🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 21
…What should I do now?
I was going crazy wondering who that man was, why they were meeting, and what they were talking about.
Who the hell was he?
How did she even know him?
What kind of relationship did they have?
As I paced up and down the street, the minutes dragged on like torture. Every second felt like I was drifting farther and farther away from her — thousands of miles in an instant.
…Should I just casually go back inside the shop?
He was right in the middle of that absurd thought — disgusted with himself for even considering it — when someone stopped right in front of him.
Through the hood of his cloak, Adolf slowly looked up at the shoes of the man who had halted there. The moment he saw the owner of those shoes, his gaze darkened.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness Prince Adolf.”
Count Allison was standing before him.
…He already left the shop?
Adolf almost blurted it out, but stopped himself.
He glanced around and realized the sky was already darkening; dusk was spreading across the heavens. It wasn’t that Count Allison had left quickly — it was that Adolf had stood there lost in thought for far too long.
…Wow, seriously, what’s wrong with me?
That realization genuinely shocked him. He let out a faint, self-mocking laugh.
Then, raising his head toward Michael, he said,
“It’s been a while, Count Allison.”
Unlike the days when he had lived under the name Arwin, his tone now carried a crisp, unmistakable dignity — the kind only a prince could possess.
“I was quite surprised earlier, Your Highness,” Michael replied calmly.
“I knew you’d left the imperial palace under the pretense of traveling, but I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“I only returned to the Empire recently. I spent the past few years wandering abroad, making sure no one could track me,” Adolf said, his voice casual.
“How are my father and brothers doing?”
“…You’re asking me that?” Michael’s tone betrayed disbelief.
Since childhood, Adolf had caused trouble everywhere he went. A few years after coming of age, he’d suddenly announced he was going on a trip — and vanished.
What was supposed to be a journey turned into years of disappearance, with no word from him and no return to the palace.
“His Majesty has already declared you officially missing. That alone should tell you how things are. The other princes are, understandably, very worried.”
“I see… And my mother?”
“She seems to be coping rather better than His Majesty, actually. Gracefully, even.”
“Ha. That’s just like my mother.”
A soft, sincere smile touched Adolf’s lips — tender and genuine.
“If you see her again, tell her I’m sorry. Only her, though. Don’t tell anyone else.”
“…How long are you going to keep acting so irresponsibly?” Michael asked dryly.
Adolf chuckled. Gazing out at the golden waves of rippling rice fields, he spoke quietly.
“Count Allison, maybe you’ve noticed — some people just aren’t suited to noble life.”
“…”
“People like me.”
It was impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious.
“I’m quite content with my current life as a wanderer,” he added lightly.
“But Your Highness must never forget that you are still a prince of this empire,” Michael replied.
“His Majesty worries deeply for you. For your father’s sake, it’s time to end this vagabond life and return to the palace.”
“Are you trying to persuade me?”
“Let’s call it friendly advice,” Michael said evenly.
“I see…”
Adolf nodded slightly, lowering his head in thought. After a pause, he lifted his gaze again and smiled faintly.
“But what can I say? I don’t want to.”
He shrugged beneath his black cloak.
“Sorry, but I plan to stay here a bit longer.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed.
“…Because of that woman?”
“And you? What’s your relationship with her?”
“…”
A sharp current of tension passed between them — two men, their questions colliding in silence.
The last light of dusk spread across the darkening sky, signaling the end of the day. Michael looked at Adolf with a mixture of curiosity and wariness before smirking slightly. Crossing his arms, he asked,
“Why do you want to know?”
“I listened to your lecture — surely I’m entitled to one question of my own.”
Adolf smiled faintly.
“Tell me, Count Allison. What’s your relationship with that woman?”
Though phrased as a question, his tone carried the weight of command — the authority of a prince.
Michael answered plainly.
“She’s my lover.”
Thud.
Adolf’s heart dropped. His expression froze.
Lover? His pulse thundered in his ears.
Michael watched his reaction, then smirked and added,
“…Or rather, I’d like her to be.”
“…”
Adolf’s heartbeat slowly began to settle.
He exhaled softly — realizing, with some confusion, that it was a sigh of relief.
Then he frowned at Michael.
Wait, was that man toying with him?
And why was he relieved by that last sentence?
“She’s someone I’ve loved for a long time,” Michael continued. “I don’t care to elaborate.”
“So, you plan to court her, then?”
Adolf’s voice came out sharp — he didn’t like this one bit.
But Michael only shrugged.
“That’s my hope. Unfortunately, it’s not something I can decide alone.”
“…Who exactly is she to you…?”
Adolf stopped himself.
No — he didn’t want to ask him about her past.
If he was ever going to learn about it, he wanted to hear it from her directly.
And, strangely enough, right now he didn’t even want to know.
He felt their current relationship was at just the right distance.
As if learning the truth would somehow shatter it.
When the time came, he would find out naturally. Until then, he wanted things to stay as they were.
The problem, of course, was that an irritating obstacle had now appeared between them.
“If what you’re saying is true, then my visiting her gallery must bother you.”
“Even if it does, knowing Your Highness, I doubt you’d leave because of it.”
“So you’re going to report my presence to the palace?”
The exchange was sharp, neither yielding an inch. But Michael merely smiled faintly.
“No. I won’t.”
“…”
“I’ll pretend not to know you — even in front of her. I’ll act as if nothing’s changed.”
Adolf’s eyes widened slightly at that unexpected answer. Why?
It didn’t take him long to realize why.
“…Though, to be honest, part of me wants to say otherwise,” Michael admitted quietly.
“She asked you,” Adolf said slowly. “Didn’t she? She asked you not to reveal who I am.”
Michael said nothing.
Adolf continued with a knowing smile.
“That thoughtful woman… she asked you to keep my secret. Didn’t she?”
So that means—
She was thinking of me.
At that realization, Adolf couldn’t hold back the smile that spread across his face.
It was ridiculous, and he knew it — yet he felt relieved.
All that time he’d been wandering the streets in agony, wondering what they were talking about inside…
and it turned out that, even for a brief moment, he had been part of that conversation.
Even if it was just for a single second — she had thought of him.
That thought alone filled him with warmth.
She’s still thinking of me.
She hasn’t abandoned me.
Even with him around, she hasn’t turned away from me.
He lowered his head slightly, hiding the quiet smile that tugged at his lips.
Michael watched him for a moment, then spoke.
“Let me give you a warning.”
Adolf looked up. Their eyes met.
“I’ll respect her wishes,” Michael said steadily. “I won’t interfere in whatever exists between you two. But…”
The smile faded from Adolf’s lips.
“…don’t cross the line.”
“…”
“My silence only lasts as long as you stay within bounds.”
Michael stepped closer, his words slow and deliberate.
“Don’t touch her.”
The words landed like a heavy blow. Adolf could only stare at him, caught by the clarity of that gaze.
“She may be nothing more than an interesting person to you,” Michael said quietly. “But to me, she’s not.”
“…”
“Don’t approach her out of curiosity. Don’t hurt her. She’s already been hurt enough.”
In Michael’s firm voice, Adolf could feel it — that deep, unshakable emotion beneath the words.
The kind of feeling that only grows after years of silently protecting someone you love more than anything.
Because right now, for him,
“She’s someone I could never trade for anything in this world.”
