Chapter 225: A Happy Face(2)
Chapter 225: A Happy Face(2)
Now that we’ve officially crossed the line, the only thing left is to reveal to Adelia that I am Xenon. Since the manuscript is already in my room, proving it wouldn't take long.
However, I don't intend to tell her right this moment. Even if we’ve become lovers, it will take time for her to fall for me completely.
I need to invest enough time so that even if I reveal my identity as Xenon, she will choose me without a second thought. I want to ensure she doesn't regret her choice for even a second, leaving not a single trace of lingering attachment to her past.
Just look at her now. Even after sharing a deep, passionate first kiss just moments ago, her face is filled with anxiety. As if she can't believe the current situation, she keeps asking confirming questions with trembling eyes.
I responded to those questions with a warm smile, my voice dropping to a low, soothing register.
"Should I kiss you again if you don't believe me?"
"..."
The moment I said that, Adelia’s face turned a volcanic shade of red. Her lips quivered like ripples on water, expressing her inner turmoil in an instant.
As I’ve mentioned before, Adelia is starved for affection. Being born an illegitimate child, her home environment was atrocious, and she had received the final blow to her spirit during the exhibition.
So, all I need to do is give her warm affection while playing these sorts of mischievous pranks. Still, there was one thing I didn't quite understand.
"Noona. Why did it have to be me? There are plenty of affectionate men in the world."
As I said, the world is full of men similar to me. Rather than a man like me who is surrounded by women, it would have been better for her to meet someone who would look only at her.
At my question, Adelia blinked her sky-blue eyes before answering with a complex smile.
"If I revealed that I’m an illegitimate child, would they really treat me the way you do?"
"..."
"The treatment of illegitimate children is far worse than you think. Among the nobility, we’re seen as threats to power, causes of family discord, or as having 'dirty blood.' Even commoners treat us as nobles. We belong nowhere."
As I’ve noted before, the treatment of illegitimate children is indeed poor, just as Adelia described. Not only can they cause great discord within a family, but there are also deep-seated prejudices against them.
Above all, there is a clear distinction between a 'child of a concubine' and an 'illegitimate child.' A child of a concubine is the offspring of a formal mistress and is treated with some degree of noble status, but an illegitimate child is born from a relationship with a woman outside the household. There is bound to be a difference.
This is why Adelia refers to herself as an illegitimate child rather than the daughter of a concubine. If she isn't recognized as family, she has no choice but to carry the stigma of being illegitimate.
I watched the dejected Adelia for a moment before reaching out to stroke her hair. She looked up at me slowly, her eyes wide with surprise.
"…Isaac?"
"You don't have to self-deprecate anymore. From now on, I’ll make you forget all about being an illegitimate child. Okay?"
"..."
Her lips pressed thin as if she were about to burst into tears. Soon, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she threw herself into my arms.
Looking at her like this, she seemed so prone to tears and tender-hearted. They say people who laugh a lot often have many internal scars, and it seemed to be true.
I intend to cherish Adelia until all those wounds are healed, providing her with plenty of the restorative medicine known as affection.
The scars might remain because the wounds were so deep, but simply recovering will be enough.
"…Isaac."
"Yes, Noona."
"Don't you have to meet with those ladies now? Do you think they’ll give their permission?"
She was likely referring to Mari and Cecile. Normally, she would have called them 'those girls,' but now she was using respectful terms.
Even though we’ve crossed the line, the fact remains that we need their permission. Since Adelia herself comes from an illegitimate background, she couldn't help but be afraid.
Nicole might have gone to 'hit her head on the floor' in apology, but the moment they showed any sign of rejection, Adelia’s heart would burn up as quickly as a piece of paper on fire. And another scar would be etched into her soul.
I would prevent that at all costs. I was already prepared to take a few hits.
"Don't worry. I’ll do whatever it takes."
"…I can trust you, right?"
"Yes."
I spoke while gently stroking her hair to soothe her worries.
"I’ll probably get scolded a lot, but it’ll be fine."
Knock, knock, knock—
As soon as I said that, the sound of someone knocking on my door reached my ears. Both Adelia and I immediately turned our gaze toward the door.
Adelia probably felt the same way I did. It’s finally here.
Checking the clock, I saw that time had flown by; it was already 5:30. Since the last class ends around 4:30, they must have spent an hour talking.
I said it would be fine, but I couldn't help feeling nervous. I gave Adelia’s hair one last stroke, stood up, and walked toward the door.
"Yes, I’m coming."
It was a tense moment. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the handle down and slowly opened the door.
The feeling that I was opening the gates of hell must have been an illusion. Shaking off the useless thought, I checked who had knocked.
As soon as the door opened, familiar faces came into view. Not just Nicole in her uniform, but Mari and Cecile were standing beside her.
I could guess why they were here. My intuition about the gates of hell had been spot on.
I offered an awkward smile, but I couldn't help but flinch at the cold, thick bloodlust radiating from them.
The source of that energy was none other than Nicole, who had done the knocking. She was glaring at me with golden eyes that had sunk into a chilling frost.
"Oh… you’re here? Did you… tell them?"
Something was dangerous. My instincts were screaming at me.
When I spoke with an awkward laugh, Nicole’s lips curled up slightly. The problem was that while her mouth was smiling, her eyes were not.
Anyone could see the atmosphere and energy were ominous. I instinctively tried to back away in fear, but…
"You little…"
Nicole’s eyes flared with rage.
"You damn scoundrel!!!"
She delivered a front kick that sent me flying. It was a crisp, clear kick, the kind you’d hear with a resounding shout in an action movie.
The only downside was that I was the one receiving it. Naturally, I tumbled backward from the sharp pain in my abdomen.
Fortunately, it was more of a push-kick than a snap-kick, but pain is still pain. Since I hadn't been hit much since being reincarnated, it felt even more agonizing.
"Unnie?!"
"Ni-Nicole!"
Startled by Nicole’s sudden kick, everyone rushed over in a panic. Regardless, Nicole was busy stomping on me as I lay on the floor.
She seemed to be controlling her strength to some extent, but I could feel the intense fury behind every single kick.
"I thought it was just Adelia, but there’s one more?! And she’s a beastkin, the daughter of the Grand Chieftain?! You’re quite the princess collector, aren't you?!"
"N-Noona. Wait…! Let me explain…"
"Explain what?! At this rate, why don't you just seduce that Elf woman you said you were friends with too?! Or maybe you already have! If you collect one from every race, you’ll go down in history as a legendary philanderer! Xenon is a pure-hearted man who only looks at one woman, but you’re just a piece of shit, aren't you?!"
In the eighteen years since my reincarnation…
"Ack! Argh!"
"Unnie! Stop! You’re going to kill Isaac!"
"Let go, Mari! I need to do something about this boy’s lower half first! If I don't, the numbers will just keep growing, and as his sister, I can't let that happen!"
"N-No! Leave his face and his 'down there' alone and just hit him somewhere else…!"
For the first time in my life, I was beaten like a dog by my own sister.
*
When a person feels pain, their mind becomes incredibly sharp. There’s a reason for the saying that some people only learn through a good thrashing. You want to avoid the pain, so you sharpen your wits to find a way out.
I was no different. Being kicked by Nicole literally cleared my head. The fact that I was beaten by my sister for the first time was a bit shocking, but I could understand it since I was largely at fault.
But man, it hurt. Even though she focused on places where the injuries wouldn't be permanent, the throbbing was unavoidable. I just had to endure it.
"Ouch…"
"Consider yourself lucky it ended there because your sisters-in-law begged for mercy."
As I rubbed the aching spots, Nicole warned me in a fierce voice. She still seemed fuming, glaring at me with her arms crossed.
Her terrifying warning sent shivers down my spine, but since I was the guilty party, I couldn't say a word. I just sat there like a kicked puppy, gauging her mood.
"Thank you. Whatever else you do, please don't touch Isaac’s face, his 'lower half,' or his hands. Without those, he’s basically a corpse."
Cecile, sitting on my right, spoke teasingly as she gently stroked my head. Mari, sitting on my left, nodded in profound agreement.
I wanted to retort, but I kept my mouth shut, fearing I’d just get cursed at again. I was the sinner, the scoundrel.
However, even with Cecile’s joke, the atmosphere didn't lighten. If anything, the tension only grew.
If I was this nervous, I could only imagine how Adelia felt. She was sitting across from me, kneeling on the floor, stiff with tension.
She looked like she was in the middle of a high-stakes job interview, which was almost funny, but for her, this was likely the most nerve-wracking moment of her life.
"Now then… you said your name was Adelia?"
"Ye-Yes!"
At Mari’s question, Adelia’s body went rigid. Anyone could see she was terrified.
"Please, speak comfortably. We’ve heard everything from Nicole. You can speak informally with us."
"I… I wouldn't dare… I would be uncomfortable doing so."
"If it makes you uncomfortable, I suppose it can't be helped."
Mari didn't seem to mind and shrugged it off. Then, she reached over, pinched my cheek, and pulled it like taffy.
"Ow, ow. That hurts, Mari."
"It’s supposed to. Anyway, Adelia-unnie, you fell for Isaac because of his…"
Mari trailed off and glanced at me. It was a silent question asking if I had revealed my identity yet.
Seeing that, I shook my head slightly. It wasn't time to tell Adelia yet.
She gave a small nod and naturally continued her sentence.
"…his kindness, right? Because he looked at you for who you are, without any prejudice regarding your status as an illegitimate child."
"Y-Yes."
Snap—
As soon as Adelia answered, Mari let go of my cheek. The stinging, burning sensation made my mind even clearer.
Meanwhile, Mari stared at the nervous Adelia for a moment before crossing her arms and revealing her true feelings.
"To be honest, that’s what I dislike the most."
"Pardon?"
"Mari?"
We had hit a snag right from the start. I wanted to beg her to accept Adelia, but given the atmosphere, I couldn't.
This was a matter that had to be settled amicably between Mari and Adelia alone. But the first button had been misaligned.
While everyone watched Mari, waiting for her to speak, she glanced at me, uncrossed her arms, and gently took my hand.
Then, looking directly into Adelia’s surprised face, she began to explain her reasoning.
"If you had come for Isaac’s status, he might have rejected you himself. But you fell for Isaac for who he is and harbored love in your heart. I heard from my sister-in-law that you were nursing a one-sided love without crossing the line. It was only because my sister-in-law noticed and pushed Isaac that you two crossed that line."
"…Yes."
"Because of that, my sister-in-law apologized earlier, even bowing her head to the floor. Though she did beat Isaac up because she had no idea Leona was involved too."
The moment she said that, Nicole shot me another piercing glare. I didn't have the courage to meet her eyes, so I focused as much as possible on Adelia.
As Mari continued, Adelia’s expression grew stiff, and I could see her sky-blue eyes wavering occasionally, showing her agitation.
Her fists resting on her thighs clenched and unclenched repeatedly, and I could hear her breath trembling.
"I’m similar to you. Status isn't an issue at all, and like you, I love the person known as Isaac."
"Then, the Princess…"
Adelia hesitated, turning her gaze toward Cecile, who was clinging to me. Crimson eyes met sky-blue ones.
Feeling that gaze, Cecile linked her arm with mine, flaunting her affection. To an outsider, I was a lucky man flanked by two beautiful women.
In reality, it was closer to hell. As I’ve said repeatedly, this was clearly my fault.
"I feel the same way. Even though discrimination against the Demon race has decreased thanks to the Xenon Biography, it hasn't been completely eliminated. And when I’m with Isaac, I feel like a human, not a Demon. His warmth, his kind attitude, and his… stamina, which is as good as any Demon’s. He lacks nothing."
Cecile had almost said 'virility' before quickly pivoting to 'stamina.' It was very like her. I gave a bitter smile.
She had liked me from the beginning. But that was just a crush; it was hard to say she had thought of me romantically back then.
Primarily because of the clear difference in our lifespans. It was only after she realized I was Xenon that she stopped caring about things like lifespans; otherwise, it’s uncertain if we would have ended up together.
Therefore, Mari was the only one who had truly loved me from the very start. And now, Adelia was the same.
"See? That’s why I don't like it. Both of us fell in love with the person Isaac is, but then you suddenly wedged yourself in. Of course, Isaac probably doesn't think about such deep concerns, but it means our positions could become precarious."
"Th-That would never happen…!"
Was she afraid Mari would reject her? Adelia cried out in a desperate voice before quickly covering her mouth with both hands.
No matter how urgent it was, shouting in someone’s face was a breach of etiquette. It showed just how desperate she was.
But Mari didn't seem to mind; she smiled brightly and spoke.
"Don't worry. Isaac might be a bit of a rascal, but he isn't rejecting you. Cecile feels the same way."
"Really? Th-Then…"
"However, there is a condition."
At the mention of a condition, Adelia’s relief vanished, and her expression hardened. She knew that this condition was the most important part.
Mari showed our joined hands and spoke in a gentle voice.
"As you know, the one who will 'officially' marry Isaac is me. Cecile is still un-of-fi-cial."
"Mari?"
"What? It’s true."
"Did you have to emphasize it like that?"
Cecile seemed hurt by the pointed use of the word 'unofficial.' But Mari, who had no intention of giving up her title as the 'first,' stood her ground.
"Anyway, I don't know which of us will inherit a title, but Isaac will likely inherit one from his father. Or the Imperial Family might grant him a separate title. If that happens, you might become Isaac’s concubine."
"Yes. That’s right."
"But if you become a concubine, there’s a high chance the Ters Kingdom will constantly try to interfere. Even if they say they’ve abandoned you, it’s something they could use as leverage."
"Ah…"
Adelia let out a sigh at the realistic point. Indeed, becoming a 'concubine' meant the relationship was official.
The moment the Ters Kingdom recognized Adelia as a 'daughter of a concubine' rather than an 'illegitimate child,' things would get complicated. No matter how much the Minerva Empire or Adelia herself refused, 'bloodline' held immense power in this society.
In other words, it would be difficult to even accept Adelia as a concubine. That damn bloodline was haunting her to the very end.
Just as Adelia and I were feeling dejected, Mari made an unexpected proposal.
"So, I have a suggestion, Unnie. Instead of being a guard knight, why don't you become a personal maid?"
"A personal… maid?"
"Yes. A maid. Not just any servant, but a personal maid who assists me and Isaac."
'Maid' and 'servant' might mean the same thing technically, but a 'personal maid' performs a role similar to a secretary.
Managing the employer’s schedule is basic, and they also act as an attendant, following them everywhere.
At first glance, it might seem the same as a lady-in-waiting, but a lady-in-waiting is strictly a noble. A common misconception is that a lady-in-waiting is a servant, but they are actually more like friends and companions to high-ranking nobles.
Adelia was certainly qualified to be a lady-in-waiting, but since the Ters Kingdom might make a fuss, being a personal maid would be more convenient.
As everyone looked at Mari with surprised faces at this brilliant (?) proposal, she continued confidently.
"You’ll act as a maid in the mansion, and when we go out, you’ll return to being a guard knight. That way, you can stay close to Isaac and receive the love you want. What do you think? Isn't it a good idea?"
"I-I’m not sure about being a maid… It’s not that I dislike it, but I don't know if I’ll be any good at it…"
"It doesn't matter if you’re good or not. Knowing Isaac, he’ll do most of his own work anyway. I’m the same. So, what do you say?"
"..."
Adelia hesitated at Mari’s proposal and then turned her gaze toward me. It was a silent question asking if it was really okay for her to be my personal maid.
I nodded as if it didn't matter. Honestly, I was a bit curious. The usually tomboyish Adelia, dressed in a maid uniform, greeting me demurely…
My thoughts started drifting in that direction. When I nodded, Adelia spoke with a dazed expression.
"…I understand. I accept."
"Good. I’ll give you some books, so use your spare time to study hard. Oh, and…"
Mari paused for a moment, then reached out her free hand and took Adelia’s. Adelia was startled for a second, then met Mari’s gaze with a blank face.
Mari looked at Adelia with warm eyes and spoke with sincerity in her voice.
"Welcome to the family, Adelia-unnie."
"..."
"Don't be in pain anymore; let’s live happily. You deserve it."
Did those words strike a chord in her heart? Adelia’s face was blank for a moment, then her lips began to tremble, and she slowly lowered her head.
Then, she placed her other hand over Mari’s and spoke in a tearful voice.
"Thank you… truly… thank you…"
"You’re welcome, Unnie."
"I will… hic. I will definitely protect you."
She really was prone to tears. I suppose it just showed how many scars she had.
Just as a warm smile was spreading across my face at the touching atmosphere, Mari, who had been comforting Adelia, slowly stood up.
As Mari stood, Adelia looked up at her with a tear-streaked, puzzled expression. I felt the same way.
Ignoring our gazes, Mari called out to Cecile.
"Cecile?"
"I know."
Had they planned this beforehand? At Mari’s call, Cecile stood up without a single question.
Since Mari was holding my hand and Cecile had her arm linked with mine, both of my arms were yanked upward as they stood.
As I sat there bewildered, Mari looked down at me and spoke coldly.
"What are you doing? Get up."
"Huh? What?"
"If you have any sense, you’ll stand up, won't you?"
What on earth was happening? I had no idea what was going on.
But I figured it out through Cecile’s next words.
"Isaac."
"Ye-Yes?"
The chill in Cecile’s voice…
"Did you really think we’d just let this slide?"
…was far colder than a midwinter blizzard.