Episode 26. Unfamiliar Sensation
At some point—impossible to pinpoint exactly when—Adel began occasionally feeling an inexplicable bewilderment.
Sometimes accompanied by a sense of lethargy, other times by tension instead, it was an unfamiliar sensation she'd never experienced before. Clearly born from her own nerves, yet it often left her perplexed.
Life was already overwhelming just from having to accomplish things without revealing her true identity. So Adel ignored such annoying unfamiliar sensations.
When she saw Gray drunk and mingling freely with ladies on the balcony, she simply turned and left.
When people gossiped about Gray and Charlotte's marriage, she let it in one ear and out the other.
If that didn't work, she could just steer the conversation to another topic.
But... what was she supposed to do in a situation where she couldn't just turn away, cover her ears, or pretend it didn't exist?
"You're Gray's aide?"
The woman before her clashed starkly with the desolate scenery of the west wing garden.
She was lovely. The word "lovely" for a woman fit her so perfectly that Adel thought, this must be what it's for.
To think the impression from the portrait matched reality so closely.
"Right?"
The Charlotte Grand Duchess asked again in her clear, delicate voice. Adel collected herself and greeted her.
"I'm Adel Nora. Hello."
"Nice to meet you. Wow, a female personal aide—how cool. I'm Charlotte from Hallock."
"I've heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you."
It was puzzling why a grand duchess of near state-guest status was strolling in such a shabby place.
Along with how she already knew about a nameless low noble like herself, and approached so swiftly as if waiting just for her arrival.
A strange sense of incongruity settled in.
Adel steadied her breath and rationalized it. Probably just coincidence. It happens. All sorts of people in the world.
But even she couldn't help being startled when this cute, beautiful woman like a white hummingbird suddenly grabbed her hand.
"You must be incredibly capable, right?"
"Pardon?"
Princess Seian of Karl, who had followed belatedly, laughed as if accustomed to the grand duchess's whimsy. Speaking for both, she said,
"Everyone in Carlo knows how capable Adel is. She dug through ancient texts to find a pesticide effective against Amuamu's pests and diseases, and went all the way to a distant land to procure it herself."
"Really?"
"Of course. And you must know how she secured an astronomical compensation from the North Sea Merchant Company for Gray's shipwreck?"
"Yes. That's already famous even in Hallock."
"Right. That's old news now. Do you know that Valoneck's trade ships reached the distant New World—the first from the central continent?"
"No, that's new to me. The New World?"
"Yes. They say it's all thanks to Adel. We spent all last year admiring sapphires from the East we'd never seen before."
"Wow. I'm curious too!"
"Then I'll show you my necklace later. It's a brilliant blue like the sea off Volk coast."
"Amazing. I can't wait."
It was praise she could no longer bear to hear.
"I'm sorry, but those aren't such great achievements. I'm just grateful for the kind words."
When she was just an ordinary palace clerk, would Princess Seian even have known who Adel was? Adel would bet her stale evening bread on "no."
So it was all just polite flattery. Adel wanted to escape this meaningless encounter quickly. An unidentified discomfort was increasingly grating on her nerves.
"It was an honor to meet you. Then have a pleasant..."
But the grand duchess grabbed Adel again, her voice rising excitedly.
"Wow. As expected, Gray has a good eye for people! Right, Adel?"
Adel unwittingly stared at the grand duchess.
In conclusion, why does that follow? That logic seems a bit off.
Having successfully caught Adel, the grand duchess chirped happily.
"How did you meet Gray? I'm so curious. Were you famous for your skills even before? Did Gray seek you out?"
Her raspberry-tinted lips moved ceaselessly.
"If you're not busy, could you tell me? What tea and cookies do you like? Shall I have some brought here?"
The unfamiliar bewilderment grew larger.
Why on earth am I feeling so displeased right now?
Even the watching princess laughed and chimed in.
"Yes, Adel. Come to think of it, we've never really chatted leisurely about our interests. The weather's nice today, so a cozy tea outdoors sounds good."
"Great! I like sweet-and-sour tea. For dessert, the soft roll bread trending from the southern continent. What about you, Adel?"
For a moment, Adel's body stiffened involuntarily.
She blinked a few times and decided to just leave the scene. It might seem rude, but it seemed best.
"I'm sorry, but I have an appointment with Deputy Director Mensha and can't spare much time. All I can talk about—having not learned proper etiquette—are boring things like taxes and ancient texts. I think it's best if I take my leave. It was an honor. I hope you have a satisfying stroll."
Adel turned immediately. She was often called prickly anyway, so she didn't mind if they badmouthed her.
But the grand duchess didn't let go. She gripped tightly.
Amazed at the strength from such a small, fragile-looking person, Adel looked down at her hand. But the small, strong hand was hidden by the flowing dress's long sleeve.
Just then, Princess Seian spoke.
"It's Young Master Gray."
Only then did Adel realize. The grand duchess was holding her hand while looking at Gray, who had appeared across the garden.
As the grand duchess's cheeks flushed with shy vitality, Adel fell into bewilderment: What is this?
Gray was walking with who she presumed was the grand duchess's father, Grand Duke Richard von Kaufmann. They exchanged affectionate conversation.
Lush chestnut hair like his daughter's, a stern expression on a pale face—the grand duke of Hallock.
Beautiful like an angel but always wearing a subtly sensuous smile—Carlo's young master.
Seemingly utterly different at a glance, yet subtly harmonious in similarity. The unmistakable leisure and pride of those born with everything. It was palpable just looking.
"Here you were, Charlotte."
The grand duke's voice was as stern as his expression, yet laced with affection for his daughter. And beside him, Gray had been looking only at Adel since spotting her.
Once somewhat closer, Gray asked Adel directly, ignoring the princess and grand duchess as if they weren't there.
'What are you doing here?'
Aware it was impolite, he mouthed it silently rather than speaking aloud.
Adel unwittingly just stared at Gray. She clenched and unclenched her hand, feeling like she needed to breathe into her tightening chest.
Then she realized again. That one of her hands was still held by the grand duchess.
As Adel didn't answer, Gray raised one eyebrow. It was his frequent expression meaning he was waiting for a reply.
Meanwhile, seats for the grand duke and Gray were naturally assigned. Grand Duke Kaufmann kissed the back of Princess Seian's hand and took the spot before her; Gray took the diagonal across from Adel, in front of the Charlotte Grand Duchess.
Gray still looked at Adel, and Adel reluctantly moved her lips.
'Going to see Mensha.'
'You came here instead of going to work to see Mensha?'
Gray's lips, larger than Adel's, moved naturally. As if not bothering to hide this private exchange.
Suddenly, Adel's body shook. The grand duchess had subtly released her tightly gripped hand.
And something strange happened. Adel, who should have lost balance from the firm hold, remained steady; instead, the grand duchess staggered greatly as if pushed by immense force.
"Ahh!"
A high-pitched scream escaped.
It was hard to see as intentional—undisciplined in tone.
The grand duchess's body toppled to the opposite side from Adel.
As all eyes turned to the grand duchess, Adel's gaze unwittingly went to Gray.
Gray naturally wrapped his arm around the grand duchess's waist, preventing her fall.
Adel just looked at him. Without any awareness, without feeling anything odd—just watching.
Only when everyone asked after the grand duchess with shocked faces did Adel snap out of it and join in. But seeing the worried faces before her made her realize her own reaction was strange.
Why didn't I look at the grand duchess? Instinct should draw eyes to the scream.
The answer to her self-question wasn't hard. Because even now, her eyes wouldn't leave.
From their crossed legs, from Gray's arm buried in the flowing dress, from his uncharacteristically startled and stiff face—all of it.
Adel felt like she'd glimpsed one facet of her instincts, making the moment bewildering. Her body alternately tensed and relaxed with tension and lethargy.
Gray and Charlotte naturally steadied each other.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you. Ah, that startled me."
"You're still... like this."
Gray relaxed his stiff face and smiled. His usual playfulness showed—wanting to tease more but holding back in front of her father.
The grand duchess beamed, cheeks shyly flushed.
"Hehe. Even when I try to be careful, I'm still like this."
Adel suddenly recalled Doran's words.
"They could get back together anytime they wanted. They didn't break up on bad terms."
Ah, so that's what he meant.
Her memory naturally connected to other things from that day.
The roll bread casually placed before her, the low voice resounding in her ear.
"Cut Adel's steak as small as possible."
The fork handed over after roughly wiping with a napkin, long fingers with thick joints.
"First time seeing someone pick up a fork?"
The unidentified pulse felt too vividly in the secured cutlery, faint sweat, unrelenting heat even after cooling.
The grand duchess's voice, full of concern, pulled Adel back to reality.
"What should I do, I'm so sorry? Adel, right? I'm fine. So no need to feel too bad."
As Gray's gaze turned to Adel at the grand duchess's feigned apology, he just looked at her deeply without a word or action.
Adel forced strength into her body and bowed her head again.
"I'm fine. Your Highness. That's a relief. I'm glad you're unharmed too."
The grand duchess hesitated, flustered. So Adel continued smoothly.
"As I mentioned, time's up, so I must go first. Forgive my rudeness."
And slowly left the scene.
With everyone's pursuing gazes at her back, she walked calmly along the path.
No need to show any fumbling.
The path was there to walk, and she just had to do so.
To whatever destination.
Whether a glorious finale death after achieving all she'd desired, or a lonely death fleeing alone to avoid ruining what little remained.
The path was already set.
So now, she just had to faithfully play the role of the ungrateful aide using Gray on this path.
No need to flutter or rage. No need to be startled or bewildered by unfamiliar things looming large.
Ridiculous tension or lethargy.
Adel knew her place better than anyone. So she decided to walk forward unshaken, looking only ahead. Her own path.
