TCS 04

Chapter : 4. Does it really not hurt?

Though he had watched Adrian grow up since he was a baby, Owen had never seen such a mad, feverish look in his eyes. Owen scratched his head and echoed Adrian’s words.

“So what?” “It means he doesn’t qualify.”

Who on earth would dare say that an imperial prince was unqualified? Naturally, Owen assumed he was referring to Stella.

“Yes, I understand why Lady Bronte was broken off from her engagement. Born as the Star of the Empire yet possessing no abilities, she was bound to be discarded.” “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” “The burn scars…” “Do you not even know that those scars were earned while saving the prince who stands first in line to the imperial throne?”

Theo de Vez Perval—he had been Stella’s fiancé. Yet even though she had saved Theo, the imperial family had acted with absolute coldness simply because a fire had broken out at the Bronte estate.

“My point was that His Highness lacks qualification. The imperial family still drags out ancient excuses and claims she is unfit to be Empress, yet His Highness fails to actively oppose them. Are they not both equally incompetent?” “…” “How dare he cast his eyes on what isn’t his?”

Adrian smiled widely.

“If Master finds out, he will be furious.” “There is no need to worry about trivial matters when achieving something that even a prince failed to secure.”

Owen shook his head helplessly at his master’s stubborn gaze. Yet because it had been so long since he last saw Adrian look this genuinely pleased, he could not bring himself to stop him.

“Shouldn’t we notify the Bronte household in advance? They must be searching for her.” “It’s still too soon.” “You aren’t going to tell them?” “I will. Just a bit later on.”

An unfathomable smile leisurely bloomed across his lips.

“She is already so flustered she can barely meet my eyes; I cannot permit those beautiful pupils to harbor anyone unnecessary.”

His red eyes gleamed with persistent intensity.

“It will not be too late to inform the Bronte household after I have made sure those eyes see only me.”

Adrian quietly stared at the sharply pointed tip of his fountain pen, then curled one corner of his lip and pressed it down onto the pristine white paper.

“So she cannot run away.”

Owen wore a bitter smile. Though he had served him for a long time, this was his first time witnessing such obsessive persistence in Adrian. Could a young lady ignorant of the ways of the world possibly survive by the side of someone so relentless? The thought that it was impossible arose alongside a wave of pity for her.

Please, endure it well…

Once the Duke, currently away in Setirus, returned, everything would find its proper place. Owen simply hoped that until then, everything would pass without incident.

The early summer breeze drifted through the window, and Stella opened her eyes to the long stretch of sunlight. She noticed someone had pulled the curtains wide open to block out the light, but she didn’t particularly care. Even without the sunlight, the suffocating weight pressing down on her chest would not have allowed her to sleep much longer anyway. Stella swept her hair to one side and composed herself. At that, Jena snapped back to attention and hurried over.

“You’re awake.” “Ah, yes.” “Wouldn’t you like to sleep a bit more?” “No. I’ve slept enough.”

Stella’s voice was exceptionally clear. Naturally, having been raised as a noble existence from birth, it was to be expected, but Jena hadn’t expected her to speak in such a refined, ethereal tone the moment she woke up. Jena looked at Stella with admiration before clapping her hands as if something had just occurred to her.

“Would you like to go see the young master?” “Wouldn’t he be busy?”

Stella turned her head to look out the window. Outside, the sky was dyed red as darkness began to creep in. It was still a bit too early for him to have finished his work. With her presence having surely delayed his morning schedule, she couldn’t possibly go interrupt him.

“He’s probably still working.”

Checking the lit window of Adrian’s office outside, Jena quickly changed the subject.

“He’ll likely finish his work soon. How about taking a walk before that?” “A walk?”

Stella followed her gaze and looked out the window.

Would it be alright for me to walk around outside?

Stella worried that someone might see her. Sensing her anxiousness, Jena immediately added:

“A stroll through the garden should be fine. The walls of the Castillo residence are quite high.”

Eager to take a look around the residence, Stella did not refuse Jena’s suggestion. And so, forgetting the fact that the injuries on her feet had not fully healed, she moved her legs to the edge of the bed. At that instant, a tingling sensation shot through her toes.

“Is something uncomfortable?”

Jena wore a bewildered expression.

Weak beasts are bound to be preyed upon. Therefore, you must hide your pain.

Meeting that gaze, Stella simply shook her head as if nothing were wrong. All she could do was follow the voice echoing in her head—the cruel instruction not to show any sign of pain.

“No, it’s nothing.” “But…” “Let’s hurry outside.”

Quickly throwing on a light outer garment, Stella casually set down her footsteps as if completely unbothered. Jena followed right behind to show her the way to the garden. Ignoring the stinging sensation in her feet, she walked outside and soon arrived at the garden. By now, darkness had settled, and the starlit garden was completely silent. Walking through the open garden felt as though the tight knots of anxiety in her chest were melting away. The events of dawn even felt like a distant dream. Stella looked up at the sky.

“The sky has grown dark.” “Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought you out.” “No, the night sky is beautiful, too.”

Gray clouds drifted softly across the dark sky. The aimless wandering of the clouds felt so much like her own plight that a hollow laugh escaped her. The fortunate thing was that she could fully enjoy this scenery right now. Emptying her mind, she quietly gazed at the twinkling starlight in the night sky. As she watched the sky, a familiar set of footsteps tapped against her ears. Instinctively, Stella straightened her posture. A long shadow fell over her.

“Were you taking a walk?” “Ah!”

It was Adrian.

“Yes, I wanted some fresh air.”

The expression on Adrian’s face as he faced her was far from good.

Is he angry because I wandered around without permission? Taking a walk when I’m supposed to be a fugitive.

His twisted gaze swept past her chest and settled on her toes. Under that intense look, the feet that had barely been supporting her suddenly tensed up. As a result, her feet throbbed agonizingly. She tightly clenched her fists to swallow the sound threatening to slip out. Approaching closely, Adrian had Stella sit down on a bench and dropped to one knee. Then, he inspected her bewildered feet.

“They’re swollen, aren’t they?” “…” “Why are you foolishly enduring it?”

Adrian raised his head to look at Stella. Why did he look so breathtakingly beautiful illuminated by the moonlight? The old saying that a handsome man is dangerous no matter what he does truly proved to be correct without a single flaw. She pulled her feet back in an attempt to escape him. The moment she uttered that it hurt, those red eyes before her looked ready to devour her.

“I-I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt.” “Stay still.” “…” “It will be troublesome if you lose the use of your legs.”

Adrian muttered, “Though that wouldn’t be entirely bad either,” but the words failed to reach Stella’s ears, scattered and lost in the wind. He placed her feet in his hands and assumed a fiercely serious expression. She tried to pull her feet away in panic, but he spoke firmly.

“They need to be treated immediately.” “H-Here?” “They’ve been crushed, and infection is a possibility.”

Stella stared blankly at her legs, then shifted her gaze back to Adrian. The look in his eyes as he looked up at her was dead serious. It seemed the condition of her feet was considerably worse than she thought.

“Yes.” “Pardon me for a moment.”

First, he removed the shoes that were pressing down on her wounds. Blood had pooled against her snow-white skin, a sight that immediately caught the eye. With a displeased look, Adrian pressed gently against the wound. In response, Stella bit down hard on her lower lip to suppress a groan.

“The condition is worse than I thought.”

He pulled out a round medicine bottle. Wondering why he had such a thing on him, she was startled to see the transparent medicine poured directly into his large hand. Not only did he pour out the precious medicine without a shred of hesitation, but he also touched her toes without reservation.

“It might sting a little.” “Y-Yes.” “Tell me if it hurts.”

Before the words had even faded, his fingers touched her foot.

Was treatment supposed to be this embarrassing?

Even though it was the soles of her feet that were injured, his long, slender fingers slipped between her toes. Wherever his touch brushed, it felt as burning hot as if she had been scorched. His damp fingers smoothly stroked her skin. Tracing up the transparent top of her foot, his fingers came to a stop at her slender ankles. Overwhelmed by the dizzying sensation, she forgot she was in the middle of medical treatment and let out a soft moan.

“Nng.” “Does it hurt?”

Stella bit her lip hard. Her moan must have sounded like a cry of suffering from pain. Flustered, she ducked her head, her face burning bright red, and shook it.

N-No, it doesn’t hurt. “Is that so?” “You, you said to tell you if it hurt.”

Even though her legs shook with pain, Stella refused to say it hurt. Her lie only made his touch grow richer and more lingering. When he pressed firmly against the sole of her foot, a tingling sensation rippled down her lower back and made her lower abdomen churn. Perhaps because she refused to admit it hurt despite the pain. The look in Adrian’s eyes as he caressed her toes grew increasingly mischievous.

“Ah!”

She hastily covered her mouth. His touch had become so persistent that she couldn’t speak. Lifting his head, he asked once more:

“Does it truly not hurt?”

Never show your pain.

Adrian’s voice and the lingering ghosts of her past echoed with the exact same words. Her blue eyes wavered. Whose words was she supposed to follow? What should she do if she said it hurt, only for him to look disappointed and turn away?

I really don’t know.

Stella looked down at him. His eyes gazed straight into hers. Perhaps because of that? Unlike the phantoms in her mind, she found herself wanting to follow the command of the gaze directly before her. Hesitating for a moment, Stella carefully placed her hand on his forearm.

“It hurts.”

A small voice rang out. At those words, spoken after a mountain of deliberation, a satisfied smile curved across Adrian’s lips. Though he had pushed her into a corner with that exact intention from the start, seeing her speak the truth sent a thick, unidentifiable surge of euphoria through his heart. The touch climbing up her ankle brushed against her anklebone before pulling away.

“We are all done.” “R-Really? It’s finished?” “Yes. Walking will be difficult, so I will carry you back myself. Of course, if you grant me permission.”

Unlike a moment ago, he offered a polite smile and extended his hand. After a brief hesitation, she met his gentle smile and placed her hand in his. Partly because she didn’t want to refuse his goodwill, but also because walking on feet drenched in medicine was practically impossible. She hadn’t expected a late-night stroll to raise her body temperature in such a bizarre way. Held securely in Adrian’s arms, Stella pressed down hard on her frantically pounding heart. They had only met a day ago, yet she was acting like this—it was driving her crazy. The place where they vanished left behind nothing save for a pair of shoes stained with dried blood. However, by the following day, not a single servant in the Castillo residence knew what had become of those shoes.