TMBS 03💖

• Chapter 3. The Gentle Rogue

The man shouted across the distance as if it were nothing.

“I’m getting back every coin you took from me last time. Don’t you move a muscle until the card game starts—huh? Who’s the lady beside you?”

As the man’s attention shifted to her, Adele instinctively glanced at Gray.

She was grateful for the dark-tinted glasses she always wore. Unless someone was very close, they couldn’t tell where she was looking.

“Did I forget to introduce her? This is Adele Norea. She works with me.”

Mensha casually slung an arm over Adele’s shoulder and guided her toward the balcony.

Gray’s gaze, which had been fixed on the man named Talian, dipped momentarily before shifting to Adele. As his eyes settled on her, Adele found herself thinking:

So people who look like that really do exist.

Even Adele—who firmly believed appearances were just superficial—was momentarily dazed. His eyes stood out the most. Pale and luminous like moonlight, they reminded her of waves: blue and shattering like foam.

Because of her dark lenses, she couldn’t quite make out the exact hue, but his eyes were undeniably beautiful.

There was something strangely striking about him. Like a finely crafted flame of ice. Maybe that’s why his pale-colored eyes stood out so vividly.

Mensha and Adele took seats on the balcony. As expected, formal introductions began.

“New face, huh? Hey there.”

The guests on the balcony, already tipsy, addressed Adele with casual familiarity.

“If you’re working with Mensha, are you a court officer?”

Like others before them, they found Adele’s presence unusual. The only difference was—they had no filter.

“What’s that on your face? Glasses? Did you steal those from a dragonfly?”

One man spun his finger in a circle, pointing at her glasses. A nearby woman chimed in.

“They’re so dark. Doesn’t it feel suffocating? I can’t imagine you see anything in those.”

Her tone wasn’t just curiosity—it was closer to revulsion.

It had been a while since Adele had faced such blatant mockery. She smirked inwardly.

Her glasses were thick, dark-tinted lenses in a round, silver frame—stylish, though understated. They weren’t oversized, but the cool silver caught the light in a way that made them stand out.

As she always did, Adele responded calmly.

“They’re fine. I can see perfectly.”

Usually, showing zero discomfort would make people back off. But these people weren’t used to watching their words.

“Why black lenses?”

“My eyes are sensitive to light.”

“So you’re delicate, huh? Funny, you didn’t seem that way—maybe it’s just the dark glasses.”

“But it’s nighttime. There’s no sunlight. Can’t you take them off now?”

“It’s a shame, really. This club’s lighting is gorgeous. You’re missing out.”

Adele had sensed it from the moment they said she looked unfamiliar. They were those kinds of people.

She wasn’t proud of it, but Adele was fairly well-known among the nobility—though not in a flattering way.

Long black hair, dark glasses, monochrome dresses and shoes, a worn-out bag. Despite that dreary appearance, she had always ranked at the top of the academy, and now dominated the performance charts at the Royal Court.

Male peers who couldn’t stand the sight of her started calling her by a nickname:

Hey, crow.

Yo, vicious crow.

But Adele didn’t care what people called her. What mattered more was the secret hidden behind those glasses.

As long as no one saw her true eyes—those strange pink irises that didn’t belong to the real Adele Norea—it didn’t matter what names they gave her.

Her hair, shoes, and glasses hadn’t changed. Still very much “Crow Adele.” But the elite heirs gathered on the balcony acted as if they’d never heard of the academy. They came from families that still favored private tutoring, treating the academy like a school for lesser nobles.

Adele quietly calculated how to protect her glasses from this pushy crowd. Thankfully, Mensha stepped in.

“Why are you all being so nosy? Light sensitivity doesn’t care if it’s day or night. Any light can trigger it.”

“Light allergy? That’s a thing?”

“Yup. And if you don’t want to see someone get carried out of here unconscious, I suggest you stop.”

“Wait, so Mensha—you’ve never seen her eyes either?”

“Of course not.”

“Wow. Seriously?”

The group fell into stunned silence.

Adele hadn’t expected Mensha to go that far for her. She glanced at him, slightly worried he might be caught off guard because of her. But he just smiled, as if to say Don’t worry.

“Adele’s eyes are precious,” he said. “Nobody’s allowed to see them before I do.”

“Oooh, look at Sir Chivalry over here.”

Mensha’s laid-back charm took the edge off the atmosphere.

A waitress came by and handed cocktails to Adele and Mensha. The conversation naturally shifted toward him.

“This playboy. Brings a different girlfriend every time.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t do that.”

“You brought Lady Grace the other day.”

“Grace? She’s been my tomboy sidekick since childhood. Nothing more.”

Mensha shrugged, playing along to keep the conversation light—and to subtly shield Adele from more teasing. Thankfully, the drunken crowd followed his lead.

“Grace? Where do you even find such cute childhood buddies?”

“Back hill of the estate.”

“That’s… oddly suggestive.”

“You’re twisted.”

“I’ve got a hill behind my house too. Why don’t I have cute childhood friends?”

“Maybe the problem isn’t the hill. Maybe it’s the hill’s owner.”

“Hahahaha!”

With laughter erupting all around, Adele was finally free to retreat into her thoughts. She focused on the one thing she needed to figure out:

How do I talk to Gray?

She studied her target discreetly. Gray remained on the sidelines, watching the others with a vaguely unimpressed look, never once joining their banter.

That detached attitude had been consistent all evening. Yet somehow, the mood of the entire balcony seemed to orbit around him. His central position made it clear—even the small talk circled around his presence.

Still, Adele knew she couldn’t waste time. If she wanted a conversation, she had to take the first step.

She picked her words carefully, crafting a proper first line. She doubted he’d have the time or patience for small talk.

Just as she was about to speak, Gray turned to look at her.

Then, he smiled. Slow and dazzling.

“Hello, Adele.”

His voice was low—so soft the others wouldn’t have heard.

“H-Hello, Lord Gray,” Adele stammered slightly in surprise.

But her face remained composed, as if she were exchanging a polite greeting with someone she’d known for years.

It was a skill she had long perfected: never letting emotions show.

Gray watched her serene face, then smiled again.

“Nice glasses.”

“Thank you.”

Adele wasn’t used to compliments—especially not about her glasses. It felt unfamiliar, but she didn’t fumble this time. She had to speak now. This was her chance.

“Um, Lord Gray, recently about the assistant—”

“They really suit you,” he said. “The pale skin, the black hair. Though, I bet you’d be even prettier without them.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Your eyes must be quite sensitive, huh? I bet your lashes and eye color are beautiful. Shame we can’t see them.”

His leisurely gaze, chin resting on his hand, felt oddly intrusive.

“I’ve seen glasses like that in Hallock. But never silver frames. Is it a new model? You’d look great in gold too. Not that silver doesn’t suit you—it gives a smart vibe.”

Adele clamped her mouth shut. The topic of her assistant vanished from her thoughts.

Then the others chimed in.

“He’s right. Those glasses are stylish!”

“I thought the silver looked great from the start. Didn’t I say that, Adele?”

The same people who didn’t even bother remembering her name earlier now cooed it sweetly after hearing Gray say it. They even spoke in polite tones.

The woman who’d ridiculed her before jumped in too.

“I think they’re smart too! Where did you get those glasses? I might get a silver pair myself—I’ve got pale skin too!”

Adele rolled her eyes toward Gray again. He was still staring at her.

Was that a smile in his eyes? Or was she imagining it?

His gaze, though soft on the surface, was cold. Indifferent. But Adele couldn’t shake the feeling he was watching her reaction with interest. As if testing her.

When the two of them fell silent, the others lost interest in flattery and returned to their aimless chatter.

Soon enough, Gray turned his attention back to his friends. They, thrilled to win his gaze for even a moment, eagerly resumed their meaningless banter.