Chapter 75
Adrian finally let out a long sigh of relief.
It was something he had carried in his heart all this time, something he had wanted to reveal someday.
He liked Liberata.
He needed her.
No matter how the process had gone, he felt a sense of liberation.
He hadn’t expected to say it in front of a completely unexpected man rather than Rive.
In contrast to Adrian, Zherelac’s face first showed a hint of awkwardness, which quickly shifted to a cold, chilling aura.
“…….”
Adrian also stood quietly, waiting for Zherelac to speak.
He knew that the Duke was not a man of many words, but this silence was truly unbearable.
The tension between the two men was taut, almost on the verge of snapping.
It was Zherelac who first broke the ice of the frozen tension.
“This isn’t really something I should be hearing, so I’m not sure how to respond.”
For the first time, he looked Adrian over carefully.
Although his lips were pressed firmly together, giving him a stern impression, he exuded a gentle and kind atmosphere.
‘Surely she doesn’t like this kind of cheesy type.’
Zherelac had already confirmed Rive’s feelings, and he was certain she liked him, but Adrian’s confident demeanor left him strangely displeased.
‘He even spouted absurd things at Rive’s home.’
He remembered clearly.
When Rive was a child, she had thrown a tantrum, claiming she would marry Adrian. When she was embarrassed, he claimed it was an expression of affection.
‘He might be useful in finding Rive, so I can’t completely dismiss him.’
Adrian and Zherelac were complete opposites in both personality and appearance.
Zherelac, with hair as dark and enchanting as midnight, and Adrian, with subtly elegant ash-brown hair.
Zherelac’s reddish-brown eyes sometimes felt predatory, while Adrian’s deep blue eyes resembled the depths of the ocean.
If Zherelac Cygnus was like the sun at 4 p.m., Adrian Watford was like the morning dew at 6 a.m.
“As much as Rive is necessary for your life, I need Rive just as much—perhaps even more.”
Though his tone was emotionless, his intent was clear.
“The same goes for me. Perhaps I’m even more desperate than Your Grace.”
Adrian had been tense until now, but having revealed everything, he no longer shrank back.
“What does that mean?”
“Unlike Your Grace, I risked my life for it.”
At Adrian’s words, Zherelac tilted his head slightly and let out a wry laugh.
“To say you risked your life is premature; nothing is certain yet.”
“It will be revealed soon. And Your Grace, you must have already suspected something similar about me.”
Adrian responded without backing down.
He slowly blinked, the motion of his eyelashes noticeable, then opened his eyes.
“Anyway, since Rive’s return is the most important thing, why not join forces with me for now?”
“You took too dangerous a risk to be joining hands.”
Adrian pressed the corners of his mouth into a determined line at Zherelac’s words.
“But that choice allows us to—”
“No. You should never have damaged the books.”
“…….”
“For now, let’s go back. Since someone is clearly targeting Rive, we cannot act recklessly.”
“Understood.”
Adrian bowed respectfully to Zherelac as he had when entering and then turned to leave.
“Phew.”
The man who stepped outside through the opened door looked completely drained.
‘Surely they will tell Rive that I might have risked my life. Now, the task left for me is to figure out how to get inside the book.’
Had Clem known?
If he had, Zherelac would have moved first.
But for now, he was the only one Adrian could rely on.
Just as Adrian, lost in thought, was about to descend the stairs to the lower floor, a woman’s voice floated up.
“Sir Watford.”
Looking up, he saw a woman who was neither entirely familiar nor completely unknown.
It was Grania Shreine.
“…My lady.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
She smiled gracefully, but Adrian’s expression remained clouded.
‘What? Asking if I’ve been well?’
Adrian almost let out a wry laugh.
He didn’t really know Grania. Their only encounter had been an argument over the meeting held regarding Rive’s disappearance.
<In such a noisy place like a party? To make wishes and reminisce?>
<Then must everything be dark like a funeral?>
Back then, Grania had been like a stray cat, baring her claws, showing no effort to hide her displeasure.
Adrian’s frown deepened as he remembered their argument.
“You’re on your way back after seeing the Duke, right?”
As if nothing had ever happened between them, Grania asked kindly.
“Yes, then I shall—”
Adrian lightly responded and was about to continue down the stairs when she interrupted.
“Wait, Sir Watford.”
“…….”
“Could I ask you a favor?”
Adrian felt awkward, unwilling to face her, yet she continued as if unfazed.
“Sorry. Somehow I ended up coming out alone and the castle is so vast that I seem to have lost my way.”
Indeed, Grania was alone without a single maid.
“No problem. If you go down this staircase—”
“Sir Watford, please accompany me until we exit the castle. That much, you can do, right?”
Adrian was heading outside anyway. Refusing would only force them to walk in the same direction but at a distance.
‘Sigh, this is tricky.’
It was an unpleasant but awkward request to refuse.
“All right. Very well.”
“Thank you, Sir Watford. You’re truly kind.”
Adrian offered no reply and slowly began descending the stairs.
He just wanted to leave the castle quickly and plan his next steps.
After walking some distance, Grania spoke in a quiet voice.
“You’re still upset with me over the last incident, aren’t you?”
Adrian was a man born with innate manners.
He always maintained a polite smile and a calm, elegant voice. Remembering past unpleasant incidents made him feel uneasy, fearing he might be rude.
He forced an artificial smile and spoke.
“Sorry, my lady. I was just lost in thought.”
“Ah.”
Grania glanced at him with a somewhat peculiar expression.
“Is this about Lady Bernadette?”
Adrian couldn’t help but pause.
Last time, he had raised his voice over crossing the line, and now it felt like she was deliberately touching a sensitive issue.
But he didn’t want to waste time clashing with her again. He shook his head politely, maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor.
Grania smiled gently.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I overheard part of your conversation with the Duke.”
“…What?”
“Don’t worry or be shocked. I already know everything.”
Flustered, Adrian looked around.
Luckily, no one was in the hallway, only distant footsteps occasionally echoing.
“What exactly are you saying?”
His heart began pounding.
He tried to recall his conversation with Zherelac, but his mind went blank.
Yet the content of the conversation no longer mattered.
“When you came to my house last time, I had a feeling. That you had feelings for Lady Bernadette.”
Grania continued, seemingly unconcerned with Adrian’s expression.
“I support your love.”
“No, Lady Shreine—”
“So I want to tell you something.”
“…….”
“A secret.”
At that, Adrian completely stopped and looked at her.
“A secret?”
Could Grania really know something?
As Adrian faced her, Grania narrowed her eyes and smiled.
She had come to tell Zherelac about the improvised hut being Elome.
She hesitated, unsure how to speak without arousing suspicion, when through a slightly open door, a man’s voice drifted out.
Adrian likes Liberata.
His feelings are deep enough to take rather risky actions for her.
“Sir Watford, you want to go to Lady Bernadette, don’t you?”
“What did you say?”
“Sorry… but overhearing it turned out to be a good thing after all.”
Grania stepped closer to Adrian, who was frozen like ice, and whispered softly.
It might be the last opportunity.
“I’ll help you get there.”
