chapter 40.

" You need to break off your engagement with that young master immediately. "

"? " flinch on my couch in startled by his sudden statement that evening in my chamber, I lift my head to look at him with doubt by his words.

" My engagement? Do you mean by my engagement with Adam, Len? Why?"

" Yes... I'm sorry to say this but seeing that brat was so eager about you lately, my lady. Hence, I think it's best to break off your engagement before he starts his move on that fiancée of yours eventually. " While crossing his leg arrogantly, Ashlen leans against the couch with a big frown.

" Based on my opinion, He might also kill your fiance at this rate. "

" ??! "

****

" Princess, princess..! "

"? Yes? " while slowly close my book after slightly reading the content heartlessly because my head keeps on recalling back my conversation with Ashlen in my chamber yesterday, I seem to be less focused on my works today because of him.

" sigh... " My eyes slowly gaze on Lenny who was eagerly run towards me with a slight frown, my body that was leaning against the pillow, slowly straight while I look at her with puzzled eyes.

" What's wrong, Lenny? " asking in a calm voice, my eyes still on her while Lenny has stood before me exhausted.

" Greeting to the princess, haah. Young-young master. He-he asked for your presence at his chamber immediately, princess. Haah... Haah. "

"? me?? " why did he call for me??? Although he knows that I was currently avoiding him after that day I slapped him on the face, huh?? That so-called cold person, Adam was calling for me? what an amusing joke!

" Are you sure he called for me, Lenny? " spoke while frowns dumbfoundedly, my eyes look at her with doubt.

" Yes. haah. He said he wanted to ask your highness about master Eilidh's position.. " with her mouth that was panting in exhausted after she has gone around the mansion all day just for looking for me, Lenny slowly gets into her composure a little before she lightly bends her head down in polite. " Forgive me that I get here a little late, your highness. If the young master mad or something, please tell him that it was my fault, princess. "

" Ah. it's alright. it's not your fault since you didn't know I was wasting my time at my garden today. You can go now, Lenny. "

"..! thank you, princess. "

".... "

While my gaze silently looks at her as Lenny walks away from my garden at the back of the west mansion which where was my 'jewelry castle', Stella Palace located. My head looks up to the blue sky in anxiety. I'm not ready to meet him just yet but since the banquet was around the corner, I need to settle down with him as soon as possible. About what Ashlen said yesterday, about breaking off with him... I feel a little strange about that.

Well, to be saying. this engagement was made because I wanted to break up with Noelle in the first place though, and it was made based on my circumstances at that time and I even got so many benefits from it too...

But since I had nothing to do with Noelle now and since that guy has returned. I don't need to use Adam as my reason to escape from any political marriage and I also had so much influence after saving him from his curse. This engagement also will be over after all just like we have planned before, It's just a little early so why..? why is it that... " ....? "

If I were to break up with him.. at this rate...

" .... " Suddenly went my hand up to my chest and unconsciously clench on it, my hand slowly grip my dress and tightening it in silence. "...Why do I feel empty here, huh..? "

" Based on my opinion, He might also kill your fiance at this rate. "

" ...!!! " ugh!

Claire! you couldn't act weak like this! if that guy kills Adam, it was all because of you! you must protect Adam from that guy! if-if he touches even a single hair of Adam..! I'll never forgive him!

" I need to prevent it from happening! ".

Stomping my leg to the ground as my walk becomes heavy when I was heading towards his palace, my hand trembles while tightening my grip on the hem of my dress in a pretended confidence.

" Alright! you wanted me to break up with him? Alright. I'll do it! If it for the sake of Adam. I'm ready! "

****

" ..... "

My eyes glance at Adam's door with a heavy heart as I stood before it in silence. I don't want our relationship to end like this but I know that person will never approve of my engagement with Adam in the first place, He despises the grand duke Allard Houses as much as he despises my father and me. I don't know what makes that guy turn his way towards me, but I'm grateful that he's finally trying to take over our family again instead of relying on me as the next heir.

He is my new hope now because he's the exact gold card that I should have before I fight Noelle for the throne.

" ...I'm sorry for everything.. "

I know I sound like a bitch since I'm only using people to my benefit but this is how I should survive in this cruel empire. Now, I've made up my mind. I'll let Adam out from my plan. I'll not use Eilidh either and I'll leave the Allardis just like the grand duke Felix wanted me to do.

Knock. Knock.

Even though it's hurt me so much to left you like this, Adam.

" Your grace..? " After waiting for him to permit me to get in, I peek a little into his chamber while slowly open the door in silence when he strangely quiet and not even respond to my knocking sound from outside the door.

" Your grace? " I called him for a second time but still don't have any response.

" ...? " stunned with my own view, I'm just speechless when this is my first time to look at him after a long time we haven't meet.

Adam was laying over his couch at that time, while his head leaning against a pillow comfortably. His attire was quite simple this time, a white shirt that reveals his big broad chest and dark-colored pants that make him look sexy in his sleep. Although Adam had his eyes closed, it's hard to tell whether he's actually asleep or just closing his eyes. Maybe because this is my first time seeing him asleep like a human being, my leg unconsciously gets a step closer to him in wonder.

I don't know what had possessed my body, every time I saw him, I came to have the feeling every time I take a glimpse of him slightly from afar. This whole time, I couldn't manage my heart to meet him after I accidentally slapped him before but I had my reason. I couldn't bring myself to meet him and apologize because of that exact reason.. what I could do was just only look at him from my window and prayed that he'll forgive me. Ashlen said that that guy can kill Adam if I didn't take my actions now but... I starting to felt like I couldn't do it.

A few steps closer to him more, I could see his face clearly. Adam's so handsome. No, it's more appropriate to say that he is beautiful than handsome. Just like a statue, what a masterpiece of the God you're, Adam.

I approached him to the point and lowered my posture quietly since he's beauty makes me more fascinated just by looking, Despite sitting next to him, Adam's closed eyes didn't open. He must be so tiring that he fell asleep in this state. I looked and stared at him as he was sleeping. His face seems like had some force that I couldn't take my eyes off once I saw it, just like enchanted magic. What a dangerous beauty you had, my beast, Adam.

Gently my hand slightly touch his left cheek without much thought which where I slapped him before and while caress for it with a guilty face, I stared at him intensely with a bitter smile. " I'm sorry... you must be hurt so much. "

" ..... " Still no response from him who was sound asleep like a baby, I slightly smile with my lips while slowly trying to get up from my crouch posture beside his couch in silence. He hasn't woken up yet so let's just talk about it tomorrow or later.

" Claire.. "

It was a moment when I felt a slight warmth suddenly wrapping around my wrist as I'm trying to walk away from his couch. Stunned when a big hand suddenly gripped my wrist and gently trying to pull my body towards him, I could only freeze up when Adam's gentle eyes met myself.

" Where are you going..? " Adam asked me with a tender voice, his eyes that was just waking up from his sleep still seem slightly sleepy but he didn't care for it and directly met my eyes with a desperate expression.

" Your-your grace, you-you've wake up? good-good evening? " awkwardly avert his gaze on me, I'm struggling while trying to pull my hand from his strong grip.

" ...Claire... it's hurt.."

"? "

" It's hurt so much that I couldn't bear it any longer, Claire... I couldn't sleep at night nor eat my meals these days. "

" ..?? " but it was just a slap on the face?? was it that hurts until that extends?? did I used that much strength when I slapped him that day??? you're a villain that fought on the battlefield and return as the hero of wars! how could you're so in pain with that little slap from my hand???

" Your-your grace, I-I'm sorry... Kyaa!!? "

In a moment, I suddenly found myself in his embrace. Adam rapidly wrapped his tough arms around my waist before he lightly burying his head on my chest in despair when I could only freeze up in shock by his sudden behavior. I can felt his warmth get through my body as our bodies touch each other. Stunned when Adam suddenly acting like this, I could only turn speechless when he suddenly squeezed his arm on my waist more tightly. He acted as he doesn't want to let me go at all and he's surprisingly so clingy just like when he was a beast back then.

" Your-your grace..? I-I'm.. "

" You don't need me anymore..? "

Our eyes met again as he suddenly lifts his head and looks at me in a whimper. Adam used to be a cold-hearted person but what makes him acted strange like this? Ah! don't tell me..!

" Are you drunk, your grace?? " that thought was the first thing that came into my head when my eyes clearly catch the sight of his face that slightly red. Adam is still underage so how in the world that he could get drunk like this?

" ....? " Adam suddenly looks like he lost in his thoughts when I'm asking him that question out of nowhere.

" ..mm.. a little..? Hehe."

" ?! what? You had a drink even though you're underage, your grace?! " Hold his broad shoulder while gently shake his body to make him fix his gaze directly on me again, I knew for sure that he was extremely drunk right now when I look at that ridiculously strange behavior of him!

" This can't do! you need to lay again, your grace. " push his body on the couch back, my hand quickly help him to lean his head against the pillow just like earlier while slowly he suddenly put his palm on the back of my head and pull my head closer to him out of nowhere. " ...ah!! your grace! "

When our faces get closer to each other, my heart thumping strangely when he intensely looks at me with his dark red eyes silently.

" Heh. you're red just like me. "

" ...! "

Flushes in embarrassment when Adam said that right to my face, my hand reflexes push his body away from me before both of my palms instantly covering my burning face in awkwardness. " Don't say that! ".

" Hehe. Sigh... I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me anymore, Claire.. so I've been struggling on thinking about you all day, hiccup. an-and I asked that cheeky Jade. hiccup. to bring me some water earlier.. ugh.. " when Adam confessed that little thought of him while being drunk like that, I could only gaze on him as he suddenly pinches his head and stares at the ceiling in deep silence.

" Wait. Jade? Jade is the one that made you drunk like this, your grace? "

" Hehe." when my eyes look at him grinning like a stupid person, I know that Jade guy has pulled a prank on Adam when he heard that I was going to meet you today. " Ugh. that Jade! such a...kyaaa!!? "

" ??! your-your grace?? " This is the second time, Adam suddenly pulled my body into his embrace once again when I was off-guard. When my body has touches his broad chest that was revealed because of his sexy shirt, I can feel his skin directly touches mine and with a deep confusion, I couldn't manage to bring myself out of his embrace anymore.

" We're so close now... Did it not affect you at all..? "

"? what? " When my eyes met him that was looking at me desperately, I accidentally asked him with wondered by the meaning of his question towards me.

" The heart of the man in front of you right now is racing crazily when facing you. How come it didn't affect you at all when my heart thumping strangely like this because of you? "

His hand that was slightly stroking my cheeks when he was confessing all that, suddenly stopped while he suddenly begins to stares at my face intensely, while his face gradually becomes serious all of the sudden, the atmosphere between us suddenly get different from before.

" You-your grace..? "

His big hand that stroking my cheek earlier suddenly went to my neck while his eyes gleam before my eyes. Adam boldly approaches my face further closer and lowered his posture towards me more when I'm stunned in my position like a stone, with Adam's face suddenly filled my view when he has suddenly tilt his head to an angle, my face stiffened and immediately blushed in embarrassment. My eyes reflex shut as his face gets closer to my face more and more.

" ...! " Slowly I could only feel his warmth through my body as our distance become more closer when I was currently closing my eyes in confusion. And suddenly in a moment, I could finally feel a slightly warm touch myself on my lips smoothly.

" mn..?! "

At that moment, Adam softly presses his lips on Claire's red lips while his hand busily grabbing her body to support her from falling to the ground due to shock.

" ...!? "

As he wrapped both his arms around Claire's waist again and tightening his grip even more than before. Even if she's struggling to let herself away from his body right now, Adam will roughly squeeze on her body to make Claire stiffened in his embrace and like prey, Claire let herself silent in his embrace while Adam's lips lean against her softly and intensely.

" Mmn?! Ah! wai-ait! " Accidentally opened her lips slightly to stop Adam's strange behavior towards her, then out of nowhere Adam excellently seized the opportunity like a hungry beast and starting to kissing Claire over and over again.

" uh! mn..! haah..! haah! Mnn! "

Our tongue keeps on touching each other while Adam persists on sucking on it crazily as if he wanted to eat me all alive! As I was out of breath because of a kiss that I've never felt through before, Adam seems like he didn't have slight attention to letting go of my lips as he has lost his sanity while passionately kissing my lips. Adam even used his strength to keep me in his embrace while he busily steals my kiss nonstop.

" Mn! Ah! haah.. pleas-please..! Mm!? "

" No. "

" !? haah..! Stop! "

" ....Mmn?!! " while struggling to escape from his embrace, I suddenly felt his hand start to try to get into my clothes lightly, and in a state of shock, as I was still trapped in his passionate kiss, Adam's hand had already started to touch my bare skin and unconsciously he also tried to take off my dress quickly as he started attacking my neck by putting his lips around my neck and kissing it repeatedly.

" ..haah..! Ad-Adam! uh..! "

" Claire.. "

" ...! uh! haah.. "