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chapter 17
The peaceful air in the drawing room suddenly froze.
“What…?”
Tislin’s legs weakened. She swayed and barely managed to grab the back of the sofa to steady herself.
The first to recover was Damian.
“Adelinde. Go sit down.”
He gently pulled Adelinde off Tislin’s waist—she had been clinging to her like a cicada—set her down, removed Tislin’s outer coat from her shoulders and hung it on the rack. Then he instructed a maid to bring tea suited to the three of them.
Meanwhile, Tislin walked stiffly to her seat and collapsed into it. With no way to cool her burning face, she buried it deep into a cushion.
Damian returned and naturally sat beside Tislin. In the past, he would have taken the seat across from her. Everyone in the room knew that. Adelinde’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
Tislin quietly poked Damian’s arm with her fingertip. When their eyes met, she mouthed, Go away.
Damian looked down at her lips for a moment, then turned his head slightly.
‘He’s pretending he didn’t see!’
Unbelievable.
But the real problem right now wasn’t Damian.
“Why aren’t you answering? I want to be the godmother.”
Adelinde swung her legs excitedly, completely unaware of the awkwardness between the two. Tislin stared fixedly at the window, pretending not to hear. She knew it wouldn’t work, but she had no better idea.
“You’re thinking too far ahead already.”
Damian sighed and scolded Adelinde.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“You know the answer to that better than anyone. Adel, are you brushing your teeth properly before bed?”
Whether he meant to or not, it was a perfect counterattack. Adelinde immediately opened her mouth wide to show them.
“Look! No cavities anymore!”
“I don’t need to see inside your mouth.”
Damian pushed her forehead lightly with one finger.
It took a while before Adelinde settled back into her seat. During that time, Tislin took several deep breaths. She was finally starting to calm down. Yes, it was only because she’d been ambushed the moment she walked in.
‘Though it would’ve been embarrassing no matter when she said it.’
Even when she’d secretly suffered from her one-sided crush, she had never imagined something so… so specific. What on earth was inside Adelinde’s head? What had she been watching lately?
“Tis!”
Tislin gasped. Adelinde was looking at her with worried eyes.
“Tis, are you sick?”
A large hand covered Tislin’s forehead. She used to catch mild colds often while adjusting to Luxen’s winter, so it wasn’t unusual—but she still flinched in surprise. The hand quietly withdrew.
“You don’t have a fever.”
“No, I was just thinking about something else.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“Just… I don’t know. I forgot.”
The more she spoke, the lower her head dropped. Adelinde’s eyes grew round.
She was used to seeing Damian and Tislin together. They had known each other for over ten years, and yet she had never once thought there was anything between them.
But now, for the first time, she did.
‘There’s something between these two!’
It had only been a month and a half since she last visited Viera. Had something happened during that time? Or had it always been there, and she simply hadn’t noticed?
Either way, she felt strangely unsettled.
‘She’s mine.’
No—no, that wasn’t right. Damian had a point. Even if Tislin was “taken” by Damian, even if she had to “give” Damian to Tislin, it was better than Tislin never coming to Luxen again.
“I’ll go wash my face.”
In the end, Tislin left the drawing room to cool her flushed cheeks.
“……”
Adelinde rolled her eyes. Damian leaned back and spoke calmly.
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Whyyy?”
“She gets embarrassed.”
“You’re not the one who’s embarrassed?”
Damian narrowed his eyes briefly but didn’t answer.
Adelinde grinned. Damian thought he hid his feelings well, but she had known him her entire life. She couldn’t see through everything, but she had an uncanny ability to spot whatever would make him uncomfortable.
“But really, don’t be embarrassed in front of me.”
“I never said I was.”
Tislin returned shortly after. The ends of her hair were damp, but the red flush on her cheeks had completely disappeared. Her composure had returned.
She quietly opened the door and saw Adelinde stomping her feet while teasing Damian. A playful idea came to her mind—partly as revenge for earlier.
Tislin made eye contact with Damian, mimed opening and closing her mouth as a warning, then crept forward across the carpet.
“So what I’m saying is, Damian is really not very honest—”
“Ahh!”
“Eek!”
Startled, Adelinde’s shoulders jumped nearly to her ears.
“Got you.”
Tislin leaned over her from behind, holding her shoulders. Adelinde pouted.
“Tis! You scared me!”
“You used to be prepared for that. Guess it’s been too long—you’re easy to scare now.”
“Must be lack of training.”
Damian clicked his tongue lightly.
Adelinde widened her eyes and protested passionately.
“I do train hard! Grandpa said so too! What would Damian know?”
Damian could have asked, Then how come you didn’t notice Tislin? But he simply shook his head.
Adelinde pointed at him and complained to Tislin.
“Before I came here, I even made a magic sword for a short while. I fully covered the blade with magic! I couldn’t maintain it, but Grandpa praised me. Damian’s the only one who nags. Tis, if you marry someone so naggy… hmm.”
She suddenly trailed off, looking dissatisfied.
“Well… at least Damian’s handsome. And he did accomplish things in the war. He nags a lot, but he’s not a con man or a flirt.”
“What are you talking about?”
Aside from Damian himself, only Adelinde would dare to reduce his war achievements to “some accomplishments.” Tislin was speechless.
“My Tis is just a little too good for him. But still.”
“If you say that outside, I’ll get pelted with stones.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll block them for you!”
“So someone is going to throw them.”
Adelinde blinked in confusion. Wait—was that how it worked? That wasn’t what she meant! …Or was it?
Tislin gently pinched Adelinde’s nose and shook it a few times before letting go.
Before they knew it, it was time for lunch. It felt like they had barely talked, yet time flew frighteningly fast when she was with Damian and Adelinde.
The dining room was bright with sunlight. Though the interior décor was somewhat plain from long neglect, it was more than suitable for hosting guests.
A light meal appropriate for lunch had been prepared, and considering Adelinde’s age, no alcohol was served.
“Actually, not long ago, I secretly tried some alcohol with Satin.”
“You mean wine, right?”
“Nooo! I sneaked some from Grandpa’s study… This is a secret. Especially you, Damian! Don’t tell Grandpa.”
Damian merely frowned slightly without replying. Adelinde didn’t push further.
If she truly thought he would tell, she wouldn’t have brought it up. Whatever his unwavering loyalty to the Grand Duke, he wasn’t the type to report trivial matters.
And besides, it wasn’t that dangerous, right?
“So how was the stolen alcohol? Worth stealing?”
“Not at all. It tasted awful, and it was so hot it felt like my throat was burning. I don’t get why people like that stuff!”
“There are good-tasting ones too. I could give you one as a gift—”
Tislin caught Damian’s look and quickly changed her words.
“I’ll give you one when you’re a bit older.”
“Damian, stop glaring. A controlling fiancé doesn’t get loved.”
Damian didn’t even snort.
It made sense.
Confessing back then had been a foolish thing to do.
