Chapter 16
Seeing him honestly admit his fault and apologize, Adelaide’s heart melted like snow. No—more than that.
At his quiet confession that he had felt hurt, a strange guilt began to bloom within her.
“Are you stupid? That dress is way too flashy. It’s too much for everyday wear.”
The moment she had seen it, the jeweled dress had left her speechless.
“Because of the jewels? They’re artificial, you know. Apparently that’s the trend abroad these days.”
“Even so. Wearing something covered in sparkling stones all the time takes a lot of courage. What if one of them falls off?”
“Then you can just have it repaired.”
“I don’t want to. It’s a gift from you. I don’t want to ruin it.”
Killian reached out and ruffled Adelaide’s hair. Though he was younger, whenever he acted like he was older than her, something soft and unfamiliar stirred near her heart.
“Hey, what are you doing? Don’t touch my hair. Who do you think you are, Roem?”
“Nothing. I just… thought it was endearing. I didn’t realize you treasured what I gave you that much.”
“It’s not about treasuring it, it’s just—”
“I know, I know. Next time, I’ll get you something easier to wear. You did like it, though, right?”
“Are you stupid? Of course I did. Do you know how shocked Roem was? He couldn’t even close his mouth. But… wasn’t it too expensive? Even if the jewels are fake, something that shiny must cost a lot.”
“I don’t really know the price. My uncle didn’t say anything, so it probably wasn’t that expensive. Don’t worry about it.”
“…Still…”
Adelaide trailed off. Receiving so much without giving anything in return made her uneasy.
Killian’s uncle must be someone extraordinary, so perhaps she didn’t need to worry. But still, the gifts he sent from time to time far exceeded what children would normally exchange.
Adelaide was still young, still in the middle of her education, and rarely allowed to go out.
It was Killian’s advice that she must not bring shame to the Eport name. She could invite people to the estate, but the items merchants brought were far beyond what her small allowance could afford.
Killian watched her quietly as she fell into thought, then, once again, ruffled her hair.
* * *
“I was told you summoned me.”
Count Eport bowed his head to Killian in the crown prince’s palace.
Even when he met him as Killi at his estate, he had thought him no ordinary boy. But now, reclining casually on a sofa as the master of the crown prince’s residence,
Killian exuded a suffocating pressure.
“Count Eport. Are you settling into your new position well?”
The count had recently been appointed as a secretary of the noble council. It had been a surprising appointment, though no one knew that Killian had been behind it.
“Yes, Your Highness. I am doing my utmost to fulfill the duty you have entrusted to me.”
“Good. You should. It would be foolish to waste such an opportunity after finally advancing.”
Killian smiled brightly. Yet even that simple smile made it feel as though the count’s throat were tightening.
“Why do you think I gave you that position?”
It was a direct question. Though the answer was obvious, the count spoke it aloud.
“…Because Adelaide is Your Highness’s playmate.”
“You understand well.”
Killian arched his brow. He rose from his seat and walked straight toward the count.
“Count.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“You see, I really dislike sharing what belongs to me. For example—Fabian Nachtmann. He’s always lurking, trying to take what’s mine. Like a rat.”
“Y-Your Highness…”
“But that situation is my father’s fault to begin with. He should have crushed that possibility from the start.”
At the audacity of speaking so openly of the emperor’s fault, the count’s face turned ghostly.
“As I said—I hate sharing what’s mine. And I hate it when others covet it. And from what I can see… you’re about to make a similar mistake.”
“I—I don’t understand what you mean—”
“Adelaide Eport. I heard she went out with the countess a few days ago. And now she’s calling some baron’s daughter she met at a boutique… her friend.”
At last, the count understood.
“B-but, Your Highness… Adelaide also needs friends her own age—”
“No. You’re mistaken, Count. Adelaide doesn’t need friends.”
Killian raised an eyebrow.
From the moment he was born, Killian had been raised as something irreplaceable. One of a kind.
To him, Adelaide was the same. If she was his, then he had to be hers as well. The idea of her secretly forming bonds with others, of sharing her attention like crumbs picked off the ground, was something he could not tolerate.
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