“It was all a joke.”

“…Is it really just a joke?”

“Adel could get hurt, and I can’t take such risks.”

“…”

“So, don’t be afraid. I know why you’re worried.”

Still, trying to soothe Adel’s face that remained tense, he continued.

“Whatever Adel wants to do, I’ll do it. Just don’t make such an expression. Let’s start with pronunciation.”

“It might be difficult to fix the pronunciation in a few days. It’s better to memorize only a few types of greetings that you need to use at the party right away.”

The pronunciation used by nobles was complex and sophisticated, unlike that of commoners. Even for Adel, it took a long time to master it proficiently.

Valentine, who was already awkward in pronouncing words, couldn’t smoothly improve all the pronunciations in a short period. He was contemplating where to start and how, and Valentine enthusiastically suggested first.

“Tell me everything from the beginning.”

“From the beginning? But.”

“Try… you have to try.”

Adel silently stared into his serious eyes and nodded her head.

“Then I’ll find a suitable etiquette teacher separately. Since you want to show yourself leading the victory ceremony, you’ll need to learn some dances first.”

He raised one eyebrow as if asking what kind of nonsense the ball joint was talking about. As if trying to prevent her from escaping, Valentine firmly held both of her wrists.

“What… you have to teach me, Adelheit.”

“Me?”

“Is it okay now to borrow someone else’s hands, when you’ve been with me all this time? Are you going to abandon me?”

Abandon him. It was an endless trade now. Adel had to squeeze out her brain to persuade him.

“You’ll find me insufficient. I quit the etiquette lessons nine years ago. I’m lacking a lot to teach you the latest trends in the capital or how to skillfully lead a conversation.”

“It’s okay.”

“I don’t know how to efficiently correct pronunciation, and I’ve never taught anyone, either.”

“That’s okay.”

“All the dances I know belong to the ladies of nobility. I will be insufficient to teach Your Highness… No, Valentine.”

However, Valentine insisted on being okay with any excuse she gave. From the beginning, he was much inferior to her, so no matter what she taught, there would be something to learn, and he persuaded her with words that he would find it no matter what she taught.

“I won’t make it too difficult for you. You can learn… even the gold room dance.”

“But.”

“You said you’d help. For me to complete the pledge.”

Eventually, as he persisted with a cold smile, Adel nodded with a feeling of eating mustard. It was an endless ordeal. Although she was accustomed to being blamed alone, she was afraid that Valentine would also be tied to criticism due to her teaching mistakes.
“Then, especially if there’s a pronunciation you find difficult, I’ll help you practice focusing on that. It would be even better if you can find someone to watch over while I teach.”

“Others are not… needed. You can start now.”

“Okay, so please let go of my wrist for now.”

“Ah, if you tell me, I’ll let go.”

Adel thought he was joking. But his eyes were incredibly serious. Adel, as if gauging whether he was sincere or not, looked at him with a hesitant gaze and, giving up, opened her mouth like a sigh. When Valentine was like this, she realized that it was better to give what he wanted rather than stubbornly refusing, as she learned from the events of the past few days.

“Say ‘teach me’ in a simple way.”

“Teach me.”

“It’s getting a little better. ‘Teach me.'”

“Aye me.”

Even after repeating it several times, there was no sign of improvement in Valentine’s pronunciation. He spoke as if making excuses with a sulky face.

“Ah, I really… don’t know. Rolling the tongue is especially difficult…”

“Look closely at my lip shape. ‘Teach me.'”

He was getting closer and closer. His head was tilted. It seemed to have become like this unintentionally, not to be conscious of something but to listen to the pronunciation a little more clearly by tilting it little by little.

Maybe…

“You’re too close.”

Finally, when Adel whispered like that with a flushed cheek, his nose was almost touching her nose. Valentine’s breath broke over her cheek and mingled.

He did not retreat at all from Adel’s timid refusal. Rather, he met her gaze more actively.

Adel felt explicit desire in his eyes. At that moment, strangely, there was a hot heat rising inside her.

“…”

Adel knew how a man and a woman facing each other like this would end up. She had seen a few times the hidden servants behind the stables overlapping their lips, hugging each other tightly. Sometimes a man would tightly grip a woman with a strong touch.

Would they… now become like that? Should she refuse the ‘husband’ then? Or, since she had already given her body as the price of the contract, should she act as he wanted?

“…”