Chapter 209

EP.209 Meddling

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Wooong-! Woong-!

The golden glow that brightly illuminated the bathroom gradually faded, and Adelle, who had gathered her scattered thoughts and earnestly finished her prayer of repentance, drained the bathtub.

She prayed to Rosario, hoping that she, a foolish woman, still qualified as a saint, but she didn’t know if she would receive a response.

Standing up, she weakly turned on the shower.

“You have to take responsibility… responsibility…”

Adelle kept muttering the word “responsibility.”

She wanted to complain to Jihyuk.

He had seduced her with his silver tongue and made her do something embarrassing she had never imagined.

She was completely caught up in it. She had been defiled.

So, Jihyuk had to take responsibility.

Adelle moved the shower handle left and right, alternating between hot and cold water.

After a long time of switching between cold and hot water, she felt a bit more awake.

She thoroughly washed her entire body, especially her thighs, and then peeked out of the bathroom door.

‘Jihyuk…’

He wasn’t there. But he had definitely returned.

The sound of the TV was coming from the living room.

Also, the bed had been neatly changed, and on it were underwear, a long-sleeved knit, jeans, and pajamas with a fox design.

After drying herself off with a towel, Adelle quickly put on the panties and pajamas.

‘Cute…’

The design of the pajamas was so satisfying. Where did he get them?

Jihyuk, who usually wasn’t perceptive, was surprisingly thoughtful at times like this.

Adelle flopped onto the bed, pulled the blanket up to her neck, and let out a fake cough.

“Ahem…!”

No response from the living room.

Adelle coughed again, this time a bit louder, to let Jihyuk know she was there.

“Ahem! Cough!”

Not long after, the sound of a chair being dragged in the living room was heard, and Jihyuk entered the bedroom.

“Are you done washing up?”

Jihyuk had a gentle expression.

Seeing his face, Adelle remembered the… incredibly embarrassing thing that had happened earlier and buried her face in her hands.

“Yes…”

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Ah, no. Stand there.”

“Understood.”

Jihyuk answered in a disappointed tone and stood by the bed.

Adelle felt pathetic for saying that out of frustration.

It made it seem like she wanted to avoid Jihyuk.

Her love for him was so strong… but because of what happened earlier, she felt ashamed and blurted out something contrary to her true feelings.

She corrected herself.

“Um… you can sit…”

“No. It seems like you’re uncomfortable, so I’ll stand.”

“Uncomfortable? Who said that? Sit down.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Jihyuk’s expression as he sat next to her, it was clear that he truly loved her.

It was as if honey was dripping from his words.

Feeling reassured by Jihyuk’s unwavering heart, Adelle hesitantly spoke up.

“I… I’ve been defiled…”

After saying this, Adelle tightly closed her eyes and scolded herself.

Why did she say that again… Jihyuk would surely be confused or disappointed.

“Defiled…”

As expected, Jihyuk spoke in a bitter tone.

Adelle hurriedly corrected herself.

“N-no, that’s not it… I’m just so embarrassed!”

“Me…?”

“No! I’m embarrassed about myself!”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? Are you trying to shift the blame onto me!?”

“What…”

Jihyuk’s mouth hung open in shock.

Adelle’s heart sank, and she pinched her thighs hard.

Another stupid mistake… she was such a fool.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she spoke.

“I said that out of frustration… I didn’t mean it… I’m such an idiot, right?”

Jihyuk looked at Adelle for a moment, then let out a weak smile.

Without a word, he approached and hugged her tightly.

“You’re not an idiot, you’re just being Adelle. And I like that Adelle.”

“…Really…?”

“Yes. What can I do to make you believe me?”

Jihyuk moved for her in every little thing.

Even if he didn’t do anything special, his feelings were evident.

And seeing him speak like this, it was clear he was prepared to take responsibility.

Right, let’s not try to confirm his feelings. As Jihyuk said, love shouldn’t be calculated.

“Just keep holding me like this… today, tomorrow, and always…”

“As long as you want.”

Adelle’s face was filled with happiness.

Satisfaction, pure satisfaction. Her first love was such a perfect man,

and that man loved her.

She wanted to tie the knot with him at Rosario’s temple someday.

Thinking that, Adelle buried her face in Jihyuk’s firm chest.

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The happy Jeju Island trip with her beloved man ended in the blink of an eye.

She wanted to stay longer, but Silvia kept nagging, so they had no choice but to return.

On the way back to Seoul in Jihyuk’s car, heading to Uijeongbu, she thought to herself, hoping Silvia would find a good man like she did, and spoke.

“Call me tomorrow at 11:30 AM. I might be asleep, so if I don’t answer, keep calling until I do.”

“Okay.”

“Once I answer, head out immediately.”

“Got it.”

“Tomorrow, after five hours of Bible study, we’re going to an escape room café. Make a reservation at a highly-rated one. Understood?”

“Will do.”

After excitedly giving orders and chatting, they soon arrived in Uijeongbu.

Adelle, who really didn’t want to part with Jihyuk, didn’t unbuckle her seatbelt even though the car had stopped in front of her house.

Seeing her like that, Jihyuk smirked.

“Shall we stay here a bit longer?”

“…Yes…”

Adelle shyly reached out her hand.

A gesture asking him to hold it. Jihyuk, grinning widely, grabbed her hand and fiddled with her nails, speaking in a worried tone.

“Your nails are rough. The nail polish is all chipped.”

“I’ll get them done…”

“When?”

“Tomorrow… before we go to the escape room café, I’ll stop by a nail salon…”

“Should I make a reservation?”

“No… I’ll handle it, so you just focus on the tasks I mentioned earlier…”

Adelle couldn’t understand why she felt so small just from Jihyuk’s touch.

Her face turned red as a default, and her heart raced.

Why was this happening? Because of what happened yesterday and the day before?

No, it had been like this even before that.

It seemed like she was so deeply in love with Jihyuk that these reactions just came out… it felt like she had caught a love sickness.

Pretending to be composed while fidgeting, she spoke to Jihyuk, who was slowly nodding.

“I-I should head back now. My sister’s worried…”

“It hasn’t even been three minutes.”

“Please open the door…”

“What a shame…”

Jihyuk, trailing off, suddenly lunged forward.

He kissed Adelle’s cheek, lips, and neck, expressing his affection, then got out of the car and quickly walked around to open the passenger door.

Adelle, her face burning, didn’t even notice her lips curling up as she touched the kissed areas and got out.

She then bowed her head to Jihyuk.

“Take care on your way back…”

“I’ll call you when I get back.”

“Okay…”

Jihyuk gave her a refreshing smile and soon drove off.

Adelle stood in place until his car completely disappeared, calming her fluttering heart as she slowly walked toward her home.

Even though she had only been away for three days, it felt like it had been forever.

Entering the house after inputting the front door password, Adelle immediately locked eyes with Silvia, who was just coming out of the shower.

“Adelle! You’re back now?”

Silvia, in her underwear, ran over to greet her.

Adelle also smiled brightly and hugged Silvia, sharing the joy of their reunion.

“I missed you, sis.”

“I missed you so much too. Did everything go well in Jeju? Are all the demons purified now?”

“Yes. The ecosystem is safe.”

“You worked hard. I’m really proud of you.”

Silvia’s encouragement, along with Jihyuk’s, gave her immense strength.

With just the two of them by her side, she felt like she could do anything.

Adelle, who had been grinning, was startled by Silvia’s next question and broke the hug.

“But what’s this red mark on your neck? Did you get an allergic reaction from eating something?”

“Ah… this…?”

Adelle hesitated for a moment.

Lately, she had been keeping more and more secrets from Silvia.

Silvia, along with Jihyuk, was someone she could trust the most, someone who clearly cared for her.

Keeping secrets from such a person… was wrong.

Adelle made up her mind.

Yes, she would tell her everything.

Not in too much detail… just say that she charged the device through intimate acts with Jihyuk.

And that she loved him so much.

Having decided, Adelle opened her mouth.

“This happened because of Jihyuk…”

“W-what…?”

Silvia’s expression completely froze.

It seemed like she was misunderstanding something.

Adelle had mentioned Jihyuk out of the blue, so it was natural to think that way.

Adelle quickly continued.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. This is from Jihyuk kissing me. It’s called a hickey. When you press your lips against the skin and suck hard, it leaves this mark. It’ll disappear in a few days.”

Silvia’s mouth hung open at the detailed explanation.

Adelle giggled at Silvia’s innocent reaction.

Silvia was much more mature and experienced than her.

But when it came to love, Adelle was the senior. The difference was incomparable.

Feeling oddly proud that there was something she was better at, Adelle spoke.

“I also charged Aiter with Jihyuk.”

“…You charged Aiter too…?”

“Yes! Now I can charge it to 100% anytime! It means I can use the power of divine energy and Aiter freely! Should I explain in detail?”

“I-I’d like to hear it…”

Silvia, swallowing hard, looked at Adelle.

Her expression seemed to ask if she could really share this.

Adelle readily nodded and pulled Silvia’s wrist.

She then sat her down on the sofa and cleared her throat.

“Ahem! Where should I start… Ah, I’ll start here. First…”

Adelle explained everything that happened in Jeju.

From purifying the demons that were destroying the ecosystem to charging Aiter through intimate acts with Jihyuk.

About the intimate acts, she didn’t go into too much detail, as she had thought earlier.

She just said that Jihyuk touched her body while kissing, which felt really good, and that act charged Aiter instantly.

After hearing everything, Silvia…

“Really…? That’s amazing…?”

She responded somewhat indifferently.

Honestly, it was unexpected. Adelle thought she’d be surprised, but that was all she got.

Was she embarrassed? Well, Silvia had no experience with men, so maybe that was it.

Adelle, smiling, patted Silvia’s shoulder and encouraged her.

“I hope you find a good person and can charge Aiter too.”

“Yeah… but Adelle, do you really like Jihyuk that much?”

“Yes! I love Jihyuk. Jihyuk loves me too.”

“Hmm…”

Silvia seemed to be deep in thought.

Adelle, puzzled, asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just have no experience, so I don’t know what to say…”

“When it comes to love, I’m the teacher, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime!”

Adelle, brimming with confidence, made Silvia chuckle and nod.

“Alright. Go wash up quickly. Let’s eat.”

“Okay!”

As Adelle, with a blooming smile, quickly headed to the bathroom, Silvia suddenly got up from the sofa and grabbed her phone from the table.

She then sent a message to Jihyuk.

[We need to talk.]

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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