* * *
Still holding the bottle, Chester looked at him questioningly.
“There’s something I wanted to say to both of you.”
“To us?”
“I know this might not be the best situation to bring it up… but I don’t know when I’ll see you both together again. I hope you’ll forgive my boldness.”
After he spoke, Adam rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand.
The silence that followed made Isaac cross his arms, expression unreadable.
What is he stalling for?
More money? Jewels?
“Thank you, Your Graces.”
His voice was hoarse, worn from the cries of the night before.
After a few coughs, Adam continued quietly.
“I received a letter from my younger sibling yesterday. The doctor has been kind, a caregiver visited, and they’re being served good meals. All of it… it’s thanks to you.”
Isaac didn’t understand at first.
The hesitation had made him think Adam was about to make another request.
But instead—gratitude?
“We just did as the contract stated.”
“I thought you’d only provide the money. That was the agreement, after all. But you sent them to a good hospital, arranged for people to help… even made sure I could receive a letter. I didn’t expect such care.”
Adam looked slowly between Isaac and Chester, then bowed deeply.
“I could never have managed all that on my own. Truly… thank you.”
Isaac found himself unsure how to respond.
So he did the only thing that came to mind—he looked at his brother.
The smooth-talking one would surely know what to say.
But, unexpectedly, Chester also seemed… uncharacteristically flustered.
‘Gratitude?’
He had cried like he was dying, and now the first words out of his mouth were thanks?
Chester remained silent, then grabbed another handful of petals and tossed them into the water.
“It’s nothing, Adam. For us, showing such generosity is easier than breathing.”
“Yes, but for me… it’s no different than a miracle. I truly wanted to express my thanks.”
The drifting petals touched Adam’s shoulders.
Covered in pink blossoms, he looked like a spirit from an old painting.
His lips curled into a gentle smile.
The fatigue in his green eyes faded, replaced by a soft gleam.
“…Right. Just keep doing your part well from now on. Your duties, I mean.”
Adam nodded obediently, his expression docile.
Chester had nothing more to say.
Sheesh.
He knew Adam was kind, but this was on another level.
‘What a bore.’
It would’ve been cuter if he were flustered and stammering.
Still, even as Chester found it somewhat annoying, something inside him squirmed.
He stood up abruptly, feeling Adam’s gaze like a thorn prickling his cheek.
“Is there anything you want?”
“Pardon?”
Adam blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question.
A petal slipped off his shoulder and drifted downward.
His gaze followed it for a moment, then his expression shifted.
“The flowers…”
“Hm?”
“The cave, Lord Chester. The gardeners were talking about placing pots there. Do you remember?”
Chester tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
“They were debating what to plant. If the flowers haven’t been decided yet… I thought maybe Moneras could be nice.”
Chester blinked slowly.
He had asked what Adam wanted, but this answer was completely unexpected.
“They’re from the buttercup family. Very full petals—really beautiful. I read somewhere that in ancient times, they were used to crown champions of gladiator games. I think they’d suit this castle well.”
“…That’s what you want?”
“Y-yes… Sorry, if that was out of line.”
Isaac and Chester both fell silent.
In the hush that followed, only the soft sound of water remained.
Adam looked apologetic, as if realizing too late that his words had brought on a heavy silence.
At last, Chester spoke.
“I’ll have someone else take over the scenting. They should be waiting outside.”
Adam cautiously lifted his head. Isaac’s face was expressionless.
“You spoke carelessly about your master, so of course you were punished—for the sake of tightening that loose tongue of yours.”
Behind Isaac stood several people.
Among them, a woman who looked like a maid was frowning, her sharp gaze intense.
Adam didn’t need to look back to know that Lily was tightly on edge.
“He only answered my questions. If punishment is due, then it should be mine alone.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“Lord Isaac, but—”
Suddenly, Isaac moved.
He walked up to Adam’s feet and bent down to meet his gaze.
The sudden closeness made Adam’s eyes widen.
His red eyes, reminiscent of blood, were chilling—yet strangely beautiful, like rubies.
The eyes, partly hidden behind golden lashes, had a mysterious air.
His hair, slicked back with something glossy, shimmered under the light.
“Follow me.”
Isaac spoke cryptically.
Adam blinked, not understanding.
At the gentle but stern look in Isaac’s eyes, Adam’s expression softened.
Still, Isaac walked ahead without looking back, his steps firm.
“I guess I should follow Lord Isaac, right?”
Adam whispered quietly to the trembling Lily.
She nodded repeatedly.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for speaking carelessly.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine. I just hope you don’t get scolded.”
“No, I deserve it. I should be punished.”
Adam gave her a look that said not to talk like that, then followed after Isaac.
Isaac didn’t glance back once.
Watching his retreating figure, Adam held his breath.
“Everyone, leave us.”
It was when they reached a certain door.
Just as a servant grabbed the doorknob and opened it, Isaac calmly spoke.
“You, come inside.”
Adam quickly looked around. Lily, who was retreating with the others, mouthed, “Go on.”
Adam hesitated briefly before stepping inside the room.
The room was spacious, yet dark and still.
Black silk curtains embroidered with gold thread, black carpets, and ebony furniture gave the room a heavy atmosphere.
Adam glanced at the various paintings on the walls, then let his gaze fall.
A vase carved from amethyst quartz was filled with flowers.
Next to it sat a basket woven with fine gold strings and tiny gold beads, and a dish made from imported coral limestone.
“Sit here.”
Isaac’s command rang in his ear.
At some point, Isaac had seated himself in front of a long table.
Ledgers, paper, a fountain pen, and ink sat atop it.
Adam hesitated, then sat across from him.
“You said you wanted to write a letter. To that precious younger sister of yours.”
“You really did hear everything…”
Isaac said nothing in response.
Instead, he pushed a sheet of paper toward him and picked up one of the ledgers to read.
His gaze was sharp and focused.
“You want me to write it here?”
“You got it.”
‘Such a strange man.’
Adam frowned slightly as he pulled out his pen.
He still didn’t understand why he had been brought into this room.
But rather than asking, he started writing.
He doubted Isaac would answer anyway, and he didn’t want to risk irritating him further.
Scratch, scratch.
Only the sound of the pen’s tip scratching paper echoed in the silence.
With the letter open beside him, Adam began to write.
Each sentence was filled with love and concern for Emily.
“I’m doing well.”
At that line, Adam’s pen paused.
He needed to explain what kind of “well” he meant.
But he couldn’t tell the truth to his sister. “I plan to get pregnant to earn money,” “So I’ve ended up sleeping with two men”—those would be enough to make Emily not just shocked but faint.
“Ugh…”
Adam let out a quiet groan without realizing it, forgetting for a moment that he wasn’t alone with how focused he was.
* * *
