Chapter Title: The Humiliation
Cesare looked at Adele. *Shoeshine fool. I know smiling will hide it.*
"How much?"
"You're the one who needs to show sincerity."
Cesare snorted and rummaged through his drawer. He pulled out a checkbook, tore off a page, and held it out with a quill.
"Write it down."
Adele's smile wavered. Cesare sneered.
"You can't write it down, can you? You don't know what the price is. You don't even know how much you'd have to demand to hurt me."
"......"
"Don't do things that don't suit you."
Adele pursed her lips tightly. There was considerable tension in her slim jawline. It looked like it might break at any moment. Feeling vaguely unsettled, Cesare lowered his gaze.
"Take care of yourself and sleep with me. That's your best option."
"...You must be quite desperate."
"I'm not desperate to win your heart."
"Is there a difference? You can't just open one side, whether it's your body or your mind. I didn't join forces with you just to open myself up to you."
At those words, something churned in his stomach. *Yes. She'll open herself to Ezra.* Cesare was silent for a moment, trying to calm himself and feign ease. When he remained quiet, Adele spoke in a nonchalant voice, apparently thinking she had the upper hand.
"If you truly want to sleep with me, you need to show proper sincerity. Or get on your knees."
She said this, lifting her chin and crossing her legs. Cesare's gaze drifted to the hem of her silk dress, revealing the shape of her legs. Beneath the hem that exposed her ankles, he could see a green mule studded with jewels. Her foot flicked up and down as if to seduce him. But her clenched jaw and trembling fists betrayed her.
Cesare snorted softly. *It's because she's doing something that doesn't suit her.* It would have been easier if she were a woman with genuine ambition. But even realizing that Adele was bluffing, the fire inside him didn't go out.
*Why does she hate me so much?* If she was going to target his people in the first place, there was no better option than him.
Cesare smiled with burning eyes.
"Shall I kneel, then? Is that what you want?"
Adele's eyes widened as Cesare knelt before her. The shoeshine girl's mouth fell open. Cesare ignored her shock and grasped her outstretched leg. He peeled off the mule with his left hand and stroked her soft calf with his right. Adele froze in horror.
Cesare kissed her leg reverently, as if in worship. With his right hand, he gripped her moderately full thigh. *It's a volume that makes you want to leave a handprint.* He pressed his lips lightly against the straight bone and gradually climbed up her leg. He already knew Adele had a habit of freezing when surprised. His right hand groped the inside of her thigh in an instant.
"...!"
The moment Adele's mouth expelled air, the garter holding the silk stocking came undone. The shiny silk stocking slipped down. Her bare leg was as white as salt. Cesare kissed her bare skin, which was curiously flawless.
His body was already reacting like wildfire. He wanted to roll up her dress and take her mercilessly. But he wouldn't. Not only was forcing her never an option in the first place, but right now his desire wasn't to satisfy himself—it was to crush Adele's lofty pride.
Adele stiffened as she clutched the armrests, as if wanting to retreat. But she didn't seem willing to surrender the space between her legs.
"What's wrong?"
Kissing her smooth, round knee, Cesare looked up at Adele mockingly.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"......"
Adele's eyelashes fluttered. It seemed the shock hadn't subsided yet. *I don't want to see this.* It was at this moment that he placed Adele's leg on one shoulder and slowly tried to rise.
"No..."
Adele, who had been frozen, finally moved. She pressed down on the hem of her skirt and tried to close her knees. Her face was whiter than the rare snow that falls on Fornatier.
Cesare looked down at her with emotion. *The last word is no. Oh no. You can't... It's not Ezra.*
"......"
Adele's fist came into view, clenched tightly enough to make veins stand out. He glanced down at his own hand and saw he was gripping with overwhelming strength. He forced himself to loosen his hold and slowly rose from his seat.
"Or is my kneeling not enough?"
Adele looked dazed. Cesare frowned and laughed.
"You're expensive."
At that moment, Adele shoved him. Having somewhat expected this, Cesare stepped back without taking much impact. Adele ran out of the room without her shoes. A pair of green mules lay sprawled beneath the sofa.
Cesare stared down at them in silence. Adele's face lingered like the afterimage of a silent scream. He covered his face with one hand.
"...This is right."
---
She fled the resort frantically. Fortunately, she didn't run into anyone inside. There was only one thought in her head: *Let's pack everything and go home!*
She descended three flights of stairs and slipped. Then she jumped to her feet and skipped five more steps. *I'm going back. I'll go back!* She threw away her ladylike gait and ran, clutching the hem of her dress.
But when Adele stepped out into the garden at the front of the resort, she stopped walking as if nailed in place. As if someone had poured ice water over her, realization struck like a blow to the head.
*Go back. Where? You don't have anything.*
Suddenly, something surged through her, and she felt like screaming. But even when she opened her mouth wide, no sound came out. She stood in a cold sweat, gasping for air, when she noticed someone in her line of sight.
"Miss Adelaide?"
It was a voice she knew. Adele involuntarily straightened her bent back. She blinked a few times, and then she could see his face clearly.
It was Ezra. Dressed in a light gray coat, he was approaching her with a very welcoming expression.
"You're finally here! I sent a letter of courtship, but I didn't receive an answer..."
Ezra's face went blank as he drew closer. Then he came almost at a run and stood before Adele. He asked in bewilderment.
"...Are you crying?"
"What?"
Adele belatedly touched her cheek. She felt wetness. *That's right. I'm crying.* As soon as she realized it, tears poured down her face without stopping. Her whole body weakened in time with her distress. Ezra grabbed her staggering shoulders.
"Miss Adelaide! What on earth is going on..."
As Ezra spoke, he spotted Adele's loosened stockings. His complexion hardened at once. In turn, he noticed her disheveled hair, flushed face, unrelenting tears, and missing shoes. Ezra's lips quivered with uncontrollable rage.
"...Is it Prince Cesare? Did he finally..."
"......"
Adele stared up at him blankly. Her lips parted, but then she closed them. *I can't say. It will be Cesare's shame. Neither I nor Clarice will be safe.*
"...No. It's nothing."
Ezra cried out through gritted teeth.
"Miss Adelaide! Please be honest with me..."
Then came the sound of people moving inside the building. Adele's face turned pale.
*Be a lady!* Lady Flavia's cry rang in her ears. *A lady. If you're ruined, you'll just disappear.* Despite cursing inwardly, Adele stiffened, unable to find a solution. *Be a lady, Adele. Like a lady... How?*
"Come this way!"
Ezra hurriedly wrapped his arm around Adele's shoulders. In an instant, he removed his coat to cover her and led her toward the backyard. Fortunately, they managed to slip away before encountering anyone. Ezra seated Adele in a chair in the most inconspicuous spot. Then he wrapped his coat around her lap. His expression was dark.
"It won't be good for others to see you like this, so stay here for a while."
"......"
Adele's tears had stopped. All that remained was dull fatigue and a foggy mind.