Chapter Title: Unraveling
Charlotte giggled at Cesare's state.
"Do you think you can even perform properly?"
"You worry too much."
Charlotte's gaze moved downward.
"You seem awfully quiet today."
Without responding, Cesare stared at the ceiling. Charlotte licked her lips and climbed onto his stomach.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to help."
Suddenly, Cesare remembered the time he had laid Adelaide on the bed.
"Ah, now there's a reaction."
"…"
Cesare's brow furrowed.
It was just a coincidence. He repeated that to himself as he ran his hand through his hair.
*I need to do this.* Yet somehow, everything felt like a chore. Cesare stared blankly at the ceiling, letting Charlotte do as she pleased.
"You must be truly drunk. Strange… So today, it's my turn to take control?"
Charlotte, indifferent, unbuttoned Cesare's shirt. Their desires were always clear.
She leaned in, her hair cascading over Cesare's face.
Ah.
Cesare let out a short sigh. In the darkness, her hair looked like Adelaide's.
Adelaide. Adelaide Bibi. My sister who dances the waltz so well.
Without a word, Cesare reached out and ran his fingers through her hair. He realized he had always wanted to do this.
In his hazy state, he toyed with her hair and chuckled softly.
"Not very soft…"
*I thought I bought her camellia oil. Was it not enough?* There must be some violet oil as well. What was the latest trend in hair oils?
He felt a peculiar sense of fulfillment in the volume in his hand and blinked slowly.
Even so, the feeling of her hair wrapping around his fingers wasn't unpleasant.
"Did you just laugh? Huh…"
Cesare felt the weight on his body and closed his eyes. He felt he was about to have a pleasant dream. In his drowsiness, he murmured unconsciously.
*See, Adelaide Bibi. Actually, I…*
"Hmm. What are you mumbling about? Why are you acting so endearing today?"
Cesare drifted into slumber, the voice sounding as if it came from beyond the horizon.
But as Charlotte's lips touched his neck, Cesare's eyes snapped open.
A glaringly clear fact doused his hazy consciousness with cold water.
That fact was that Adelaide Bibi would never kiss him.
Reality set in. The person on his stomach, crushing his chest, was Charlotte Yvrea.
Without realizing it, Cesare pushed Charlotte away.
"Ah!"
Thrown off his stomach, Charlotte looked up at him in disbelief.
"What the hell? What's wrong with you?"
"…"
"Hey?"
Cesare covered his mouth. He remained like that for a moment before bursting into incredulous laughter.
"This is insane."
"What?"
Charlotte asked in an irritated tone, but Cesare hastily got off the sofa.
"I need to go."
"What are you talking about? You're leaving?"
"The alcohol is getting to me."
"Hey!"
Cesare left Charlotte behind and strode out of the temple.
---
As soon as Cesare exited the temple, a tawny hawk circled above. It was a sign that the head of the Bonaparte family was on the move.
When he arrived at the resort, the deputy butler, Holt, met him in his pajamas.
"Master! I thought you weren't returning tonight…"
"Where's Adelaide?"
"Pardon?"
Holt blinked sleepily.
"She returned long ago, of course. She should be sleeping by now. Shall I wake her?"
"…"
Cesare felt his energy drain.
"…No. It's fine."
"And your attire… Oh dear, you reek of alcohol!"
Holt, who had approached to straighten Cesare's clothes, recoiled, pinching his nose.
"This won't do. I'll bring you some espresso."
Holt shook his head and retreated. Cesare walked inside. He felt drained yet still foggy-headed.
*Why did I leave halfway through? Am I an idiot?*
He climbed the stairs slowly, lost in thought.
Then he caught sight of the square courtyard inside the resort.
He widened his eyes silently. In a corner of the courtyard, where even the wind had stopped, sat Adelaide.
Cesare's steps halted as soon as he saw her. He found himself standing still, simply watching her.
The only light came from small lamps hidden among the bushes. Though he couldn't see her clearly, he noticed that this time Adelaide was properly wrapped in a shawl over her nightgown, conscious of the resort's external guests.
*Not that it matters since it comes off easily anyway…*
Cesare unconsciously drummed his fingers on the railing.
Adelaide sat without moving. It didn't seem as though she was looking at anything. The surroundings were more alive than she was. Crickets chirped, and the occasional light breeze rustled the tall palm leaves.
At one point, Adelaide covered her eyes with her hand.
"…"
Seeing that, Cesare stopped thinking.
He descended the stairs briskly, not bothering to hide his footsteps, and grabbed her shoulders, turning her around before she could react.
"…"
"Brother?"
Adelaide looked up at him with startled eyes. Her yellow eyes, more intense than his, were not wet.
"…You're not crying."
Cesare muttered, feeling deflated.
"No. I wasn't crying…"
Adelaide replied, looking confused.
Cesare let out a faint sigh, then smirked.
"Why are you pretending to cry?"
"…"
For a moment, her face flashed with an expression that said, *"What's gotten into you, you madman?"*
But it was brief, and soon her gaze shifted to Cesare's neck.
Her yellow eyes took on a strange hue. Cesare felt a sudden chill.
*Charlotte Yvrea. What color were her lips today?*
Cesare rubbed his neck. His fingers came away stained with dark rose-colored lipstick.
Seeing it, Cesare blurted out.
"It's not what you think."
Adelaide stared at him, then nodded.
"It's not, is it?"
Cesare's face turned cold. He remembered why this shoe shiner irritated him so much. Adelaide had always been annoying.
"It's not."
Adelaide smiled uncomfortably.
"Yes."
"…"
*Show some faith.*
Maybe it was the alcohol. He felt so frustrated he wanted to shout.
Cesare summoned all his patience and fixed his expression.
"I'm saying this so you don't think I'm some man who neglects his duties to chase women."
Surprisingly, Adelaide gave a small smile at that. It was a tired smile.
"I understand your concern, but I don't have that misunderstanding. I know you're always thorough with your duties, brother."
Cesare hesitated, then slowly released Adelaide's shoulders.
*I am thorough, indeed.*
Just as he felt a twinge of pride, Adelaide added.
"Your personal life isn't something I should interfere with, anyway."
"…"
Cesare pressed his fingers to his temples in silent frustration.
Interpreting his action as a dismissal, Adelaide cautiously reached for her crutch.
"Perhaps I should leave you to—"
"Sit."
"Yes."
Cesare dropped down beside Adelaide without another word.
Adelaide gathered the hem of her nightgown to make room for him. She remained expressionless, seemingly unaware that she was failing to act as Adelaide Bonaparte.
It felt like his insides were twisting. Cesare took a deep breath.
*She should be dancing joyfully, having snagged the most eligible bachelor in Fornatie, instead of sitting here like this.*
*Why did she go to that gathering of nobodies if this was how she was going to behave?* What was Ezra doing while the shoe shiner who used to have backbone ended up like this?
There was so much he wanted to say, but he held back, not wanting to lash out in drunken anger. Adelaide remained silent as well.
For a while, the silence was broken only by the chirping of insects. Adelaide's profile, as he glanced at her, gradually lost its vitality, like skin falling away from a once-healthy body.
Eventually, Cesare, growing impatient, spoke first.
"Why the long face? Let's hear it."
---
Adelaide stared blankly at Cesare, feeling somewhat puzzled.
*How does this man read my expressions so easily?*
Or was she simply unable to control her emotions today? Like earlier…
Cesare watched her in silence, his cold expression framed by the garden lights casting soft shadows on his sharp jawline. His golden eyes were deep and icy.