Adel hastily changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, your accent is perfect now. You don’t even slur your words.”

Valentin answered calmly with a subtle expression, as if he knew her ploy but was willing to go along with it.

“I’ve come to the imperial palace.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“I don’t mind, but I can’t let you be embarrassed too.”

It was a rather sensible answer for someone who had acted so shamelessly in Ansgar.

He let out a low laugh, as if amused by Adel’s dumbfounded expression.

“If I slip up even a little, those people will rush to take away your cute little home.”

“My cute little home?”

“That old castle you use like a cozy rabbit hole.”

“…Surely you don’t mean Ansgar Castle.”

“That’s right. Ansgar Castle.”

To refer to that massive fortress as merely a rabbit hole. She was at a loss for where to begin correcting him.

That it wasn’t her castle to begin with, but ‘Ansgar’s’ castle and territory? That although it was old, it was neither small nor rabbit hole-like?

Of course, from ‘Valentin’s’ perspective, it was human territory so the details didn’t matter much.

Perhaps the scale of the castle that seemed overwhelming to her felt like a rabbit hole to one who wasn’t human.

“I wanted to see you living your life.”

He suddenly said with a smile, intertwining his fingers tightly between hers.

“I was suddenly curious. What kind of life you wanted so badly that you gave up everything for it. What’s so good about living ‘like this’.”

Again.

Every time he spoke like that with a face that seemed lost in the past rather than the present, her heart clenched tightly.

But no matter how much Adel desired Valentin’s affection, she was not ‘that woman’. She had no intention of becoming her, nor could she.

‘Perhaps, in the past he speaks of, there might be a me I don’t remember. A past life or soul…’

In fact, even that was optimistic. Even if what she guessed was close to the truth, her life was only that of ‘Adelheit of Raihenau’.

Adel barely swallowed the inexplicable emotions welling up inside her. Then she opened her mouth resolutely.

“I, Valentin, am not that kind of person…”

“Adelheit.”

But when he called her name, the rebellious spirit she had barely mustered disappeared in an instant.

Adel. Adelheit. At least this name, which he always called with deep affection, was entirely hers.

“You have no idea how much I practiced to call that name with a human voice.”

Valentin smiled with eyes that looked almost on the verge of tears.

He was sometimes this desperate. As if longing for her even while looking at her, as if lacking warmth even while holding her. When he was like this, even her slight resentment vanished without a trace.

When Adel cautiously reached out her hand, Valentin took her fingertips and brought them to his lips.

“…You practiced my name?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to call your name properly when we met.”

‘Adelheit.’

The memory and voice of that day, when he walked out of the coffin, was still vivid.

Could she ever forget it, even at the moment of death? But now, strangely, the fear of that day began to feel different.

It felt somewhat tender. That he had spoken her name without error, while all his other words were clumsy, now seemed like proof of great affection.

“Adel. I have waited for you for a very long time.”

Therefore, it was ultimately meaningless. Regardless of who he mistook her for, it was she who was receiving all his affection by Valentin’s side now.

Adel. Adelheit. The name he called over and over was hers alone.

‘This is enough for now.’

The moment she thought that, Adel felt deeply relieved. It meant that her feelings for Valentin were not yet that deep.

Even if, someday, that would no longer be the case.

“Valentin. By the way, your hands are cold.”

Valentin’s hands holding her were still cold. Adel pulled his hand and brought it under the blanket.

“If you’re going to stay, get under the covers. You’ll catch a cold.”

“Are you worried about me now?”

“If you fall ill and become bedridden, all sorts of rumors will spread. Those who pretend to care about Your Highness’s health while coveting Ansgar will see it as a good opportunity.”

Valentin laughed as if amused, but when she slightly lifted the blanket, his smile gradually faded.

Finally, he looked down at her with a completely expressionless face devoid of any trace of humor.

“…”

Under that intense gaze, Adel realized she had acted too boldly.

“Y-You can pretend you didn’t hear that. I really only asked for the sake of preserving body heat, I truly had no other intentions…”

“Why are you making excuses?”

Valentin, seeming to relax, slightly raised the corner of his mouth and slowly leaned his upper body to brace against the bed.

Adel leaned back as much as he approached. The corners of his eyes crinkled mischievously.

“Just what were you imagining? Hmm?”

“I-I…”

“You need to get a grip, Adel. We’re alone here. What were you planning to do if you couldn’t handle it after tempting me like this?”

“Th-This is the imperial palace.”

“You were quite willing to be held at the inn.”

“Th-That… That wasn’t really…”

As she became speechless and on the verge of tears, Valentin smiled beautifully, smoothly raising his lips.

“You don’t need to make excuses, I didn’t really misunderstand. No matter how much I desire you at all times, I’m not so depraved as to take advantage of an exhausted person.”

“…”

“But I do make a point of not missing opportunities.”

As if he had never hesitated, he slipped under the covers and pulled her into his arms.

He tightly wrapped his strong arm around her waist and buried his lips against her forehead.

Her skin tingled from his hot breath.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No…”

In truth, it was warm. Much better than she had thought. Adel curled up, using his broad chest as support.

The sound of his heartbeat echoed leisurely in her ears from up close.

She let out a secretly satisfied sigh. Sometimes, it amazed her that Valentin had become such a source of great comfort to her.

“Aren’t you scared? With me next, to you.”

He hugged Adel tightly once as she squirmed to find a comfortable position in his arms.

He gently smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Again. You speak that way.”

“Ah… It’s become a habit now.”

He smiled a bit sheepishly.

Well, sometimes she did feel that her feelings for him were progressing somewhat disconcertingly rapidly.

If there was a point when the uneasy feeling disappeared, there was also a point when she felt an inexplicable affection for him.

Perhaps it was from the moment she became aware of her magic with his help…

‘Magic?’

She suddenly opened her eyes that had been blinking comfortably. Looking back, it was strange.

That she could feel such comfort in his arms again after having her life threatened by him. That she could feel only complete affection from him.

“…”

A faint crack that hadn’t been visible until now was felt. It seemed as if she was missing something very important.

“Let’s sleep a bit more. You’re tired.”

Had he sensed the subtle change in her mood? Valentin pressed his forehead against hers.

The moment she felt the magic flowing into her through him, she felt relieved once again.

Yes, it must all be a misunderstanding. When his embrace was this peaceful. This warm.

“Soon… don’t dream…”

At some point, she could barely hear his voice. Adel helplessly sank into a deep sleep.

Eventually, her fever started rising from dawn. It was because her body was inherently weak, and she had lost a lot of energy traveling long distances in bad weather.

The maids fretted all day, worried they might be punished for not properly serving their superior, and Margaret was so busy with the flood of bouquets and letters pouring in from everywhere that she was completely distracted.

“It must be that His Majesty the Emperor is showing extraordinary trust in our Grand Duke.”

Margaret murmured as she placed the ninth massive bouquet that had arrived into a new vase.

Even as she looked at Adel with concern, pride shone on her face.

She said that now the imperial family was finally recognizing Ansgar’s true value.

“Her fever is rising again…”

And Valentin was consistently depressed, saying it was all his fault for forcibly awakening her magic.

He sat close to Adel’s bedside with a half-dazed expression, eyeing everyone who came near with suspicion.

“It seems to be a psychological issue. Even healing magic isn’t working…”

The imperial doctor and healing mage sent by the emperor shook their heads with gloomy faces.

As the situation had come to this, Valentin only made brief appearances alone at the banquets held every evening.

Valentin showed tireless patience and endurance in caring for her.

He held a cup to her lips when her mouth was dry, and forced her to swallow medicine and porridge at regular intervals. He even dismissed all the maids as if dissatisfied with their service.

“The victory ball is on the last day anyway, so don’t worry and rest. You need to get better soon.”

When she barely regained consciousness after drifting off, Valentin was sitting by her bedside.

He leaned over and placed his hand, imbued with magic, on her pale forehead.

Enjoying the cool magic flowing in, Adel instinctively grabbed his hand and nuzzled her feverish cheek against it.

‘It’s cool.’

The imperial doctor said she was ill because her emotions were unstable, but she felt it was the opposite.

As her body weakened, the emotions that had been stagnating unsteadily began to run wild.

The emotions that had swollen tightly while she deliberately ignored them were now on the verge of overflowing with a terrible stench if prodded.

She liked him very much yet found him terrifying, she was very afraid of him yet felt very tender towards him.

When these ambivalent emotions filled her to the brim, a terrible self-loathing washed over her.

Yet she craved his warmth like a madwoman.

“I hate…”

“Yes, Adel. I’m here.”

Valentin gently stroked her cheek as she whimpered. He slowly patted her forehead and nape that had become sticky with sweat.

Strangely, at such times, her fever went down. A pure and refreshing scent emanated from his embrace.