It was such a tender touch.

Stroking the hair, caressing the cheek, the hand was very gentle.

It felt as if I had become a very precious person to someone.

Adel felt like she had returned to being a young girl receiving her mother’s care again.

‘Mother…….’

Unknowingly, my eyes became moist.

A spell more powerful than any magic.

When hungry, when scared, when in pain and sorrow, when angry, just shouting the word ‘mother’ solved everything.

But now it’s a spell that can never be used again.

“Mom…….”

“Adel…… It’s me…….”

A familiar voice sounded like a dream.

At that moment, Adel slowly woke up from her sleep and returned to reality.

‘Chris!’

Come to think of it, I got engaged to him today.

I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion after taking a bath. After the shower, I fell asleep on the bed just wearing a robe with my hair still wet.

And there was Christine sitting by the bed, caressing her.

Gently trying to wake me up…….

Come to think of it, our first night as official lovers.

Being aware of that, this touch that seemed so tender in my sleep now felt strangely hot and ticklish.

His hand tickled my cheek, stroked my chin, and caressed my nape.

The back of my neck was still damp because my hair wasn’t dry. The feeling of his finger stroking my wet skin was strange and secretive.

Thump. Thump.

Adel felt her heartbeat getting faster, her breath seemed ready to burst.

But she managed to steady her breath and continued to pretend to be asleep.

Because she seemed to understand the meaning behind this touch.

She was not yet ready to spend the night together.

What if he were to see the mark of the stone on her back……?

That must never happen!

Then it happened.

“Will you continue to sleep? Adel dear, hmm?”

Like a spell to wake up, he sweetly whispered.

With no choice, Adel slowly lifted her eyelids.

Thump.

As she met his deep grey eyes looking down at her, her heart uncontrollably wobbled.

“Ah, Chris…… When did you come?”

As if she just woke up from sleep, she rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed.

“Are you very tired?”

What does he want, smiling so warmly as if he could melt a person?

“Uhhuh…… I guess I’m not fully recovered yet. I feel a little unwell…….”

Adel answered as weakly as possible, like a sick person. She couldn’t look him in the eyes for fear he might catch her lie.

He touched Adel’s forehead with a gentle hand.

“You don’t seem to have a fever.”

Of course not.

No, being in bed together like this seemed to raise the temperature a bit.

“It feels like there’s a bit of a chill, like I have a cold.”

Adel shivered as if feeling a chill, even rubbing her shoulders.

“Shall I call a doctor?”

“I think I just need to rest. It’s even better if you’re by my side…….”

Feeling sorry to send Christine away like this, Adel gently smiled. Of course, she wanted to be with him, too.

If he would just act like a plain protector tonight, it would be fine to be together.

“Is it really just about being by your side?”

His lips teased with a wicked grin.

“Huh?”

“You look a bit suspicious dressed like that.”

Adel followed his intense gaze and looked down at her body.

At that moment, she realized that the robe she was wearing had slipped off, exposing one shoulder.

“Kyah!”

In panic, she quickly closed the front. She had put on nothing but a robe, and it had almost been completely stripped off. The thought itself was dizzying.

“It feels like I’ve been cheated.”

“It’s not that, I’m just embarrassed. I fell asleep right after taking a bath.”

Adel hurriedly explained,

“Forgot? What kind of relationship we have now.”

He came close as if to kiss, tucking Adel’s hair behind her ear. Just the touch of his fingertips made heat rise in her face.

“We, we’ve only just got engaged. It’s difficult if you come so close, Chris…….”

Leaning back, Adel pushed against his chest. But she felt the solid and broad muscles, and with a start, quickly removed her hand.
Was this what upset her feelings again?

Christine gripped Adel’s hand tightly.

“What’s so difficult?”

Upon encountering a dangerous gaze, Adel was startled and quickly lowered her eyes.

‘What, what’s this! It feels like my eyes are burning.’

She felt as if her cheeks were getting hotter due to his heat. Her mind seemed to melt formlessly like heated cream, and she felt as if her reason was running away.

If things continued like this, she would be drawn into his pace. Being together was too dangerous.

“I’m sorry. I still feel sick, so I think I should rest. You should also return….”

“Damn!”

Christine muttered angrily above her head.

Then he suddenly got up from the bed and turned away.

“Chris?”

Adel called out, but without looking back,

Bang!

He shut the door so forcefully that it hurt her ears.

‘What’s this? Is he angry because I rejected him?’

Adel was flabbergasted.

He might have been looking forward to this time a lot. And yet she kept pushing him away, pretending to be sick. It’s understandable that he was angry… But still!