Chapter 41: Volume 4 - CH 5

I was sweating heavily as I found myself in a really uncomfortable position.

‘First, let’s calm down and figure out how to get rid of him.’

Adrian whispered as I averted my head to the side, scared to make eye contact with him.

“Are you upset because I entered your room without your permission?”

His fingers continued stroking my earlobe as he fiddled with my hair.

As I crouched my head in an itchy-prickly feeling, I realized that this man was enjoying the situation.

“I…… I am going to scream.”

“What did I do wrong?”

His voice sounded drowsy, as if he was attempting to soothe me.

“Why do you hate me, noona?”

Now that I remember about it, his eyes were crooked like those of a rebellious adolescent guy.

‘Wait a second, how old is he?’

Since he and Shannos are twins then…… he must be seventeen years old.

‘This little beast.’

(T/N: 핏덩 a figurative term for a baby beast.)

Actually, his muscles and physique were out of proportion for his age.

How could someone who is still seventeen years old grow up like this?

Adrian looked more mature than his age, which might be due to the intensive training.

“You even share a room with that Penny woman.”

“Do-don’t…… don’t talk about Penny like that. She…”

“Ah… perhaps.”

He then faintly laughed and interrupted me, as if to cut off my words.

“Is it because I was an illegitimate child whose father is unknown? Do you still think of me that way?”

“……”

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

‘Did Selina ever say something like that?’

I couldn’t believe Selina, who seemed timid to others, could say anything like that. But I recall Shannon saying something like before.

‘Then, was Selina close to this person or not?’

I was perplexed.

Adrian told me at the martial arts competition that he and I “always played together as children.”

That merely showed Adrian and Selina were close, right?

‘They even kissed.’

What exactly did Selina think about Adrian? I was dying to ask her that.

Rather than being burdened by something like this, I was curious about what lay between the two, and I had a feeling there was something.

“You weren’t like this before, noona. It wasn’t this bad.”

Eventually, I gave the easiest answer to push Adrian away.

“M-m-mother will be furious if she finds out…… I’m going to get in trouble.”

“Then it’s alright as long as mother doesn’t find out, right noona?”

Adrian then lowered his head seductively.

“It’s just you and me.”

His head was getting closer, enough for the tip of our nose to touch each other.

“Can it just be the two of us?”

“It-it-it was because you k-k-kept doing this that I… I hate it.”

Adrian’s face went into horror as I emphasized the word “I hate it.”

To keep the momentum going, I looked at him furiously.

“Get out. A-and d-don’t come again.”

“Noona!”

Adrian was stunned and hastily shifted his stance as I shouted and pointed my finger toward the door, as if requesting him to go.

“I… I apologize, noona. I was wrong. I will never again enter your room without your permission. Please forgive me, noona. Please.”

I fixed my cold gaze on him.

Adrian, who saw me in that way, shook his head and pledged.

“Noona, don’t do it. I had no idea you’d feel bad about it. It’s because we used to play alone in your room that I……”

Adrian began to aggressively plead.

“……?”

“Please, noona?”

I averted my gaze since his clingy gaze and plea were oppressive in some manner.

‘Was he like this when they were kids?’

He clung to me, clinched to me when I was angry, and pleaded when I urged him to leave.

If he’s really like that, the weak-hearted Selina could not have refused him.

Maybe that’s why this man misinterpreted on his own that he and Selina were close.

‘Seeing this scoundrel makes me feel even more uncomfortable.’

Furthermore, Adrian told me what wasn’t true only to see how I reacted to our first meeting at the monastery.

As if he was testing me.

“I actually came because I wanted you to praise me, noona.”

“……praise?”

Adrian suddenly appeared to be a proud young man ready for praise.

“I kicked all those maids out.”

“M-maid?”

“Those maids, noona, who dare to make your face like this.”

Adrian then placed his palm on my cheek, as if he felt bad for the bruises on my skin.

Of course, I tilted my head away from the touch.

“Do-don’t do this…”

Adrian’s green eyes, which are lighter in color than mine, were shook with grief.

He looked terribly hurt but I didn’t comfort him.

“D-do you mean you expelled them from the castle?”

“Nope. Not only of the castle, but also of the territory. They can’t even roam to the West any longer. You won’t see them again, and you won’t have to worry about them, noona.”

It was all about Sandy and Laura.

It seemed like a bolt from the blue to me, who was struggling to discover their usefulness.

“I am no longer a child.”

Adrian spoke to me gently, as if he was determined.

“Noona, I don’t forgive anyone who bullies you. Never.”

Adrian’s green eyes twinkled as he poured out the words that had been crammed inside of him.

‘You’re the one who bullies me the most.’

Because he was fond of me… No, I mean Selina, I was grateful, but I couldn’t stand his behavior.

“Noona, you know I can do anything for you, right?”

‘I don’t know, you bastard.’

I didn’t even want to know.

All I wanted was for him to leave……

“I-if you truly c-c-care about me, t-then don’t ever come to see me t-this late again.”

Adrian seemed disappointed, but quickly nodded, maybe because he didn’t want to be disliked by Selina.

“I will never do it again, noona.”

I swiftly stepped aside to the corner to allow him to exit.

“G-good night.”

Adrian, who was holding the door knob, abruptly came to a halt when I spoke quickly.

What other nonsense he’s trying to do this time?

‘Just go quietly……”

My prayer, however, was not granted.

“May I have…… a good night kiss?”

“No!”

Was I too stern? Without even thinking about it, the answer came out of my mouth.

“But you’ve always done it to me.”

Adrian was obviously disappointed.

“That was before because we were still young. Moreover, both you and I will reach adulthood soon.”

“Only on the cheeks…… can I?”

“NO!”

Adrian pouted his lips, trying to act cute.

But, my heart already got cold so I could show no emotion to that.

“Then, good night, noona.”

He walked out of the bedroom, a sorrowful expression on his face.

I purposefully led Adrian to the front door.

It was to reprimand whoever had dared to let Adrian inside my room without my permission.

“Be-benji.”

“Yes…… yes, my lady?”

I called the night guard’s name for the first time, and he looked perplexed, his eyes widened.

Benjamin was the night guard on duty. William had already mentioned his name to me.

I feigned to be close and affectionate to him, addressing him by nickname.

“Were you awake, my lady?”

“Yeah.”

“I really apologize. I should have sought your permission beforehand, but I assumed you were already asleep……”

‘That’s precisely why you shouldn’t allow Adrion in, you imbecile.‘

“The young master said that was fine, therefore……”

Perhaps because he took Adrian for Camilla’s beloved son.

That he didn’t resist Adrian’s order to unlock the door since he assumed Adrian would be the next Count soon.

‘I don’t need this type of escort.’

“I-I was taken aback.”

As I smiled at Benjamin, I placed my palm on my chest to show that I was really surprised.

“From now on, please ask for my permission first… okay?”

I loathe this cutesy style of speaking, but the effect was so powerful that I couldn’t help myself.

“Yes, my lady……”

Benjamin seemed ecstatic, probably because it was the first time I had spoken to him.

Adrian stood next to him, his eyes flashing as he peered at Benjamin.

“Should you really be talking so sweetly to this punk, noona?”

Adrian appeared to think it was absurd that I was having this talk with an escort.

Selina’s personality, in short, made it impossible.

“Are you close with this guy? Really?”

Adrian inquired to me, but he never took his gaze away from Benjamin.

““Hey, you tell me! Are you close with my sister?”

Adrian then questioned Benjamin, glancing at him up and down. Adrian looked to be on the verge of punching him.

“A-adrian! W-why do you speak to B-benji in that way?”

Then I stepped in front of Benjamin, pretending to be worried about a fight that would occur between the two.

And that action completely blinded Adrian.

“You even called this guy by his nickname, noona. How could you address me just by my given name?”

Ha!

His eyes widened as he broke out laughing.

I pretended to be startled by the harsh swear words from his fine lips.

Adrian, on the other hand, was not looking at me.

“How? How come, noona?”

His gaze was focused only on Benjamin, and he didn’t move an inch.

“It’s natural for us to be close. H-h-he’s my escort…… and I see him e-e-everyday……”

After hearing my words, Adrian’s mouth was twisted up.

“What type of escort is this lacking? He even opened your bedroom door without your permission.”

“That’s because you requested him to open the door……”

“This jerk doesn’t deserve to be an escort.”

He fixed his focus on Benjamin and pointed his chin at him.

“Don’t you agree?”

Adrian’s bizarre visage, which I had never seen before, was both fascinating and terrifying.

But, as I felt tired, I was thinking of getting out of the situation and came back into my room.

“It wasn’t like that, young master. Because you and Lady Selina are siblings, I assumed……”

“Siblings?”

A hand suddenly reached out from behind me. Adrian, unable to contain his wrath any longer, seized Benjamin by the collar.

Adrian was more easily irritated than I had thought.

“Shut your mouth. Before I kill you.”

Benjamin shut his mouth in response to a  chilling voice.

He shoved Benjamin up against the wall, as I ducked between the two.

“You don’t even know anything.”

“Young master……!”

Adrian lightly grabbed the armed Benjamin.

“How did an imbecile like you guard this castle?”

“Aargh……”

Benjamin strangled, gurgled, and glanced at me for help.

After I looked at the two alternately, I walked into my room, ignoring Benjamin’s frightened face.

‘No matter how I remember it, I think he’s the bastard.’

Benjamin.

When Camilla sold Selina, he’s the one who tossed Selina into the carriage and drove her to the archduke.