Chapter 83 – The Perfect Couple
On the day the enormous delegation from San Fidelio was set to depart, raindrops had been falling since morning.
The count had asked to stay one more day, but their schedule was already delayed as much as possible, so it was impossible.
Still, no one could leave his guests empty-handed, given his scale.
The vast garden was bustling with carriages carrying all kinds of treasures brought from the Tavanta Islands.
“Let me be clear, all of this is ill-gotten wealth, Lady Agnes.”
“Ah, yes.”
How could she always be so consistent?
Adel found herself newly admiring Rebecca, who looked upon the extravagant carriages with evident displeasure.
Normally, even the greatest priestess might show some sign of surprise or at least laugh at a display like this, but Rebecca’s expression remained dark.
“Even if Lady Agnes feels this way, the God Enes wouldn’t accept bribes…”
“Oh, come now, Priestess. Haven’t you realized yet?”
“What do you mean?”
“That there’s nothing in this world that I could gain through bribery.”
Look.
Adel reached her hand out.
The palace-like garden, the glittering fortress, the legendary horses, the stately grounds, and finally… the husband who seemed to devour statues whole.
“What more could anyone ask for here? Isn’t that right?”
“…How shameless can you be.”
Rebecca flustered, unable to find a rebuttal, and instinctively made the sign of the cross.
Still, seeing that she no longer spoke of Satan or the like, she seemed to have at least realized this wasn’t a bribe.
“I hope these will be useful when receiving distinguished guests. I want the children to have slightly better meals, and the priestesses’ prayer hall to have a new organ. That way, you’ll teach me hymns properly.”
“Hmph. Do you think I’d believe that? Who knows what else you’ll ask for after this.”
“That’s true. Only the God Enes knows the future.”
Ohh, great Sun God!
Adel raised her hands, and Rebecca, startled, quickly climbed into the carriage.
Suppressing a smile, Adel opened the carriage window and made the sign of the cross.
“Thank you so much for coming. And for the gifts you gave me.”
“…I didn’t exactly give them for you, Lady Agnes. I just did it because you kept insisting I repay my debts.”
“Oh, then if I ask you to repay again next time, you’d do it again?”
“….”
“Just kidding. I’m human too, I wouldn’t really do that.”
Adel smiled faintly, and Rebecca, unable to bring herself to frown, nodded.
No longer able to push Adel away, she hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“As I mentioned before, the shadows are still heavy. I’ve prayed as much as possible over the past week, but since I’m not the High Priestess, the effect seems minimal.”
“…Priestess.”
“Please, stop looking at me like that.”
Rebecca flinched again.
It was embarrassing enough to see this woman raise her hands in the middle of the street, giving a tearful testimony, but seeing her look at Rebecca with such emotion was even harder to bear.
In her eyes, Adel was still just a daughter of Satan, tainted by the secular world.
Only her perseverance and sense of responsibility rivaled anyone—a Satan to be reckoned with.
“What I mean is, you must be careful. The future may change, but until it does, unpredictable hardships will surely follow.”
Rebecca’s eyes shifted from the knights to Killian, who held the reins. Adel followed her gaze, and she added in a murmur:
“He is probably the closest to that.”
“The commander?”
“An austere, cold man. Since receiving the High Priestess’s blessing, he has never shown his emotions. He has lived alone, never giving anyone close… I think that was his only way of enduring hardship.”
Rebecca muttered something incomprehensible and quickly shook her head.
Probably unnecessary meddling.
There was no need to convey to such a troublesome woman the shadow she could sense from her husband.
And besides, she probably had higher spiritual power than Adel, so Adel likely misread the situation.
“Let’s depart!”
“Ah…”
At the shout from Renald, who was on horseback, Adel instinctively searched for Killian.
And when it came to instincts, he was always one, or even two, steps ahead of her.
“Madam.”
Killian was suddenly in front of her.
As always, but especially today, there were so many eyes watching.
Whether she should feel disappointed or not, Adel forced a smile, trying to maintain proper decorum.
“Have a safe journey.”
“…Is that all?”
“Huh? What more…?”
Bowing slightly to greet him, Adel didn’t understand his question.
Meanwhile, the knights were one thing, but her father’s stare was almost unbearable.
Try as you might.
Adel tried to step back gracefully, but her husband wouldn’t let her go easily.
“….”
What is it? That gaze, as if expecting something.
Meeting his piercing blue eyes made her chest ache.
Sending him away quickly might ease the pain, but that wasn’t the way she wanted to do it.
“You wanted to look perfect, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Then it seems like something is missing.”
At Killian’s subtle prompt, Adel lifted onto her tiptoes.
Pop. Their lips parted in an instant.
She wanted to appear as the perfect couple in public, so she didn’t want to be swayed here.
“…Is that enough?”
At this point, it was barely more than a gesture between husband and wife.
Adel grimaced at Killian while avoiding her father’s gaze.
“This is enough. Actually, I made a little bet with my father.”
“What kind?”
“I said you were different from other men. That you’re noble and not particularly obsessed with physical contact.”
Killian’s eyes darkened. His gaze on her was anything but gentle.
“…What did you bet?”
“A ring.”
Adel shook her hand, which bore a diamond ring.
Luckily, it wasn’t the fragment of the sun he had given her, but another gift received from the High Priestess.
“Sorry. This was the most valuable thing I had at the time.”
“Against me?”
“…Ah, no. Of course not!”
No matter the value of the ring, it could never compare to her husband.
Diamonds might be mined and cut, but a man like him couldn’t be found anywhere in the world.
Although a 20-carat, perfectly cut diamond would still be a treasure…
“That’s a relief.”
“…Ugh.”
Killian, clearly for show, wrapped his arms around Adel’s waist and lowered his head.
This was no teasing kiss on the cheek; his tongue delved deep, endless in its exploration.
“Whoa!”
Rebecca turned pale and slammed the carriage window shut, while the knights jeered and cheered.
Why all of a sudden…
Adel hastily pushed his chest away, but it only looked suggestive to others.
Just as she was about to collapse from suffocation, Killian released her waist and whispered in her ear:
“Give it to me.”
“…Haa.”
Adel looked at him, bewildered, but Killian was already mounted on his horse.
Even if he hadn’t asked her to give it, her father was already smiling indulgently, gesturing with his middle finger. Daughter, return it.
“…Ah, what the…”
Adel scowled and walked toward her father, and Killian let out a low chuckle.
Having exchanged the perfect farewell in front of everyone and to themselves, there was no reason to linger.
Killian paused as he was about to tug the reins.
“….”
Finally, his meaningful gaze fell on the top floor of the count’s mansion, where the room, as dark as its owner, stood silent.
