* * *
Adam stood in place, staring up at the sky.
Even from a distance, it was clear he was weighed down by worry.
“What’s this?”
Chester murmured, now wearing an intrigued expression.
He turned to the confused mercenaries and gave a quick farewell.
“Gotta go. Enjoy yourselves and get plenty of rest.”
The mercenaries blinked as Chester hurried out.
What’s the rush?
Was there really something outside?
They all turned to the window in curiosity.
Leaving the murmurs behind him, Chester walked briskly.
Adam, still staring at the sky, didn’t notice his approach.
The sight stirred a playful urge in Chester.
Wrapping an arm around Adam’s waist, he pulled him close.
“What brings you to the village?”
“Ah!”
Startled, Adam’s eyes went wide.
Chester held his squirming waist even tighter.
“Hello.”
With a curl of his lips, he greeted him.
Adam’s mouth dropped open.
“L-Lord Chester?!”
He wasn’t the only one surprised.
The servant and maid trailing behind him quickly bowed.
“You’re here alone? What brings you out here—?”
“This is my land. I’m just roaming around. I’m more curious about you. What brings you to the village?”
Chester tapped his waist with a finger.
Adam tensed up noticeably.
“Uh, Lord Isaac sent me on an errand…”
“Huh? My brother?”
Now this was interesting.
Sent on an errand by his brother?
Chester glanced around—and noticed a row of mercenaries pressed up against the tavern window.
Their faces all wore the same expression: ‘Who the heck is that guy?’
With a pleasant smile, Chester leaned in and whispered,
“Come with me, Adam.”
Still holding his waist, Chester led him down a narrow alley.
Adam followed, sneaking glances and clearing his throat awkwardly.
He seemed thoroughly flustered by the sudden encounter.
“I-If you could let go of my waist… I’m, uh, really ticklish…”
“Yeah, you’ve always been sensitive.”
Chester lowered his voice so only Adam could hear.
“No matter where I touched you, you’d squirm like crazy. I remember it well.”
“…”
“There. I let go. Happy?”
“Th-thank you…”
Adam mumbled, not looking thankful in the least.
His face and neck had gone adorably red with embarrassment.
Chester took his time admiring the flushed skin before stopping in his tracks.
“So, what exactly did my brother ask you to do?”
“Ah, well…”
Adam pulled a pouch from inside his coat.
In his characteristically calm and gentle tone, he began to explain.
Chester, drawn into listening, let out an intrigued hum.
“Oh? Use up all the money before sunset? That’s the order your master gave you?”
Adam nodded, his expression confirming it.
Chester looked down at the pouch, eyes glinting with amusement.
‘Well, well. Seems the big guy’s really keeping an eye on Adam. To the point of coming up with something this entertaining.’
In truth, Chester had also been slightly bothered by Adam’s gratitude.
His affection for his little sister was almost too pure, which made it feel burdensome.
Especially considering that they had only ever treated Adam as a tool for pregnancy.
‘It was just a contract. But he acts like we did him some great favor. What a guy.’
Chester let out a faint sigh, as if deflated.
“So, have you spent some of it?”
“I think I’ve used a fair amount… but I still have some left.”
“Just blow it on whatever. Worst case, you could’ve gone to a gambling den or something. That’d clear it fast.”
Adam flinched in horror.
“I couldn’t do that. Lord Isaac gave me this money. I can’t use something so precious in a place like that.”
“If you’re going to be that rigid about it, how are you supposed to spend it?”
Faced with the reasonable point, Adam fell silent.
A troubled look came over his handsome features.
“Adam, it’s good to be a nice guy, but being too nice? That’s no good. That’s exactly why your master gave you that order. Because your goodness is so excessive, it’s annoying.”
“…”
“You must’ve grown up in a decent environment, huh? Loved dearly by your parents, saw only the good in the world. That’s why you insist on walking such a righteous path.”
Adam, who had remained silent until now, lifted his head.
His green eyes shimmered with a clear, unreadable light.
The sincerity in his gaze made Chester stop teasing him.
“My father was a gambler.”
In the stillness, Adam’s voice rang out.
“He was so obsessed with gambling, he sold off everything in our home. My mother, already frail, passed away from the shock. Then my father died in an accident, and all that was left to me was debt… and my little sister.”
A faint smile appeared on Adam’s lips.
“I wasn’t born into a loving home. I fought tooth and nail to survive. Just to someday give my sister a peaceful life. …Though she’s now fallen ill as well.”
This time, Chester said nothing.
He hadn’t expected Adam, who always seemed so obedient, to open up like this.
“And still, I try to do the right thing… because it is the right thing. No matter how hard life gets, I don’t want to give up my morals.”
“…”
“That’s also why I thanked the dukes. Why I’m being careful with this money. Because I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
With that, Adam bowed his head politely.
Chester narrowed his eyes, as if deep in thought.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my lea—”
“It was just curiosity.”
Chester cut in.
His voice was still light, but the teasing tone was gone.
“You were willing to sell your body for your sister’s sake. You even thank the people who bought it. And yet, you don’t seem to resent the world at all. You just look grateful, like you think you were lucky. That’s what I found curious.”
As he finished, Chester smiled.
It was the kind of smile that made most people forget how to breathe.
Adam, too, stared up in a daze for a moment before quickly clearing his throat.
“I wasn’t exactly willing. I struggled with the idea of getting pregnant, too.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I’m no saint. I’m just trying to live a little better, that’s all. I’m just an ordinary person.”
His voice was low and gentle, pleasant to the ear.
The way his fine hair shimmered in the sunlight was dazzling.
Nothing about him was “ordinary.” Chester stared at the softly murmuring Adam for a moment, then reached out his hand.
He gently smoothed Adam’s wind-tossed hair.
Startled by the unexpected touch, Adam winced slightly.
Just moments ago he’d been speaking so confidently, yet now he shrank back from a simple touch—adorable.
Chester ran his fingers through his hair, lingering on the thought.
‘Adorable, huh…’
“Th-thank you,”
Adam stammered as he stepped back.
His mouth twitched awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
Watching him, Chester suddenly felt the urge to spend more time with him.
There was just something about Adam that made him irresistibly intriguing.
“I’ll help you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“With spending the money. I’ll help you. Don’t worry—it’s not going to be gambling or anything.”
Chester lowered his hand and grabbed Adam’s wrist.
The warmth of his skin was oddly comforting.
* * *
