CHAPTER 46
The two returned to her parlor, but their positions had reversed.
This time, Killian was the one sitting gracefully, holding his tea, while Adelle was busy pacing near the window.
“…What the hell is going on?”
“Please, sit down. Everything went well, didn’t it?”
“Went well? As I told you, my father is not the kind of person who just—”
“He seemed like a benevolent man who respects his daughter’s decisions.”
“…Benevolent?”
Adelle rubbed her forehead and let out a dry laugh.
Her father, benevolent?
That was quite possibly the most absurd thing she had ever heard in her life.
If Killian hadn’t been there, she might have burst into laughter holding her stomach.
“Captain, I’m not saying this because I enjoy criticizing my father, but the only times he’s ever benevolent are these: when there’s more money in it than expected, or when he didn’t expect money, but there is anyway.”
“You take after him, then.”
“Well, that’s not—wait, that’s not what I meant.”
“You said you liked me, didn’t you? Then, who’s to say your father, who resembles you, wouldn’t like me either?”
Killian, legs crossed as he sipped his tea, was the epitome of refinement.
Though he didn’t touch the cookies or sweets, his eyes never left Adelle with each sip.
“That’s…”
“Why the hesitation? Was it a lie, what you said about liking me?”
“No. I mean, yes—I mean, I do. I do, of course I do.”
Adelle stared blankly at him, nodding rapidly.
She had no idea what was happening anymore. They’d said “I like you” more often in this contract relationship than most couples who were actually engaged.
“But my father’s not someone who gives in that easily. He’s a formidable man.”
“From what I saw, the two of you seemed to get along quite well.”
“Well, that’s because we’re father and daughter.”
“There are plenty of parent-child relationships that are far worse than that, Adelle.”
Calling her by name at the end—now that felt like cheating.
Adelle, who was about to argue back, closed her mouth and quietly reached for her teacup instead.
She didn’t entirely agree with what Killian said, but she didn’t have the energy to argue right now.
But then, why did it feel this way?
Even without cookies or pie, her tongue felt sweet, as if tasting sugar.
“By the way, just now, your father mentioned something about you being unfaithful because you’re like him…”
“Don’t even bring that up!”
Clack. Adelle put down her teacup with a sharp sound.
They had just regained peace, and yet this man—why bring that up now?
“Unfaithful? I despise that sort of thing.”
“…Do you?”
“Of course. Naturally. If someone’s married, they should stay responsible until the end! That’s probably the one and only way I differ from my father. Do you think it makes sense for him to randomly show up one day with kids and say, ‘These are your siblings’?”
Adelle’s voice grew faster. No matter how much she tried to remain calm, it was impossible.
“I mean, I’m not naïve enough to dream about a one-and-only love for life, but still…”
“Why do you think that’s naïve?”
“…Isn’t it? Among most noble families, having a mistress is normal. And many believe that work or family lineage is more important than love.”
“That’s fine—as long as it’s not you.”
“…”
“Nor me.”
Why does he keep answering questions she never asked?
Adelle would’ve asked just that, but she was already listening, genuinely intrigued.
It’s better to know as much as possible about the man who’ll be her husband—especially his views on relationships. Her ears were fully open now.
“I’m glad. I was going to add it as a condition to the contract, but as long as the marriage continues, let’s promise to remain faithful to each other.”
“As long as it continues?”
Clack. This time, it was Killian who put his teacup down, louder than hers.
“That’s not quite what you said before the Archbishop.”
“You said that was just formal. And I didn’t mean I’d definitely do anything—I was just preparing for a possible future situation…”
“In preparation for that, I staked my life.”
Adelle recalled the moment when he had knelt before the Archbishop and made that sudden vow. She lost her appetite.
Killian may never intend to die over such a thing, but still, Adelle had no intention of parting ways with him either.
It was just that she had never imagined a distant future together with him. That was the truth.
Even now, she was still surprised, moment by moment, that he was here with her. She couldn’t picture what he’d be like ten or twenty years from now.
But one thing was certain—no matter how much time passed, she’d probably never meet a man like him again.
‘Do you know what I had to go through to bring this man here?’
Peeling potatoes, raising abandoned children from all over the country—she was still dealing with that. And as she aged, it would only get harder.
Most of all, she had squeezed out every last drop of non-existent faith this time. There was nothing left to wring.
But saying it all outright felt too awkward. Instead, she offered a more rational, practical answer.
“I feel the same. The merchant guild is a very conservative institution. Divorce isn’t exactly shameful, but it’s not good either. As the head of the guild, it’s better to model a stable married life.”
“…Adelle.”
“So we won’t divorce. Unless there’s a genuinely unsustainable reason.”
Killian wasn’t naïve enough to need every possible “reason” spelled out.
Even knowing he was watching her, Adelle kept fiddling with her teacup.
Should I say I’ll compensate him somehow?
It sounded materialistic, but that’s how she had lived nearly twenty years as part of a wealthy family.
She told him she’d stake his life on hers—so to stay silent now felt shameless.
Suddenly, the seat she was sitting on felt uncomfortably hot.
“…Do you have anything more to say?”
“Oh, yes.”
It wasn’t easy to talk about compensation with Killian. He was nothing like her—noble and careful with every word. That made Adelle all the more hesitant.
“You’ve helped me a lot, Captain. If there’s anything you want, just say the word.”
“If I want something…”
“…Take your time. Whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”
Adelle smiled vaguely as she spoke.
She pretended to be confident, but it frustrated her that she couldn’t be more direct.
She had never known giving money to someone could require so much tact.
“I’ll get going. Your father asked to see me.”
“My father? When did that happen? Then I’ll come too—”
“No. He said he wants to speak to me alone.”
Killian checked the time and stood up. Adelle felt uneasy about letting him go alone.
She followed him without realizing, and when he looked back and smiled, he said,
“Don’t worry. He won’t eat me alive like a certain someone I know.”
“…You’re unbelievable.”
He really did know how to throw her words back at her. But then again, that made him someone not so easily swayed.
Adelle reminded herself to be even more careful with what she said around him.
“For some reason, my father seems to like you, so he won’t give you too much trouble. But if he starts saying weird things or asking too many questions…”
“I’ll ask if he has so little faith in his own daughter.”
“…”
“Would it hurt to trust me a little more?”
Killian’s smile was so gentle she almost wanted to trace it with her fingers.
Just when she thought he would turn and leave, he reached out and adjusted the ribbon of the cloak draped over her shoulders.
Only then did Adelle realize she was still wearing the cloak her father had jokingly put on her.
“Oh, I should return this to him—”
“What doesn’t suit you?”
From her dark hair down to the edge of her cloak near her feet, the flowing black shimmered as one—so deep and rippling, it felt like it could pull someone in.
Killian’s gaze, tinged with sudden admiration, made Adelle’s heart lurch.
She bit her lower lip and lowered her trembling eyes.
“If he offers you strong liquor, be careful.”
“To get me drunk?”
“No. He’ll probably charge you for it.”
Sorry, but that’s not a joke.
Adelle was about to sternly warn him not to laugh it off, but her lips pressed shut.
This wasn’t the time to be chatting idly like this.
To make up for the two-week absence, she’d have to spend hours buried in paperwork.
And then… there was another important formality waiting.
“I’ll see you tonight. Oh, and just in case—if my father won’t let you leave during dinner, send me a signal.”
“How?”
“If you tap your wine glass like this, I’ll know you need rescuing.”
Adelle raised her hand and tapped her index finger twice, miming the signal.
It might seem childish, but her mischievous father was too unpredictable.
“If you swirl your glass like this, I’ll know you’re tipsy. And if you switch your glass to the other hand, it means you want to go home. Got it?”
Killian responded with a wordless smile before stepping out.
Did he understand or not?
Adelle stood by the door, confused.
She stared blankly ahead and found herself, without realizing it, touching the ribbon Killian had tied on her cloak.
