The Price of Saving a Vicious Beast - Chapter 26

Change was finally beginning to find its way into her dull, colorless life.

But the moment a certain face came to mind, hesitation crept back in.

Killi Siedel.

Leaving for a foreign land also meant parting from Killi for a while.

Ever since she came here, he had been closer to her than even family. The thought of leaving his side felt heavy on Adelaide.

* * *

Adelaide went to find Roem three days after that conversation.

“Are you sure you don’t want to think about it a little longer?”

At Roem’s question, she hesitated—but soon nodded.

For the past few days, her thoughts had been completely filled with Killi.

Several times, she almost went to him to ask for advice. But every time, she remembered her brother’s words—

Your life is yours to decide.

Because of that, it took her a full three days to sort through her thoughts.

She didn’t have the courage to face Killi’s disappointment, so she couldn’t bring herself to tell him in advance.

But in the end, she made her decision.

‘I want to become someone worthy of standing beside Killi.’

Friends were equals, that was what Killi had told her. If she wanted to stop being incomplete, she had to leave.

“I have one request.”

“What is it?”

“When we tell Father and Mother… let me be there too.”

“…Hmm.”

Roem didn’t answer right away.

Adelaide seemed unaware, but Roem had already begun to suspect that the imperial family was somehow involved in her situation.

If his suspicions were correct, their parents would undoubtedly oppose this plan.

“To be honest… I was planning to keep it a secret from them until everything was settled.”

With a sigh, Roem finally told her the truth.

“…So you think they might oppose it.”

“…Maybe.”

He gave a heavy nod. Adelaide fell silent for a moment, steadying her breath, then lifted her head.

“Even so, I don’t want to keep it a secret. I want to tell them myself.”

It would be easier to proceed without informing them, just as Roem had suggested. If everything were prepared in advance, she could leave even without their permission.

But Adelaide didn’t want that. It was time to face everything that had been suffocating her.

The count and countess. At some point, they had become strangers to her.

They seemed to love her, and yet, when it came to anything involving the outside world, they were inexplicably rigid.

If they truly believed she was a stain on the Eport name, they could have sent her away—to a convent, or some remote countryside where no one would ever know her.

But they hadn’t. That contradiction confused her.

Whatever answer they gave now, it would finally put an end to her long-standing uncertainty.

“Whether they allow it or not is their decision. And whether I follow that decision… is mine.”

Adelaide’s voice was firm. Seeing how resolute she had become in just a few days, Roem realized there was no persuading her.

With a deep sigh, he finally relented.

“…If that’s truly what you want. But Elise’s involvement—”

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

Adelaide nodded emphatically. Watching his determined younger sister, Roem rose to his feet.

“Then let’s go. To Mother.”

* * *

Tea had been prepared in the countess’s sitting room.

A sudden visit from both Roem and Adelaide at once, was something that had hardly happened in recent years.

From the tension in their faces, the countess immediately sensed that something was about to unfold.

She signaled to the head maid.

Soon, everyone quietly withdrew, leaving the room empty.

The door closed and silence settled in.

After taking a small sip of warm tea, the countess looked at the two of them—still unable to speak—with a steady gaze.

“It seems you have something important to say. The two of you coming together like this… that’s rare.”

“Yes, Mother. We have something to discuss regarding Adelaide.”

Roem nodded and began explaining his plan calmly.

He started with something she already knew that if Adelaide, now twenty, failed to debut this year, she would never be able to enter high society.

Then he carefully revealed Adelaide’s wish to go to Clayton.

“What do you think, Mother?”

Throughout the explanation, Roem tried to read her expression, but it was impossible. For a brief moment, she seemed pleased. Then, just as quickly, that expression twisted into something troubled… pained… and vanished again.

Seeing her reaction, even Adelaide, who was sitting beside him, grew tense.