Chapter 14
“Are you so happy you could die?”
At the same time as his words, Wynster’s breath, now a little closer, tickled her ear. Adeline looked at the Grand Duke with furrowed eyes.
“Your Grace!”
“I’d consider it an honor if you’d hold me.”
His voice was unusually clear and sweet. A faint, mischievous smile spread across the Grand Duke’s face.
“How about holding me for a bit, taking this chance.”
*Was he originally this kind of personality?* The Wynster Adeline had experienced so far was not this kind of man. Even in the original novel, the Grand Duke was a man colder than frost. Of course, being the male lead, he was intensely obsessive toward the female lead.
*’I don’t know what he’s scheming, but I need to be careful.’*
When she thought about how the wheel of fate might yet drive her to her death, Adeline’s heart turned cold.
“……You can let me off near the temple.”
“Sure.”
She didn’t expect him to agree so readily, but it was a relief. If she really paraded all the way to the temple with Wynster like this, the chances of having to quit doing business in the capital were high. Most of the customers at the atelier were women, and there were many women who admired Wynster.
“Adeline.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Just stay quiet until we arrive. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Just don’t deliberately drop me.”
“It seems you’re still scared of riding horses.”
“Have you ever fallen from a galloping horse?”
“No.”
The corner of Wynster’s mouth twisted as if to say there was no way he’d have done such a thing.
“If you haven’t done it, then don’t talk. It hurts so much you feel like you’re about to die.”
She hadn’t disliked horseback riding from the start. If it weren’t for the accident she experienced at the Central Academy, Adeline would have enjoyed riding more skillfully than anyone.
“I should have been more careful back then.”
“That had nothing to do with Your Grace.”
“……If you say so.”
She had no intention of blaming Wynster for the accident she had experienced in the past. It wasn’t the Grand Duke, but his followers, who had made her fall from the horse with a childish prank.
“Move back a bit. I can’t breathe.”
Adeline pushed against the Grand Duke’s chest with her elbow and closed her eyes as if feeling a cool breeze. But unlike her serene face feeling the wind, she clenched her hands tightly to hide their trembling.
***
Wynster’s promise to let her off near the temple wasn’t a complete lie. Wynster, who dismounted first, lifted Adeline down to the ground.
Just then, priests who had spotted Wynster hurriedly ran over.
“Grand Duke Blackwood! Y-Your Grace. Why have you come here?”
“Something came up.”
“But Your Grace is the protagonist today, so you must go to the Central Temple right away.”
“I said something came up.”
“I’m sorry. It’s an important event, so I was worried and couldn’t help but…”
“I’ve brought someone more important, so take proper care of her.”
“……Who is it that’s here?”
The priests looked around, seemingly puzzled.
Adeline had concealed her appearance just before entering the parade. It was a spell that allowed her to temporarily hide her form, though it wouldn’t work against an opponent with stronger power than her own.
“You.”
Wynster whispered softly.
“Don’t use magic carelessly. Using magic in the temple without permission is illegal.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“You used magic even though you knew?”
“I had no choice.”
“You, you keep doing bold things. That could be dangerous.”
“When have I constantly acted dangerously?”
Wynster bent down and met Adeline’s gaze. It seemed as if the man’s red lips would touch Adeline’s any second.
“I told you not to talk so close. I’ll stay here very quietly until I want to leave.”
“You’ll be found out soon anyway.”
As soon as Wynster finished speaking, he tousled Adeline’s hair and untied the handkerchief covering her face. As the magic dissipated and Adeline’s appearance was revealed, the priests couldn’t hide their surprised eyes.
The woman adjusting her brilliantly silver hair was like a beautifully carved statue come to life. Her flushed cheeks, reddened lips, long eyelashes, and spring-like eyes—the priests found it hard to tell if what they were seeing was a person or a work of art.
Adeline looked at Wynster. His blue eyes seemed to say, *’Don’t cause trouble.’* Just then, Wynster whispered softly.
“Adeline.”
“……?”
“If you want to run, you can run.”
“Are you serious about that?”
“Yes.”
*’Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’*
Wynster had been growling just moments ago as if he wouldn’t let her run away. Adeline gave him a suspicious look.
“I’m saying that because I’m confident I’ll catch you soon.”
“…….”
He smiles again. The man’s face held a truly confident expression.
“But, you know.”
“……?”
“If you want to be caught nicely, you’d better tell me in advance where you plan to run to.”
“…….”
“You know I have a bad temper, so let’s leave it at that.”
Wynster whispered quietly. Before hearing Adeline’s answer, he turned his head and called to a man.
“Caon.”
“Yes! Your Grace.”
“You take care of her personally. Don’t ask who she is.”
“A-ah, y-yes, understood!”
Caon, a holy knight standing nearby, ran over. Caon knelt before Adeline. The moment he was about to kiss her hand in greeting to the lady…
“Doing something you weren’t told to do, I see.”
Wynster’s hand blocked Caon’s lips. Startled by the rough hand suddenly intervening, Caon blinked and looked up.
“B-but this is etiquette toward a lady…”
“Don’t.”
A chilling gaze pierced Caon’s face.
“……I apologize.”
Caon, flustered, quickly kissed her forehead instead of her lips and stood up. Wynster frowned, displeased even with that.
***
Caon wasn’t much of a talker, but Adeline didn’t find him uncomfortable.
A man walked in through the colonnaded entrance with sixteen Corinthian granite columns. Light poured from the hole in the top of the giant dome. Wynster, standing under that light, was more radiant than ever.
*’This is the first time I’ve seen a Triumph Ceremony this close up.’*
Although the journey here wasn’t exactly pleasant, it was a moment worth seeing in detail at least once in a lifetime. An excited voice pierced Adeline’s ears.
“Th-that, it’s, it’s really amazing, isn’t it.”
Caon had been spellbound since earlier. Adeline wasn’t thrilled to have discovered another one of Wynster’s followers.
*’So he was quiet because he was entranced.’*
“Really, really, really. It’s too amazing.”
“Ah, yes. It is.”
“……You.”
“Just call me Miss Adeline or Miss Frensia.”
“Yes, Miss Adeline. So, that is…”
“I got hurt on the way here.”
“Huh?”
“I hurt my leg, and His Grace the Grand Duke picked me up. He seems like a very compassionate person.”
“Ah, so that’s it!”
As if finally understanding the situation, Caon nodded. His eyes were filled with respect, love, and affection for Wynster.
*’I need to be careful with Sir Caon too.’*
There had never been anyone sane among Wynster’s followers. This guy probably isn’t normal either. *Sigh.*
Adeline gave a faint smile and took half a step back. Unaware of her thoughts, Caon once again held Wynster in his sparkling eyes.
***
After part of the Triumph Ceremony schedule ended, Adeline, walking with Caon, ran into members of the Blackwood family. They all had solemn expressions.
*’What’s this?’*
Without a chance to run, she was grabbed by them and dragged around in a daze. She only came to her senses fully after being dressed in a pale yellow dress.
“Miss Frensia. Do you like the dress?”
“It’s not bad.”
“The Master chose it himself. Who would have known our Master had such a warm side to him?”
Joseph, who appeared belatedly, was holding the sleeping Luca.
“The message is to attend the banquet quietly like this, right?”
“We would be grateful if you did.”
“What about our Luca until then?”
“We will take care of him.”
*Taking care of him* was just a euphemism for *hostage*. Adeline looked at Luca, asleep holding his bear doll, and let out a small sigh. Joseph quickly interjected before Adeline could sigh again.
“Miss Frensia, the dress really, truly suits you every time I see it.”
Adeline looked at her reflection in the mirror. Just like last time at the hotel, and now again. Pale yellow dresses seemed to be Wynster’s taste.
*’Was there a dress like this in the original story?’*
Joseph handed Luca over to a woman who appeared to be a nanny, then recited the schedule.
“Today’s banquet will be at the temple, and the next banquet is scheduled to be held at the Imperial Palace.”
“His Grace the Grand Duke must be very busy. He probably won’t have a moment to spare.”
“But he’ll likely feel less lonely with this part of the schedule since Miss Frensia is with him.”
He must have known it was a sarcastic tone, but Joseph still didn’t lose his benevolent smile.
“My schedule is only until midnight today. When that time comes, I’ll take our Luca and go back.”
“……Understood. I will convey that to His Grace for now.”
Bam!
