Chapter 3
At last, Adel slowly opened his mouth.
“This is difficult, Anastasia.”
I knew it. I moved closer to him.
“You can’t even do something this small for me?”
“This is not the right thing to do.”
Adel stepped back as he spoke. He rejected me firmly, yet never directly blamed me.
He still maintained his refined, courteous demeanor. His handsome, fairy-tale-prince face overflowed with goodwill and morality.
I put on a disappointed expression.
“Fine. If you can’t do it, then it can’t be helped.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Too early to relax. I glared at him.
“Understanding? Don’t make me laugh. From now on, I’ll never trust you again. How can I rely on someone who can’t even keep a promise? You stopped me from going out earlier—was that because you had some hidden agenda too?”
I acted as though deeply hurt. Afraid I might cry, Adel softened his tone, making it sweet and harmless.
“I was only worried that you might get hurt or collapse when no one could help you. I had no other intentions. I can swear to it.”
“Your credibility is already at rock bottom.”
“…That can’t be.”
Adel looked genuinely shocked. I lowered my head gloomily.
“I should go back now.”
When I turned around, Adel let out a short, troubled groan. I sighed lightly, and at last, he surrendered.
“…I’ll do it.”
“Hm?”
I forced myself not to smile and looked back at him. Adel was gripping the candy wrapper so tightly it looked like he might crush it. With a solemn expression, he resolved himself.
“I’ll throw it away.”
Ah—why does he look so cute right now? I want to pat his head. That hair would feel amazing wrapped around my fingers.
Suddenly, the hand I had once held with Adel began to itch.
“Can you really do it?”
“Please believe in my integrity.”
Adel slowly extended his hand forward. Then, one by one, he unfurled the fingers curled into a fist.
I waited patiently. Finally, the candy wrapper slipped from his hand.
When the tiny piece of trash dropped onto the ground with a soft tap, Adel flinched. His face filled with guilt.
“I… threw it away….”
I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, then patted his shoulder as he opened them.
“Good job, Adel. I’ll trust you now. But—”
To issue a warning, I lifted my heels and brought my lips close to his ear.
Adel tried to keep his manners like before, but since I was holding his shoulder, he couldn’t put any distance between us.
Even now, he showed almost no reaction to Anastasia’s face.
Somehow irritated by that, I delivered a threat harsher than I’d planned.
“If you ever come back here later and pick the trash up again, we’re done. Answer me if you understand.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
“And you’re not allowed to go confess it to a priest.”
“Yes.”
I had successfully made Adel give up. I didn’t doubt his answer.
After all, he was the kind of male lead who didn’t know how to lie. Even if he’d caved under pressure, he wouldn’t make empty promises he didn’t mean.
Well, I just hoped he’d quickly realize that resisting me like earlier was pointless.
“Good.”
I smiled brightly.
“Let’s keep getting along well.”
Adel’s gaze lingered on the two candy wrappers rolling on the ground, then returned to me.
…Ah. He’s so cute I might lose my mind.
I led the suddenly quiet Adel out of the alley.
After walking a short distance, a neatly maintained park came into view.
People were strolling leisurely, and several children were making things out of wildflowers. One little girl spotted me and widened her eyes.
“That big sister is sooo pretty. Do you think she’s an angel?”
“There’s a prince with her too!”
They whispered to each other, but I could still hear them. I gladly responded.
“Hello, kids. The weather’s really nice today, isn’t it?”
Their faces instantly flushed.
“Eek! The angel talked to me!”
“Her voice sounds like pearls!”
A couple walking toward us stared openly at me. Their expressions were closer to awe than admiration.
Anastasia’s beauty really was cheating. Even I had nearly had a heart attack the first time I looked in the mirror.
Smiling, I waved to the children.
“Thanks for the compliments. Have fun playing.”
“Bye, angel!”
“Bye, prince-like big brother!”
“Let’s meet again!”
Leaving their chatter behind, we were about to exit the park when Adel spoke.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“That’s all thanks to you, Adel.”
At my reply, his voice sank slightly.
“Were you that displeased with me?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t hate you.”
“Anastasia, your eyes aren’t smiling.”
Only at times like this is he perceptive.
I shot Adel a look, then abruptly stopped.
Ignoring his puzzled expression, I sulked.
“My legs hurt.”
“There’s a café about five minutes away.”
“I can’t walk.”
“Shall we return to the count’s estate?”
“It’s only been thirty minutes.”
“Then let’s sit on that bench and rest for a while.”
“How could I sit on such a dirty bench?”
I had to admit it—I was enjoying teasing him.
Despite my obvious sulking, Adel kept offering solutions.
“I’ll lay a handkerchief down.”
“Hm.”
“I’ll take off my outerwear too, so please endure just a little.”
Relenting, I followed him to the bench.
Adel spread a handkerchief embroidered with the duke’s crest over the wooden seat, then removed his outer coat and draped it over my shoulders.
I wasn’t cold, but I liked the faint citrus scent that brushed my nose, so I stayed still.
Adel kept checking my complexion. There wasn’t even a speck of ulterior motive.
Is he some kind of saint? He’s going to blush properly in front of the female lead later!
I looked away from him.
“I’m thirsty….”
To my surprise, Adel immediately offered water.
“Here you are.”
The cold bottle pressed into my palm, making me gasp.
“It’s really cold.”
“I also brought ganache chocolates you like, along with anti-nausea medicine, flat shoes, and a fan. I consulted Miss Ilina about your shoe size and the fan’s design.”
What is this insane level of preparedness?
Trying not to show my confusion, I took a sip. It tasted far better than expected, refreshing me instantly.
Preparing since morning for today’s outing must have drained my stamina.
While I drank more water, Adel sat beside me at a careful distance.
He could enter my bedroom without a second thought, yet in moments like this he strictly maintained boundaries—it was annoyingly inconsistent.
Did no one look beautiful to Adel except the future female lead?
I’d secretly hoped for a shy reaction, so I grumbled inwardly. Adel had never once blushed because of me.
If I asked him directly about my looks, he’d obviously say I was pretty. That somehow made me feel even more frustrated.
This level of emotional wall was irritating. Honestly, there was more than one thing driving me crazy.
Anastasia was Adel’s longtime friend, but they weren’t close enough to be completely informal.
According to the original story, Adel thought of Anastasia only occasionally—she remained nothing more than a bittersweet memory.
Meaning he didn’t consciously care about her this much.
“I don’t understand why you’re putting in so much effort for me.”
“We’re friends.”
I tapped the water bottle lightly with my fingernail.
“Adel, you spend too much time taking care of me. Wouldn’t it be better to read another book or practice swordsmanship instead?”
“I can do those anytime. I want to stay by your side until you recover—if you’ll allow it.”
I eyed him warily.
“That’s suspicious. You’re being overly devoted.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
His straightforward answer left me speechless.
Adel had started coming and going from the count’s estate like it was his own home a month ago.
That was exactly when I became Anastasia.
Hm. It’s not like I remember being especially kind to him.
I recalled something Adel had once said.
Not long before my possession, Anastasia had hurled harsh words at him—telling him she wished he’d become mute and never speak to her again.
But unaware of that, I had greeted Adel warmly. Was that why?
Still, wouldn’t most people find such a sudden change strange? Well, Adel wasn’t exactly “most people,” but still….
Ugh, I don’t know. How am I supposed to read his mind?!
I came to a convenient conclusion.
It must be guilt.
I’d repeatedly told him I was going to die anyway and to just leave me alone. He must’ve felt soft-hearted. He was being kind now so he wouldn’t feel bad later.
“…You’ll go straight to Olga once I die, won’t you?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Tch. I pouted.
After resting and regaining some strength, Adel escorted me back to the count’s estate.
Being with Adel made me feel like a princess.
Honestly, my heart couldn’t help but flutter. Anyone would feel that way when a man more handsome than a prince escorts them so politely.
Though only sixteen, Adel was clearly over 180 cm tall and exuded an elegant presence. The citrus scent lingering around him made my nose tingle pleasantly.
After saying he’d come again tomorrow, Adel left.
I went straight to the dressing room to change, with Ilina following behind.
“Did you enjoy your outing?”
“Yeah! I feel completely refreshed!”
I answered extra cheerfully on purpose.
Truthfully, I didn’t fully understand my own feelings.
I’d sworn to enjoy the remaining two years of my life without attachments, yet my thoughts kept getting tangled.
Right now, Adel hadn’t met the female lead, Olga. So it wasn’t strange for him to be kind to me.
But I worried I might be developing unnecessary feelings toward that kindness.
Isn’t this wrong?
Adel was never mine to begin with, so feeling like he’s being taken away makes no sense.
I’m just a woman. A person. A friend.
I can’t forget that.
