Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 164

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Part 2, Chapter 31

 

“…That!”

 

Suddenly bringing up past events. They say a gentleman’s revenge isn’t too late even after three years, but mentioning something that happened less than half a day ago.

 

Since it wasn’t particularly something I had ordered, I felt wronged.

 

I grabbed my forehead with my hand where Adam had flicked it, though it didn’t hurt.

 

Since he hadn’t straightened his back yet, I covered it with my hand in case he hit me again.

 

Then Adam kissed the back of my hand that was covering my forehead.

 

Light kisses continued over the back of my hand.

 

His skill at lifting people up and putting them down was extraordinary.

 

I curled my ticklish fingers and said,

 

“Not on the back of my hand.”

 

I grabbed Adam and strongly expressed my will for him to do it again.

 

Adam smiled and gently kissed my lips instead.

 

As if everything until now had been just a taste, the kiss deepened.

 

* * *

 

Strangely, once I faced my emotions directly, my attitude toward Adam became comfortable again like before.

 

I looked around Adam’s office, which I was seeing for the first time.

 

I moved my steps away from the desk that was always piled high with documents.

 

‘There are lots of books here too.’

 

It seemed he hadn’t received his count title carelessly. Even Judith sometimes borrowed Adam’s help, so Adam’s workload becoming heavy was unavoidable.

 

Looking at this, I was reminded of the time at the Demon King’s Castle.

 

Back then, books were piled up messily.

 

But now it was messy with documents. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy about it.

 

I quietly cheered for Adam in my heart.

 

Go Adam, you were born into the imperial family, so take responsibility…!

 

It was an irresponsible comment, but it would be fine since Judith was suffering twice as much dealing with the Emperor’s backlogged duties.

 

Originally, seeing others suffer makes one’s own suffering seem trivial.

 

But Adam had been watching me tour his office with an anxious expression from earlier.

 

Yet when I stared at him, he would change his expression.

 

‘Is there something he’s hiding?’

 

It felt like I was on a treasure hunt.

 

I looked under Adam’s desk and even lifted a few documents, but there was nothing.

 

“There’s nothing here.”

 

My voice was tinged with disappointment.

 

Maybe I had been mistaken.

 

I was about to leave the office, having already lost interest, when I paused.

 

Unlike the messy desk, the books on the bookshelf were properly arranged.

 

Then I suddenly noticed a piece of paper stuck between the neat books and pulled it out with my hand.

 

The edge of the paper was slightly faded.

 

“Adam, what’s this?”

 

“…! Don’t look at it, give it here!”

 

An unexpectedly intense reaction burst from Adam.

 

Found it.

 

I knew instinctively.

 

That was because I had already checked the back before calling Adam.

 

It was an incongruous drawing stuck between books, so I couldn’t have missed it.

 

‘…It’s me.’

 

The me in the drawing looked slightly younger than now.

 

As if Adam had drawn it from memory of me from three years ago.

 

The me in the drawing felt somewhat unfamiliar, wondering if this was how I looked in Adam’s eyes.

 

“Did Adam draw this?”

 

I asked with laughter in my voice.

 

Actually, when I first heard from Kyrillos that Adam had been looking for me continuously for three years to the point where he thought Adam had gone crazy, I was skeptical.

 

Because Adam’s reaction when we reunited was so plain.

 

So I thought he had no interest at all.

 

Because he didn’t ask anything or seem curious about anything.

 

But apparently that wasn’t the case.

 

Having seen a fragment of Adam’s deep emotions from the past, I looked at him triumphantly.

 

Adam covered his reddened face with his hands as if his previous nonchalant behavior had been a lie.

 

He was trying hard to act calm, but it seemed to be his limit.

 

Though he tried to hide it, the tips of Adam’s ears were red.

 

Seeing Adam like this made me feel like I would become even more embarrassed.

 

But I couldn’t miss this rare opportunity to tease him.

 

“Please give it back….”

 

Adam, with his face buried in both hands, mumbled in a small voice.

 

“Take it if you can!”

 

I stretched out my arm and said triumphantly, as if teasing him.

 

This is revenge for that day!

 

Back then my drawing was taken away too, so my turn to tease Adam had come.

 

Originally, a gentleman’s revenge isn’t too late even after waiting three years.

 

Take it if you can, hehe.

 

“….”

 

Adam effortlessly stretched out just one arm slightly and took the paper from me.

 

Ah, right.

 

Adam is much taller than me….

 

I made a bitter expression, newly realizing this obvious fact.

 

I lost….

 

I went pitifully to a corner of the room, hugged my knees, and sulked.

 

Adam approached me as I sat there pitifully like a raccoon that had washed its cotton candy in water.

 

“I’ll draw it again for you later. I drew it so I wouldn’t forget Eve’s face, so it’s embarrassing.”

 

Adam said while lightly kissing my cheek as I sat there looking pitiful.

 

“Then Adam should return my drawing that you took last time too.”

 

Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I spread both hands and looked at him.

 

Given Adam’s personality, there was no way he would have thrown away the drawing.

 

As soon as I mentioned the drawing, Adam flinched and hesitated.

 

“It’s my family heirloom.”

 

What Adam carefully took out from his chest was the drawing I had made before.

 

Seeing the drawing filled with Adam’s care, I couldn’t bear to look at it with both eyes open.

 

No, why are you carrying it around!

 

Seeing the messy sketch made me remember that time and feel embarrassed.

 

“Ugh…! Adam’s heirlooms would be in the Imperial Palace! You’re the one who should give it back!”

 

You are a member of the imperial family.

 

There’s no way your heirlooms would be here!

 

I reached out to snatch the drawing, but Adam was faster.

 

Adam drooped his eyebrows as if truly sad and said,

 

“I don’t want to. Why are you trying to take back what Eve gave me?”

 

“I never gave it to you!”

 

I hopped around trying to snatch the drawing from his hands but ultimately failed.

 

Adam carefully placed both drawings between the pages of a notebook like handling precious objects, then put it on top of a bookshelf where my hands couldn’t reach.

 

‘When Adam falls asleep, I’ll definitely sneak in and burn them.’

 

While I was secretly making this resolution, Adam seemed to notice and grabbed my shoulder, leading me out of the room.

 

Even as I left the room, I kept my gaze fixed on the painting as I obediently let him pull me along.

 

“I’ve already memorized all their locations.”

 

“Oh my, it seems I’ll be in trouble thanks to my lover’s good memory.”

 

Adam spoke cheekily with an expression that showed he wasn’t troubled at all.

 

“Indeed, then it would be best to hire a painter to draw a portrait of the two of us.”

 

“No need!”

 

Where does he think he’s sneakily slipping in his demands.

 

I quickly refused as if I already knew all of Adam’s plans.

 

Adam drooped his eyebrows as if disappointed.

 

However, since I had resolved not to fall for his charm anymore, I answered firmly.

 

So he should have teased me in moderation!

 

* * *

 

In the dark night when everyone was asleep.

 

Two who had no sleep were having a secret rendezvous.

 

Kyrillos opened the door to Adam’s room, knowing he certainly wouldn’t have fallen asleep.

 

Inside, he could see Adam sitting in a chair as if he had expected him to come.

 

Kyrillos approached Adam, who was still looking out the window despite his arrival.

 

It probably wasn’t intentional ignoring.

 

From what Kyrillos had discovered, the Demon King’s curse seemed to dull the owner’s emotions.

 

It dulled all emotions except for one.

 

Until a body was born with only the emotion that would destroy everything around and ultimately kill the one they loved.

 

That meant the curse had intensified that much.

 

Kyrillos clicked his tongue.

 

Then he threw what he had brought to him along with a small complaint.

 

“You seem to be taking too much medicine.”

 

There was no way Kyrillos, who was busy beyond belief, would come all the way to Grace Mansion just for entertainment.

 

Adam caught the pouch he threw.

 

Inside were many small glass bottles.

 

“This month’s suppressants. When can you kill the Demon King? The cycle for taking medicine is getting shorter now, isn’t it?”

 

Kyrillos spoke while tapping the table with his finger.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————