Published at 28th of October 2026 8:07 am

Chapter 2148: Matters of the Heart

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Adam stood on his balcony, the surface of the sea coming to life as the first rays of the sun danced upon it.

His raven hair, which now reached his neck, fluttered as the cool sea breeze blew by. The wind gently touched his bare upper body, making him feel wide awake.

He felt so light, so happy, so at home. To him, home wasn’t this manor.

Home was wherever she was.

The sound of her footsteps approached from behind.

Genevieve arrived beside him, carrying two cups of coffa.

"Here," she said, handing him one.

"Thank you." Adam smiled.

He breathed in the aroma of the drink, his eyes lighting up. "This is different from the one we usually have at home," he said.

"Yes." Genevieve smiled warmly. "It’s from my homeworld. I know how much you love coffa. I brought enough to last us years."

"From Providentia?" Adam was surprised.

Genevieve stepped closer, subconsciously running her hand across Adam’s back.

"There’s a small island off the coast of my ancestral home famous for its coffa," she said.

"The mana currents beneath the island nourish the coffa trees, giving their beans a unique aroma and flavor. The coffa they produce is among the finest in the known worlds."

She looked at Adam’s bare back, frowning slightly. "Are you ever going to get rid of these scars?"

"Do you not like them?" Adam teased.

"No, it’s not about me," Genevieve said, leaning in and kissing his shoulder. "If you’re comfortable with it, then so am I."

She suddenly recalled something and said, "I underwent a very advanced healing therapy back at home."

"Oh?" Adam was intrigued.

They took a seat, with Adam sitting on the wooden chair and Genevieve settling onto his lap.

She told him about the mysterious green liquid inside the floating capsule inside the temple, which had healed all her wounds and strengthened her physique from inside out.

Adam traced the contours of Genevieve’s arms before running his fingers along her legs, examining the definition of her calves, hamstrings, and glutes.

He nodded thoughtfully, wearing a serious expression.

"Indeed, your muscle density has increased a little. I didn’t notice it last night." He rubbed his beard. "You should make sure to stretch regularly, though. Flexibility is as important."

Unbeknownst to Adam, his casual examination was having quite a different effect on Genevieve. She shifted slightly on his lap, hoping to distract herself from the peculiar warmth spreading through her chest.

Adam turned to her with a puzzled look on his face. "What? I’m serious."

Genevieve sighed helplessly. "My love, sometimes you can be such a nerd."

Adam’s brows furrowed a little. He fell into deep thought, wondering if he had missed something.

"The coffa’s getting cold." Genevieve changed the subject.

Adam glanced at the cup on the small side table before reaching for it, already tossing Genevieve’s earlier words to the back of his mind. Anyway, he was satisfied with his examination of the changes in her body. He was also glad that she was embarking on the path of the Paladin.

Genevieve could only sigh inwardly. Her beloved could be so dense sometimes. It was a little frustrating, honestly. Yet, more than anything, she found it heartwarming.

There was something endearing about the way Adam could become completely absorbed in whatever interested him,oblivious to everything else around him. He could be so perceptive when it came to mysteries, so quick to notice the smallest inconsistencies, and yet so hopelessly clueless when it came to matters of the heart.

And that was precisely what she loved about him. With her, Adam never tried to act like someone he wasn’t. He could be petty, mischievous, and occasionally insufferable, but he was also sincere in his own peculiar way.

He might not always know the right words to say or recognize the feelings he stirred in her, but his little gestures often spoke louder than words ever could.

Genevieve leaned against him and kissed him on his cheek. She smiled, thinking to herself:

Honestly, what am I going to do with you?

"Are you all right?" Adam asked.

"Oh, hush. I’ve been away from you for two and a half years. So, no. I’m not all right. Not yet, anyway."

The corner of Adam’s lips twitched. "Ah, I see."

"And please, for the Emperor’s sake!" She said with an exasperated sigh, gently cupping his face. "Will you please shave that beard? I can barely recognize the handsome man I fell in love with beneath all that hair."

"Okay, okay!" Adam laughed. "I’ll shave it."

Genevieve smiled tenderly. She drew Adam closer to her chest and kissed the top of his head. If it were up to her, she would never leave him. She would happily hold him close and never let go.

But she knew Adam could get a little uncomfortable when she became too clingy. He was someone who valued his personal space, after all.

So, with some reluctance, she eased away from him, though she remained seated on his lap. She found Adam staring into her eyes with warmth and gentleness.

"I don’t mind, you know," he murmured.

Just as Genevieve knew him so well, he, too, knew her very well. He could sense what she was thinking just from her subtle expressions and body language.

"Mind what?" Genevieve quirked a brow.

"We’ve been apart for so long," Adam replied. "So I don’t mind at all."

Then he silently brought her even closer to her.

Genevieve blinked.

Then a tender smile spread across her face.

"Oh, my love." She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried him with kisses. "You should have said so sooner."

Adam laughed softly and held her close, resting his face against her chest and listening to her heartbeat.

For several minutes, neither of them said anything. They simply enjoyed the warmth of each other’s embrace, making up for the time they had spent apart.

"I’ve brought gifts for you," Genevieve whispered as she played with the patch of bone-white hair on Adam’s head.

She rose to her feet and headed inside. She returned a minute later, carrying a polished wooden box.

Adam suddenly felt a pang of regret in his heart, though he did not show it on his face. He hadn’t brought anything back from the north for her.

Humming a merry tune, Genevieve sat back on Adam’s lap and opened the box.

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