The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 21

‘…What do I do now?’

 

Irwin was frantically curious about what kind of relationship the two had, why and how they met, and what type of conversation they were having.

 

He wanted to know what the man meant to Cassia.

 

He wanted to know how did she know the man.

 

And what is the relationship between the two of them…?

 

This time wandering the streets, he grew more anxious. It felt like he was moving tens of thousands of miles further away from her, every second.

 

‘Should I go back to the gallery…?’

 

In the end, it was the moment when he was suffering from a sense of shame as he had come up with such an absurd idea. Someone stopped in front of him.

 

Adolf slowly raised his head to the shoes that stopped with the view that the cape’s hood had obscured.

 

Adolf’s eyes narrowed when he saw the owner of the shoes.

 

“It’s been a while, Prince Adolf.”

 

Count Allison stood still in front of him.

 

‘…Have you already left the store?’

 

Adolf endured the almost obvious question. He suddenly looked around and realized that the sun was setting in the sky.

 

Count Allison didn’t come out soon, and Irwin had been on the road too long, overthinking.

 

‘…Wow, what is it really?’

 

Adolf was very shocked by this.

 

He let out a faint laugh.

 

In the next moment, he slowly raised his head toward Michael and opened his mouth.

 

“It’s been a while, Count Allison.”

 

Contrary to the moments he had spent under the name of ‘Irwin’, his voice was quite sweet. His voice as Adolf was undeniably deep, and the dignity of a young prince.

 

“I was quite surprised, Your Highness.”

 

Michael answered.

 

“You left the Imperial Palace on the pretext of a trip. I knew you would be somewhere, but I didn’t know you would be here.”

 

“It hasn’t been long since I left the empire. I’ve been wandering around places so that they can’t track me.”

 

Adolf answered.

 

He asked in a calm voice.

 

“Are my father and brothers doing well?”

 

“Are you asking me that now?”

 

Michael asked, seemingly dumbfounded by his words.

 

Having been in all kinds of mischievous accidents since he was young, Adolf suddenly disappeared a few years after coming of age, saying he would go on a trip. Having hidden somewhere under the pretext of travelling, he did not return to the Imperial Palace for several years.

 

“Your Majesty has already officially declared your disappearance, so I think you know what it is like. Other His Highnesses are equally concerned.”

 

“…I see. What about mother?”

 

“She seems to be doing better than Your Majesty.”

 

“As expected of my mother.”

 

A small smile appeared on Adolf’s lips.

 

It was a sincere and warm smile.

 

“If you see her later, tell my mother that I am sorry. No one else, only my mother.”

 

“…How long are you going to be so immature?”

 

Michael asked, and Adolf grinned.

 

He said, looking at the scenery of waving ricefields.

 

“Count Allison, as you may have been through, there are some people who don’t like aristocratic life at all.”

 

“I just happen to be such a person.”

 

It was a voice that couldn’t tell if it was a joke or the truth.

 

Adolf continued.

 

“I am personally very happy with my wandering life, Count Allison.”

 

“But you should never forget that Your Highness is the prince of this country.”

 

Michael answered.

 

“Your Majesty has a lot of worries, so even if you see your father someday, you should get rid of your wandering life and return to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Are you convincing me?”

 

“You are kindly admonishing you.”

 

“I see…”

 

Adolf nodded his head.

 

He bowed his head and fell into thought.

 

How much time has passed?

 

Adolf raised his head.

 

“But what should I do? I don’t want to,” he smiled.

 

Adolf shrugged his shoulders, wrapped in a black cloak.

 

“Sorry, but I plan to stay here a little longer.”

 

Michael narrowed his eyes.

 

“…Is it because of that woman?”

 

“What kind of relationship do you have with that woman?”

 

A sharp current flowed.

 

There was a strange silence between them, who only asked each other questions.

 

The darkening sky, the last glow of the sunset, announced that the day was going down.

 

In the meantime, Michael looked at Adolph with an interesting and wary look.

 

Then he grinned.

 

He slowly folded his arms and asked Adolf.

 

“Well, why are you curious?”

 

“I’ve listened to your admonition, so I think I can ask you a question like at least.

 

Adolf grinned.

 

“Tell me your relationship with her, Count Allison.”

 

It was a question, but it was a tone with dignity, close to a command given as a prince. Michael answered.

 

“My lover.”

 

Adolf’s heart dropped.

 

His expression hardened.

 

‘Lover.’

 

‘Lover?’

 

His heart started beating like crazy.

 

When Michael saw Adolf’s expression like that, he smiled and continued.

 

“…Is what I’d like to introduce her as…”

 

Adolf’s heartbeat slowly returned to normal again.

 

Sigh.

 

Adolf unknowingly found himself breathing a sigh of relief.

 

Then he wrinkled his brow toward Michael.

 

‘No, but is the Count making teasing me now?’

 

‘…But why am I relieved by those words that followed?’

 

“She is a woman I have loved for a long time. I don’t want to go into details.”

 

“Are you two going to have a date?”

 

He didn’t like it very much.

 

Adolf asked in a rather harsh tone, but Michael shrugged his shoulders.

 

“It’s my wish, but unfortunately, it’s not something I can decide on my own.”

 

‘Who the hell is she?’

 

Adolf barely stopped the questions coming out of his mouth.

 

‘No, I don’t want to ask him about her past.’

 

Even if he found out later, he wanted to hear it directly from her.

 

Also, he felt like he didn’t want to know her identity for some reason now.

 

He felt his relationship with her right now was just right, so asking her for her identity would break this relationship.

 

He will find out naturally later when the time is right.

 

Until then, he wanted to keep this relationship as it is.

 

The problem was that there was an unlucky obstacle between them.

 

“If I say, you’d hate me for going to her galleries these days.”

 

“Even if you did, I wouldn’t think of leaving because of your relationship.”

 

“Are you going to inform the Imperial Palace of my location?”

 

The conversation went back and forth without any concessions. But Michael answered Adolf’s question with a grin.

 

“No, I won’t tell.”

 

“…”

 

“I will pretend not to know His Highness even when I’m in front of him. I am going to act nonchalant.”

 

Adolf’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected answer.

 

‘Why?’

 

He thought about the meaning of those words.

 

And it didn’t take long to realize it.

 

‘It’s also true that she thinks that way…’

 

“She asked you not to.”

 

Michael looked at him without answering. As if Adolf seemed to understand, he continued.

 

“That thoughtful woman, she asked you not to reveal my identity. Right?”

 

‘So, that woman… She thought of me.’

 

At that moment, Adolf couldn’t hide the flowing smile. It was funny even thinking about it, but it was only then that he felt a sense of relief.

 

He was confident for a moment in the conversation between Cassia and Michael while wandering around this street and making such a fuss.

 

And in that conversation, Cassia thought of him, even if it was only for one second of her time.

 

That realization made Adolf very happy.

 

‘After all, she was thinking of me.’

 

‘She didn’t leave me.’

 

‘Just because the Count appeared, she didn’t turn away from me.’

 

Adolf smiled unknowingly and lowered his head to hide his face from being seen.

 

Michael, who was looking at Adolf like that, opened his mouth at some point.

 

“I give you a warning.”

 

Adolf raised his head.

 

He looked at Michael, and their eyes met.

 

“As she wishes, I will not interfere in any way with the relationship between the two of you in the future. But…”

 

The smile slowly disappeared from Adolf’s lips.

 

“Please, don’t cross the line.”

 

“…”

 

“The only reason I do not interfere will be when Your Highness is doing good.”

 

He slowly approached him.

 

Michael, who stood in front of Adolf, muttered aloud close to him.

 

“I’m talking about not touching that woman.”

 

At his clear words, Adolf stared blankly at him for a moment.

 

He exactly looked into his eyes.

 

“She may be just an interesting person to you, but not to me.”

 

“Don’t go all the way to her out of your light interest. Don’t hurt her. She is the one who has already been hurt a lot.”

 

As much as the determination in his eyes, Adolf could feel the emotions being passed down from him.

 

What he felt was the sincerity of someone who wants to protect someone with all his heart.

 

It was clear that it had been raised along for a long time, and she was so precious that made him desperate.

 

A feeling of deep love for someone.

 

“To me now, she is a precious person that cannot be exchanged for anything in the world.”

 

Adolf caught a glimpse of that deep emotion in Michael for a moment.

***