Sometimes alcohol brings out one’s true feelings, but it can also reveal the heart that one didn’t want to show.
What made Adele feel upset with Robert?
Well, she had already made up her mind to say it, but her courage to admit it as her own wasn’t that great.
Saying she missed him… that much should be acceptable, right?
Adele, holding her throbbing head, had a complex expression.
She wasn’t the type to get drunk easily, but strangely enough, there were days when three bottles would knock her out.
And today was one of those mornings. Adele touched her lips and looked sideways.
Because of her blanked-out memories, there were more than a few things bothering her.
Why was Robert here, and why was he sleeping? Adele began to rummage through her broken memories.
After the last memory she could recall.
She hoped that whatever ‘incident’ she imagined wouldn’t come true.
#
Hoo-
When Robert realized that Adele’s lips touched his forehead, he chuckled softly and rubbed his forehead.
It was the first time in his life.
Adele had touched him like this, beyond just holding hands, and it was she who had approached him first.
It was something he wouldn’t normally do.
“You’ve become quite bold.”
Robert felt embarrassed too.
It was only natural that he never imagined she would act this way.
Who could possibly think that Adele would behave like this toward him?
To even predict that, he would need to reincarnate several more times. That’s how it was.
He couldn’t control the awkwardness himself, so he tried to shake off the embarrassment by attempting to make a joke.
Even though his cheeks were slightly flushed like he was drunk, perhaps he had become completely intoxicated by the atmosphere.
Seeing that Adele still hadn’t said anything, Robert coughed lightly.
He wondered if it was okay to make someone feel this restless.
Even though his heart was on the verge of exploding from the close distance, he remained this calm.
In fact, Adele wasn’t exactly calm either, but Robert thought she seemed rather composed.
Of course, the chaos in Adele’s mind was even greater than Robert’s.
“…Remember what I just said.”
Adele’s ears turned a bright red as she said that.
Become bold? No way.
Bringing her lips to his forehead was a rather impulsive decision, but it was the first time she had ever experienced such emotions.
Feeling possessive over a person, not a thing, was always a first for her.
Even claiming that she would take all the firsts was something she would have never dared to say if she were sober, especially in front of Robert.
It was the alcohol’s fault. However, more than trying to sort out this situation, the alcohol that had already taken over her body was clouding Adele’s consciousness even faster.
Even if she tried to create some distance, her body wobbled, making it difficult to move.
No matter what she attempted, dizziness set in, and momentarily unable to focus, Adele’s body slumped forward.
Robert, who naturally caught Adele, forced a smile.
Her body heat was transmitted directly. Unlike usual, she wore thin clothing, allowing him to feel her body curves fully.
For a brief moment, he thought it was quite troublesome, then sighed softly at the searing heat that had already risen.
The words he just spoke might have been spilled due to the influence of alcohol.
Now there were four empty bottles alone.
It was only natural that a normal person wouldn’t be able to withstand that.
Even for Adele, it was true. Usually, drinking like that would make it hard to even stand.
Considering she hadn’t received divine power like him, how could she drink four bottles and still be okay?
So he tried to forget what he had just heard, but Adele, who was clinging to Robert, fluttered her lips.
As if reading his mind, her calm voice seemed to contradict Robert’s thoughts.
“You probably think I said this because I’m drunk.”
“Not at all.”
“I can see it just by your expression. Did you think I underestimated you? Absolutely not.”
The strength of her embrace grew stronger, and Robert stiffened at the breath that brushed against his neck.
That warm breath was tickling his neck.
At this rate, he felt like he might lose his strength and just lie down together, so he held onto Adele tightly, listening only to her voice.
Regardless of what Robert was doing, Adele was continuing with her thoughts.
If he thought she was speaking out of drunkenness, that would be a big misunderstanding.
While the words spilled due to the alcohol was true, her feelings were genuine.
She held back from speaking more honestly, lacking the confidence, but she had indeed felt a little hurt.
She tightened her hold even more and slowly fluttered her lips again.
“Even when you didn’t know, even when you looked elsewhere, I was watching you. Even if you were focused on other things, my gaze was on you. You just didn’t know. I do.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. Is it okay for you not to know about someone?”
Hearing those words from Adele gave Robert a strange feeling, and he let out a chuckle as he pulled away from her.
He was crystal clear on what he wanted to say.
He now knew what had made him feel hurt and what he desired.
He couldn’t possibly grant all those requests.
There was a line he had set for himself, and the fact that her lips had touched his forehead was already beyond that line.
But it wasn’t something he could get angry about.
Thinking about it, it seemed like that kind of thing was a first for him in this life.
He had no idea what other firsts he might lose next time. But for today, this was enough.
Adele, who was released from Robert’s hold, staggered and sat down in a chair.
Adele, who had fallen to Robert, staggered and sat in a chair.
She knew she was quite drunk, but it was infuriating that Robert didn’t seem to be drunk at all.
It felt like he had made her drink a lot. She couldn’t understand why she was the only one in this state.
Her vision was blurry, and her head was spinning as the world flipped upside down over and over at this moment.
Under normal circumstances, she would lie down on the bed and try to sleep.
…But that meant Robert would leave, so falling asleep that easily wasn’t going to happen.
Her struggle to hold on was bound to attract the attention of others.
Seeing Adele trying to sit up again, Robert chuckled softly.
Did she really want to stay in this place that badly?
However, time was finite, and before daybreak, Adele needed to fall asleep.
After all, she was the Grand Duke ruling over this North.
While it might be okay for her to be drunk, not everyone would look kindly on Adele being inebriated.
Especially since they had been drinking alone together, it would be better to put her to sleep as quickly as possible.
As Robert approached and supported her arm, Adele frowned.
“I’m not going to sleep. I’m not really that drunk.”
“You seem to be quite drunk already. You even kissed me.”
“If it wasn’t on the lips, then it doesn’t count. I’ll do that next time when I’m sober. When you’re not thinking about other things. Maybe I’ll even do it in front of the Saint or the Princess. Hehe.”
Not sure what to think about her speaking so boldly in front of him, he was just glad he didn’t feel as unpleasant as he did at first.
When Robert lifted his arm, Adele willingly got up.
She was actually thinking it was about time to rise.
Part of it was because she knew Robert’s actions would be resolute even if she resisted.
And if she stayed seated any longer, he would dislike it. There was no reason for her to refuse his words.
Staggering to her feet, Adele flopped down onto the bed right next to her.
Her body fell down without even getting her head on the pillow, but even that was too hard to get back up from.
If a bed could eat a person, this was probably the feeling.
The plush sensation engulfed her body, wrapping around her as if she were sinking into a swamp, forcing her to tightly shut her eyes before opening them again.
What she saw was Robert’s face, so she reached her arms upward with a bright smile.
Her flailing arms didn’t quite reach Robert.
The gesture of a cat trying to catch something felt rather threatening to Robert.
As she leaned forward, wondering if she was looking for him, Adele’s hand effortlessly grabbed Robert and pulled him in.
“Gotcha.”
“…I’m not an object, you know.”
“If I hadn’t grabbed you, you would’ve tried to leave anyway. Wouldn’t you?”
Despite drinking that much, the sweet scent was much stronger than the smell of alcohol.
The fragrance of the woman was so intense that Robert felt like his consciousness might slip away, prompting him to lift his head slightly to escape that aroma.
He slightly lifted his head.
Without applying any strength, his head nearly buried itself in his chest.
In such a situation, wouldn’t it be quite dangerous?
As Robert’s eyes narrowed, Adele, who had been smiling, slightly loosened her grip on his arm.
Even if he said he was leaving now, there wasn’t really any chance to hold him back.
He was just feeling a bit sad; wasn’t it only natural to leave?
The reason he hadn’t completely let go was that he felt that way.
He also felt it would be a pity to send him off; he wanted to stay just a little longer.
In that sentiment, he merely held onto the collar with his fingertips.
Robert, whose sleeve was held, quietly gazed at Adele.
Even if he tried to step out, he couldn’t because of that hand. Was it trying to hold on, or let go?
Trying to move, he momentarily chuckled at the finger that pulled his sleeve, but then slowly approached Adele and plopped himself down in the empty space on the bed.
“What do you want?”
In truth, he didn’t want to leave completely. If he had intended to, he would have left long ago.
The reason he hadn’t brushed off the hand holding him and continued to stay was that, deep down, he liked this place.
It had been a long time since it was just the two of them like this.
He was pondering whether he should stay a little longer because he was worried about what Adele had said to him.
In response to the question about what she wanted, Adele hesitated for a moment.
Even if she wanted to say, “I want you,” there was a high chance Robert would take it as a joke.
So, she hesitated, and finally, her lips fluttered silently.
“I wish you would hug me…”
So that until I fall asleep, I won’t forget you’re by my side.
Having said that, she slightly opened her arms, which made Robert chuckle before he cautiously moved his body.
The man and woman, embracing each other, felt each other’s body heat.
Adele felt Robert’s presence and gradually slipped into the fading consciousness.
Though she didn’t want to fall asleep. She wanted to savor this moment a little longer.
But the problem was she had drunk too much.
Even as her consciousness blurred, the hand that held onto Robert didn’t let go.
At the moment she was about to completely fall asleep, Adele whispered into Robert’s ear.
“I missed you.”
More than you might think. Perhaps she could even praise herself for not having departed to the center.
Upon hearing that, Robert was slightly surprised, but soon answered with a quiet smile.
“I felt the same way.”
That was why Robert was sleeping beside Adele.
Even though he was asleep, he hadn’t fully let go of his arm, leaving the truth of that night as something only Adele wouldn’t remember.
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