Soft breathing filled the room—gentle and sweet.
Lukas, who had been pretending to polish his sword, slowly turned his head.
“……”
Adrienne had dozed off, lightly leaning against the headboard. It was only natural—she hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep during their day-long journey.
A faint smirk tugged at Lukas’s lips.
The sword had been clean for a while now. He’d just kept polishing it, pretending to be busy. In truth, it was because of Adrienne—his attention, clearly fixed on her.
Clink.
Lukas gently set the sword down and rose from his seat. Then, with even greater care, he walked toward her— Toward Adrienne, who had fallen asleep without a care in the world.
She didn’t notice him approach, not even the sound of his steps. That meant she was in a deep, heavy sleep.
They say when one sense is lost, the others sharpen. Perhaps because she couldn’t hear, Adrienne had always been unusually sensitive—sometimes even sensing the softest breeze.
Knock knock.
Just as Lukas sat down beside her, someone knocked on the door. Adrienne, of course, didn’t react, but Lukas’s sharp gaze instinctively flicked toward her face.
“What is it?”
—“Dinner is ready, Your Highness.”
Lukas asked sharply, glancing back at Adrienne. It was Joe outside, relaying the message. Without waiting for a reply, Joe turned and walked off. His heavy footsteps faded down the corridor.
“Mm…”
Adrienne let out a small, restless whimper. A faint crease formed between her smooth brows. Lukas’s own brows furrowed, following hers.
He hesitated.
Should he wake her for dinner—or let her sleep?
“……”
But soon he decided. Lukas gently lifted Adrienne and laid her properly on the bed. He expected her to wake, startled and push him away, but she didn’t resist. Not even a twitch.
She must be truly exhausted.
Brushing aside a strand of hair from her cheek, Lukas let out a soft laugh.
Really—whether it was food or rest, whichever came first hardly mattered. He could feed her once she woke up.
Tucking the blanket snugly around her, Lukas rose from the bedside.
He should eat something too. Then maybe get a bit of rest himself.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
Downstairs, Keaton tilted his head as Lukas entered.
“What about the Archduchess?”
“She’s asleep.”
“She must be starving.”
“Looks like she’s hungrier for sleep.”
Joe’s concern was met with Keaton’s dry response. Lukas sat down silently beside Joe.
“But seeing it with my own eyes—it was amazing. That brilliant white flame bursting out like a dream…”
Lukas stirred his soup, frowning faintly at Joe’s words.
“Kiel…”
“Joe. Shut up and eat,” Keaton snapped.
Joe, realizing he’d been talking too much, glanced at Lukas and picked up his spoon.
“This isn’t Rantschka, Joe.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Lukas’s firm tone silenced him. The innkeeper, who had just come out with a pitcher of water, gave Lukas a quick look, then set it on the table without a word and disappeared again.
“People here still have a strong aversion. Be careful.”
“I’m sorry.”
After the innkeeper left the room, Lukas warned him again. Joe nodded, crestfallen. Keaton scooped a piece of meat from his soup and clicked his tongue.
Though many years had passed, the word Kiel still stirred fear. It was synonymous with dark magic.
Dark magic—and Kiel.
And now, a descendant of that line…
Just one careless word could endanger Adrienne’s life. And Rantschka would no doubt face the wrath that followed.
The name Kiel alone invoked fear in people—even those who had never witnessed its power. History itself had proven enough.
Agmund, who had always been obsessed with exploiting others’ weaknesses, would seize on this. Though he commanded the highest authority, he still harbored hatred for his half-brother, Lukas.
No—he loathed him.
Never once questioning who truly deserved his hatred.
If Agmund found out that Adrienne was a descendant of Kiel, it could become a grave liability for Lukas.
Lukas’s brows knitted tightly.
At least for now—and for some time to come—Adrienne’s lineage must remain a secret.
…Ah.
Spoon paused mid-air, Lukas suddenly realized something.
Did her father, Dephil, know?
Adrienne had never told him. And he’d never asked.
Then… did Tessa know?
Lukas’s brows drew even deeper.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“…What?”
Lukas looked up, still wearing the same heavy expression. Keaton tilted his head.
“You look troubled.”
“It’s nothing.”
The magic of Kiel.
Lukas didn’t fully understand its power. He’d heard that the Kiel who practiced dark magic had once received a divine oracle. But not every descendant was chosen—only the few. The selected ones were said to possess extraordinary strength.
Magic infused with elemental attributes—sometimes destructive, sometimes defensive, depending on the nature of the gift.
Adrienne’s mother, Hirsie, likely hadn’t received such an oracle. Had she been chosen, she wouldn’t have died so helplessly.
“Are you finished, Your Highness?”
As Lukas set down his spoon and rose, Joe glanced at him and the empty soup bowl.
“I need rest. Eat what you want, then get some sleep. We leave before noon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Rest well, Your Highness.”
Behind Lukas’s retreating steps, even the quiet coachman paused his spoon and gave a respectful nod.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
Back in the room, Lukas leaned silently against the door and looked at the sleeping Adrienne.
“…Adrienne.”
Her name slipped out, low and quiet, spreading softly through the still air.
As if by some miracle, Adrienne opened her eyes and turned her head— As though she had heard him.
“Stay as you are.”
Lukas spoke to her gently, just as she began to sit up. She paused, then obediently lay back down like a well-behaved child.
“Good girl.”
His brow arched, and a small smile tugged at his lips. Her hazy eyes stared back at him.
“I wasn’t sure whether to wake you. But I figured it’d be better to let you sleep. Aren’t you hungry?”
Nod.
“You are?”
He stepped closer and asked again. Adrienne shook her head.
“Then lie back down.”
He approached the bed and gently stopped her as she tried to sit up again. Her cheeks were flushed from the warmth of the room.
“You can take off your coat now. It’s warm enough.”
Adrienne looked down at her clothes. And when she looked back up, her cheeks had reddened further.
“Your face is really red. Too warm?”
Lukas tilted his head toward her, glancing at the softly crackling fireplace.
[Yes. A bit.]
Adrinne sat up, signing as she began taking off her coat.
Pfft.
He suddenly laughed.
Apparently, he’d developed a strange fascination. Watching her fumble like this stirred something oddly delightful in him.
Ridiculous.
Lukas shook his head lightly, brows furrowed, as he watched her clumsily remove her coat.
“Move in. I need to lie down too.”
He tossed his coat over a chair and motioned toward the inside of the bed with a tilt of his chin.
Adrienne stared at him for a moment, then slowly scooted back.
“I’m sleeping now.”
He said it plainly, then dropped back onto the bed. Silence followed.
Adrienne didn’t move. She simply sat there at his side.
“How long are you going to sit like that?”
Lukas turned onto his side, asking. She didn’t seem to understand—just blinked her wide eyes at him.
“Lie down.”
He tapped the spot beside him. Finally, Adrienne hesitantly lay down.
“…Sleep.”
Murmuring softly, Lukas reached out and gently covered her eyes with his right hand.
