CHAPTER 51……
While Killian carried her toward Adele’s reception room on the second floor, the two of them encountered exactly seventeen servants.
That man was Mertel’s subordinate, that one belonged to the great-aunt, and that woman coming from the kitchen was Noella’s…
“Phew.”
At some point, she stopped trying to trace who was connected to whom.
They were people who continued to serve here even knowing how tangled things were, so by the time morning came, the gossip would surely be everywhere.
She hadn’t planned to hide Killian’s presence, but it was still undeniably embarrassing.
Killian, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice or care who passed by or whose eyes lingered on them.
He climbed the stairs without the slightest strain, as though carrying a person were no burden at all.
Even as they passed down the long corridor and he opened the door, his every movement flowed as naturally as water.
“Ah, my lady? What is this! Just how much did you drink?”
Jacqueline, who had been waiting in front of the bedroom, rushed toward them, her face pale. But Killian brushed past her as well.
The closer one is, the more embarrassing these things tend to be.
Adele, who had always managed to brazen out everything with others, hid her flushed face and delivered a short but powerful message:
Get. Out.
Jacqueline, who had been about to approach, halted instantly—clearly she understood perfectly. Even as she backed away with a stricken face, she didn’t forget to close the door.
Thunk.
Only when the sound of the closing door came from behind did Adele open her eyes.
It’s finally over.
Even for someone who had experienced more than her fair share of hardships for her age, there had never been a day as long as today.
Not when a dozen branches of the trading company had been flooded, nor when an employee she’d worked with for over ten years had betrayed her.
She was a little out of breath, but never before had her whole body burned like this—especially the places that were in contact with this man.
“Um, you can put me down now.”
“…Now?”
“We’re already in the room.”
For some reason, Killian didn’t look relieved.
His movement in setting her down was unusually slow, his displeasure plain enough that Adele couldn’t ignore it.
“Well… thank you. And also…”
“Also what?”
“I appreciate your effort.”
Even after hearing her thanks, Killian’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. If anything, the furrow between his brows deepened.
Trying to change the mood, Adele picked up the water bottle Jacqueline had prepared.
The cheerful sound of water pouring contrasted sharply with the stifling heat of her reception room, which felt like the middle of a desert when she was with Killian.
“What effort did I make?”
“…You kept me from collapsing. And you helped keep things from being awkward.”
Adele smiled softly as she thought back on the scene.
Remembering Noella’s dazed expression as she looked at her in Killian’s arms made Adele chuckle.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to handle it so well, Captain.”
She made no effort to hide the smile at her lips. Even though he was a man who seemed capable of anything, she hadn’t expected this.
“It may sound childish to you, but I hate losing to Noella.”
“…Noella?”
“My younger sister. You saw her earlier.”
“Ah… the blonde.”
Hearing him mutter that to himself, Adele nearly spat out her water.
From anyone else, it might have sounded like a line, but not from this man.
It was such obvious proof that he had little interest, and that alone made the water taste sweeter.
“In that case, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll be more childish than she is.”
“…Pardon? You, Captain?”
“…Never mind. Get some rest.”
Killian turned and walked toward the door. Adele’s fingers twitched as she watched his precise steps, almost entranced.
And then what?
Acting recklessly under the influence of alcohol would be trouble.
It was a universal truth, in all times and places, that one should never carelessly call out the name of the opposite sex when drinking. It was the truth—so why did her lips keep…?
“Adele, it would be best if you didn’t drink that much again.”
“…Killian.”
It seemed he also found it hard to leave. Adele didn’t even realize she had naturally spoken his name.
He stopped abruptly at the door and turned back to look at her.
“You could have been in danger.”
“If I hadn’t, you would’ve had to drink it all yourself.”
“That would have been fine.”
“No, it wouldn’t. You’re my man.”
The movement of his throat as he swallowed was visible even from this distance. Then came the sound of his footsteps—steady, measured—matching the pounding of her own heart.
Adele fidgeted with her glass to hide it.
She knew she ought to explain further, but…
“What did you just say?”
“I said you’re my man.”
It wasn’t a lie. Contract or not, Killian was her man—and someone she had to protect in this household.
But right now, she couldn’t seem to summon the self-control she prided herself on, and she simply looked up at him.
“You may think differently, but I have no intention of letting my husband go through that kind of—mmph.”
Bending down, Killian closed the distance.
As though they had been waiting, their lips met, and the heat of it melted every shred of restraint.
When he supported her neck and waist, her arms went around his.
The intoxication came faster than it ever did from strong liquor.
“…Adele.”
She hadn’t realized how provocative her own name could sound in a drunken haze.
Nor had she imagined that the man who was the very embodiment of self-restraint could kiss like this.
“Ah…”
Wherever his lips brushed, sparks flared.
He lifted her onto the table and explored her mouth deeply.
It was as if he meant to taste every last part of her, coming at her with merciless hunger.
That endless thirst spread through both their bodies.
“Haa… haa…”
“…See?”
When their lips parted for an instant, his eyes and jaw tilted slightly.
Adele, still panting, tried to say something—but he seemed unwilling to waste even that brief moment.
As soon as he saw she had caught her breath, he came at her again like a predator.
“Didn’t I tell you it would be dangerous?”
Carne caindo no prato de carnívoro