CH 11

“Lady Tien. I think His Grace is only looking at you.”

The ladies around her were making a fuss as if it was their own business, but Adeline, the person concerned, had a throbbing headache.

Her head already hurt because of Vanessa, who rushed out yesterday with a lot of misunderstandings, and Kael, who appeared at the Princess’ picnic, made her sigh automatically.

‘I mean, wasn’t Kael Inver the person who would never show up for a social event unless the Emperor picked him up and called him?’

Today was the day when the Princess, the Crown Prince’s sister, organized a picnic in the imperial palace.

As it was a picnic held by the Princess, with the seal of the imperial family, all the invited nobles were there, without exception.

However, even in this situation, Kael should not be in this place.

Even if the organizer was the Princess, even if everyone responded to the invitation, Kael always politely refused to attend for various reasons.

“The Grand Duke has never shown up at a picnic before.”

“Exactly my words. As expected, there seems to be only one reason, right?”

Small laughter spread beyond the ladies’ fans.

They firmly believed that Kael was present because of Adeline.

“He must have accepted it because it’s a picnic held by the Princess. Since it’s an imperial event.”

“Oh, Lady Tien, really. You’re clearly embarrassed.”

She tried to deny it, but it didn’t work either.

In fact, Adeline knew better than anyone else.

She even received flowers from him yesterday, so it didn’t make sense for her not to know what he meant.

“I have nothing to be embarrassed about. His Grace just responded to the invitation for the Princess. Then, I’ll see you soon.”

Still, Adeline pretended not to know until the end, and escaped from her seat.

Because not only did Kael keep looking at her, but he also showed signs that he was going to approach Adeline.

Due to him appearing here, everyone at the picnic glanced at Kael and Adeline.

She didn’t know what kind of rumors would spread again if the two of them stood close to each other and had a conversation in this place.

‘Word spread around that our marriage was confirmed just because the Grand Duke became Sophia’s first dance partner. If we stayed close to each other again, word would spread that even the wedding date had been set.’

With Vanessa’s misunderstanding still unresolved, she did not want to make the situation worse.

Vanessa was also at this picnic.

Since she was watching, she shouldn’t stick with Kael for no reason and make a bigger misunderstanding.

Adeline walked to the outskirts of the garden with quick steps.

Certainly, the more outwards she headed, the fewer people there were.

“It’ll be okay if we stay this far apart.”

She came as far away as the passage allowed.

Adeline took a breather as she looked at the large lake in front of her.

“Do you like the lake?”

“Dear lord!”

She knew it was against her sophistication to be surprised and scream, but she couldn’t help but do so.

Astonished, Adeline looked in the direction of the voice she heard.

“W-when did you come h… You didn’t make any noise at all, so how…”

“I didn’t make a noise on purpose.”

“B-but still… Did you keep following me?”

“Yes. I have a lot to talk about with the Lady.”

She walked hard in her shoes and came here to avoid him.

But Kael was next to Adeline, having started following her at some point.

“Unfortunately, I have nothing to talk about with Your Grace. Instead of me, there must be a lot of people looking for you.”

“Unfortunately, the Lady is the only person I can talk to like this.”

“How could that be?”

“It is true.”

Kael didn’t lose to her words and didn’t let Adeline go.

“I guess I didn’t like the flowers very much.” Kael brought up the conversation about the flowers first.

Originally, it was polite to send a reply of gratitude before the day passed when receiving a gift.

“Why did you send me flowers?”

In fact, she had to apologize first for not sending a response at the right time.

Adeline also knew that well. However, the situation was so frustrating that she couldn’t help but shoot back.

Hearing the ladies’ conversation earlier, it was rumored that ‘Grand Duke Inver’ had sent ‘flowers’ to Adeline.

“I received Iums from the North. That’s why I sent some to you.”

“So why did you send them to me?”

“Well. Because I want to give them to you. You also gave me flowers first.”

As she recalled the blue roses she sprinkled with a potion, Adeline’s eyes shook slightly.

Then, as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, she feigned innocence and looked at Kael.

He talked about it as if it wasn’t a big deal, but Adeline knew the meaning beyond that.

‘He knows exactly how rumors spread!’

It was Kael, not anyone else.

A man who was rumored to be terribly cold sent flowers to a woman.

It was inevitable that there would be word going around about how immensely he had fallen in love with Adeline.

Kael pretended it wasn’t, but it was definitely a scheme.

‘Ah… I see. He didn’t just attend the social events, he knew very well the ecosystem here.’

Not attending and avoiding them didn’t mean not knowing the social world.

His position was none other than that of the Grand Duke who ruled the North.

There was no way he didn’t know how to use the eyes and ears of the nobles or how to shake them.

“Don’t send them ever again. Even if you send them, I won’t accept them.”

“In that case, I have no choice but to meet you like this.”

Hearing Kael’s answer, which made it seem like it was nothing, Adeline faced him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Didn’t I tell you? If there is not the slightest lie in what the Lady said, I will make you my wife, by all means.” “Are you serious?”

“I don’t talk nonsense.”

Adeline wanted to wrap up her head and lie down right away.

His unshakable blue-grey eyes and firm voice showed Kael’s genuine desire to enter a marriage contract with Adeline.

She was anxious that at this rate, Vanessa might not be well received by Kael no matter how hard she tried.

“Your Grace, I…”

The moment Adeline took one step closer to Kael, thinking that showing how desperately she wanted to refuse would be effective, surprised gasps were heard all over the place.

“We’ve had quite a big audience since a while ago.”

Kael whispered in a low voice, making use of the narrowed distance between them.

As he said, there were a lot of people around both of them.

She came here because the outskirts of this place were clearly tranquil, but when Kael and Adeline met, everyone sneaked up to them.

‘Is everyone just looking at me and the Grand Duke?’

Adeline glanced around with a stunned expression.

Everyone seemed eager to know what kind of conversation Kael and Adeline exchanged and what kind of atmosphere they had.

“It looks like there are many people besides me who support our marriage.”

“What do you mean, our marriage? Who is going to get married!”

As she was about to shoot back and tell him not to say nonsense, Adeline’s eyes caught Vanessa.

Standing a short distance away, Vanessa gazed at Kael and Adeline for a moment before staring at the lake.

Today too, Vanessa was beautiful.

The light brown hair, decorated only with ribbons so that it could flow beautifully, and the light-yellow dress, which fitted her body perfectly, revealed Vanessa’s feminine lines and emphasized her charming atmosphere to the fullest.

‘Huh? Why is she like that?’

She thought that she had to come up with a way to make Kael focus on that beautiful appearance; however, Adeline frowned slightly.

Vanessa looked somehow strange.

The way her body swayed was unusual.

“Huh?”

As soon as Adeline caught a hint of what was happening, Vanessa’s body leaned towards the lake.

“No!”

At that moment, Adeline set everything aside and ran to Vanessa.

Adeline was moved by the dizziness that a person had fallen into the water, the desperation that Vanessa should never get sick, and the instinct to help a person in danger.

“Lady Felix!”

Adeline dived into the lake without hesitation.

Because everything happened so fast, Kael had no way to stop her.

Her hair and dress were wet, and her appearance was ridiculously messed up, but without giving a damn, she swam to the spot where Vanessa had fallen and rescued her.

It was Leo who taught her how to swim, saying that she had to learn it because she didn’t know what could happen.

“Lady Felix, are you alright?”

Adeline examined Vanessa as soon as she brought her to land. Fortunately, she hadn’t lost consciousness.

“Ah, I’m really glad. How could…”

After catching her breath for a moment, Adeline met Vanessa’s grudging eyes.

She was staring at Adeline while tears flowed down her reddened eyes.

“Why…”

Her question, about to ask her why she did that, wasn’t completed, and the final words were blurred.

There was no need to ask anything. Before that, Adeline found the answer herself.

‘She fell close to the Grand Duke on purpose. To make him save her himself.’

“Are you alright? Are you hurt? You didn’t get hurt, right?”

She was dizzy from ruining Vanessa’s situation, but the moment she saw Kael running to her and looking only at her with a worried face, she got back to her senses.

‘I’m screwed. I’m completely screwed.’