THIBV - Chapter 50

All he wanted was for Bridget to feel insulted and hurt.

I want to harass you.

I hope she suffers as much as I do.

Bridget had no intention of letting that happen.

Because in the end, It's no different from Julian stabbing himself.

Bridget bit Julian's finger and broke free of his embrace.

"Don't do this."

Julian, who seemed like he would never let her go, actually let her go without a fight.

"How dare you come here without that level of determination."

He snorted.

Bridget spoke firmly to him.

"Do whatever you want."

"You're doing it?"

"If you want to hug me and touch me, that's fine too."

"...Ha?"

"But if you want to hurt me, then don't do it."

"Why?"

"I will forgive you, but you will not be able to forgive yourself."

"..."

The distorted smile on his face disappeared in an instant.

He glared at Bridget without saying a word.

Although he was hiding behind a blank expression, his confusion was clearly conveyed.

Bridget straightened her disheveled clothes and opened the lid of the plate she had brought.

There were apples and sandwiches in it.

"Eat it, Julian."

He turned around as if he was feeling discouraged.

"Go back."

Bridget stood in his way.

"You must be hungry. I know you haven't eaten in days."

"I won't eat anything unless it's cooked by Millea."

"I made this myself."

"Then, I can't eat it anymore. You thought I would accept the food of the traitor who sold me out."

Julian picked up the apple and threw it into the air, then caught it.

"What if I survive, but get poisoned by an apple and put on display in a pretty glass case? I'll be the laughingstock of the world. I'll go down in history as a fool who was betrayed twice."

"It's your favorite sandwich. I made it so we could eat it together every day we met."

"I've long since forgotten that past."

"Then let me purify you. You said you'd feel better afterward."

Julian put down the apple and passed Bridget with a faint smile.

He had an attitude of laughing even though he heard a joke that wasn't funny.

It was a rejection.

He took off his outer garment, draped it over a chair, and unbuttoned his top.

His bare chest was exposed.

Bridget lowered her gaze slightly.

He grumbled as he watched it.

"You said it was fine, but you can't even look at me. Tsk."

"...Really."

"Then come in and let's wash together."

He took off his top and leisurely headed to the bathroom.

Bridget knew it was a curse.

"I'll leave the food here, so wash up and come out and eat."

There was no answer.

***

Julian entered the bathroom and a moment later heard the door open and close.

It was the sound of Bridget heading towards her bedroom.

Julian leaned against the wall for a moment with his eyes closed.

"Ha, what should I do..."

The reason he brought her back was because he was annoyed that she kept being put in danger.

Isaac Winston. That wretched man had no idea what a precious thing he was holding.

The person Julian wanted to have even at the cost of his life.

Isaac acted recklessly without even knowing that he had in his hands a precious jewel that could not be exchanged for anything in the world.

He didn't deserve to have Bridget by his side.

Julian couldn't stand that foolishness, so he took her away.

He hopes that one day Isaac will realize what he has lost and feel deep regret.

But it was he who was already regretting it.

'Was it a good thing that I brought you?'

He don't know.

Julian felt guilty because what he was doing was not that different from Isaac's.

He doesn't want to leave her at Winston Mansion, and he can't forgive her.

Julian hate her.

Bridget was no longer the jewel he had longed for.

Her light within him has faded.

But whenever he met her, he kept thinking of her glorious past.

He was haunted by that memory and felt the urge to hug her like a doll and confess that he missed her so much, that he couldn't stand to see her.

Even though he knew that the current Bridget was not the Bridget he loved.

A mass of contradictory emotions tormented him.

'It's dangerous.'

Bridget is a threat in and of herself.

She was the one who could either break him down or build him up.

Why would you bring in someone who could be your weakness?

He looked down at his hands.

He engraved in his memory the feeling of the hand that touched her, the body that touched her.

A sigh of regret escaped from Julian's teeth.

"If you want to hurt me, don't do it."

What she said was half right and half wrong.

Still, it was a good thing she ran away because his right half wanted to scratch her so badly.

"I will forgive you, but you will not be able to forgive yourself."

She's quite clever.

'It's unfair.'

Sitting there and feeling bad about other people.

'I don't know anything."

She said she loved him, but she betrayed him. After betraying him, she asks him to treat her like a fool and keep her by his side.

What is her true feelings?

Julian sneaked out of the bathroom and looked at the food Bridget had left behind.

He reached out and picked up the sandwich.

He took a bite without hesitation.

Even though it was poisoned, there was nothing he could do.

Because Bridget's sandwiches are so damn good, he'd risk his life for them.

It tasted just like he remembered.

Until this day, the beautiful memories that had supported him and allowed him to continue on with his cursed life came back vividly behind the familiar tastes and scents.

The hungry soul was filled.

***

The next day, I woke up and went straight to Julian's room.

As expected, Julian had already disappeared somewhere.

Instead, there was an empty plate on the table.

I, whose heart had been heavy all night, felt relieved when I saw that.

'You fool. You're acting so grumpy when you know you're going to do this.'

I knew he'd like it.

Julian has always been wary of food.

I didn't know the reason until I found out his identity, but later I found out it was because of the experience of almost being poisoned.

Still, he would often accept the food I gave him, pushing aside his fears and anxiety when I told him that it was made by me.

In fact, it was a dish that didn't look very good.

The only thing I knew how to make was sandwiches.

It was simply made by putting various flavors of ham and visible ingredients between bread.

Still, Julian couldn't help but praise it, saying it was the best food he'd ever had.

Although I didn't hear any compliments this time, the plate being emptied cleanly was a compliment nonetheless.

I cleaned out the magi in the room where the owner was not present.

The air in the gloomy room became refreshing.

Then I picked up the empty plate and returned to my bedroom.

That afternoon, Count Nicholas, Julian's secretary, came to see me with Millea.

"This is an official government contract. You can sign it tomorrow."

Count Nicholas glanced over the contract and pointed to the space where I was to sign.

There was a section for Isaac's signature as well as Julian's and mine.

I accepted the contract with trembling hands.

'If I just sign here...'

It was officially time to become Julian's woman.

My heart was pounding.

Even though it wasn't a marriage contract, I was excited to have a place for myself by Julian's side.

The days when I met him secretly, avoiding people's eyes, and the long painful time when I missed him flashed through my mind.

I circled around and finally came back to him.

I still haven't been forgiven, but it's still good.

When I signed the marriage contract with Isaac, my heart was full of emotion, unlike when I felt like crying because I hated It.

Meanwhile, Count Nicholas, who misunderstood me staring at the contract silently, became a little nervous.

When one speaks of the King's government, one usually thinks of a fox guarding the King's household.

It was only natural that I would be more influential if I was the only one who could please a violent and capricious King like Julian.

I wouldn't know that either.

So the Count was thinking that I might be acting very unruly.

'If you get caught for no reason, you might get into trouble.'

It was a prejudice against the King's government.

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