It felt like Adelle had slept for a long time, even to the point that she had a very sound sleep last night. Adelle guessed what the reason for her sound sleep was. Ah, it seemed to be because she hadn't been busy with work for a long time and her body was exhausted.
Adelle stretched her body while changing position, from lying down to sitting up and leaning her back against the headboard. Adelle rubbed her eyes for a moment, neutralizing her gaze on the room around her which was already brightly lit by the sun.
Knowing Adelle had opened her eyes, Anna came over with a basin of water and a dry towel. Receiving the container of water, Adelle washed her face.
"It's unusual for me to sleep so soundly tonight, Anna. It seems that being tired from work can make me fall asleep easily." Adelle finished preparing her face and mouth for breakfast.
Hearing Adelle's statement, Anna just smiled faintly. Calsius had repeatedly reminded her not to tell Adelle about what happened last night.
Her mouth was full of bread mixed with savory warm soup. It was delicious! That was roughly the happy expression Adelle felt.
Still busy with her food, her purple eyes were still glancing around her room. Something seemed a little strange, the sheets beside her looked a little messy. Even though, Adelle didn't move much when she slept.
"Did I roll over to this side last night too, I wonder?" Adelle mumbled.
Anna didn't answer but was busy preparing the clothes Adelle had to wear as soon as possible, because Adelle's preparations certainly took more time. Moreover, she said this woman wanted to look more stunning than before.
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"Don't move too much, I'm having trouble tying it," Calsius said, a little annoyed.
Adelle gripped the back of the chair directly in front of her. Anna had given up on Adelle.
Calsius tried to tie Adelle's back corset strings again, it became so difficult because Adelle couldn't stay still. "It's ticklish!" she said.
"Then how long do you want to be ticklish like this? Until sunrise?"
"Yeah... No! Anyway, just tie it directly, you can't even do that!" Adelle replied, her voice rising due to annoyance. She had repeatedly endured the ticklish sensation but Calsius still hadn't managed to tie it perfectly.
"Just this once, Adelle. Please, bear the ticklish feeling. Just for a moment or we'll really be late," Calsius whispered again.
Adelle took a deep breath. Letting Calsius's fingers slowly touch her back to her waist. Ticklish, her face even almost flushed. Her heartbeat was beating so fast, she didn't know, it seemed to be due to that ticklish feeling.
After a few minutes, it was finally done. Adelle and Calsius exhaled many breaths of relief. They almost couldn't come to the party just because of this problem.
"Strange, usually you go to evening parties not this difficult? You really like to make things difficult for me, don't you?" Calsius mumbled, the man sat his butt on Adelle's soft bed.
"So all this time I've been making things difficult for you? Who do you think is to blame for us being late? You startled me by suddenly entering the room while I was changing clothes! Look, my feet will definitely swell soon," Adelle sneered.
"I called you many times, but you still didn't open the door. Is it wrong for a husband to see his own wife's body?"
Silence.
Quiet.
Calsius's eyes even widened.
Both of them couldn't believe what they had just heard. And Anna, still there, became a fading wisp of air as Adelle and Calsius were busy with their own thoughts next.
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After the commotion that ended in embarrassment, the two still went together to the party at the empire.
Many also attended, including the War General who also stood as the Emperor's trusted Duke. Axel Henderson, stood tall while holding his wife's hand.Greeting everyone they met, including Calsius.
Adelle didn't know what they were talking about, because Adelle no longer knew about Calsius's current affairs.
Adelle asked for permission to drink alone, Calsius allowed it and said that he would only stand there until Adelle returned.
Adelle nodded in understanding, started to walk away and grabbed a glass of wine and tasted it. She leaned slightly against a tall pillar near her, her feet still aching. Even though Anna had applied ointment to prevent swelling.
However, a party is still a party. And the people Adelle met were still the same people she met at the masquerade ball. But the difference was, they covered their hatred with friendly smiles and chuckles.
Just like now.
"Good evening, Duchess. Long time no see."
Adelle glanced, the voice of the man she knew made her eyebrows almost meet. Strange, he greeted her again.
"Hello, Mr. Deniere." Adelle put down her wine glass. "What do you need?" she asked.
"Do childhood friends need a reason to have a casual chat?" he chuckled.
"Precisely, because we are childhood friends, what do you need from me? Because, there's no smoke without fire."
The man smiled. His silver hair moved as his head tilted slightly. "I heard your marriage isn't going well, is it?"
"Arthur Deniere, now you're busy meddling in other people's households, huh," Adelle chuckled.
Arthur carved a crooked smile. Taking a step closer to Adelle. He brought his face closer, almost no distance left. "I'm worried about you, so before you're ruined by him, it's better for you to move to a sturdier boat."
The man's lips, with eyes as red as blood, almost touched Adelle's lips if the Duchess of Eddenberg hadn't quickly stepped back. As she recalled, Arthur was not an immoral man like this.
Of course, Adelle's heart pounded so fast. Not because she was nervous, but because she was angry. She had just been harassed in front of many people. Many pairs of eyes glanced at her, starting to cover their mouths and talk to each other.
Unable to say anything more about the incident that happened so quickly, Adelle almost forgot where Calsius was. After exerting all her strength to glance around, Adelle immediately took a big step and grabbed Calsius's hand. Making the man turn quickly, giving a questioning look to the trembling purple eyes asking for help.
"What a coincidence, Duchess. Long time no see," greeted some nobles who had been chatting with Calsius.
Adelle just smiled faintly, her fingertips squeezing Calsius's arm. She couldn't stand the atmosphere around her. Moreover, remembering their chuckles and friendly greetings were just empty words.
"We are waiting for good news from both of you, Duke. We hope Duke Eddenberg will soon announce the birth of a baby."
Adelle and Calsius froze. Not as bad as Adelle, Calsius still tried to put on a relaxed face. Although he couldn't deny that it actually made him this angry.
In a soft, trembling voice, Adelle whispered, "I want to go home, please."