Prologue
‘The place makes the man.’
Jade Morgan muttered the same thing to herself as she walked towards the ballroom.
Jade Malling, who hid her black hair with a hood and worked all day at other people’s houses, repeatedly reminded herself that she no longer existed in this world, She was now a part of Morgon and Malling was something irrelevant to her now.
Three months ago, Jade was adopted as the daughter of the Morgan family, who ruled Gretna, the northern territory of the Kingdom of Laphnox.
“Come on in.”
Jade’s maid, Alan, opened the large door of the ballroom. Jade, who lived with her family of five in a house worse than a shack at the edge of the slums, was still unfamiliar with the life of a nobleman.
There was nothing that was not there in this large castle. The ballroom, decorated with sparkling crystal chandeliers and gold and mirrors, was so large that it was hard to tell how many people could fit in it.
“Are you here?
“Yes.”
Morgan’s butler, Erwin, approached Jade, who was standing in front of the door, with long strides and a soft smile.
“You look very pretty today too.”
“Thank you.”
Jade’s face turned red. She was not used to hearing compliments no matter how many times she heard them. She always felt happy when Erwin complimented her, even though she thought it was just a formality. Jade bowed her head politely to Erwin without realizing it. At that moment, Erwin’s large hand came over and lightly grabbed her chin.
“Don’t bow your head. A simple nod from the young lady is enough.”
Erwin had never been angry at Jade, who was lacking in everything. The hand that was holding Jade’s chin lightly fell.
Jade straightened her posture, missing the warmth of that hand, and met Erwin’s gaze.
Although Erwin was only a butler for the Morgan family, he was full of elegance. Thanks to Erwin, Jade became a completely different person.
Now, Jade looked like a noble lady to everyone, but her heart was not like that. Jade still felt intimidated by Erwin because she thought she was more suited to the slums, rather than this ballroom.
“Shall we dance together now?”
Erwin held out his hand. Jade held him with her trembling hand tightly. She danced over and over again, but she always trembled in front of Erwin.
Jade took Erwin’s hand with her right hand and gently placed her left hand on his broad shoulder. Erwin’s arm naturally came under Jade’s arm and gently wrapped his large hand around her back. Erwin didn’t seem to have any selfish intentions, but Jade felt like her back was burning hot where his hand touched her.
“Let’s get started. Remember the steps well.”
As Erwin signaled, the piano accompanist who had been waiting began to play. Jade knew she should concentrate on dancing, but her eyes were drawn more towards the sexy nape of Erwin’s neck that was right in front of her. She couldn’t help but think she was crazy. As the time spent with Erwin went on, Jade’s secret glances at him increased.
“Ahh.”
It was a step that she thought she had memorized perfectly, but Jade was conscious of the etymology and ended up twisting her feet, losing her center of gravity and staggering. Erwin supported Jade’s collapsing waist with his long arms.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes……”
Jade raised her head and met the deep, dark eyes of Erwin, whose depths were unfathomable.
“Can we stop for today?”
Jade pulled away from Erwin’s embrace. She didn’t feel like dancing at all. She knew it was rude to act like this, but Erwin had always said she could do whatever she wanted in this castle, so maybe it was okay.
“I am sorry.”
Jade left the ballroom, leaving Erwin behind. It took a long time to get back from the ballroom to her room.
I kept thinking that I wanted Erwin to follow me, but I didn’t want to see Erwin for a while. Erwin didn’t follow me. That was also disappointing. Jade glanced at the empty hallway and bit her lip.
“I’m crazy.”
No matter how much I thought about the always elegant and affectionate Erwin’s true feelings, I couldn’t find an answer. Jade was just a task given to Erwin, but Jade’s heart kept crossing the line.
His eyes, gestures, and speech were so sweet that Jade couldn’t escape the illusion that his heart was also directed towards her. Jade resented herself for falling more and more crazy towards Erwin.
“Miss, are you here already?”
Jade, who should still be at the ballroom, came into her room while panting, and Alan, who was cleaning her room, opened her eyes in surprise.
“Alan, I want to be alone.”
“Yes.”
Jade, who had been excited about learning dance from Erwin, suddenly returned to her room being depressed, but Alan didn’t ask her what was going on. It was as if she already knew what she wanted.
“Rest well Milady.”
As Alan went out, Jade laid down on the soft bed, catching her breath. She didn’t care if her hair, which she was worked hard to style, was messed up. She covered her eyes with one arm and held back the tears that were flowing. They say that a place makes a person, but that place was all fake.
Jade knew better than anyone how she had been adopted into the Morgan family. Jade would soon have to leave this castle. If she had mastered the dance song perfectly, it would mean parting ways with Erwin.
In this castle where she could do everything she wanted, there was one thing Jade really wanted to do that she couldn’t do.
Even though she knew how greedy it was, Jade couldn’t give up easily.
Knock, knock, a light knock on the door made Jade jump up from her bed.
“Can I come in?”
Jade didn’t respond to Erwin’s soft voice. She didn’t know how to look at Erwin with this face. But her hands naturally tidied up her messy hair and her body sat elegantly on the sofa.
“If you don’t answer, I will open the door.”
Jade, who didn’t know how to refuse Erwin, didn’t answer. After a while, Jade’s room door slid open. Erwin was seen standing upright as always.
“Are you okay?”
Erwin approached Jade, knelt down on one knee, and looked up at her. His eyes were filled with concern. Erwin’s affection was poisonous to Jade. Jade, who had never been properly loved, fell for Erwin’s kindness for the first time.
“What happened?”
Jade couldn’t tell Erwin what was going on in her mind. Even as she looked at him like this, her worries about the day she would have to part ways with Erwin didn’t go away.
Erwin’s affection might really be a professional habit. Even while thinking about that, Jade liked Erwin. She had never been greedy for anything in her life, but Erwin was different. She wanted to have him at least once. Erwin, not knowing Jade’s feelings, still looked at her with worried eyes.
“Please tell me what happened…”
There is no time now. If I leave this castle, I will never see Erwin again.
Jade grabbed Erwin’s sharp cheeks with her hands.
Erwin, who was surprised by Jade’s sudden behavior, quickly regained his composure and smiled softly.
Jade lowered her head and gave Erwin’s luscious lips a short kiss. Erwin’s smiling expression hardened.
Jade gently stroked Erwin’s slightly parted lips with her thumb.
“Is it necessary for the Black Dragon’s bride to be a virgin?”
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