Elena Steps Away for a Moment
After Elena left the room for a moment, the air still carried the faint scent of paper, ink, and the unique aroma that always clung to the Silver Feather Guild. There was something oddly satisfying about the way things seemed to pile up inside my quarters whenever she was around.
Knock.
I glanced up from the plate of cookies in my mouth.
“Your Highness.”
It was Adelaine.
“Enter!”
She wore a deep gray dress with a light black shawl draped over her shoulders. The line around her neck somehow called to mind the high collar of Northern-style riding attire. The image flashed through my mind and my face flushed. I hastily turned away.
Adelaine approached quietly and lowered her head in perfect etiquette. She knelt on one knee, settling gracefully before me.
“Your Highness. I have something to return.”
“To return?”
“Yes.”
Adelaine reached into her pouch and drew out a white handkerchief. My eyes widened for a split second.
“This is…”
“It is the handkerchief Your Highness gave me the other day.”
The lingering cold floral scent and the faint warmth that followed… It had been a lovely aroma. Why did it feel so vivid now? I shook my head quickly.
“I thought it would be best to have it laundered before returning it.”
“I gave it to you.”
“Still, I should return it.”
Adelaine smiled gently. “Because it belongs to Your Highness.”
She blinked slowly, her expression serious. “Honestly, I considered keeping it for a long time.”
“Hm?”
“But…”
Her gaze lifted from the handkerchief to my face. “I think it would be better for Your Highness to remember me every time you see this handkerchief.”
“……”
The white handkerchief settled into my palm. Soft cloth. Cleanly laundered. Yet a faint scent remained—soap, dried fabric, and that unmistakable cold floral note from Adelaine.
“Adelaine.”
“Yes?”
“That kind of talk is…”
I paused, choosing my words carefully. What was I supposed to say? “It’s strange.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. Strange.”
“Does that mean Your Highness dislikes remembering me?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Is that so?”
Adelaine’s voice lowered. “You simply dislike it, then?”
I carefully tucked the handkerchief into my chest pocket. Adelaine’s eyes softened. This woman barely showed any expression change; even the slightest shift made her look all the more beautiful.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“May I ask for a reward?”
I glanced at the plate of cookies. Small butter cookies overflowing with butter. My favorite. Crispy yet meltingly soft in the mouth, with a faint sweetness at the end. I picked one up.
“Would you like a cookie?”
“Yes, please.”
Adelaine broke into a bright smile and opened her mouth. “A…”
I froze. What? What just happened? Why was I doing this? I looked down at the cookie in my hand and then back at her. Adelaine was still watching me, lips slightly parted.
“Adelaine.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes, glistening with moisture, seemed ready to pull me in. “Feed me.”
I carefully brought the cookie to her lips. “Don’t bite my fingers.”
“Of course not. Would I not trust Your Highness?”
The cookie slowly disappeared into her mouth. A warm sensation brushed my fingertips. I held my breath. Adelaine took a gentle bite.
Crispy.
Her lips closed. I hastily withdrew my hand. She chewed quietly, with her usual grace. I forced my gaze elsewhere.
Adelaine swallowed the cookie and looked up at me. “It was delicious.”
“Hm.”
“Still, it feels a little lacking.”
“Would you like some candy too?”
Round candies tumbled gently inside a small glass bowl. Adelaine said nothing, only parting her lips slightly.
“A…”
It was more natural than before. As if feeding me was now an obvious, everyday act. I watched my hand holding the candy. I carefully picked one up with my fingers. A warm breath brushed my fingertips. I slowly pushed it in, as carefully as possible, trying not to touch her. But that proved impossible. Her breath seeped in gradually. The moment the candy slid between her lips, a soft sensation touched my fingertips. I swallowed. Her lips closed. The candy vanished.
Clink.
The sound of the candy rolling inside her mouth echoed loudly. Adelaine slowly moved it around in her mouth.
Clink.
I quickly lowered my gaze. I clenched and unclenched my fingers, trying to erase the lingering sensation on the tips.
“Tasty?” I asked.
My voice sounded a bit off.
“Yes.”
She answered, her pronunciation slightly rounded because of the candy in her mouth.
“Sweet?”
“Yes.”
“Still a little lacking, though.”
“Adelaine must be greedy.”
“Yes. Then may I ask for just a little more?”
She said softly. “I want to receive praise this time.”
She gently took my hand and brought it to her cheek. Silver-gray strands of hair flowed over my palm. I alternated my gaze between her hair and her face. A glimpse of her ear peeked through the strands. It was flushed red.
“Praise?”
“Yes.”
Her voice dropped a little. “From Your Highness himself.”
I froze. The Grand Duchess of the North. Adelaine von Ernhardt. Standing in my room, leaning forward, requesting praise and begging for head pats. How was I supposed to handle this?
I cautiously raised my hand, then stopped. The moment my hand stopped, Adelaine lowered her head a fraction more, as if urging me.
I finally lifted it. My palm brushed against the silver-gray hair. It was soft. Softer than I had imagined. The person known for being cold had warm hair. I carefully stroked once. Adelaine’s shoulder gave the tiniest tremble. I tried to pull away. But Adelaine tilted her head even more toward my hand, as if saying it was all right to continue.
I stroked again, this time more slowly. The silver-gray strands slipped between my fingers.
“You did well, Adelaine.”
The words slipped from my mouth. More naturally and gently than I expected.
“You really did well.”
Adelaine seemed to freeze. She remained with her head bowed. Is this okay? I worried she might feel uncomfortable and tried to withdraw my hand. The soft, low rumble came from Adelaine.
I slowly looked at her. She stayed exactly as she was, head bowed, eyes half-closed, lips parted just a little, ears flushed red. No way.
“Adelaine.”
“Yes.”
Her voice came a little slower. “Did you just make a sound?”
“……”
Adelaine stopped.
“Huh? Something broke.”
She said in a low voice. “It’s just my feelings.”
“You made a rumbling sound.”
“It’s just my feelings.”
“Like a cat.”
“Your Highness.”
Her voice dropped slightly. Ah. Danger. I immediately nodded.
“Yes. Just feelings.”
“Yes.”
“No cats.”
“That is correct.”
Adelaine’s voice remained expressionless, but the tips of her ears stayed flushed red. I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
“So if it’s just this, then it’s fine?” I asked. “The cheering, the praise, the head pats. Is that all?”
Adelaine gave the smallest nod beneath my hand.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She said quietly. “If it is something Your Highness does, then it is more than enough.”
I was at a loss for words. “Adelaine is strange.”
“Is she?”
“Yes.”
“If Your Highness says so, then I suppose so.”
I moved my hand once more for good measure. The strands of hair beneath my palm softly stirred and then settled again. Ordinary Adelaine wasn’t like this—cold, dangerous, intimidating. Yet now she knelt before me, head bowed, simply for one word of praise, for a gentle head pat, and then saying that was more than enough. That fact strangely shook my heart. I thought back to the handkerchief I had just received. It too was strange. It was just an ordinary, meaningless handkerchief. Why had it returned so special when I gave it to her? I truly didn’t know what I was doing.
That was when—
Knock.
Only then did the situation come into full view. The maids watching with flushed faces and curious glances. Elena leaning against the door, observing us.
“Prince, may I trouble you for a moment?”
I hurriedly tried to pull my hand away. But Adelaine was faster. She rose almost abruptly. In an instant, she straightened her posture, tidied her messy hair, arranged the ends of her shawl, and erased her expression. It happened in the blink of an eye. A bright smile bloomed on Elena’s face—unbearably smug.
“Oh my, did I interrupt something?”
“No. There was nothing at all.”
Elena laughed and bowed her head. “I came only to fetch the papers I left behind earlier.”
She picked up the documents from the desk and tucked them into her pouch. Then she looked at us again.
“Then I will take my leave now.”
She backed away on tiptoes, retreating.