The brightness in Adrian's blue eyes dimmed down. He lowered his gaze while protruding his lower lip forward. His nose was scrunched up.
Deflated, he responded, "I am not foolish."
Odette chuckled.
"That is highly disagreeable. Only fools get bullied."
That made Adrian huff at Odette.
If it was someone else, Odette would have dug out those eyes for glaring at her yet with Adrian, she found it adorable. He truly had no reservations around her.
"But if you wish to win, I can help you," Odette offered, "just that you would need to go through a special training. You will be rewarded if you don't give up."
That made him perked up, catching his interest. The idea of being rewarded made those blue eyes of his sparkle again.
Odette found those eyes of his to be beautiful.
"Do you enjoy pastries?" Odette asked.
The mention of that made a wide smile form on Adrian's gave, and he eagerly nodded his head. His reaction made Odette's grin become involuntarily wider.
"Then, run ten laps around the training area first," Odette ordered.
Reluctance crossed through Adrian's face. After that strenuous training, he didn't wish to push himself further, but the pastries sounded mouthwatering to him. Moreover, the training would make him stronger.
The scale tipped on to one of the side, and he voiced out, "I understand, Lady Odette."
°°°
Going through that entire training exhausted Adrian out totally, drawing out every bit of energy within him. The monstrously tough regimen was difficult, pushing him to give up every second.
Nonetheless, he persisted. Done with the last part, his knees gave up completely, and he collapsed against the ground.
Odette was immensely impressed. She never intended to make the routine to be that strenuous, but seeing how he managed to persevere through it successfully invigorated her spirits. Believing that he could achieve more, she kept on challenging his limit.
Despite of the hesitancy he showed before starting, he never complained throughout the entire training and kept up with whatever she instructed him to do.
Even Odette wasn't that proficient or tenacious when she first began, and compared to the boy, she was healthier.
Adrian was truly gifted. However, Odette did feel there was something to him more than the surface. Regardless of that, she anticipated on him making progress regularly.
Walking over to the boy who was sprawled on the ground in an unseemly manner, she held out her handkerchief to him. Drenched in sweat, it was as though all of his limbs had given up.
Melancholy showed on his face as he sighed and whined, "This was really tough."
Then, a grin broke out on his face, and he chirped, "But I managed to do it. I am waiting for my reward, Lady Odette!"
His cheekiness made Odette chuckle. Maybe because of how freely he interacted with her— without holding any malicious or selfish wishes— made her be so relenting towards him. Her attitude was surprising yet amusing to Adrian.
He then noticed the handkerchief in her hand. Sitting up vibrantly, he grabbed it and began to clumsily wipe away the sweat from his face. The boy was close to fainting couple seconds ago.
Where did he suddenly regain his energy from?
"Do you know much of an honor it is to receive a handkerchief from me?"
Odette barely recalled the last time she handed her handkerchief to someone. Did she even do that?
This made the boy purse his lips and ponder for a second before brightly verbalizing, "Do you want a kiss from me? My mother told me that my kisses are precious."
That caught Odette off guard for a second before she burst out into laughs.
"I am not lying. I don't give my kisses to others easily, but since I like you a lot, Lady Odette, all of my kisses are reserved for you." Adrian's tone was solemn.
Was Adrian such a flirt in his last life?
The daylight was starting to fade away. Beautiful arrays of colors spread across the sky as the blanket of darkness began to cover the wide expanse. The moon peeked out from those dense clouds, showing of it's magnificence.
"Come over to my boudoir after you're done washing up," Odette said before turning her head away.
Adrian tilted his head and, confused, mumbled, "Does she not want my kisses? Why?"
°°°
Odette's eyes fell on the boy who stepped in. As Adrian dragged himself into the room, his exhaustion was clearly visible. However, when those blue orbs of his fell on those trifles of various flavors, they brightened up.
It was as though the sight of delicious treats had stolen away all of his pain and grievances. A wide grin was plastered on his face. Although he tried to maintain his manners, the excitement caused his bow to be rushed.
"Here you go. Stuff yourself up with as much as you can," Odette said.
Adrian looked at the all the trifles in front of him and, regardless of how much of a sweet mouth he was, it wouldn't be possible for him to finish them. Odette was truly generous.
"Whoa! Thank you, Lady Odette. You are the best," he commented energetically.
When he was with his mother, even one trifle was considered a luxury. Without thinking twice, he wrapped his hands around Odette, engulfing her into a hug.
Not expecting such a gesture from him, she was somewhat taken aback.
Strangely enough, Odette didn't feel repulsion towards Adrian's tiny hands that held on to her. His actions were very much disrespectful— something that went against Odette's principles— yet she didn't find herself getting mad at him.
That probably had to do with the warmth this hug conveyed. Most people didn't dare to hug her, and even when done, they were merely a part of formality. They didn't have this addicting innocence and sincerity.
Odette found it funny how she was easily manipulated by this little amount of warmth; it felt different to her. She did wish to delve in this, but a greater part of her was afraid. Bringing in sentimental emotions never ended well.
Sure, this would add color to the monotony, but this shade wasn't what she wanted to opt for.
Odette frowned as she pushed Adrian back, and her tone was thick with displeasure while she voiced out, "I will be overlooking this since it is your first time, but next time you repeat this, you will be punished. Do you think you can easily touch me?"
The sternness Odette showed caused Adrian's eyes to become dimmer. Fixating his gaze towards the floor, he nodded his head.