The Man’s 101st Bad Ending

Translator: FusionX

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Tap.

A fingertip hesitantly tapped the air in front of the door.

Unheard by anyone, the finger grazed the door, tap, then tap again.

When the finger, which had been brushing the door as softly as a drizzle, finally stopped, Adele slowly turned her head at the presence she felt behind her.

More accurately, she had been considering the presence beyond the door, wondering who would emerge. Hearing the footsteps, she realized it was Robert.

Her reason for waiting in front of the door wasn’t particularly special. She had simply realized that the two of them had entered and hadn’t come out for a while.

Wondering what they could possibly be doing inside, she let out a small sigh when she heard nothing.

Eavesdropping wasn’t good.

She had learned that from past experience, and she also knew for certain that Robert had a mischievous side.

“…He said he liked it because it was pretty.”

Even though she knew he had said it jokingly, she couldn’t help but dwell on it.

She had been feeling slightly off since earlier, partly because Robert hadn’t said a word about her tied-up hair.

Even a single compliment would have been nice.

It was strange that she was so affected by such things, yet at the same time, quite fascinating.

Had there ever been anyone who held this much significance for her?

Her father, of course, but to develop such deep feelings for someone she had met much later in life… If her past self had witnessed this scene, she would have scoffed.

Even without regaining her past memories, Robert already held a special meaning for her.

Adele let out a small chuckle and quietly stared into space.

“Was it because of my looks?”

While she had never been called ugly, she hadn’t paid much attention to her appearance.

In this place filled with men, why would she bother?

She had lived for days covered in blood and dirt, so caring about her appearance was a recent development.

She fiddled with her tied-up hair, then touched the hair tie and leaned against the wall. She was searching for a reason to wait here.

There wasn’t any particular reason to wait, and even if Robert came out, it would likely be much later.

And…he would probably be with the Saint.

The thought stung, and Adele frowned slightly, biting her lip.

She had jokingly said she was jealous before. She wondered if he knew she had meant it sincerely.

If he had known, he wouldn’t act this way.

These were useless complaints, thoughts she wouldn’t have entertained before.

Since when had she wasted her emotions on such unproductive thoughts?

Rubbing her forehead, Adele slowly turned away. There was no reason to stay here if she wouldn’t hear anything good.

She walked slowly, moving away from the wall.

She thought she had walked quite a distance, but then she heard a voice nearby and stopped.

She realized she had only taken a few steps.

The voice belonged to the man who had occupied her thoughts, and Adele let out an involuntary chuckle, cautiously looking back.

“What did you say just now?”

“…I asked where you were going.”

Robert, who had just emerged from the room, looked at her with a questioning expression.

If he asked where she was going, well… Adele couldn’t find a suitable answer to that question.

More accurately, she already had an answer in mind. She walked towards him, her footsteps no longer hesitant.

“I was coming here.”

More accurately, to you.

She didn’t have anything specific to say, but just… wasn’t “I missed you” a sufficient reason?

Smiling brightly, she poked his chest with her finger. Her previous gloomy mood had completely vanished, replaced by pure joy.

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“Did you talk to the Saint?”

Robert chuckled softly at Adele’s question. He had assumed she would know, but she had clearly been concerned.

He was glad he had received comfort. His anxious heart had calmed down somewhat.

Embracing Adriana… it felt like hugging his mother, in a way.

Of course, he thought of her as a woman, but she possessed that kind of maternal warmth. And since she knew his past, they could talk about many things.

He had received a lot of help from her in various ways. A simple “thank you” wouldn’t suffice.

He planned to visit the Moon Tower when he returned to the capital…

“We talked. I received some help as well.”

Robert’s expression as he spoke seemed much brighter than before.

Until recently, he had seemed anxious, but had those worries disappeared?

It would have been better if it had been Adele who had brought about that change in expression.

Adele pushed aside the distracting thoughts and rubbed her cheek. She couldn’t think of what to say.

She had stopped him from leaving and brought him here, but now, facing his gaze, she was at a loss for words.

Should she talk about work? But his worries stemmed from work. If her words darkened his expression, she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

“…Well, I just stopped you. I don’t know what to say.”

As she spoke honestly, Robert, who had looked momentarily stunned, burst into laughter.

There wasn’t any particular reason. It was simply that Adele’s awkward behavior was so different from her usual demeanor.

Adele didn’t realize it, but she was twisting her hair around her finger.

Seeing her fidgeting and glancing at him, Robert couldn’t help but laugh.

Adele frowned at his sudden laughter, but her cheeks flushed as her hair wrapped around her finger.

“You didn’t know?”

“No. If you hadn’t laughed… I probably wouldn’t have noticed.”

She tried to hide her fidgeting fingers behind her back, then chuckled awkwardly as she met Robert’s gaze.

She should have pretended not to notice. It was something she could have kept to herself, but why did she have to reveal every little detail?

“I’ve become too soft. If anyone else laughed in front of me, I would have made sure they never laughed again.”

“You remember that I was always an exception to that, right?”

“…I don’t remember. I never did that.”

She remembered everything, but she suddenly recalled that she had often said those words in her past lives.

Robert had always been an exception to Adele’s threats. When they were together, he had always received special treatment.

She had wondered why others considered it natural, but now, looking back, it seemed like a foolish question.

It was obvious.

Even a fool could tell how much her feelings showed. She couldn’t hide her outward emotions.

She tried to casually touch her face, but her hand moved awkwardly. The Grand Duchess’s dignity had all but vanished.

As that thought crossed her mind, Adele turned to face Robert again, regaining control of her stiff body.

It was too late to try to appear dignified.

She tended to relax around Robert anyway, and she thought it would be better to be honest.

She had brought him here to say those words, hadn’t she?

Though she had been too embarrassed to speak up, that shame had long since dissipated.

She straightened her clothes and subtly tilted her head, showing off her tied-up hair.

‘He’ll notice this much.’

Unless he was a fool, he would notice she had tied her hair up.

However, Robert, who could see right through her intentions, chuckled inwardly.

He already thought it suited her. It seemed like she wanted him to compliment her, but could he say that after she had acted this way?

He felt a mischievous urge to tease her.

After a moment of contemplation, Robert straightened his posture and spoke with a serious expression.

“Let’s talk about the masked figures.”

“…Masked figures? Now?”

“Yes, since we’re here. It’s better to discuss what will happen next.”

“I suppose so…”

Robert suppressed his laughter at her clearly disappointed expression and continued.

He wasn’t making things up.

He had thought of something while listening to Adriana and contemplating. Capturing one of the masked figures and infiltrating their ranks.

There was no need to rush, and if he borrowed Arwen’s help after she returned with the results of her investigation of the Four Dragons…

He could probably infiltrate them easily. His objective was to uncover Kaitel’s and their goals.

Was it the resurrection of the Four Dragons or simply the subjugation of the South?

He hoped for the latter, but he knew that wasn’t the case.

“I plan to infiltrate them alone. What do you think?”

“I don’t want you to go. Why are you even asking?”

“The way you’re saying that makes it sound like you’d allow it if I needed to.”

“…You would go even if I told you not to. You wouldn’t listen anyway.”

Robert smiled wryly at her grumbling.

He could clearly see how she felt about his actions.

She would be protecting him by not letting him go. But it seemed better to listen to her this time.

She was clearly sulking because he hadn’t given her the answer she wanted.

“Then I won’t go. I’ll send someone else or use a clone.”

“What?”

“I’m not going because you told me not to. Do you not like that?”

“…No, I like it, but…”

Her bewildered expression clearly showed she was trying to interpret his intentions. But there was no lie in his words.

There was no need to risk infiltrating them himself. A disposable clone would be the best option.

As their conversation continued, Adele’s expression became serious, and the disappointment faded.

As Adele’s thoughts about compliments faded, Robert glanced at her, having finished discussing the infiltration plan.

“Then this settles it.”

“I’ll have to explain the details to the Saint, so I suppose so.”

Her hair, reflected in the darkened window, shone with a pure white light.

Hair as white as snow, sparkling like the stars.

He thought she looked beautiful whenever she brushed her tied-up hair back. Why wouldn’t he think that?

He was a man, and the woman he had once loved had done the same.

He had simply teased her by remaining silent, but he hadn’t intended to ignore it completely.

“Your hair,”

Adele’s shoulders flinched at his sudden words. She had forgotten about it, so her reaction was amplified.

Meeting her slightly wavering blue eyes, Robert smiled gently and continued, as if sincerely expressing his thoughts, with a playful smile.

“I thought it was pretty from the beginning. I’m just telling you now.”

“Is that so? I’m glad then.”

Adele thought she had responded calmly, then slowly lowered her head. She did so to hide her blushing cheeks.

In reality, her reddened ears were already clearly visible.

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[Translator Notes]

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