Adel also doubted when she had heard Stone’s proposal. Even if she had reluctantly said no, she wouldn’t have been able to refuse.

Fortunately, Stone kept his promise. Perhaps he couldn’t do anything since the former Count Oswald was alive.

But thinking about it now, she didn’t know if he had slowly wanted to ruin and crush Adel while taking pleasure in it.

Yes, it suited him more.

“As long as this mark is on me, you’ll never escape me. It’s proof that even your soul is mine.”

Adel laughed, desperately shaking off Stone’s voice that had been murmuring as he tattooed her back that day.

“Phew, it’s rather refreshing to be found out.”

And she gulped down the wine like a thirsty person.

“Is that why you avoided sleeping with me? Because you were afraid that the mark would be discovered?”

“Yes, if you were to find out that this was Stone’s doing……. ”

“You doubted the relationship between Stone and me?”

Adel stared into Christine’s eyes and shook her head.

“No. I thought you would believe me if I said it wasn’t me.”

“Yes, I believe. If it’s not you, it’s not you. But why?”

His eyes were cool but filled with trust in Adel. Therefore, Adel felt more sorry for hiding it.

“But if you see this mark, you’ll think of Stone. I hated that he would get in between us in some way. Chris, I really wanted to keep you ignorant of this matter, but……. ”

Christine, who had been twirling the wine glass, poured it all into his mouth at once.

“True, I still feel sick about it. Your body, which I’m seeing for the first time, has that guy’s mark on it. But this is just anger at him. I won’t let him live like this!”

Watching Christine grit his teeth, Adel became more uneasy.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you might rashly charge at Stone.”

“You don’t trust me?”

Watching Christine’s anger, Adel shook her head.

“He’s much more cunning than you think.”

“We’ll see who’s more cunning.”

Christine smiled ominously.

For a moment, Adel thought he might actually be able to beat Stone.

“More than that, I have a favor to ask. Chris.”

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, she turned around and untied the waistband of her robe.

The silk garment cascaded down, flowing around Adel’s feet.

The roaring flames of the fireplace seemed to engulf her pale body.

Christine fixed his gaze as if entranced, placing the empty wine glass on the console.

His Adam’s apple quivered.

Was this dizzying feeling because of the alcohol?

(This is a time separator.)

Adel was now wearing only a thin chemise, barely covering her body.
Shimizu Syro Asrai Beach resembled a statue of a goddess exhibited at the Levue Museum. The countless men who would wait in line every day to see her made of marble?

Christine felt that he could completely understand their hearts now.

A flawless complexion, straight and orderly stretched skeleton, sensual yet elegant curves. Just looking at it filled him with satisfaction. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, as if he were spellbound.

But soon, he furrowed his brows and muttered a soft curse.

“Damn it…!”

When Adel gathered her hair and brushed it forward, a terrible mark appeared on her dazzling skin.

As if claiming ownership of this perfect piece. An incredibly rude, violent mark.

“Cut this mark off with your knife.”

“Are you in your right mind?”

“Can’t get rid of it without tearing the skin off. But you’re good with a knife…….”

A desperate voice.

Christine was dumbfounded and angry, sweeping back his bangs.

The thought of tearing and killing the stone that had made her like this came to him again.

“So you went to see a doctor in Hell Valley?”

“……!”

Adel’s shoulders shuddered, startled.

“There’s nothing you can do in Greenhill without me knowing, Adel.”

“I guess so…… I had forgotten who you are.”

“What else is there?”

“What else…… is there?”

Christine turned Adel to face him, wrapping her shoulder.

“Please don’t make me misunderstand you anymore, Adel. I’m always on your side, and I will help you.”

His voice was like a firm command, but also like an earnest plea.

What was certain was that he was no longer the young boy who once needed her protection.

Stronger than anyone, a hero receiving people’s praise. Now, a person she could rely on entirely.

A steadfast ally, my man…….

“True. You’ve always been on my side. I keep forgetting that. Maybe, I’ve gotten used to solving things on my own.”

At that moment, something streamed down her cheek.

“What? I wasn’t going to cry.”

As Adel looked perplexed and hastily wiped away the tears with her hand,

“You can cry. It’s in front of me.”

Christine, who had caught her hand, gently licked the flowing tears.

“……!”

Startled, Adel stared wideeyed, and he savored the taste lingering on the tip of his tongue.

“So this is what your tears taste like.”

“What, what are you doing…….”

Adel’s face turned bright red. He sometimes surprised her with unexpected actions, but she never thought he would do something like this…….

“Your lips taste even better.”

He said this so nonchalantly.

But as he looked at her with languid eyes and brought his face close, Adel felt dizzy.

“What’s this talk all of a sudden? Remove the mark on my back…….”

As Adel retreated, trying to change the subject, Christine came closer.

“I’ll remove it perfectly, don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Throughout this, Christine’s eyes never left her. His deep gaze seemed to pierce through her face.

Has he already gotten drunk on a few glasses of wine?

His intense and persistent gaze made Adel feel dizzy. Her face flushed, and her ears grew hot. She must look like a wellripened peach by now.

So she tried to turn her head, but she couldn’t, as he held her chin. He lightly lifted Adel’s chin, forcing her to look straight at him.

Quiet and cool blue eyes, like waves, seemed to engulf her in an instant.

Adel felt a thrilling sensation of being sucked into those waves.

“So now you don’t have to keep the promise of two weeks, right?”

“Huh?”

What was he talking about?

“That was just an excuse since you hadn’t healed. Right?”

Oh, is he talking about the wedding night?

“That, that’s…….”

“It really felt like I was going to die holding back.”