Nina opened her eyes.
Before long, she noticed that her body was half leaning against Adrian as if she were draping down. She closed her eyes again and felt the touch. Adrian’s body was firm, warm, and unshaken.
Her heart was beating fast.
Not enough to want to run away, but moderately thrilling.
Nina was in a good mood.
The corners of her lips gently raised on their own. She wanted to stick together a little closer.
She reached out her arm to hug him but stooped. Just in case, she looked up to peek above her head and Adrian was staring down at her with open eyes.
“……”
“……”
Making eye contact with him, she reached out her arms and hugged him tightly. Somehow, a broad smile came out without realizing it and Adrian’s expression became even more strange.
“Adrian.”
When she opened her mouth, Nina realized that her throat was hoarse.
‘Wow.’
I’m really tired.
Adrian frowned and reached his hand at the side table to hand Nina a glass of water.
Nina took off her body, regretting to be separated from Adrian, and took the cup. It was as if water went into the cracks in her neck, making her feel alive again.
Only then did she realize how thirsty she was. Nina, who had finished her glass, held it out. Adrian refilled the glass and after drinking two glasses in a row, Nina put it down.
“How do you feel?”
Adrian asked, reaching out his hand and gently brushing her tousled bangs.
“I wanted Kirill to give me the cure-all right away, but It doesn’t hurt that much.”
Nina had a cut on her side and a broken arm. She couldn’t move much, but moving carefully was enough. Although those parts continue to be still faintly tingling.
“Kirill warned you not to use it so carelessly.”
“Right.”
Nina let out a wide sigh feeling it was too bad she could no use it. Adrian took her glass and put it away.
In a flash, Nina lay down on his body again.
“Nina……”
He groaned, but Nina didn’t care. She swallowed a laugh as she hugged him tightly and buried her face in his arms.
“You know, Adrian.”
“What?
“I shouldn’t be happy right now, right?”
I mean, there were a bunch of problems and the world might end, too.
Adrian looked down at Nina without a word, then glanced at the ceiling and hugged her.
“Why not?”
Be happy to your heart’s content.
He could feel Nina trembling in his arms as she let out a small laugh. Feeling that, Adrian also felt happy.
Yes, well, whatever. As long as Nina is happy.
Nina savored his arms for a moment, then lifted her head. Adrian’s eyes looked at her tenderly.
‘Oh, but…’
Something different from before was mixed in his gaze. His eyes had a faint heat, but that too was pleasing to her.
“Did I sleep all day?”
“Yes.”
Nina was startled, came down from his body, and said.
“Adrian, you weren’t able to sleep because of me?”
“No, I slept for a while.
“Your clothes are all wrinkled.”
“That’s all right.”
His shirt and vest, which were usually impeccable, were wrinkled in a mess. He stood up nodding his head as if it was nothing.
“Get more rest.”
“No, I can’t sleep anymore.”
Adrian asked with a strange face.
“Why are you laughing?”
“What?”
“You’ve been smiling since a while ago.”
“Huh? Really?”
Nina caressed her cheeks.
“I don’t know, something just makes me smile.”
Saying so, Nina got up from her seat and opened the curtains. The midday sun pierced her eyes.
“Is it midday? I slept for a really long time no wonder I was somehow refreshed.”
Gurgle gurgling.
After a loud noise, Nina grabbed her stomach and glanced at Adrian.
“I have the dining hall prepared. Or shall I call room service?”
“Let’s go to the dining hall. I want to eat with Adrian.”
Adrian nodded his head. Nina sneakily looked down at her outfit and said.
“I will change.”
Adrian chuckled.
────── •❆• ──────
The townhouse kitchen came to life. They knew well that when Dame Nina was hungry she eats a course for at least 10 people by herself, which is reason enough to set any chef on fire.
Also, if the Duke had a meal together with her, they had to pay special attention to the taste.
How many restaurants have Duke Luverne eaten only one bite before getting up on the spot?
How much did those restaurant reviews sink after that?
As a Chef, her pride was at stake, so of course she reacted sensitively and shouted at everything and everyone, but she did not only give orders around the kitchen, she even held the fan to feed the fire herself.
It was lunchtime, but as if preparing for dinner, the kitchen moved in unison and started serving food.
A rich, delicately flavored soup was served as an appetizer.
The servant who served the food looked at their Master with a nervous expression.
When Adrian took a spoonful and began to eat a second bite, they retreated in relief. By comparison, Nina diligently brought the soup to her mouth.
“It’s delicious!”
“Because you were starved. Besides, you used too much energy.”
At Adrian’s words, Nina answered, “Still, delicious things are delicious.”
Rumors of Nina eating in the restaurant spread, and Louis and Jean came to the restaurant and sat side by side at the long table. Jean looked at the side of her hair which was short and clicked his tongue.
“You will have to cut the other side too.”
“Yes. I’m just glad it’s only the hair.”
Saying so, Nina emptied all of the overflowing soup.
Adrian also asked Louis what he was curious about because he hadn’t received a report all night.
“How’s Miss Fiona?”
Louis’ expression became subtle, and Jean twisted his face.
“What? Why are you doing this?”
Nina asked in dismay.
She emptied the soup bowl so quickly that the attendant panicked while removing it. He didn’t know if the next dish was ready.
Louis opened his mouth.
“The result was a success. She made the fragment of the corrupted Spirit King disappear. But it seems that there was a clash between Randell and Fiona in the process.”
Jean said.
“It’s not a clash, if you think about it, it must have been that guy unilaterally scratching Miss Fiona’s temper. Right now, she is lying in bed with the bedding wrapped around her like a cocoon.”
“It’s probably because she used a lot of strength.”
“Is that really all?”
Jean added, sticking out his lips, and Louis went on to the next thing without saying any more.
“Sir Benzel is back with us, and we are detaining him up in a guest room. Miss Fiona seems to have completely purified the parts that were still Bellac-like.”
Jean nodded his head.
“It’s amazing. That skinny person was the Saint. The real deal.”
“Is Benzel here? Is he okay?”
“I thought he was too fine looking compared to you.”
Jean could not say, ‘So healthy that I want to break one of his legs.’
Nina was the one who risked her life to save him, there was no way he could say that in front of her.
“That’s a relief.”
Nina smiled brightly. In any case, it’s better if the person she saved is fine.
The second dish came out. It was a cold appetizer. A salad roll with sauce to make it easy to eat. Only two were on the plate in front of Adrian and the rest was piled up in front of Nina.
“I should go see Fiona too…”
Nina took a deep breath and shoved the salad rolls into her mouth. It was crunchy and refreshing, which stimulated her taste buds.
Louis continued.
“Baron Verdin, who escaped, has been arrested.”
“Raja and Kell caught him. The performances of the two of them spread far and wide.”
Jean’s face brightened at the story of their little cubs. Nina asked surprised.
“Baron Verdin? Arrest? What’s going on?”
“Huh? Didn’t you hear that? Oh, it was when you went out with Randell.”
Jean explained the situation.
It was quite difficult to catch him as he ran away using the power of corrupted fragments, but, under Charlotte’s command, they managed to drive him to a dead-end and catch him.
“Why were our knights standing there in shining armor?”
Nina wrinkled her eyes.
“Everyone has agreed to cooperate in catching the pagans.”
Adrian answered instead. His fork and knife moved gracefully.
“There was some debate over who the commander would be.”
“Then do we have an advantage now?”
Adrian nodded briefly in response to Nina’s question.
“So? What happened to the Baron?”
“Dead.”
Jean shook his head.
Nina opened her eyes.
Before long, she noticed that her body was half leaning against Adrian as if she were draping down. She closed her eyes again and felt the touch. Adrian’s body was firm, warm, and unshaken.
Her heart was beating fast.
Not enough to want to run away, but moderately thrilling.
Nina was in a good mood.
The corners of her lips gently raised on their own. She wanted to stick together a little closer.
She reached out her arm to hug him but stooped. Just in case, she looked up to peek above her head and Adrian was staring down at her with open eyes.
“……”
“……”
Making eye contact with him, she reached out her arms and hugged him tightly. Somehow, a broad smile came out without realizing it and Adrian’s expression became even more strange.
“Adrian.”
When she opened her mouth, Nina realized that her throat was hoarse.
‘Wow.’
I’m really tired.
Adrian frowned and reached his hand at the side table to hand Nina a glass of water.
Nina took off her body, regretting to be separated from Adrian, and took the cup. It was as if water went into the cracks in her neck, making her feel alive again.
Only then did she realize how thirsty she was. Nina, who had finished her glass, held it out. Adrian refilled the glass and after drinking two glasses in a row, Nina put it down.
“How do you feel?”
Adrian asked, reaching out his hand and gently brushing her tousled bangs.
“I wanted Kirill to give me the cure-all right away, but It doesn’t hurt that much.”
Nina had a cut on her side and a broken arm. She couldn’t move much, but moving carefully was enough. Although those parts continue to be still faintly tingling.
“Kirill warned you not to use it so carelessly.”
“Right.”
Nina let out a wide sigh feeling it was too bad she could no use it. Adrian took her glass and put it away.
In a flash, Nina lay down on his body again.
“Nina……”
He groaned, but Nina didn’t care. She swallowed a laugh as she hugged him tightly and buried her face in his arms.
“You know, Adrian.”
“What?
“I shouldn’t be happy right now, right?”
I mean, there were a bunch of problems and the world might end, too.
Adrian looked down at Nina without a word, then glanced at the ceiling and hugged her.
“Why not?”
Be happy to your heart’s content.
He could feel Nina trembling in his arms as she let out a small laugh. Feeling that, Adrian also felt happy.
Yes, well, whatever. As long as Nina is happy.
Nina savored his arms for a moment, then lifted her head. Adrian’s eyes looked at her tenderly.
‘Oh, but…’
Something different from before was mixed in his gaze. His eyes had a faint heat, but that too was pleasing to her.
“Did I sleep all day?”
“Yes.”
Nina was startled, came down from his body, and said.
“Adrian, you weren’t able to sleep because of me?”
“No, I slept for a while.
“Your clothes are all wrinkled.”
“That’s all right.”
His shirt and vest, which were usually impeccable, were wrinkled in a mess. He stood up nodding his head as if it was nothing.
“Get more rest.”
“No, I can’t sleep anymore.”
Adrian asked with a strange face.
“Why are you laughing?”
“What?”
“You’ve been smiling since a while ago.”
“Huh? Really?”
Nina caressed her cheeks.
“I don’t know, something just makes me smile.”
Saying so, Nina got up from her seat and opened the curtains. The midday sun pierced her eyes.
“Is it midday? I slept for a really long time no wonder I was somehow refreshed.”
Gurgle gurgling.
After a loud noise, Nina grabbed her stomach and glanced at Adrian.
“I have the dining hall prepared. Or shall I call room service?”
“Let’s go to the dining hall. I want to eat with Adrian.”
Adrian nodded his head. Nina sneakily looked down at her outfit and said.
“I will change.”
Adrian chuckled.
────── •❆• ──────
The townhouse kitchen came to life. They knew well that when Dame Nina was hungry she eats a course for at least 10 people by herself, which is reason enough to set any chef on fire.
Also, if the Duke had a meal together with her, they had to pay special attention to the taste.
How many restaurants have Duke Luverne eaten only one bite before getting up on the spot?
How much did those restaurant reviews sink after that?
As a Chef, her pride was at stake, so of course she reacted sensitively and shouted at everything and everyone, but she did not only give orders around the kitchen, she even held the fan to feed the fire herself.
It was lunchtime, but as if preparing for dinner, the kitchen moved in unison and started serving food.
A rich, delicately flavored soup was served as an appetizer.
The servant who served the food looked at their Master with a nervous expression.
When Adrian took a spoonful and began to eat a second bite, they retreated in relief. By comparison, Nina diligently brought the soup to her mouth.
“It’s delicious!”
“Because you were starved. Besides, you used too much energy.”
At Adrian’s words, Nina answered, “Still, delicious things are delicious.”
Rumors of Nina eating in the restaurant spread, and Louis and Jean came to the restaurant and sat side by side at the long table. Jean looked at the side of her hair which was short and clicked his tongue.
“You will have to cut the other side too.”
“Yes. I’m just glad it’s only the hair.”
Saying so, Nina emptied all of the overflowing soup.
Adrian also asked Louis what he was curious about because he hadn’t received a report all night.
“How’s Miss Fiona?”
Louis’ expression became subtle, and Jean twisted his face.
“What? Why are you doing this?”
Nina asked in dismay.
She emptied the soup bowl so quickly that the attendant panicked while removing it. He didn’t know if the next dish was ready.
Louis opened his mouth.
“The result was a success. She made the fragment of the corrupted Spirit King disappear. But it seems that there was a clash between Randell and Fiona in the process.”
Jean said.
“It’s not a clash, if you think about it, it must have been that guy unilaterally scratching Miss Fiona’s temper. Right now, she is lying in bed with the bedding wrapped around her like a cocoon.”
“It’s probably because she used a lot of strength.”
“Is that really all?”
Jean added, sticking out his lips, and Louis went on to the next thing without saying any more.
“Sir Benzel is back with us, and we are detaining him up in a guest room. Miss Fiona seems to have completely purified the parts that were still Bellac-like.”
Jean nodded his head.
“It’s amazing. That skinny person was the Saint. The real deal.”
“Is Benzel here? Is he okay?”
“I thought he was too fine looking compared to you.”
Jean could not say, ‘So healthy that I want to break one of his legs.’
Nina was the one who risked her life to save him, there was no way he could say that in front of her.
“That’s a relief.”
Nina smiled brightly. In any case, it’s better if the person she saved is fine.
The second dish came out. It was a cold appetizer. A salad roll with sauce to make it easy to eat. Only two were on the plate in front of Adrian and the rest was piled up in front of Nina.
“I should go see Fiona too…”
Nina took a deep breath and shoved the salad rolls into her mouth. It was crunchy and refreshing, which stimulated her taste buds.
Louis continued.
“Baron Verdin, who escaped, has been arrested.”
“Raja and Kell caught him. The performances of the two of them spread far and wide.”
Jean’s face brightened at the story of their little cubs. Nina asked surprised.
“Baron Verdin? Arrest? What’s going on?”
“Huh? Didn’t you hear that? Oh, it was when you went out with Randell.”
Jean explained the situation.
It was quite difficult to catch him as he ran away using the power of corrupted fragments, but, under Charlotte’s command, they managed to drive him to a dead-end and catch him.
“Why were our knights standing there in shining armor?”
Nina wrinkled her eyes.
“Everyone has agreed to cooperate in catching the pagans.”
Adrian answered instead. His fork and knife moved gracefully.
“There was some debate over who the commander would be.”
“Then do we have an advantage now?”
Adrian nodded briefly in response to Nina’s question.
“So? What happened to the Baron?”
“Dead.”
Jean shook his head.
