Drip…

Adel’s empty wine glass was filled to the brim by Mark.

“Thank you for a truly enjoyable and delicious dinner.”

“I enjoyed it too.”

Was it the loosening effect of a glass of wine? Mark carefully brought up what was on his mind.

“Actually… I felt as if my wife had come back to life for a moment earlier. I thought it would always be like this warm dinner time if she were here.”

“I heard your wife passed away giving birth to Jade.”

“Yes, Jade only saw her mother in a portrait. In the portrait, my wife was wearing the same dress that Jade wore today. So maybe that’s why she brought it.”

“She must miss her mother a lot.”

Adel, who had been smiling brightly by her side, became sad when she learned why a sevenyearold child had brought that dress.

“The person who handed over that dress was my wife first. I didn’t let anyone else even touch it. Even me.”

Mark shook his head with a smile. Then, feeling embarrassed as his eyes met Adel’s, he scratched his nose.

“This, perhaps because of the rain, I keep getting sentimental.”

When Mark made an excuse, Adel nodded.

“You’re right. Rain makes people sentimental. Especially winter rain.”

Adel emptied her glass at once.

Rain continued to flow outside the window.

She had to go, but she didn’t want to. She didn’t know what face to show to Christine. She had no confidence in pretending it was nothing.

She wished the rain would fall so hard that she couldn’t go.

No, to be so drunk that she couldn’t think at all…

“Actually, when I kissed you on the cheek then, I was risking my life.”

When Adel looked at him, Mark blushed.

“Perhaps I wanted to strike first at the Count. I realized for the first time that day that I have such a dangerous disposition.”

“Don’t misunderstand. The Count is my brother.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes?”

Even as she questioned, Adel’s heart sank. She knew better than anyone how she felt about him.

Mark, who had been gazing deeply at Adel, cautiously spoke.

“Then, will you accept if I propose to you?”

“A proposal… really?”

This was too sudden.

“I thought it was impossible to take a liking to someone else after my wife died. But when I saw you, I thought we could make each other happy.”

Mark’s kind blue eyes, his truthful voice, tormented Adel.

She felt like she was taking advantage of his sincerity.

“But you know what kind of person I am.”

“Do you mean I should believe that rumor that you poisoned the Viscount?”

He shook his head as if that was absurd.

“Why don’t you believe me?”

“Do you know how many dying people you’ve brought in so far? And how helpless your face looked each time. And you say that person killed someone?”

“Maybe I’m repenting.”

Adel emptied the glass once again and this time filled the wine glass herself.

Drip…

In the end, Mark stopped her.

“Drink slowly. Are you planning to drink all this expensive wine by yourself?”

“Oh… it’s delicious, probably because it’s expensive.”

Adel laughed softly and defiantly gulped down the glass again.

“Oh, I see now you were a drunkard.”

Mark playfully stuck out his tongue, and Adel also playfully rolled her eyes.

“So, will you withdraw the proposal?”

For a moment, Adel’s expression was so enchanting that Mark was a little flustered. Her cheeks flushed with wine, and her laughing eyes radiated a strange charm. The atmosphere changed completely, as if she had become a different person.

“That means you need me more. A husband to take care of a drunkard.”

Something burned in Mark’s throat, so he quickly downed his wine glass.

He felt a little uneasy.

“Husband… husband…”

Adel murmured bitterly.

To her, “husband” meant a terrible shackle. Another name for a master she had to serve for the rest of her life. A deep swamp that seemed impossible to escape…

“And even if you did kill someone, I think there must have been a good enough reason.”

For a moment, Adel’s eyes flickered, but she soon emptied her glass again with a vacant expression.

“Don’t trust people too much. Viscount Cassler…”

“Mark. Call me Mark.”

He smiled amiably, showing his white teeth. He had a pleasant smile. He was a goodlooking man.

Certainly. Here’s the translated passage:

“Even if you don’t accept the proposal, you can accept this much, right?”

Unable to refuse any longer, Adel nodded her head.

“Alright, Mark.”

Mark spoke in a mischievous tone this time.

“Then I must call you by your name to be fair to each other. Don’t you think, Adel?”

“You’re cunning. Alright, I’ll accept that too. I should go now.”

Adel put down her glass and stood up.

Although she didn’t want to go, it felt like she had to get up now. If she stayed any longer, she might get caught by this man.

Mark Cassler.

He was a good person, but he was no pushover.

Stagger!

Adel staggered without realizing it as she tried to walk, her face flushed from too much wine, and her head a little dizzy.

“Are you alright?”

Mark, who had suddenly come closer, supported Adel by wrapping her shoulder.

“Yes, I’m just a little dizzy, not drunk. Definitely.”