Chapter 29 – [ Illustration ]

Translator: Yonnee

 
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Carlisle’s upper body tilted forward, and the shadows in the darkened room overlapped.

Had someone witnessed the moment, they might have thought they’d seen the rare sight of a butler and a noble lady sharing a kiss.

In truth, the owners of those overlapping shadows had stopped at a distance where only the bridges of their noses touched—though they didn’t even realize it. Whether fortunate or unfortunate, Adeline’s hand, which had pulled Carlisle toward her, released him just before their faces could fully meet.

A distance close enough to feel another’s breath.

Seeing the way Carlisle had completely frozen, a short laugh escaped Adeline’s lips.

“…Haha!”

To think it would really work.

Adeline was delighted that her hypothesis had proven correct.

“Carlisle, your face…”

It’s completely red.

The woman, smiling, gently caressed the man’s cheek.

His face, reddened from agitation, was completely enclosed in Adeline’s hand.

Carlisle’s light brown eyes, flushed with embarrassment, were darker than usual.

His murky, lowered gaze and lips frozen slightly apart fully conveyed his confusion.

Had the distance been any closer, she might have even heard his racing heartbeat. His cheek beneath her hand was even hot.

Who would believe that this man, staring at Adeline as though he’d forgotten how to breathe, was the famously expressionless butler of House Zeller?

‘I really didn’t expect this to work.’

In her previous life, when Adeline had married Julian, Carlisle had never said a word.

Even when tending to her wounds—the scars left by Julian—he had never once shown a trace of resentment.

So she had never imagined that Carlisle would be unable to conceal his true feelings over the marks Jack had left.

To the point that he couldn’t even hide his expression.

‘If I’d known a light provocation would rattle him this much, I would’ve tried it long ago.’

Was it truly because she hadn’t known this method that she was betrayed in her past life?

Thinking about it now, she found her own situation a bit pathetic.

‘It’s so easy.’

Adeline smiled deeply as she caressed Carlisle’s cheek with her fingertips. Her twisted thoughts poured out without restraint.

“You… Don’t tell me, were you expecting it?”

That I’d kiss you.

She muttered as her index finger tapped his cheek like an object.

“This really is overstepping your bounds, isn’t it? Carlisle Devay.”

At the chillingly mocking tone, Carlisle finally came to his senses.

Like someone waking from a shallow sleep, or perhaps in even more disarray, he took a step back.

Then immediately bowed his head.

“…My apologies, Milady. I overstepped.”

I’ll be taking my leave now. Please rest well.

With those final words, Carlisle turned to leave without even waiting for Adeline’s reply.

Click.

The moment the door closed behind him, Carlisle staggered, still holding the doorknob.

As soon as he was out of Adeline’s sight, the last of his composure crumbled.

Confusion, disarray, and shame flushed Carlisle’s face.

‘…What was that.’

His fingers trembled as they brushed the shirt collar she had grabbed. He couldn’t tell whether the voice he’d barely managed to use when bidding her farewell had trembled like this too.

More than embarrassment, it was shock.

His pounding heartbeat felt like a judgment declaring him guilty.

Wasn’t it as though his wildly throbbing heart was punishing him?

For daring to feel lust toward the noble lady he had served since her childhood?

A cold sweat clung to the hand that wiped down his dry face. For the first time, he doubted his own moral compass.

‘No one in their right mind would feel something like this.’

He resented the clarity of his own mind. If only he had been drunk, or unconscious. At least then he could’ve blamed it on that.

But with full awareness, he had felt lust toward Adeline.