Adrian was truly taken aback.
His memory had always been absolute—nothing was ever forgotten.
The idea of distortion or gaps in his recollection was simply unthinkable.
Ssshhk
.
Once again, the soft sound of peaceful breathing filled the air.
Adrian slowly extended his hand, letting it brush against her delicate skin.
The warmth at his fingertips was unmistakable—alive.
Only part of her hand was touching his, yet the sensation was incredibly vivid.
He lowered his gaze, scrutinizing Ione with growing intensity.
What was going on?
He’d checked multiple times.
This woman, who seemed half-dead, had never once shown any sign of life.
Only when observed this closely could he finally sense it...
“….”
A glimmer of interest flickered in Adrian’s sharp, pale blue eyes.
When he unleashed his power, something responded.
Something from her finger.
Nothing visible. Nothing tangible.
Yet his magic was unmistakably indicating the presence of
something
.
Adrian let his hand glide down her sleeping form, brushing over her hand.
Nothing caught on his fingertips. No magical aura.
Still, the feeling remained—
something
was there.
What is this?
His gaze sharpened. His pupils thinned into slits, predator-like.
Even
his
power couldn’t fully grasp it?
A slow, curious smile tugged at his lips.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this way.
The world had long been dull to Adrian—weak, numb, and worthless.
Things might have caught his attention before, but never enough to
want
them.
Never enough to
need
them.
But this mysterious, invisible presence?
It stirred something unbearable within him.
Adrian loosely entwined his long, slender fingers with hers.
Their hands interlocked tightly, perfectly.
No gap, no escape.
And then—
A voice echoed in his mind:
"Let’s take a peek!"
"It’s a shame not to witness something so lovely."
Right on cue, Penelope’s annoyingly cheerful voice buzzed through his thoughts.
His curiosity surged. Unchecked, undeniable.
Adrian began channeling his magic through their joined hands—
Ssshhk
.
A shallow breath quivered.
Suddenly, Ione’s eyes flew open.
Her gaze shimmered like precious gemstones, meeting his directly.
The strange sense of unease he had felt through her fingers vanished instantly.
“Ah… Your Grace…”
“….”
“What… are you doing?”
Like a proper Arche-duchess. Or like Ione.
But I don’t want to live that way.
"Is living like that really living at all?"
Catherine’s words had left a deep impression.
So, when Ione found Adrian looking down at her, she didn’t freeze or flinch.
Her heart did flutter—any human’s would—but recognizing it as a normal response helped her stay calm.
Thump
.
Her heartbeat, loud and heavy, felt oddly natural.
Adrian still held her hand.
Someone who didn’t know better might think she’d instinctively clung to him in her sleep…
Wait.
Her thoughts halted abruptly.
Wait, wait—did I just say… someone’s hand…?
Her eyes rolled toward their interlaced fingers.
His hand. Her hand. Completely entwined.
“Oh! Uh—!”
Sometimes, when a person is too shocked, words simply don’t come.
Ione opened her mouth wide and stammered like a fish.
W-what did this damned hand do while I was asleep?!
Who did I just touch?!
Adrian’s expression had turned frosty.
Not shocked—
disgusted.
Ione trembled and tried to pull her hand away.
She straightened her fingers, but the grip didn’t loosen.
One needed the other’s cooperation to unlock clasped fingers.
Tears nearly welled in her eyes.
She hadn’t meant it. Couldn’t this be forgiven as an accident in sleep?
“This hand… it’s acting on its own…”
She tried to brush it off with a mumble, but guilt made her voice stiff.
She was doomed.
Just when she resigned herself to the embarrassment, his voice cut through—
“Is it strange?”
His tone was merciful, like offering her a lifeline.
Ione shook her head frantically.
“Not at all. Not even a little. I-I mean, things like this happen.”
“I see.”
Adrian accepted her answer without further question.
Relieved, Ione didn’t notice how his fingers were tightening—one by one, ensuring no escape.
She only realized it when she tried to inch away and found their hands still tightly clasped.
“My hand…?”
“Your hand?”
His voice, wrapping around her eardrums, was velvet-smooth and rich.
Thump.
Her heart pounded again, loud and frantic.
Oh no.
This wasn’t a romantic moment. She should be terrified, not swooning!
Her mouth was dry. She quickly licked her lips and, summoning her best polite tone, said,
“You may let go of my hand now.”
“…Must I?”
His soft smile sent her reeling.
It was just a slight curl of the lips, but it knocked the thoughts clean out of her head.
She stared into the deep blue eyes beneath his long lashes, entranced.
“Hmm?”
His low hum made her chest tighten.
She couldn’t think. She could barely breathe.
Eventually, she nodded slowly, like she was hypnotized.
She didn’t know what was going on anymore.
All she could think about was the warmth of their touch.
“Then… may I hold it a bit longer?”
His long fingers closed the space she’d just managed to open.
“Ah.”
Just holding hands—how could it be this overwhelming?
Wow, Ione… this is dangerous.
She didn’t want to admit it, but she understood now.
Even if she knew the ending, she’d still be helpless against it.
But then—
“What did you do today?”
She had expected a more dramatic follow-up, but his voice was oddly neutral.
Ione shifted to give him room to sit at the edge of her bed.
“Please, sit.”
“This is comfortable enough.”
A strange current sparked in her hand.
A jolt ran through her body, from stomach to chest.
She sucked in a sharp breath.
What is wrong with me?!
Just because he’s holding my hand—
This was ridiculous.
“…Nothing special happened. But could you, um… let go of my hand?”
She gently pushed him with her free hand—only for that one to be caught, too.
“That’s a new ring.”
“Oh, yes. Penelope got it for me earlier at the market…”
“The market. With Penelope?”
“What’s the connection?”
Oh, crap. Was it her mouth or her brain that was the problem?
You needed to be smart to lie.
Why did her secrets spill like water over a cracked dam?
Adrian didn’t look pleased.
So she gave in, defeated, and told him everything.
How Penelope had bought the ring while they were browsing.
“She bought you that?”
“Yes.”
His gaze, falling to the ring, turned icy.
It sent a chill down her spine.
He was still breathtakingly beautiful, still smiling faintly—
But she shivered nonetheless.
“And yet…”
“You wore someone else’s ring before even your engagement ring?”
Snap.
A soft chuckle, but not a kind one.
She’d made a mistake.
Trying to imitate the “proper” arche-duchess or pretending she was someone she wasn’t—
She didn’t mean to push her luck
this
far.
Ione shook her head.
“No, it’s not like that—”
“I’d like you to take it off.”
“Of course.”
She tried to release his hand, but their fingers were still tightly interlocked.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
I need to remove it.
But his gaze was sharp and unyielding.
She could only smile awkwardly.
“The ring… I’ll take it off now.”
“I’ll remove it for you.”
“I could just—”
“I said I would.”
Can’t I take it off myself?
Other girls get their rings put on by men.
Why is mine being taken away?
It felt strangely humiliating.
Adrian took the ring and effortlessly slipped it off her finger.
She watched his every move, too stunned to speak.
Then, as she opened her mouth to ask for it back, a strange sound came from his fist.
Snap.
Not a good sound.
Ione shut her mouth and simply rolled her eyes in dismay.
“How do you feel?”
“I’ll be more careful.”
“But how do you feel?”
“…I feel fine.”
It was a strange question.
But what could she say?
He took the ring and now even wanted to manage her
emotions
?
Unbelievable.
Still, feeling guilty, Ione could only force a smile.
Because, hey—
As the saying goes: “You can’t spit on a smiling face.”
Please let this slide. I promise I’ll be more careful.
Adrian had recognized the ring’s nature at a glance.
The gem embedded in it was a communication stone.
I didn’t think she was foolish enough to miss my warning.
But I suppose she’s more reckless than I gave her credit for.
To boldly slip something like that on the Arche-duchess’s hand?
He narrowed his eyes.
That was a mistake they wouldn’t get the chance to repeat.