Emelda and Annie bid farewell as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden light across the manor grounds.
Adeline, now fully calmed from earlier, was seated in the lounge room with Dane standing in front of her, arms crossed, wearing a familiar scolding expression.
"Mom, I heard what you did. Climbing trees? Really? Do you know how dangerous that is? Be glad Father was there to catch you. What if you fell? What if you got seriously hurt? What if—" Dane continued, frowning with concern.
Adeline could only look down, nodding occasionally as her young son lectured her. She recognized that nagging tone—it was a mirror of someone else she knew. And although she found it frustratingly cute, she didn't have the heart to interrupt him.
Darwin entered the room just then, took one look at the scene, and smirked, crossing his arms.
"Looks like someone's getting properly reprimanded."
Adeline shot him a sharp glare.
Darwin chuckled and walked over, ruffling Dane's hair gently. The boy stopped mid-rant and looked up at his father, surprised. The gesture was rare—unexpected—but welcome. Dane's eyes lit up, clearly happy.
Adeline noticed and smiled quietly to herself. He's changing. He wasn't like the man in the novel anymore. Bit by bit, he was becoming more of a father. More human.
"Dinner's ready. Let's go," Darwin said casually, turning toward the dining hall.
After dinner, Dane headed off to his father's office for his nightly routine of reporting how his day went—a habit that was slowly becoming tradition.
Adeline, meanwhile, wandered to the library. She spent time reading books on the empire and its people, hoping to find something—anything—similar to her situation. But so far, there was nothing about reincarnation.
She was halfway through her fifth book when she got up to return it to the shelf. Just as she turned, she felt someone behind her. Startled, she instinctively swung the book at the intruder.
"Ow—You really have a habit of hitting me, don't you?" came a familiar, amused voice.
Adeline blinked. "Oh. Sorry. I thought it was someone else."
Darwin took the book from her hand, examining the cover. "A fantasy book?"
"I'm just interested in them," she replied, snatching it back.
He leaned casually against the bookshelf, eyes gleaming. "Then are you interested in romance novels, too? Women like you usually are."
"Just shut up," she muttered, slamming the book back onto the shelf with exaggerated annoyance. The memory of crying for him earlier still lingered—and so did the embarrassment.
Darwin simply watched her in silence, as if trying to read her thoughts.
Adeline ignored his gaze and continued returning the remaining books. The last one belonged on the top shelf. She scanned the area for a ladder, but none was in sight. Her pride wouldn't allow her to ask him for help.
So, she tiptoed, stretching up toward the shelf.
"I am right here, you know," Darwin offered, watching her struggle.
"Shut up," she shot back through gritted teeth.
'Just a little bit further...' Adeline thought, stretching on her tiptoes as she pushed the book toward the top shelf.
Suddenly, a large hand slid over hers and pushed the book the rest of the way in.
Startled, she turned—only to find Duke Darwin standing right behind her, towering over her with an unreadable expression.
"Would it really hurt to ask for my help?" he asked softly, voice low and teasing.
She stepped to the side, about to walk away, but he suddenly blocked her path—placing both arms on either side of her against the shelf.
A kabedon.
Adeline blinked, her body going tense as her back pressed slightly against the bookshelf. Was this real? Was he seriously doing a kabedon right now?
Her nerves buzzed. Her heart started to race.
"Cat got your tongue?" Darwin asked, eyes narrowing with amusement. "You were plenty loud earlier. Where's all that bite now?"
Inside, Adeline was spiraling.
This is bad. This is really bad!
Because now that he was this close—close enough to feel his breath, to see the curve of his lips and the sharp edge of his jaw—she couldn't help but notice it:
Duke Darwin was ridiculously handsome.
She had been too distracted by his gruff attitude, the constant bickering, and her own mission to really see him. But now—trapped between him and the shelf—she couldn't ignore it. The powerful build, the intense gaze, the masculine scent of woodsmoke and parchment.
And worst of all... she was beginning to see him not as a novel character or a nobleman—but as a man.
"Hey. Are you even listening?" he asked, leaning slightly closer. "Don't tell me you're scared of me now..."
Without thinking, Adeline slammed her forehead into his.
Darwin reeled back slightly, caught off guard. "Ow—!"
"Back off, black bear!" she barked, rubbing her forehead. "I'm not scared of you—I'm annoyed!"
He stepped back, laughing through the sting. "You really have a violent streak, Lady Adeline."
"And you really have no sense of personal space!"
Adeline quickly left the library, flustered.
From that day forward, even James began to notice a shift in the Duke's behavior—particularly his growing fondness for irritating Adeline.
That morning at breakfast, just as Adeline reached for her favorite dessert, Darwin swiftly snatched it first.
"Oh? Did you want this?" he asked, holding it out to her with a smirk. "Here, say ah—"
Adeline scowled and looked away. "No thanks. And stop doing that. You're creeping me out," she muttered, trying to keep her cool.
Later that day, while buried in paperwork, Darwin suddenly paused and looked up at James.
"Where's Lady Adeline?"
"She's in the kitchen—"
Before James could finish, Darwin stood up and casually walked out, leaving the paperwork unfinished.
James blinked in mild exasperation. "Of course…"
In the kitchen, Adeline was kneading dough, humming softly to herself. The staff were quietly bustling around when Darwin appeared at the doorway, startling everyone.
He strolled over, leaned against the counter, and reached for a freshly baked cookie.
"You're really diligent about your snacks," he remarked, popping the cookie into his mouth.
"Hey!" Adeline snapped, quickly slapping his hand as he reached for another. "Don't touch that! And can you please stay out of my kitchen business?"
He simply shrugged. "May I remind you this is my kitchen... in my manor?" he said with mock innocence.
She was about to bark another retort, but he was already halfway out the door, grinning to himself.
Later, while painting alone in the garden, Adeline felt a shadow cast over her. She sighed even before turning.
"Even a child could draw better than that," Darwin teased, standing behind her with his arms crossed.
Adeline rolled her eyes. "Do you ever have anything nice to say? Or is tormenting me your full-time job now?"
He ignored the remark and instead stepped closer, observing her brush strokes.
As she focused back on the canvas, he suddenly took her hand, guiding it with his own.
"When you paint," he murmured, "you have to feel it, not just copy what you see."
Adeline's heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip and focused hard on the canvas... until—
Splat.
A smear of paint landed on her cheek.
"Hey!" she yelped. But Darwin was already walking away, waving over his shoulder with a smirk. "You—!"
That evening, after tucking Dane into bed, Adeline stepped out of the room and nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Sh—! What are you doing standing there like that? You look like some ghost!" she huffed.
"You scare easily," Darwin replied calmly. "Is Dane asleep?"
"Yes. Why?"
"No reason," he said, lingering in place for a few seconds longer, simply staring at her.
Adeline felt awkward under his gaze. "What? Is something on my face?"
"Yeah," he said, eyes narrowing with mischief. "You look like the walking dead."
And with that, he reached out and ruffled her hair, leaving her stunned as he walked away.
She stood frozen in place. "What the hell is wrong with that man?!" she muttered, brushing her hair down in frustration.
From down the hall, James observed with a long-suffering sigh and shook his head.
"Absolutely hopeless, the both of them."