TMBS 01💖

Chapter 1. [Prologue] Gunfire

Adele lived alone—in an old, secluded house nestled in the quiet woods on the outskirts of the capital, Carlo.

The last daughter of a fallen baronial family, she had no one left to rely on. She’d been making ends meet by working as an aide to the Duke of Vallonèque.

Today, as always, she completed her duties with quiet diligence and rode home on her faithful mare, Lily.

The setting sun burned red above the ridge where shadows clung thickly between the trees. From the sky to the earth, even the deep green leaves in between, the world was bathed in a fiery glow.

As the outline of her home came into view, Adele suddenly felt something off—something subtly, eerily wrong.

It started with a vague unease, a sense that something in the familiar landscape didn’t quite match what it should be. But by the time she could see the house clearly, that uneasy feeling had hardened into certainty.

Strange hoofprints marred the path along the isolated mountain trail. And the wildcats who usually gathered by the front porch at this hour, waiting to be fed, were nowhere in sight.

Someone unfamiliar had been here.

And Adele knew, instinctively, that this stranger wasn’t just nearby—they were inside her home.

She dismounted Lily deeper in the woods, far enough that the mare’s presence wouldn’t give her away. Despite the steed’s name, which evoked delicate lilies, she was a sturdy chestnut with little resemblance to the flower. Adele landed lightly, making not a sound as her boots touched the forest floor.

Circling to the back of the house, she found the front door lock had been picked—just as she feared. Someone had broken in.

She pressed her ear against the wooden door.

Thud… Thud…

The sound came from inside. Whoever it was wasn’t even trying to hide.

She opened the door cautiously, running through possible scenarios in her head. She wanted to be ready—to have a response for every outcome—but there wasn’t time. She could only hope this intruder was just a common thief.

Because if it was something more… If they were here for that—the secret she’d buried so carefully—then there would be no way out.

Through the narrow gap of the door, she peered inside. The small sitting room on the first floor, the first thing visible from the entrance, was a mess. Papers were scattered everywhere.

She stepped in silently. She recognized the documents immediately—they were hers. Papers she had hidden carefully inside a special safe built into the warehouse wall.

Which meant her worst fear had come true.

She swallowed a bitter sigh as she looked over the overturned table and chairs.

Then came that sound again—a solid knock, like something striking the floor. It came from upstairs, in the bedroom. The same sound she had heard from outside.

Sweat gathered cold and damp in her palm. She clenched and unclenched her fist.

Grabbing a hand mirror from a drawer, she carefully climbed partway up the stairs, angling the mirror to see what lay above.

But the moment she saw those icy blue eyes in the reflection—eyes that met hers with a faint, knowing smile—she realized it was all pointless.

The intruder had predicted her every move.

Adele stopped hiding. She walked straight up the stairs—and found him.

Seated casually on her bed, like he owned the place, was Gray Vallonèque.

Somehow, he had found her pistol—a flintlock firearm she had taped tightly to the underside of her bed. The repeated thudding she heard had been the weapon’s buttstock knocking against the wooden floor.

The incriminating documents. The smuggled firearm she’d paid a fortune for on the black market. Everything had been exposed.

Her heart pounded wildly, but her limbs felt drained of blood—as if life itself were retreating.

When their eyes met, Gray finally stopped his game, letting the pistol rest. His pale fingers, curled around the weapon, twitched with dangerous ease. He acted like someone completely unaware that, if the gun were loaded, it could go off at any second.

But that was impossible. He had once served as an officer in the Empire. He knew.

“Hello, Adele. You’re home late.”

His voice, always soft and languid, sounded more arrogant than relaxed.

But Adele was no stranger to keeping up appearances.

“Yes, young master. What brings you here—without warning?”

Gray raised the gun and, with mock playfulness, pointed it at her.

“I heard an interesting rumor. That this little house of yours was hiding some very curious things. I didn’t believe it—our Adele? Never. But I had to see for myself. And what do you know, it was true. I didn’t realize you hated the Vallonèques this much… Honestly, it’s a miracle Father and my brother haven’t been reported yet.”

He dropped the gun again and thudded it against the floor. If it had been loaded, his hand would’ve been shredded.

Adele swallowed hard.

Gray watched her with that mischievous gleam in his eye. Then, picking up a nearby pouch filled with bullets and powder, he held it in his mouth.

“I didn’t expect you to go this far, but you always surprise me. So—was it Father you wanted to shoot? My brother? Or…”

He pointed to himself.

“…me?”

Adele stayed silent. And Gray didn’t wait for a reply. He tore open the pouch with his teeth—clearly intent on using the gun.

Of course. There was no way he’d let her live.

She’d uncovered evidence that could charge the Vallonèques with treason. It made perfect sense to kill her on the spot.

Her heart, which had been pounding moments ago, started to slow. Her body was already accepting it: this was the end.

And in a strange way, it felt like a relief. She had longed for revenge for so long. But now that her cover was blown, that longing had reached its end too.

Gray tamped powder into the barrel, then blew the bullet inside with practiced ease.

Even the motion revealed how skilled he was with flintlocks.

The barrel pressed against his lips before he gently blew the bullet into the chamber. His pale cheek hollowed slightly with the breath—breathing life into the very weapon that would take hers.

“Any last words?”

“…No.”

Adele slowly closed her eyes. And as darkness swept over her vision, a flood of emotions and memories surged forward to meet her.

Each memory was a different color:

The soft white of the snow that once kept her warm in childhood winters.
The transparent tears of her siblings, crying in hunger.
The yellow nectar from wildflowers she once sucked to stave off starvation.
The deep red rage of shame and self-loathing.

And then, more recent colors:

The apricot warmth of a body that held her.
The opalescent pleasure she had tasted for the first time.
The tender blue glow of shared mornings.

Ah… come to think of it, all these recent lights—he had given them to her.

Even in her final moment, she was wrapped in these ridiculous, sentimental thoughts.

Adele opened her eyes, mocking herself. She wanted to see clearly who it was pointing a gun at her.

This moment—this final moment—couldn’t be wasted on something as foolish as regret.

She braced herself, reforging her will, the very defiance that had carried her through life.

But the moment she met Gray’s eyes—those piercing blue eyes behind the gun sight—something buried deep within her heart began to stir.

A desperate urge to live surged up, screaming that she had to take one more breath.

The rebellion was so fierce, it sent chills down her spine.

And then—suddenly—a memory struck her.

“Adele, do you love me?”

A quiet voice. A wounded gaze.

And that touch… warm enough to melt her.

She still couldn’t answer him—not even now, at the end.

By then, Gray had taken proper aim. The front sight of the pistol pointed straight at her. His once-playful eyes were now cold, unwavering.

“Adele.”

There was no softness in his voice anymore. It was chilling in its clarity.

“Yes, young master.”

“If you have anything to say, say it now.”

“…I don’t.”

“Come on. Say it.”

He pressed her, and she understood what he wanted to hear—but she couldn’t give it to him.

His eyes grew sharp, white-hot fury rising behind them.

“Say it.”

“……”

“Say you loved me. Say you love me.”

“If I say that… will you let me live?”

“Maybe.”

“I see. But… I’ve never felt that way.”

Then pull the trigger. Don’t hesitate.

His lips, which she had once thought sensual, twisted upward with bitter amusement.

“I see. So you really did just use me.”

Adele bit her lip. What use was any explanation now? It was always going to end like this.

Oddly, she felt at peace.

She’d carried too much for too long. Her shoulders ached beneath the weight. Now, finally, she could put it all down.

She waited for the gunshot—just one—and the end.

But then, from far off, came a loud clatter of hooves and wheels.

A spark of light returned to Adele’s empty eyes.

Gray’s expression didn’t change. He assumed the sound would pass them by.

But Adele knew better. It was her only friend, Anna, arriving in her delivery cart.

There was no reason for Anna to pass through this path unless she was headed here. And sure enough, the horse whinnied to a stop. Then came a knock on the door.

“Adele!”

Anna’s voice rang out, loud and urgent.

“Adele! You’re in there, right? I’m coming in!”

In that instant, Gray’s gaze flicked toward the front door.

He’d left it unlocked, but Adele had locked it from the inside when she came in. She knew he wouldn’t remember that detail right away.

And from the moment she heard the hooves, she had known this might happen.

This was it—her one last chance.

A chance to set things right. To protect someone she loved.

Absurd, unexpected luck.

Would she let it slip by?

No. Never.

As soon as Gray faltered, Adele lunged.

“Adele! Hurry! Open up!”

Anna’s cries overlapped with the sound of Adele rolling across the floor. She grabbed Gray’s leg and sprang upward, slamming her forehead into his chin.

With a sharp crack, the gun slipped from his hand. Adele snatched it, raised the stock, and struck him across the head.

Gray crumpled onto the bed, his head twisting and sinking into the sheets.

Time seemed to freeze.

“Adele? Are you in there?! Please, answer me!”

After a long pause, Gray stirred. He turned his eyes, trying to look at her—but the barrel of the gun was already pressed to his temple.

Blood trickled from his white skin, down his sharp nose, pooling into the sheets.

“Still so violent, Summer.”

The name ‘Summer’ made Adele flinch. But just for a moment. It would all be over soon—there was no reason to be startled now. No reason to care if he was hurt.

She answered calmly.

“Please understand, young master.”

Gray’s lips stretched into a twisted smile. No fear remained. In fact, he looked more at ease than when he’d demanded her love.

Unpredictable Gray.
The reckless scoundrel.

Adele had always envied him. Maybe that’s why—even now—she couldn’t look away.

She had hated how bold, how radiant, how kind he had been.

And because of that… she had despaired.

“If you shoot now, your friend will hear.”

“I don’t care.”

“…Then do it.”

Gray closed his eyes and gently pressed the gun tighter to his own head.

“Being killed by you would be an honor.”

Adele’s heart, which had long since steeled itself, began to pound again.

Her hand trembled. But it was too late for doubt.

One of them had to die here.

So—

“Young master.”

His long golden lashes fluttered. The blue in his eyes looked almost feverish—just like the night they had once shared a bed.

Yes. That’s right.

This time, I’m the one holding the gun. The tables have turned. This ending… isn’t so bad.

So—

Adele took a deep breath. Emotions she had locked away began to melt, soaking into her core, coursing through her veins, burning her from the inside out.

She couldn’t stop it.

The fever that had never faded now rose to her throat. Her lips were dry.

“Actually…”

A first and final confession.

Guilt and longing from countless silent nights.

He was the spring rain that had nurtured her misfortune—the star who made it grow. Gray.

“I knew it was wrong…”

That heartbreakingly beautiful face turned toward her slowly. Adele closed her eyes, unable to meet his gaze.

“But I loved you.”

Yes, I did. I still do.

As always, it feels like my heart will burst. I hate myself for it.

“Farewell.”