“Ah… Adeline…”
Felyn sat in the Claude family’s private car, with Adeline clutching his hand tightly. Her rose-tea-colored hair carried the sweet, youthful scent unique to a young girl.
No matter how luxurious the vehicle’s interior was, it couldn’t overshadow the noble lady beside him.
Adeline was the most dazzling presence in the car.
He’d already been squeezed into the corner, but Adeline still kept leaning into him.
After just escaping a crisis, she now seemed desperate to press herself as close to Felyn as possible.
Even with the driver and guards present, Adeline no longer cared about how it looked to others.
“Felyn, are you feeling unwell?”
He could feel the weight of Adeline’s full chest pressing against his arm. He had intended to ask her to give him some space, but when the words reached his lips… he just couldn’t say it.
And so, the two of them passed through the Royal Capital’s streets, arriving at the fully armed gates of the estate.
Doctors were already waiting at the entrance, and the moment Adeline stepped out of the car, they rushed over.
Felyn also spotted a few familiar faces—doctors who had previously delivered him gifts.
They, too, recognized him immediately. Instead of swarming around Adeline, they rushed straight to Felyn.
“Mr. Felyn, are you hurt anywhere? Quickly now, let’s get you into the medical wing.”
Even bootlicking had to be targeted effectively.
And what did Adeline currently value the most? Obviously, the young man by her side.
Just the other day in the Donk District villa, they had seen him lying in Lady Adeline’s bed. And now here he was again, returning from danger by her side in the Royal Capital. What else needed to be said about their relationship?
If they took good care of Adeline’s beloved young man, promotions and raises wouldn’t be far behind.
“I’m really fine. I didn’t even get hurt.”
“That won’t do.” The doctors didn’t let him off the hook and promptly forced him onto a stretcher.
“You haven’t even been examined. How can you say you’re fine?”
As they carried Felyn past Adeline, the doctors exchanged glances, torn between two decisions:
Should they bring him to the infirmary—or straight to Adeline’s bedroom?
Just as they passed her, a few guards were overheard chatting nearby.
“That young man’s got a gentle look, but who knew he could protect Lady Adeline in such a crucial moment?”
“Right? Their opponents were even from the Divine Church! And yet that kid managed to drive them off.”
Adeline had given all the credit to Felyn.
She guessed that the masked girl, probably didn’t want her identity exposed, so she had kept her out of the report.
Hearing the guards talk, the doctors immediately made up their minds:
He saved Lady Adeline?
Then straight to her bed it is!
…
Once again, Felyn lay on Adeline’s bed.
The enthusiastic doctors had finished their examinations and, after briefly greeting Adeline, quickly made their exit.
It was clear to everyone that Adeline only had eyes for Felyn now. Anyone who lingered might end up shipped off to do forced labor overseas.
The room, once buzzing with noise, quieted down.
Only Felyn and Adeline remained.
“Adeline, I really am okay.”
Felyn tried to sit up, but Adeline gently pushed him back down.
“I know.”
Even with her love-struck brain, Adeline knew full well that neither she nor Felyn had been hurt by those attackers.
This was just a little trick—her way of getting Felyn to lie on her bed.
By pretending to be concerned, she now had the perfect excuse to stay close to him.
But Adeline wasn’t thinking only about the moment.
She gave Felyn all the credit so her father would remember his name. She wanted the royal family to hear about his bravery too.
If the royal court recognized him for protecting a noble, they might restore his noble status—maybe even grant him a title and land. And then, she could marry him openly and proudly.
Adeline saw far ahead. She had already started thinking about her dowry.
“Felyn, are you tired?”
She still held his hand tightly. Now that she had realised her love, she didn’t want to be apart from him for even a second.
“A bit, yeah.”
He hadn’t slept the night before, and they had just come through a fight.
Now, between the soft pillows and the calming scent of sleep-inducing incense wafting through the room, his eyelids were getting heavy.
“Just sleep on my bed. We can deal with everything else after you rest.”
“Isn’t that… kind of inappropriate?”
“There’s no one else here. What’s inappropriate about it? No one’s going to come in,” Adeline said boldly, though she didn’t dare meet his eyes as she spoke.
“I’ll just sleep on the sofa over there. You take the bed, Adeline.”
But before Felyn could finish his sentence, Adeline had already slipped under the covers.
Their eyes met, each reflecting the other’s image.
The sweet scent of the girl filled his nose, tempting him to do something sinful.
“I’m going to sleep. Good night, Felyn.”
Adeline held tightly onto his hand, pretending to have fallen asleep, refusing to let him leave.
Felyn tried to pull away, but to his surprise, Adeline’s grip was incredibly strong.
And this incense… was it really just for sleep? Its effect felt way too powerful…
He struggled for a bit but was quickly overtaken by drowsiness.
Once his breathing calmed and his eyes fully closed, Adeline slowly opened hers.
This sleep incense really works.
She smiled secretly, her little plan a complete success.
Adeline quietly scooted closer to Felyn and gently wrapped her arms around him.
She could feel the rhythm of his breath, the beat of his heart.
Everything that had happened today felt like something out of a novel.
My brave hero really came to rescue me.
She held her Felyn—hers alone for this one moment—and smiled softly.
“Felyn… I guess I’ve already fallen for you.”
The contract only had a few months left, but she could easily renew it at three or even four times the price.
Besides, all her money would belong to Felyn in the end anyway. She might as well start spending it on her future husband now.
For the first time, Adeline felt grateful to be born a noble.
That way, she could earn enough to support Felyn’s every whim. Whatever he wanted, she could give.
Soon, lulled by the steady sound of Felyn’s breathing, Adeline too drifted into sleep.
They both slept soundly that night.
But not everyone in the Royal Capital was pleased.
…
In the Noke family manor—
Noke collapsed onto the couch, listening to the robed man standing before her recount the evening’s events.
“You really tried to assassinate Adeline?! Are you out of your mind? Were you trying to drag me down with you?!”
Her voice sounded hollow. The world around her felt like it had turned to ash and gray.
If anyone ever found out she was connected to the Divine Church…
She wouldn’t even need to wait for the royal court—just the Claude family alone could flatten her entire household.
“Calm down, Lady Noke. At the very least, our people weren’t exposed. From what I’ve heard, the royals still don’t know which church was behind the attack.”
The robed man’s tone was growing impatient. He knew he’d screwed up.
“Sure, you weren’t exposed. But what about me? Everyone’s been saying I was targeting Adeline lately! And then she just happens to be ambushed on her way to the Commercial Association? You think no one’s going to connect the dots?!”
The man furrowed his brow.
“You’re not a Divine Church member. You don’t even use divine arts. And honestly, who would believe you’d attack Adeline just for a school sponsorship? The reasoning doesn’t hold. They won’t suspect you right away.”
“Still… for now, we all need to lay low.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?!”
The butler’s voice came softly from behind the door. “Milady, it’s the application report from Miss Adeline Claude.”
The moment Noke heard that name, her head began to throb. She waved the butler inside and casually flipped through the application on the table.
“Go tell the Commercial Association that from now on, anything related to Adeline—just approve it. As long as it’s not too outrageous, let her do whatever she wants. No more blocking her.”
Claude must’ve been furious already. If she dared make things hard for his daughter again, the man might just show up at her doorstep and slap her across the face.
“B-But… Miss Adeline made an additional request…”
Noke raised an eyebrow, signaling the butler to continue.
“She… she wants the original sponsorship budget tripled…”
“WHAT?! There’s no way the association has that kind of money!” Noke shot to her feet, slamming the table.
“She’s robbing us blind! Adeline Claude, you’re looting us in broad daylight!”
(End of Chapter)