“Wow, you look absolutely gorgeous.”
“You’re fine too, Your Highness.” - Adaline replied with a straight face.
"..."
Edwin narrowed his eyes. Compared to how he looked a few days ago, now his face was simply shining, as if light was pouring from within. And it wasn't just about food and sleep.
[It was difficult to call this a “compliment” itself; it sounded too ordinary. And his smile was suspiciously radiant. Even annoying.]
Edwin cast a pointed glance at Shane, standing behind Adaline.
Edwin: “What’s wrong with her? What's happening?"
Shane: "I have no idea."
Edwin: “Are you serious? Do you expect me to believe that you don't know anything about what's wrong with her? Give it up, lay it out."
Shane: “And it’s even more convenient for me.”
Shane grinned and shrugged lazily. Edwin, looking at his impudent grin, snorted and said out loud:
“Nothing special,” Adaline? Really? You meant to say “dazzlingly beautiful,” didn’t you?”
“Is this what you decided to extract from the whole conversation?”
“So what? Such a comment is too weak for such unearthly beauty.”
“Wait...Did you just call yourself that?”
“So what? If you’re going to give out compliments, do it for real.”
Adalyn barely restrained a grimace of disgust, pulled away and shrugged her shoulders. Shane laughed loudly and sincerely. Edwin was stunned by this sound.
“Adaline, did you feed your husband poisonous mushrooms? How long have you been married anyway?”
“If I poisoned him, it would be with something reliable, and not with some kind of mushrooms. I would have killed him for sure.”
“You say this with such seriousness that it makes you feel uneasy... Well, really, what did you do to him?”
[I just hugged him.]
Adaline glanced at Shane and instead of answering, she just shrugged. Edwin, deciding not to insist, closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Well, it just made my soul feel better, and you ruined everything.”
“I just wanted to cheer you up...Oh, my God, Your Highness, what a handsome man you are! Ahah!" - Adaline exclaimed mockingly.
“Leave it. It even sounds insincere.”
[It seems that Edwin, as the crown prince, was only able to accept compliments of the highest grade, otherwise he did not consider them worthy.]
“Okay, enough chatter. Shane, since the danger has passed, stay with Adaline in the palace for a while."
“No, I refuse.”
“Then leave her alone in the mansion.”
“And this is also a no. She'll be fine, even without me."
“You are her official guardian. And it is you who must lead the team of investigators. You will be the one to dissolve it.”
Edwin changed his target.
“There is no other way out. Adaline, then stay with me in the palace. This will be the safest place."
“Ugh, what disgusting.” - she muttered, wincing.
“...You’re clearly in a great mood today, you’ve turned everything off.”
“Sorry...” Adaline looked down guiltily.
[Her mood was indeed light, and her tongue also seemed to become faster.]
Then, becoming serious, she added:
“Then can I have a room next to Genevieve?”
“Use mine, Adaline. We still sleep together." - Shane interjected.
Edwin shot him a withering look.
“As you know. But at least I’ll spend time with Genevieve, or with my mother, the Empress. So don't worry."
“I will visit often and assign security.” - Shane added conciliatoryly.
“I understand...”
[He says so nicely that he will keep an eye on us. What a caring...observer.]
“You can keep your eyes on me, Shane, just work properly.”
“That’s how I work. Well, more or less."
“Work hard. It doesn’t matter if I run away, you’ll catch me.”
[Ah, saying “I won’t run away” would sound like another lie.] Adaline remembered how many of them there had already been.
[I won't run away, just let me go.]
[I won't do anything, just leave.]
[What can I even do now? I don't even have anywhere to run.]
[If he believes this, then he is a complete fool.]
[Everything comes back. Everything is karma.]
[Now that she is free, there is no need to run away. And there was no such desire anymore. But how to explain this?]
“My legs are too short to run far.” - she sighed. “So just come and check on me sometimes. Look in and you will see me. Fine?"
"..."
“When you come, I will hug you.”
“Every time I see you, hug you.”
[Every time?]