Chapter 8
While Adrian rambled on at length, he never left Edith’s side, eventually leaning against the corner of the table and settling in comfortably. The maid who had brought the refreshments hesitated, unsure where to place the teacups.
As the conversation turned to academy memories, Edith subtly changed the topic.
“I didn’t think you’d remember me. Honestly, I was worried you wouldn’t recognize the name Edith even when contacting you.”
“Impossible. You were the pride of our academy, weren’t you?”
“Oh, come on. That’s not true. Who was the pride? Surely it was you, wasn’t it?”
Recalling memories from their school days, having graduated only a few months prior, they found plenty to talk about. The tension that had been taut in Edith’s chest gradually relaxed.
“What good is a face that will eventually be full of wrinkles? What truly shines is your intellect and talent.”
“You’re excessively humble, Adrian.”
He frowned slightly, displeased with the way she addressed him.
“Sorry. Arti. It just doesn’t roll off my tongue yet.”
Then, with a change of expression, he let a soft smile melt across his face like melting sherbet—Adrian looked dazzlingly beautiful.
He was taller than the average adult male, with a slim, well-defined waist, and yet the aura he projected was that of an angelic child.
“To get used to saying ‘Arti’ naturally, we’ll have to meet often.”
It was said that opening up conversations like this was his specialty. He wasn’t an Omega who was kind to just anyone—only to a chosen person.
Saying “let’s meet often” was a polite and casual remark; there was no reason to overthink it or get flustered. It could be understood the same way as if a short, freckled person said it—Adrian’s unusually striking appearance simply made it feel more memorable.
Thus, Edith judged that his behavior wasn’t flirtatious.
Once the servant refilled the teacups and withdrew, the terrace under the canopy was theirs alone again.
“…….”
A brief awkward silence passed.
The temperature was unusually high for spring, and after a gentle breeze, the air felt slightly warm. As she prepared to say something to keep the conversation going, Adrian, seeming a bit restless, lightly tugged at his shirt collar with his fingers.
His slender fingers traced up along his neckline—and then higher.
He removed the tie holding back his hair.
A cascade of violet hair poured down like a waterfall.
Shhhhhh….
Before her eyes, it was as if the aurora of the Arctic had unfolded.
He’s not trying to seduce me. This isn’t temptation. It’s just hot today.
Her mind knew it, but watching him let his long veil of hair fall around him was dizzyingly intoxicating.
“So…”
Even his soft voice sounded like that of a fairy.
“May I hope to know the reason you suddenly wanted to see me?”
His broad, slender shoulders inclined slightly toward her.
The movement of his handsome face drawing near left her almost stunned.
Edith, whose first criterion for noticing a man was always his appearance, was frozen by his pure blue gaze, glowing with joy at finally meeting her.
Even the veins beneath his skin seemed to reflect the anticipation on his face.
He was waiting for her reply.
His clear eyes never left her lips.
Feeling suddenly conscious of Adrian, she lightly moistened her lips with her tongue.
“Just… is it strange that I suddenly thought of you today?”
It probably was strange.
Even her muttered whisper did not escape Adrian’s notice; he watched intently.
But Edith was making every effort to conceal her intentions. She couldn’t let him discover the grand plan to have him meet Clyde.
Sunlight seemed to fall immediately across his expression, which revealed just how much he cared.
“No! Not strange at all. You’ve always stayed in my heart too.”
Yet the familiarity she sensed could be easily misinterpreted.
Thinking of the Alphas who had filled the reception room earlier, Edith shook her head slightly. The first scene she encountered upon reuniting with Adrian after months had brought her back to reality and allowed her to regain composure.
Meanwhile, Adrian grew increasingly proactive.
The strands of hair brushing from his forehead down to his shoulders seemed to exude a subtle scent of allure.
“You don’t even need a reason. Actually, no reason is better. Don’t send a visit letter—just come whenever.”
Could someone’s boundaries with a stranger really be this lax? Edith finally began to wonder.
“That would be far too rude.”
“Exactly why I’m telling you now. I’ll inform the butler so you can come anytime.”
No one, no matter how friendly, could usually enter someone else’s residence at will. This was a significant favor.
Adrian’s behavior was unlike him. Rumors said he was kind but strict about what needed protection; this didn’t match.
Edith was conflicted. She hadn’t come to build friendship, so how to handle his hospitality surpassing normal bounds left her unsure. She felt a little guilty revealing any darker motives.
During small talk, she carefully broached her chance.
“You know, I’ve started working at the palace recently. Unexpectedly, I was assigned to the Crown Prince’s court and am serving His Highness Clyde.”
He responded with bright admiration.
“Wow! That’s a position that suits you perfectly, Edith. You could have even taken a higher post than that.”
Just how highly did Adrian regard her to react like this?
It was nearly impossible for a new attendant to serve the Crown Prince directly. Unless there was a close personal connection granting special privileges, Edith would ordinarily only handle minor responsibilities, like managing supplies.
His reaction didn’t feel like mere formality—it seemed genuine. This made her even more mindful.
Next, it was her turn to inquire about him. She cautiously tested the waters.
“Arti, have you thought about entering politics?”
His clear gaze contained no suspicion.
“Not yet… I’ve been busy managing my household.”
That was easy to understand. The Raymond household, newly involved in commerce and industry, was rapidly growing.
His “household duties” were surely not trivial matters like replacing broken dishes.
“Ah, I see.”
Edith raised her slightly sweaty hands onto her skirt and continued.
“I’ll probably be living at the palace most days. If we ever need to meet, could you contact me there?”
Even though she had planned her strategy in advance, she couldn’t hide her rising shyness.
His expression changed.
His large, puppy-like eyes blinked repeatedly in surprise.
“Is that okay?”
Even Edith wasn’t entirely sure about notifying the palace. As an attendant who had worked only three days, she wasn’t yet familiar with the Crown Prince’s court.
Would it really be impossible if a friend came during working hours? She guessed there must be some flexibility.
She had heard that permanent palace attendants, who rarely went out, would meet acquaintances near the main gate to handle personal matters. Though she was a commuting attendant, inviting Adrian once to the palace wouldn’t result in severe punishment.
“Probably yes.”
Hiding her own secret motives, she answered casually.
After all, Adrian was to be Clyde’s counterpart. If she could just bring forward the first meeting between the two by a few days, sparks would fly.
Far from punishment, Edith would be granting a tremendous favor to the two protagonists.
Oblivious to all of this, Adrian expressed pure delight.
He hesitated, hand near Edith’s shoulder. He wanted to touch her.
His thin, white fingers seemed to tremble slightly.
Extending his hand fully, he still couldn’t reach her and closed it halfway into a small fist.
A light tap, as if to say, “Alright, I’ll come by,” would have made responding easier.
But his impatient movements only made Edith’s heart flutter.
“May I sit next to you?”
Adrian asked cautiously, cheeks flushed like a boy.
It was so endearing she couldn’t even think to refuse.
“Huh? Uh…”
A faint sigh escaped between his pressed lips, which she noticed.
“Good. Finally, I can sit next to you.”
Of the four chairs arranged around the tea table, Adrian dragged one close to sit snugly beside her. The distance was small enough for their elbows to brush.
There was no chance to ask for more space. Adrian smiled brightly, sitting so close that their elbows touched.
Being so near, he was even more dazzling.
His slender, vividly colored lips revealed his snow-white teeth like tiny jewels.
Intent unknown, he leaned as far toward her as possible.
Their noses were only a handspan apart.
An intimate distance.
Or a heart-stirring gap.
Her heart raced; her ribs and chest ached. Rational thoughts like “Why is he like this?” were irrelevant. She just stood frozen, her left breast fluttering wildly.
Her mind was completely overwhelmed.
After meeting Adrian, the proximity had always been this intense.
Was it friendliness, attraction, or seduction…?
Her muddled mind couldn’t judge either way, simply succumbing to the dazzling violet before her.
The hot weather contributed too. Her body temperature rose, and she felt flushed from him.
Did Adrian feel the same? His green-blue eyes trembled as he fixed his gaze on her.
“Edith.”
A coquettish, slightly sultry voice.
“Huh?”
She was far from composed; her senses were almost entirely gone.
“Edith…”
His voice, calling her name as if under a spell, sounded endlessly warm.
His long, slender hand rose very slowly.
At some point, he gently cupped her chin, thumb tracing along her jaw.
A sensation so light it seemed trivial, yet it left a dangerously deep impression.
The delicate touch, slowly permeating, felt like magic.
His fingertips pressed gently against her lower lip.
A small gap appeared between her slightly parted lips.
The pure atmosphere around Adrian shifted dramatically.
It felt slightly wicked. Like a fallen angel, he attempted a precise, intimate contact, his persistent gaze fixed on her slightly exposed lower teeth.
