Chapter 96

The emperor continued to call out Adel's name for a long time before he turned back. No, it would be more accurate to say that he was pushed away by the attendants. When Mrs. Gix came to inform her, Adel was reviewing the documents she had written all night.

"Oh, Mrs. Gix."

Her face was calm. Mrs. Gix, who had intended to inform her that the emperor had left, realized that it was unnecessary and simply smiled and asked,

"Do you need anything?"

At this, Adel opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for it.

"Could you call Duke Herbert for me?"

"Yes, I understand."

While Mrs. Gix was out, Adel calmly envisioned the future. Is this right? Is this truly the right choice? Can I do this? All sorts of fears flooded in. Despite her calm face, the hands hidden under the desk were drenched in sweat. A moment later, someone knocked on the door politely yet urgently.

"Come in."

Just as Adel was about to stand up, the door opened. He seemed to have rushed over, as he looked somewhat disheveled. That man was always like this. When she called, he would come as if it were the most important thing, blindly. Seeing his face, the fear that had been overwhelming her vanished. For some reason, her heart felt heavy, and Adel smiled at him. Lionel looked at her in a daze. Her smile was always so dazzling that it could take one's breath away, making it impossible to look away, but now it had a faint and simple charm, as if it were dawn. She looked very light and free, as if she had put down a heavy burden. Lionel couldn't bear to look at Adel's face and lowered his eyes. When the emperor, who had come like an unwelcome guest at dawn, approached Adel and shouted at her, the person who stood by her side was not him.

'I am Cain Knox, the head of the Gottrop Knox family. Her Highness is the princess of Gottrop, and as her subject, I have the duty to protect her. Therefore, I cannot leave.'

Lionel, who had helplessly watched them from the bottom of the stairs, shuddered with a deep sense of defeat. Despite being her advisor and always close to her, he had never stood by her side as confidently as Cain Knox. It was painfully ironic and made his heart ache. At that moment,

"Duke Herbert."

Lionel looked up at the cold, low voice.

"Come here for a moment."

Adel looked at Lionel, who was approaching with a determined face. She had carefully thought it through, but her heart was pounding as she tried to speak. She was worried that he might hear her heart beating. Adel extended the documents she was holding to Lionel.

"I've organized all the magical knowledge I was working on last night."

Lionel's gaze was fixed on the documents she offered. Adel felt her mouth dry as she looked at Lionel's face.

"When do you plan to start the revolution?"

Lionel finally looked up at her.

"You already know, but the sooner the better."

"Grand Duke will contact us, but I think it will start with the council meeting tomorrow."

Adel's eyes widened at the unexpectedly urgent development.

"That's why I've prepared a villa outside the capital for Her Highness to stay. Please move there today with the people from Gottrop."

After being deposed, Adel had been staying in Ehmont as the princess and honored guest of Gottrop. If she got involved in this as a princess from another country, she would face great trouble regardless of the outcome. Lionel had first taken care of this to prevent Adel from getting involved in the revolution. Adel looked at Lionel silently for a while before speaking.

"I won't go there."

Lionel's eyes flickered, but Adel didn't stop.

"I will return to Gottrop today."

His eyes reddened instantly. His jaw trembled pitifully, and he couldn't speak, only opening and closing his mouth. He looked as if the sky had fallen, trembling precariously. Adel spoke to him calmly but firmly.

"I am a very selfish person, and I couldn't give up anything."

Lionel should have said, "No, that's only natural," but he couldn't bring himself to say it. However, Adel's words didn't end there.

"After completing the proper procedures in Gottrop, I will return and be with you."

Lionel froze as if struck by lightning. Had he really heard it correctly? If so, what did it mean? In a split second, Lionel replayed her words dozens of times, but he still couldn't believe it, staring at Adel in a daze. She was blinking, her long lashes casting shadows on her face, which was slightly flushed, and one of her round ears was red. Seeing this, a surge of hot blood rushed through his body, starting from his heart. Lionel approached Adel, trembling. He couldn't tell if the pounding heart was his or hers. As he took a step closer, Adel involuntarily held her breath. She couldn't look at him and shook her head slightly, mumbling,

"No... 'be with you,' I misspoke. I meant to say..."

Lionel couldn't hold back and whispered,

"Please call my name."

Adel carefully murmured his name.

"...Duke Herbert."

"No, my name... my name, please."

With a wet voice, Adel finally looked up. She gasped. He was looking at her with a smile through tears. The emotions swirling in his deep blue eyes reached Adel. She opened her mouth, looking at him in a daze.

"Leo..."

But before she could finish, his name was shattered between their lips, as Lionel leaned in and kissed her, as if gasping for breath. The mingling breaths made her feel as if she were going mad. The more he greedily kissed her, the more his thirst grew, and Lionel couldn't help but press her closer. In the dizzying sensation, her back hit the desk.

He held the back of her head and poured himself into her. The quills on the desk scattered, and the ink bottle rolled to the floor, but the two, lost in each other's breath, didn't notice. As they explored each other, Lionel suddenly realized her cheeks were wet. He quickly pulled back, startled. Adel, who valued her royal dignity more than anything, and he had pushed her like an animal in a moment of impulse. He wanted to hit himself. As Lionel bit his lip and swallowed his guilt, she spoke softly.

"Don't die."

"..."

"Don't die, don't get hurt... until I return."

Adel lay on the desk, looking at him and shedding endless tears. Lionel, with a heavy heart, slowly lifted her and held her precious in his arms. Her slender body, like a small bird, felt like his own heart. He could feel her tears soaking through his collar. A profound emotion spread through his chest. Lionel gently kissed Adel's forehead and, gathering his courage, whispered the words he had kept hidden in his heart.

"I love you."

The small body, which had been leaning lazily, stiffened slightly, but she didn't push him away. Lionel carefully relaxed her tense shoulders and whispered again.

"I love you."

Like a delicate sprout that had survived a harsh winter, his whispered love bloomed in Adel's heart. She pressed her ear to his heart, which was beating wildly, and slowly smiled. His large, clumsy hand gently stroked her hair, which was endearing. It wasn't bad to feel protected like the most delicate bird in the world. Just as she thought this, Lionel buried his head in her neck and whispered,

"It's okay even if you don't return."

Surprised by his unexpected answer, Adel's eyes widened. But it seemed he wasn't done, as his voice tickled her ear.

"I will come to you. No matter where you are, no matter what you want to do, I just need you. Just allow me to be by your side."

Lionel slowly took a deep breath. The sweet scent that made him feel like he was going mad filled his lungs, and he held her tighter. He knew he should let her go, but he couldn't bear to release her from his embrace. He wanted to abandon the revolution, which involved countless lives, and Ehmont, and disappear with her somewhere. At that moment, she pulled back slightly. As Lionel barely lifted his head from her neck, she was right in front of him, close enough to touch noses. Adel slowly leaned in and gently kissed his lips. Her lips, like blooming roses, slightly parted.

"I'm going for that. To be by your side."

With those sweet words, their lips met again. Lionel held Adel closer, vowing to survive and stand by this person's side. ＊ ＊ ＊ After the sweet, dream-like moment, Lionel had to leave to handle the numerous tasks at hand, leaving Adel behind. As Lionel left the mansion, Adel called for Cain and Ghibelline. As soon as she said she was returning to Gottrop, Ghibelline jumped up, delighted.

"Yes, Your Highness! Let's leave this country right now!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Even if he was the emperor, how dare he come to a foreign princess at dawn and demand to be led to the room where the honored guest was staying?! Moreover, when he pushed his arrogant face towards Adel, Ghibelline wanted to throw him out like a piece of trash.

"Can we prepare right away?!"

"Yes. Let's go back."

As Adel nodded with a smile, Ghibelline, as if he had been waiting, rushed out of the room. However, Cain remained silent, standing in place. Adel tilted her head, looking at him.

"Why, Cain?"

Cain looked at Adel with an unreadable expression. The emotions in his beautiful eyes seemed to be both resentment and sadness. As Adel remained silent, Cain spoke.

"When we return, will you marry me?"

"No."

Though it wasn't the first time, the immediate rejection was still painful and bitter. Cain, with a trembling voice, pleaded desperately.

"You don't have to fulfill your marriage duties. Just take the name of Knox to live comfortably in Gottrop. If you support the Tower Resistance occasionally and stay away from politics, the things you fear so much won't happen. I will... I will do everything to prevent it..."

"Cain."

"Then, Your Highness, when we return..."

"Don't cry. Your tears make my heart ache."

'...Why can't I?'

Cain swallowed the words he couldn't say, pouring out his sorrow in tears. His handsome face, wet with tears, shone, but Adel couldn't easily stroke his cheek. Clumsy comfort could sometimes be more cruel than a knife. Adel took a deep breath and spoke firmly.

"As I've always said, you are like a brother to me."

"I have never thought of you that way."

"You may not, but I do."

"..."

"That's why I can't marry you."

"..."

"Let's go back now. Get ready."

Cruel. You are so cruel. Despite this, I can't help but love you, truly cruel. Cain looked at Adel for a long time with wet eyes before standing up. Just before opening the door, he asked in a tight voice,

"Have you found the reason why you didn't die?"

Though he asked tentatively, his heart was racing. After a moment, a slow answer came from behind him.

"Yes, I have."

Cain involuntarily turned to look at Adel. Her pale, white face, her vivid golden eyes, and her tightly pressed red lips. She was the same. The very image he had dreamed of. Yet, something was different. Something had changed. It was the same person he knew, yet she had become a stranger.

"Can I ask what it is?"

His voice trembled. Could it be... Lionel Herbert? Could she say his name? But the calm answer that came out was completely unexpected.

"Adelheid."

Cain couldn't say anything.