Chapter 6
I had not planned to bring Adrian back to my family estate.
My mother had been dead for years. My father was nothing more than a title and a shadow to me. There was no warmth waiting for me there, no joy to be shared, no one worth visiting for the sake of a happy marriage.
But custom was custom. If I did not return properly, people would whisper that the royal household was arrogant. I did not want the prince’s residence mocked on my account.
Still, I had hoped to go alone.
That house was full of rot.
The fewer chances Adrian had to see it, the better.
Unfortunately, he was determined.
The moment we climbed into the carriage, he sat ramrod straight beside me and declared, “Adrian will stay next to wife at all times and protect her.”
Something inside me softened at once.
I reached out without thinking and pinched his cheek.
“This part,” I asked lightly, “did Aiden teach you too?”
His skin was warm and absurdly soft under my fingers.
Only after touching him did I realize what I had done. I tried to pull back, but he caught my wrist and deliberately leaned his face right back into my hand, rubbing against my palm like a large overgrown puppy.
“Wife can pinch all she wants,” he said with complete seriousness. “Protecting wife doesn’t need to be taught.”
Then he blinked and added, “I’m even learning how to swim now. So if I ever fall into the water again, wife won’t have to risk her life to save me.”
My heart jumped strangely at that.
“Don’t say things like that,” I murmured. “You’ll be safe from now on.”
The carriage rolled to a stop before my father’s estate.
Every member of the household was already kneeling outside in careful lines, waiting to receive us.
My father understood power very well. Ever since the imperial marriage decree had fallen into my lap, his attitude toward me had changed so dramatically it was almost laughable. He now acted as if we had always been a loving family.
When the gifts I had received as part of my dowry were praised, he praised them louder. When he personally placed food into my bowl at lunch, I accepted it all with a pleasant smile.
I had no interest in rejecting anything that was now rightfully mine.
But some people simply could not resist stirring trouble.
My father had just added a shrimp to my bowl when Adrian sprang to his feet.
“My wife is allergic to shrimp,” he said loudly. “She breaks out in rashes if she eats it. You gave it to her on purpose. You’re trying to hurt her!”
The room went dead silent.
Before anyone could respond, Adrian threw a punch.
He had trained in martial arts since childhood, and although his mind had been addled, his body had not forgotten strength. The blow landed squarely across my father’s face and sent him crashing to the floor.
Gasps broke out everywhere.
My father groaned in pain, sprawled beneath the table, but not a single person dared move to help him.
One by one, everyone in the room dropped to their knees.
Only my half sister looked indignant enough to protest, but my stepmother slapped a hand over her mouth and forced her head down.
Adrian gave a disdainful little huff, then reached for my hand.
“Wife,” he said, “we are never eating with bad people again. Let’s go home.”
He led me straight out of the hall.
I did not resist.