MCDITE

9

“Adele.”

There was no blood on Adele's face.

“This is a misunderstanding.”

The body that he touched was clearly cold even though she had clothes.

Van was embarrassed. “Adele.”

Adele trembled and passed out again.

Van hugged Adele.

When he saw Adele's unconscious form, the condition was a mess as if she had rolled in a warehouse.

Seeing Adele's scratched and bloody feet and her torn, dusty clothes, Van almost lost his mind. “Hey.”

At that moment, the attendants stepped back.

“Who put Adele in jail?”

Two of the knights stepped forward.

“It's, uh, because Your Majesty told us to take her.”

The knight imitated with his hand and the spear to make it more convincing. “Take her away.”

Van frowned. Usually, when you say'take away' someone, you mean the same thing as 'move them somewhere'.

Yet the destination was an underground prison.

He wondered why Adele was trapped in the tower since she was a woman who was the prince's mother.

Van couldn't think and saw Adele in my arms.

'I didn't want to hold you like this.'

The bitterness came up.

Van got out of the prison holding Adele.

“Go in.”

At the emperor's glance, the two knights couldn't even chirp and went into jail through the cracks of a squiggle.

Woodduck.

Van restored the grate with one hand. The iron bars were bent here and there, but returned to a state that was faithful to the function of confining people inside.

"Go."

When the Emperor left, only two knights who were angry with the emperor remained in the cold prison.

***

Adele's whole body was aching.

It was only two days after the emperor appeared to take the child.

Is it because the shock was too great? Is it because of the cold bones of the prison for half a day? I felt like I was sick.

'Because I'm so scared.'

Even when she gave birth to Leo, she wasn't so scared. She was trying to be strong. Did you hear the words inside?

She felt a smile from the top of her head. “I would not be such a scary person.”

No. She was really so scared that she thought she was dying. Adele murmured and narrowed her eyes.

“Adele.”

It was a dream. The handsome man kissed the forehead kindly. Soft bite. A loving gaze. It seemed like the honey was melting from the eyes of the man.

“Am I dead?”

"It won't be."

“Whew. Then it is a dream.” Adele hugged the gorgeous man in peace.

Sometimes Van came up in her dream. As it was four years ago.

It was just as what Adele knew. He was always similar in her dreams, perhaps because she had never seen another outfit.

At Adele's bed, sleeping on his bed, he appeared in a light shirt like that. When he met the man in his dream, Adele talked about what happened to her. Van hugged Adele and lied in bed and listened to all the stories.

The next day Adele was in a good mood when she dreamed of Van. Because the Van in her dreams was on Adele's side unconditionally.

He would be upset when she said something bad. He'd be happy if she said something good. And if there was something upset and offensive, he would also say it was wrong.

But today, even though she met him after a long time, tears fell.

It was the first time. Adele couldn't help to complain while weeping. “Why did you come so late?”

"Sorry. I was a little busy, so I couldn't help it.” Van gently brushed her head.

"Isn't it nice to come and kiss me?" Adele was sad.

After meeting the emperor, it was clear that the Van in the dream was an illusion that she created because she was lonely.

"Van, I met you.”

“You did.”

"You… It was the emperor.”

The man hugged her tightly. “Did you recognize him?”

“He looks the same as Van.”

“Is he as handsome as me?”

Adele shook his head. "No. You're cooler.”

“Oh. It must have been disappointing.” The gorgeous man laughed as if it was fun.

It turned out that he was in a good mood today.

It was the exact opposite of Adele's world of imagery.

“Why do you cry? It's the first time I've ever seen you cry.”

“I don’t know if I’m going to die now.”

"Why?"

"He is… He was only going to take Leo.”

"It can't be."

"No. Really. He said, 'I can't do it, take the woman, too' with a face that he was reluctant.”

The man laughed as Adele copied the emperor's stubborn face.

“Don’t laugh. I am serious.”

"Isn't that inevitable circumstances?"

Adele frowned.

“Why?”

"Van.. Van today is weird.”

“Where is it weird?”

“Why are you not on my side?” Sad tears fell to Adele's eyes.

This was a dream she was having. Adele must have been scared or had difficult time even in her dreams, she wanted him to comfort her.

Is that why it is different from the usual Van?

"Perhaps… Is this the last one?”

“What do you mean?”

As Adele blinked, tears ran down her cheeks. “Because I met the real emperor… Are you not in my dreams anymore?”

Van wiped Adele's tears with his fingers. “I was thinking of coming tomorrow.”

Van glanced at himself. “Do you not like it?”

Adele couldn't answer. Although in a dream. Only tears poured out.

“Adele.” The man's voice went far away.

Adele cried and fell asleep again.

Van put Adele to sleep in the blanket and lay it in bed.

“Adele.” Van combed over Adele's soft brown hair.

Van kissed Adele's forehead, which was revealed smoothly, touched her forehead. “Be patient.”

Pressing his lips on Adele's forehead once more, the emperor stood up from the bed.