TMBS 13💖

CHAPTER 13: I Really Hate This Kind of Thing

Gray smiled gently.

“Still, don’t you think Adele’s proposal was really innovative? What if we brought it up to His Highness again?”

“Gray!”

The duke bellowed like thunder. But Gray still wore a fresh, unfazed smile.

“Just kidding. But seriously—black-and-white speckled bears? Gentle giants that eat trees? Aren’t you even a little curious? If His Highness and the other nobles had heard Adele’s proposal first, they would’ve voted for her. Who wants to see the same old gears and dyes again? Honestly, that Chloe is such a schemer.”

As he spoke, he casually dusted off his puffed dress shirt shoulder, even though there wasn’t a speck of dust—an unmistakably pointed gesture.

“No doubt she used that syrupy voice of hers to charm His Highness. If that’s all it takes, the count should’ve just shaken his own hips. That would’ve been more entertaining.”

Chloe Count’s younger sister was famously the king’s mistress.

Watching Gray’s flippant behavior, Adele clenched her teeth again. More than the sly count who had snatched the expo rights, it was that bright, clueless smile on Gray’s face that made her blood boil.

But the duke clearly saw things differently. He wasn’t about to just glare at his youngest son in frustration.

“Gray! Watch your mouth. And if you keep goofing off like this, I’ll send you back to the estate.”

Only then did a hint of seriousness flash in Gray’s eyes.

“Father, that’s a bit much. What do you expect me to do in that backwater?”

“Backwater? That’s your estate.”

“Mine? Please, let’s be accurate. You only allocated a tenth of it to me—just the Vallonde region. Everything else belongs to my brother. Adele and I aren’t even allowed near most of it.”

What utter nonsense.

The Balloneque estate covered 150,000 hectares. Even one-tenth of that was 15,000 hectares—enough land to fit 300 castles. Unless Gray’s fingers were the length of rivers, there was no way he could call that a “palm-sized” plot.

“Gray!”

Once again, the duke lost his temper. Gray, of course, just grinned innocently.

“Of course, if you gave it all to me, I’d be happy to go and behave. I’m great at being quiet and well-behaved.”

Adele silently thought, You? Quiet?

The duke’s glare said the exact same thing—You? Quiet?

Naturally, Gray pretended not to notice either.

The duke growled.

“Do you even have the ability? Can you make the people of your estate prosperous and safe like your brother does?”

At that, Gray sidled up next to Adele.

He draped one long arm around her shoulders and neck, leaning on her like a column while tapping the floor lazily with his foot—every inch the picture of arrogant nonchalance.

“I may not, but my aide here certainly does.”

That dazzling smile was annoyingly persuasive. Adele felt her irritation spike again. She knew what he was doing—trying to deflect blame by heaping fake praise on her.

That smooth-talking brat…

Now the duke’s fierce eyes turned toward Adele. She lowered her gaze and shoved Gray away.

“My apologies, Duke.”

Gray, who had deliberately gone limp, stumbled back with a mocking shrug as if to say, What was that for?

The duke could no longer contain himself and let out a low, ominous roar.

“Get out! If you act like this one more time, I will throw you out!”

Gray, as if waiting for that cue, cheerfully replied, “Yes, sir,” and grabbed the documents off the meeting table.

Adele took a deep breath to calm her frustration. With the utmost formality, she bowed to the duke.

“I wish you a pleasant lunch, Your Grace.”

The duke looked up at her, his eyes clearly saying, Do I look like I’ll enjoy it?

But there was nothing Adele could do about that. That brat is your son, not mine, she wanted to say.

And yet, today… the duke’s gaze stung more than usual.

His eyes were a deeper shade of blue than Gray’s—less warm, more stern. Where Gray’s were chaotic but kind, the duke’s were sharp and cold.

Adele accepted his disapproval without resistance. She understood how it must look: a noble’s son sharing such casual familiarity with a common-born aide. Of course the duke would be concerned.

That’s why she remained distant and respectful in his presence. She wanted no misunderstanding.

The duke silently pointed to the door with a tilt of his chin. The gesture alone was commanding.

Adele bowed once more, then quietly followed after Gray, who had already strode out.

Another exhausting day.

Once outside the duke’s office, Adele walked straight down the hallway, eyes forward. Gray, who had been waiting ahead, smirked as she marched right past him.

Her footsteps were calm and measured, but he could tell she was upset. How could he know? He just could.

Somewhere along the way, he had started to understand the emotions hidden behind her icy composure—her scorn, her indignation, her fleeting amusement.

But even if she walked ahead like that, it only took a few long strides for Gray to catch up. He blocked her path and held up the documents in front of her.

“No matter how mad you are, how could you leave behind these important papers?”

It was the set of documents Adele had worked so hard on—now signed and approved by the duke.

Now that he was close, Adele could see clearly through the lenses of his dark glasses. She looked up at him sharply.

“I’ll say it again, young master. I expect you to deliver the duke’s instructions without leaving anything out.”

“My bad. The old man just talks so much, you know? Can’t believe I forgot the part about Count Chloe.”

He didn’t sound sorry at all. Typical.

Adele glared at him—this man who had just undone a week’s worth of her effort in one shot. But she held herself back, biting down her frustration.

First, she needed to retrieve the documents. She reached out her hand.

“Give them here.”

But just as her fingers neared, Gray lifted them higher.

Adele’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m hurt, Adele. I apologized and you won’t forgive me.”

She stared in disbelief at the documents now just out of reach.

“This isn’t something that can be fixed with a simple apology.”

No matter how charmingly he smiled, this time she wasn’t going to let it slide.

Gray clearly enjoyed teasing her. Adele had figured that out a long time ago. He had to be doing it on purpose—no one could be this ridiculous by accident.

“What’s the big deal? I made a mistake, I apologized, and kind-hearted Adele forgives me. Happy ending.”

“Hand them over.”

“Nope.”

“Do you want me to get even angrier?”

“Come on, I said I was sorry~”

His words softened at the end, his eyes curling sweetly.

He knew exactly how to use that face.

Adele sighed inwardly as the heat in her anger began to cool.

She never thought she’d end up like this. At first, she’d scoffed at the way people melted under Gray’s charming grin. But up close, with those angelic eyes locking onto hers—it was like even the highest mountaintop would thaw.

She knew it wasn’t sincere. And yet, part of her couldn’t help believing it for just a moment.

Only one person was immune to Gray’s manipulative charm: the duke.

Refocusing herself, Adele stretched her hand higher. Even rose up on her toes in her heels.

She barely brushed the paper when Gray—delightedly—lifted it out of reach again.

“Young master!”

“Almost had it! Try again!”

Adele clenched her jaw, her fingers just grazing the edge but never quite grasping it.

Unbelievable.

Finally, she bent her knees and jumped.

“Ooh, nice! You’re getting there. Go, Adele!”

Using Gray’s chest as leverage, she leapt again—just high enough to grab the document.

And right then, Gray yanked it even higher.

Furious, Adele glared up at him—only to realize he was very close. So close their noses nearly touched.

Startled, she shoved him.

But Gray didn’t budge. Instead, Adele stumbled backward, losing her footing.

Before she could fall, he caught her waist with lightning speed and pulled her close.

It happened so fast, Adele found herself in his arms before she even realized it.

She blinked in shock. His lips, close to her forehead, curved into a long, teasing smile.

“Too bad. Miss Adele Norah—get a new signature.”

This little—

Adele shoved him away again. Gray just grinned, completely unfazed.

Adele didn’t understand it.

She could chalk up his behavior as just Gray being Gray—but what was wrong with her? Why was she becoming so childish?

I hate this. I really hate this.

She was about to glare at him, but even the act of expressing her frustration in such a petty way annoyed her. Her expression hardened.

Seeing her face change, Gray pouted and stepped closer.

“What now? Why the grumpy face?”

“I’m not grumpy.”

“Could’ve fooled me. You look like you swallowed a lemon.”

“I’m not. And you can’t just touch me whenever you want.”

“Ah, the contract.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d honor it properly from now on.”

“So I should’ve just let you fall, huh?”

He casually grabbed her arm again.

“Should I have stood by and let you kiss the floor?”

God, he’s annoying.

Adele glared at him with a pout. Just then, footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall.

Adele immediately straightened up, slipping back into her usual cold and composed demeanor. She glanced toward the approaching figure.

It was Winter—or rather, Nox. Adele froze.

Nox looked at them, expression unreadable, and walked past without a second glance.

Adele’s eyes followed his footsteps. Standing beside her, Gray tracked her gaze—then smiled bitterly.

The playful grin of the angel vanished in an instant.