperor Philip had heard a prophecy from a temple priest. It warned that if he sent his only son to the battlefield, he would return as a corpse.
Since Winston was more capable than his own son, the Emperor secretly sent the Grand Duke to war. Naturally, the factions supporting House Blackwood fiercely opposed it, so a strategy had to be devised.
“Winston, a monarch who does not keep the Heavenly Oath must relinquish the throne. No—he must even give up being royal. You understand what that means, don’t you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Heavenly Oath. A sacred promise that must never be broken among royalty, symbolizing imperial authority and responsibility. It was not something royals invoked lightly, but Philip had no choice at the time.
“Anything you want, anything you desire in this world. I will grant it even if I must risk my life.”
All eyes and tension in the banquet hall focused on one place. What could the esteemed Grand Duke Blackwood possibly desire most?
If he demanded all imperial wealth, it would be granted. If he demanded the throne, even that would be handed over immediately. Everyone held their breath. Ian whispered quietly to Adeline.
“Isn’t it obviously the throne?”
“That’s not it.”
“How do you know?”
“Well…”
If Winston asked for the throne here—or asked to be named crown prince—it would be labeled as unfair.
No matter how great a war hero he was, people preferred an emperor who won in fair competition. Public sentiment was heaven’s will, and Winston knew that better than anyone.
“He can just gain that through ability.”
“That makes sense.”
“What he needs right now is land.”
“Land? Isn’t he already rich?”
Yes, Winston was already wealthy. The land he asked the Emperor for was not something needed for money. At first, even Adeline didn’t understand—but she would later.
“Nornai Island.”
“That place is already a ruined, barren land. Why would he—”
“Shh.”
Adeline placed a finger over her lips instead of answering. Winston was looking at her with a sharp gaze. He glanced at Ian, then turned to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, would it be acceptable if I asked for the throne?”
“Of course. For the empire’s hero, it would not be a waste even if I gave it to you immediately.”
“You must mean that sincerely.”
“I find even your ambition pleasing. If my elder brother were still alive, he would have praised you greatly.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
No one could tell whether Philip’s hearty laughter was genuine or not. But everyone could see the confidence in Winston’s eyes—and the provocation hidden within it.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes, speak comfortably.”
“What I desire is…”
***
The night was beautifully lit by a blue moon, but Adeline could not enjoy it at all. As soon as Winston finished speaking, she fled the scene as if escaping.
The corner of the man’s lips slowly lifted in a strangely gentle curve. It looked so unreal that it felt like a dream. If it was a dream, she had to wake up—otherwise she would become unhappy.
“Hah.”
Exhaling deeply, she kept running until her legs ached. She had gone quite far from the banquet hall.
Thud!
Something she stepped on rolled away and collided with the back of a man in white robes.
“I’m sorry. I was running too fast and didn’t see the way properly.”
“Ugh.”
‘Is he crying?’
Even though a champagne bottle had bumped into his back, it shouldn’t have hurt that much. Adeline slowly approached him.
A lower-ranking priest in simple clerical robes was crying miserably. The problem was that several broken glass bottles were scattered nearby.
“Ah, seriously…”
She thought it internally, but the words slipped out anyway. Well, not all priests lived strictly ascetic lives.
The man, seemingly a low-ranking priest, kept his head down and sobbed. She recalled hearing that priestly life was harder than expected.
‘Is someone bullying him? Poor thing. I once thought about becoming a priest too.’
In her past life, she had briefly stayed at a monastery, but quickly realized that an ascetic lifestyle was absolutely not for her.
Just as she quietly sat down beside the unfamiliar priest, the man gripping a glass bottle in both hands suddenly straightened his back and shouted.
“Impossible, impossible! It’s not impossible!”
“D-Does it hurt that much? Can I take a look at your back?”
Under the pouring moonlight, his hair shimmered like sunset. His eyes were tearful, layers of double eyelids and soft aegyo-sal glistening as tears rolled down peach-colored cheeks.
“…Should I just take it off here?”
“No, that’s not necessary…”
“If you wish it, I should do it for you.”
“……?!”
Before she could stop him, the priest yanked off his robe.
Lowering his tear-filled gaze, he spoke again.
‘At this rate, if anyone sees us, I’ll be the one dragged to the Holy Kingdom…’
No matter how she looked at it, the scene was not good. A priest crying while stripping his upper body—whatever the reason, calming him down came first.
“I’ll just check your back. Yes, it’s perfectly fine. Now please get dressed properly.”
Her hands fluttered urgently like butterfly wings. The priest wiped his eyes and asked,
“Is it really fine? You checked properly, right? Sniff.”
“I checked properly.”
“Really?”
“I checked faster than lightning and with precision.”
‘Stop crying while talking—you’re making it look like I’m the one bullying you.’
Tears still filled the priest’s eyes. Watching him made her feel inexplicably uneasy. And that uneasy feeling was something she had experienced far too many times before.
