Chapter : 12
At those words, Adele completely forgot her manners and etiquette for a moment. Without realizing it, she vigorously rubbed her arms.
Goosebumps…
She couldn’t even bear to imagine herself laughing happily as Adolf’s lover.
With a shudder, she replied,
“I must respectfully decline any expectations of that sort.”
“Hahaha!”
The count burst into laughter.
Beside him, Adolf frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Hey, did you have to put it that harshly?”
“It’s better to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings before they happen.”
Adele answered firmly, then turned to the count as if asking for his agreement.
Still chuckling, he nodded.
“That’s true, hahaha. I’d heard you were completely devoted to your research, but you’re much more entertaining than I’d expected.”
Setting his wine glass down, the count continued,
“That reminds me. His Highness the Prince mentioned that you’re preparing quite an impressive business venture.”
“You’d better look forward to it. It’s incredible.”
Adolf chimed in from the side.
The count looked at Adele with growing interest.
“If you’re praising it this much, then I simply have to hear the details.”
It was exactly the topic she had been hoping to discuss.
Thinking of Heon, who still hadn’t contacted her, Adele smiled faintly.
“The item I’m currently developing is a magical tool called a Subspace Pouch.”
“A Subspace Pouch?”
The unfamiliar term piqued the count’s curiosity.
“Yes. To put it simply…”
Moments like this always left Adele in an awkward position.
If someone asked her to explain the blueprints or the underlying principles, she could lecture all night without getting tired.
But explaining magical engineering in terms that ordinary people with no knowledge of magic could understand was far more difficult than conducting the research itself.
When she’d explained it to Heon not long ago, he’d simply stared blankly in a daze.
Seeing that reaction had made her think,
I really have no talent for explaining things.
Feeling a little discouraged, she carefully searched for the simplest explanation she could.
“Well… to put it simply, it allows even large objects to fit inside a pouch no bigger than the palm of your hand.”
She gestured enthusiastically as she spoke.
“It’s basically space magicāwhich normally only mages can useābut redesigned so ordinary people can use it safely. It would be incredibly useful for transporting heavy or bulky luggage.”
“Oh? If something like that were truly possible, not only nobles but merchant guilds would be eager to get their hands on it.”
The count exclaimed in admiration.
Adolf, who had been listening nearby, smirked proudly.
“See? I wasn’t exaggerating when I said it was amazing.”
“If the opportunity arises, I’d very much like to see it for myself. From my perspective, it’s certainly worth serious consideration.”
It was a fairly positive response from Count Glitter.
Just then, a wave of murmuring spread through the ballroom.
Adolf and the count turned toward the commotion one after another.
Adele also looked over absentmindedly before her eyes widened.
Huh?
Chestnut-brown hair.
A face worn thin from years of illness.
Yet beneath the perfectly tailored tailcoat, his solid physique made it hard to believe he was a patient.
It wasn’t only Adele’s group paying attention to him.
The nobles, whose eyes had been fixed on Adolf just moments earlier, all shifted their attention toward the newcomer as though by prior agreement.
Naturally.
After all, he was Heon Leonar, heir to the ducal House of Leonar, a man famous for almost never appearing at social gatherings like this.
Adele quickly searched her memory of the original story.
I’m pretty sure he never attended a ball this early in the novel…
At that point, he’d been too busy battling his illness.
Then… did my interference really change the story?
As she hesitated, Heon, standing among the crowd, slowly turned his head.
A moment later, his eyes met Adele’s directly.
So he really came looking for me?
After a brief silence, he strode toward her without hesitation.
Watching the scene unfold, the count muttered in surprise,
“He looks familiar… If I remember correctly, that’s the young master of House Leonarā”
Before he could finish, Heon stopped in front of the three of them.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Though brief, his words carried undeniable weight.
His brown eyes were fixed squarely on Adele.
“Ah, Sir Heon Leonar!”
The count finally remembered his name and greeted him enthusiastically.
“I didn’t expect you to attend tonight. It’s been… what, several years since we last met?”
Despite the count’s warm welcome, Heon said nothing.
He simply stared at Adele.
“Ah…”
She had told him to come find her…
But of all times, he had chosen to do it in the middle of a ball.
Adele hurriedly glanced around.
As expected, it seemed every eye in the banquet hall had turned toward them.
“Perhaps we should move somewhereā”
She smiled awkwardly, about to suggest going outside.
“What business do you have with my partner, Sir Leonar?”
Without warning, Adolf stepped forward and lightly placed a hand on Adele’s shoulder.
Only then did Heon’s gaze slowly shift.
“Your Highness, the Second Prince.”
“It must be something quite important. Judging by how you completely ignored my presence.”
“It is both important… and urgent.”
“And may I ask what exactly it concerns?”
Seriously? Why is he butting in now?
Adele subtly shrugged Adolf’s hand off and shot him a sideways glare.
Only then did he lean over and whisper irritably into her ear.
“…What’s with that guy? Do you seriously have business with him?”
“He’s my number-one prospective sponsor. Don’t get in the way.”
“Oh.”
Adolf’s expression instantly became complicated.
Only then did he seem to realize just how little he actually possessed.
Adele silently signaled for him to step back before putting on her most businesslike smile and turning brightly toward Heon.
“Shall we continue this somewhere else?”
Finally, an expression of Now we’re talking appeared on Heon’s face.
He held out his hand.
Adele quietly looked down at it with a faint smile.
If I take his hand… I’ll definitely become the star of today’s ball.
She could already picture people gossiping about it all over the capital.
But she’d already factored that humiliation into her calculations.
Well… let’s just call it provocative advertising.
Since she’d already become the center of attention, she figured she might as well take full advantage of it.
Following countless curious gazes, the two walked straight across the ballroom toward the balcony.
Heon let Adele enter first before closing the door and drawing the curtains behind them.
Soft music drifted beneath the night sky.
After gathering the cumbersome skirts of her dress, Adele slowly turned to face him.
“Now then, tell me. What was so important that you came all the way here?”
There wasn’t the slightest hint of a smile on the man’s face.
Then came a sharp question.
“How exactly did you know I was sick?”
Just as I thought.
So that was why he came.
While Adele celebrated inwardly, Heon continued pressing her.
“Why did you choose me of all people? Why make that proposal to me? And just how did you create that medicine?”
Faced with the barrage of questions, Adele merely shrugged casually.
“I told you I needed a sponsor. A family like the House of Leonar should have more than enough money to fund my business.”
Heon’s gaze darkened.
“…That medicine… did you really make it yourself?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“If I explained how I made it, would you even understand?”
At her counterquestion, Heon merely frowned.
Just as I thought. You barely listened when I explained the Subspace Pouch, too.
“The important thing isn’t the processāit’s the result, isn’t it, Sir Leonar?”
Tilting her head slightly, Adele continued,
“You’re the patient. And I’m the only person who can cure you. Isn’t the answer that simple? There’s really nothing more to debate.”
In other words:
What’s the point of understanding the process? No one but me can cure you anyway. Are you really going to keep interrogating me with pointless questions?
But Heon had no intention of accepting that so easily.
“To me, the process is every bit as important as the result.”
