Even if it meant she'd become the target of his bad temper for only a moment. Or even a sudden urge. Although there was no reason to hide it, she didn't want to tell him just yet. She didn't hate the way he was looking at her right now.
Ethan's eyes twitched, but Adelina merely stared back at him as a smile stretched across her lips.
"Ah!"
While she was looking at Ethan, a breeze passed through the bamboo grove, causing them to tremble and make noise. Her eyes went from Ethan to the shaking bamboo trees.
Even if she didn't survive this, she'd do her best. Rather than living in the Imperial Palace where she'd always felt like she didn't belong, Adelina wanted to stay here for as long as she could.
"Whenever I hear the shaking bamboo trees, I feel strange."
"Do you hear the cries of a ghost?"
"Don't you think it sounds like the laughter of a young child?"
Ethan's shocked eyes stared at Adelina as she turned her back to him. Unaware of how he was looking at her, Adelina focused her gaze on the bamboo forest.
"My little sister likes to play hide-and-seek, so I'd often play with her. Even though I knew where she was hiding, I'd pretend I couldn't find her. Whenever I did that, she'd laugh just like that."
"I don't know if you feel the same way, my Lord Husband, but if you listen closely, it might sound different to you."
Although they'd only met in passing a few times, this woman began to shake the shackles that were firmly wound around his heart. She was a woman who would only enter Ethan's life for a moment before disappearing. Although she was in such a position, she said things to Ethan that no one had told him before.
"After my family collapsed, I lived in order to support them. Because of this, it seems that I have forgotten the virtue of ladylike modesty."
"..."
"I like this place. And it's a bit difficult, but I feel that living a life with you isn't so bad. Of course, this may just be my one-sided wish."
He was a man who was difficult to read. So saying these words wasn't an easy task.
She wasn't sure when it had begun.
Just like the slightly changing reality, Adelina had begun to feel a one-sided desire to live as a proper couple with him.
The wind was merely the wind. When Ethan remained silent, Adelina lowered her eyes first. Although she had said these words so confidently, she didn't have the guts to meet his eyes.
"I'll go back first."
"I received an imperial order to attend a banquet taking place at the Imperial Palace."
Although it was an imperial order, he had no plans on following it. To Ethan, the Palace was a suffocating place.
He didn't know why he brought this up to Adelina. When he saw Adelina turn around to leave, he merely wanted her to turn back and look at him one more time.
"Do you want to go with me?"
The light from within her was almost blinding. He desired this light so much that his heart trembled.
Looking into her wide eyes, Ethan stretched out his hand towards her.