Chapter 30

Translator: Nox

Episode 30. Take It Off

Adel answered quickly. It was an excuse she'd prepared the moment she spotted Gray.

"Since we wrapped up the security matter today, I thought it would be good to report directly to Lord Knox while I was at it."

"Ah, to Knox, the noble affairs chief clerk, about customs duties no less?"

Adel's mouth clamped shut for a moment. She hadn't expected Gray to know Knox's area of responsibility. He usually showed no interest whatsoever in Knox or palace affairs.

This time Knox stepped forward.

"I'd asked her beforehand to let me know once it was decided. Thanks to Lady Adel, palace decision-making methods have been innovated quite a bit lately."

It sounded innocuous at first glance, but chewing it over revealed criticism aimed at Adel—no, actually at Gray. The quick-witted Gray couldn't possibly miss it. Even if he was still hungover.

Adel shot Knox a bewildered look. Sure enough, Gray's smile twisted.

"Ah, thanks to Adel?"

Previously, a mere noble aide like Adel wouldn't directly intervene in palace affairs.

Nobles ignorant of practical matters usually resolved interferences through upper-level compromises.

So for Knox, one of the palace chief clerks, Adel's conduct could easily be prickly.

Yet Knox had never shown it. He was a chief clerk, but also the Valoneck family's dog.

For some reason, he was now voicing his perspective as chief clerk to Gray. Utterly uncharacteristic.

Knox had no choice. He needed to divert Gray's attention elsewhere, even if by pricking his pride.

Shift suspicion of a secret affair between him and Adel to the provocation that his cherished aide was invading palace conventions just to line his pockets.

But contrary to Knox's hopes, Gray didn't take the bait. Instead, he sniped at an unexpected point, as if irritated.

"Specifically, separately, in advance, just you two? So you're holding your private little report session here in this secluded alley where no one will see, dragging along our thoroughly soaked Adel?"

Gray swept Knox with his signature gentle, mocking gaze.

When Knox failed to reply, Gray's eyes turned to Adel. Remarkably, his gaze softened to tenderness in an instant.

"Adel."

"Yes."

"Tell me. Is it true, what Knox said?"

His tone was as soft as his eyes.

"…Yes."

"Wow. Our Adel really can do anything. When did you snag Knox as your backer?"

Unclear if praise or sarcasm. But since Gray often spoke ambiguously like that, Adel replied without hesitation.

"I snagged him bit by bit."

Anyway, she needed to deflect needless suspicion. To do so, she had to act like her usual outspoken aide—confident despite having nothing. No room for hesitation.

"……."

"……."

Gray's gentle smile froze solid. Knox's face hardened too.

Moments later, Gray rubbed one temple and spat a quiet curse.

Thinking it was the hangover, Adel inwardly tsked and decided to exit quickly.

"Lord Knox. Then I'll head in. Take the umbrella. Since Young Master Gray is here, I'll use his."

Knox reflexively took the umbrella from Adel. Gray watched them silently, then grumbled.

"Who said I'd share?"

Yet he dutifully offered the one he'd brought to Adel.

As Adel took it, Gray bid Knox farewell.

"Bye, Knox."

"Yes."

"Say bye to our Adel too."

"Take care, Lady Adel."

"You too, Lord Knox."

Gray opened his umbrella first and stepped into the rain. Then he waited for Adel.

He patiently waited until she safely opened hers and came to his side, finally matching her stride.

The two walked side by side through the gloomy west wing garden. The rain sounds and humid air were cold. Yet oddly, Adel wasn't cold.

As they walked the path to the central building, she naturally recalled that day—the unfamiliar feeling. Then Knox's voice echoed.

"Rumors that Gray cherishes his aide so much he loves her."

Her fingertips gripping the umbrella handle tingled again. She wiggled her fingers and glanced at Gray.

……No way.

He was going to marry Hallock's grand duchess.

Even if not, no way he'd think of her like that.

See? He brought two umbrellas.

Even Adel, dense about men and women, knew that much. A man who harbored feelings for someone wouldn't miss a chance to huddle close under one umbrella.

After that, Adel stared straight ahead. Muttering inwardly: idiot Knox.

Knox watched Gray and Adel's retreating figures from the narrow alley alone. Gray's steps wobbled just like on the way over.

"What nonsense."

Seeing Adel walk straight and proper under her umbrella beside him was ridiculous.

"What mad noble drags his hungover body through pouring rain just so a mere aide doesn't get wet."

A sigh escaped.

"She's the only one who doesn't know. Fake know-it-all."

After the carriage departed, Gray slumped against the seatback like he was lying down, eyes closed.

Impossible to tell if just closed or asleep; utterly motionless.

Must be really dizzy.

Adel slowly observed him. His shoulders and hair ends were slightly damp. Different from his usual drunken disarray. Her gaze lingered.

Stop looking.

She turned away, to the rain outside.

Rain sounds. Wheels rumbling over wet ground.

Faint breaths filled the carriage.

Time passed; her body began to shiver. Knox's cloak seemed silk—poor insulation.

She hugged her shoulders. The crumpled cloak dampened further.

Then suddenly Knox's voice resurfaced.

"He actually hates women's bodies a lot. To the point of disgust."

Adel's chilled eye corner twitched.

Today Knox had spouted nothing but nonsense.

How Gray likes women.

He loved flirting and seducing at every chance.

Escorting ladies' hands deftly, clinging to half-naked women—she'd seen it, hated the sight….

Anyway. It was like that.

Adel clenched and unclenched her pale hands repeatedly.

Nonsense. Don't think about it.

"But look. He's always stuck to you. Weird, right?"

No, Winter.

"Rumors he loves his aide."

No!

Meanwhile, unwittingly, Adel was looking at Gray again. Then his humidity-swollen closed lips slowly parted.

"Adel."

Startled, she tried to avert her obvious gaze. Failed. His eyelids lifted as languidly as his voice.

She met his blue eyes head-on.

"Yes?"

"Cold?"

"Yes?"

"Are you cold? You're shivering."

"Ah, yes. A little."

"Not a little?"

"I'm fine."

"But, Adel."

"Yes."

"I hate red."

"Yes?"

Gray's humorless face tilted sideways. His cool gaze pointed to the red cloak.

"Take it off."

Adel felt inexplicable pressure. At least her face stayed expressionless.

"What?"

"The cloak."

"Why?"

"Red annoys me."

Absurd.

"I'm cold. I don't want to catch a cold."

"……."

"……."

"I'll take responsibility. If you catch one."

What did that mean? Give her time off?

Bewildered, something felt off. His voice was soft, but his eyes remained cold.

Not unfamiliar. The spoiled young master's specialty and hobby: indifferent gentleness that subtly pressured.

But the reason Adel found it odd was that it had been ages since he'd shown her this attitude.

Lately, Gray had been kind only to her. To others, still capricious and subtly crushing, but inexplicably not to her.

Exaggerating a bit, he was always kind. Only to his aide, Adel Nora.

And she wasn't the only one noticing. Everyone seemed to feel it. Surely.

So lately, Adel had fallen into the delusion: 'Gray is naturally kind to his own people.'

But suddenly this coldness.

Like returning to their first meeting, that Full Moon balcony.

But now, Adel... disliked this Gray. A bit scary too.

Working as his aide, she'd witnessed plenty: nothing good came from poking his bad moods.

Empirical conclusion: best not to touch him when he was in a foul mood.

Adel gripped the soft silk once, then carefully removed the cloak. Couldn't just toss Knox's gift carelessly; she folded it neatly and set it aside.

Gray watched the entire process with cold eyes. Then no words, no smile. His usual playfulness vanished.

Adel huddled tight, shivering from the cold.

She'd thought it useless while wearing it; now it felt rude to the silk. Exposed to dry air, her wet dress plummeted her body temperature. Chills avalanched in.

Gray, watching silently, let his gaze linger on her trembling lips. Finally, he sighed low.

"Really high-maintenance."

Gray sat up and moved beside her. The cloak, shoved aside by his hand, fell to the floor.

Adel looked down at the rumpled red, then up. The chill had vanished from Gray's face. Familiar languid kindness had returned.

"That's why I keep telling you to eat better usually."

Adel sensed it. Didn't know exactly what, but Gray was different now. An emotional swing she'd never seen in his always-relaxed self.

Adel abandoned regrets about the cloak and looked at him. She didn't want him turning cold again. So she answered dutifully.

"I eat well. It's just from the rain."

Her voice rode the chills' vibrations, trembling like a goat's bleat. Finally, Gray chuckled.

He watched her trembling lips, then abruptly spread both arms wide.

Adel's wet lashes startled upward.

"Wh-what?"

"What do you think?"

"I mean, what?"

Gray snorted. He was fully back to his usual self. Mischievous yet kind, the mad young master.

"Dummy? Don't you know what this means?"

"I think I do, but surely not that."

"Right. That."

Adel's eyes widened further.

"Y-you're crazy? Agreeing without knowing what?"

"Come quick. Unless you wanna freeze."