“Felyn, I don’t think I can eat anymore.”
“All right, just this last spoonful and then you’re done.”
Adeline looked wearily at the heaping spoonful of food in Felyn’s hand. This was already the fourth “last spoonful” he’d promised.
“Really?”
“Really.”
She opened her mouth, letting Felyn gently feed her the bite. Her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, and only then did Felyn finally put the spoon down.
She must not have eaten properly the past few days, so he had to half-coax and half-trick her into finishing the meal.
Skipping meals wasn’t an option—it only made moods worse. And if anyone ended up taking the brunt of it, it would be him.
Adeline held the bowl with both hands, sipping slowly from the soup Felyn had made himself. Then she dabbed her lips with a handkerchief.
It really felt like Felyn was feeding her like a pig.
She touched her slightly rounded belly. She’d thought that skipping meals these past few days might help her lose some weight, but now all the progress had been undone with this one feast.
Still, after a good nap and a full meal, she felt much better.
“Adeline, do you need me to stay with you a bit longer? I just... I want to do something for you.”
Felyn was gently steering the conversation toward the heart of the issue. He didn’t ask directly what was wrong—he hoped she’d choose to open up on her own.
Adeline slipped off her slippers and tucked her feet onto the stool, hugging her knees.
If this were a typical story, this would be the moment she poured out all her frustration and grievances. Then Felyn would comfort her, and the two of them would hit it off and go make dumplings in the kitchen.
But this world didn’t have dumplings.
And Adeline didn’t speak her mind.
She was the Light of Claudé. the most outstanding student council president in the history of Lanchester Academy.
She never showed her vulnerability in front of anyone, not even Felyn.
That had always been her habit.
Because she longed to meet her true love, and to earn the attention of the divine, she couldn’t allow herself to fail.
Because she’d always been number one, the title “Light of Claudé” came to represent not just praise, but expectation—a weight she carried. She couldn’t show weakness to others so easily.
That childhood wish had shaped the girl she was today.
“I’m really glad you came, Felyn. I am. But I still have a lot of work to do, so…”
Adeline wanted a hug—she wanted to let herself relax in Felyn’s warmth.
But she couldn’t do it.
“I get it, Adeline. It’s okay.”
Felyn quietly began clearing the dishes. He didn’t push her further.
He knew she was still being stubborn, but he didn’t force it. Forcing someone to talk about their pain under the guise of care was just another way of hurting them.
And that wasn’t something Felyn would ever do.
Adeline watched him silently gather up the plates and cups.
Sometimes, understanding silence was more comforting than a hundred words of concern.
Her gaze stayed fixed on Felyn.
She held her legs tighter, her lips parting as if to speak. She wanted to tell him everything she’d endured these past few days.
But in the end, she didn’t.
Maybe it was pride, or maybe it was that last bit of stubbornness in her that refused to open up in front of others. So she sat there, conflicted and torn, watching as Felyn finished cleaning, took off his apron, washed his hands, and walked with her to the door.
Felyn truly didn’t press her. And somehow, that made it hurt more.
“Adeline, let’s just call this round of service on the house. I’ll still come back for the next contract. I’m heading out now. You should get some rest.”
Felyn gave a small wave after checking from the corner of his eye that the gift bag he’d brought was sitting safely on the sofa.
Adeline watched him turn and walk away, his figure disappearing into the night.
Felyn was gone…
Her gaze lingered in the darkness, searching but unable to find any trace of him.
The manor was still the same—but also, not the same.
Felyn’s presence had breathed life into every painting and sculpture, filling the place with warmth.
Now that he was gone, it felt cold and lifeless.
Adeline stood at the door for a long time, eyes quietly resting on the faint damp marks still on the dining table.
Was it all just a dream? Had Felyn really been here?
Why did she feel so empty?
As the last trace of moisture on the table dried up, the final mark Felyn had left behind disappeared with it.
Adeline dragged herself up the stairs, gripping the banister, and returned to her room.
A room meant for one.
Her shadow cast on the wall was still and lonely.
Then came the faint sound of pen on paper.
Adeline sat upright in her chair, posture proper. Just like the past few days, she wrote swiftly and elegantly across the page.
“Upon review, the sponsorship proposal is hereby…”
Adeline continued to write.
“In conclusion, the school festival has far-reaching influence. If the guild agrees to sponsor, then Felyn can stay by my side.”
Her thoughts had wandered far away. The nonsense spilling from her pen revealed what was truly in her heart.
She wanted Felyn to be with her.
“What am I even writing…”
Seeing the childish sentence on the page, her ears flushed pink. She quickly crumpled up the paper into a ball.
With a sigh, she realized she no longer had the energy to keep working.
Her eyes drifted back to the window. She knew Felyn wasn’t out there. But she still found herself wishing—
What if he hadn’t left?
But she was the one who told him to go… And now she was longing for him to return.
“This is all my fault. Sometimes I really am...”
Adeline let out a soft sigh and slumped over the desk.
Sometimes I really am pathetic.
She muttered to herself, “I’m not some Light of Claudé. I have feelings too. Why does it always have to be me?”
Unable to shake off her emotions, she got up and walked toward the living room. Maybe there was still a trace of Felyn’s warmth lingering there.
She held the banister as she walked downstairs, and then she saw a shopping bag sitting on the sofa.
It looked like something Felyn had brought.
Curious, Adeline walked closer. A bit of pink poked out from the bag.
A pig’s tail?
Did Felyn leave this for me?
After a moment of hesitation, she picked it up.
Inside was a pink plush pig doll—an identical pair to the one she had in her villa back in the Donk District.
Beneath the toy was a letter.
“Adeline, here’s a little pig plush for you. I thought you might be feeling a bit lonely right now, so I wanted it to keep you company.”
“It even has a name. Linfei. If you’re ever sad or upset, talk to it. That way, no one else will ever know.”
“I really like your strong side, Adeline. And I also like the side of you that refuses to show weakness in front of others. I like every version of you.”
“I’ll keep working hard. One day, I hope I’ll be someone worthy of hearing all your troubles. Goodnight. Sleep well.”
“Wrote this while you were napping at the table, hehe.”
Adeline could feel Felyn’s emotions in every word. She could picture him watching her sleep in the kitchen, smiling as he wrote the letter.
“Felyn…”
Her chest ached with indescribable emotion, her hands trembling as she clutched the letter.
Her eyes instantly welled up.
She hugged the pink plush pig tightly, burying her face in its soft fur as though she were embracing Felyn himself.
A warm current surged through her heart, spreading through her entire body, washing away the loneliness and exhaustion of these past few days.
“You idiot…”
She whispered softly, yet her lips curled into a smile.
“If you’d just shown me this letter earlier… You’ve already done more than enough. I... I...”
She regretted it—regretted letting him leave like that.
She flung open the door. The cold night wind swept through, blowing her freshly washed, rose-purple hair behind her.
Adeline stepped out of the house, slowly walking toward the manor’s main gate.
If only Felyn were still here. If only he hadn’t gone yet…
“What am I even thinking?”
It had already been over an hour since he left. How could he still be here?
Adeline lowered her head. Her silhouette looked especially fragile under the moonlight.
She turned around, ready to go back inside—
“Hey, Adeline.”
A familiar voice called out.
She snapped her head up in shock.
Was it an illusion?
But no—Felyn’s figure stood right there before her.
“Felyn!”
(End of Chapter)