THIBV - Chapter 44

Despite his sharp warning, I did not stop.

"I did that too."

"..."

"I'm glad you came today. I'm glad I'm sitting across from you right now. I'm so glad. This will be a precious time that I won't forget until the day I die."

"..."

My eyes sparkled under my downturned eyelids, her smile soft.

Julian's gaze wavered as he was at a loss for words.

"It's good to see you again. Thanks for coming."

"..."

Was I originally that active in expressing myself? No, I wasn't like that before.

I think I was a bit more shy, awkward, and hesitant.

At that time, the positions were completely opposite.

I didn't talk much, and Julian would often say things like 'stupid things' to get my attention.

"I thought we'd never see each other again."

"..."

"I feel like I can live now."

Julian, who was momentarily dazed by my bright smile, quickly turned his head.

"Gibberish."

He closed his eyes and crossed his arms as if he didn't want to hear anymore.

***

Millea was startled to see Bridget following behind Julian.

"...Brigitte is probably the only person who surprises me this often." 

"Millea."

"What the heck is this?"

Millea looked at Bridget, whose face, hair, and dress were all smeared with soot as if she didn't know where to start or how to handle them.

"What happened? It looks like something big happened. Did the mansion catch fire?"

Bridget smiled awkwardly, unable to bring herself to tell Millea what had happened that day.

Julian sighed at the sight of her, blurted it out indifferently, and went to his bedroom.

"Give her a room. She'll need a lot of clothes."

'Does Bridget need a lot of clothes?'

Millea stared at Julian's back.

'Are you just going to sit her down?'

Her head spun around trying to figure out Julian's intentions.

Bridget was smiling innocently, but judging by her behavior, It was clear that something serious had happened.

The fact that Julian brought her back safely and on time.

'He was keeping an eye on the Shadow Knight. Something dangerous must have happened to Bridget.'

Millea knew well the meaning of the act.

Her lips, which had been slightly open, were tightly shut.

'Ah, finally.'

Bridget became the person Julian wanted to protect even at the cost of his life.

No, maybe it's not just now that it's become like that, but it's been like that since before.

A different type of affection existed between Julian and Bridget than the one between herself and Julian.

Something more tingly, passionate, and sensual.

She could tell just by looking at Bridget.

The suffocating possessiveness seething within him was visible in Millea's eyes.

It wasn't surprising, she had been suspicious of the relationship between the two all along.

But that didn't mean she was particularly happy about it.

Ah, why did Ilhe... want to continue to ignore and deny another man's woman.

But Julian was brought in and ordered to make room for Bridget next to him.

Millea tried hard not to show her slightly awkward expression as she led Bridget.

"This way."

"The room I used last time was..."

"Just follow me without saying a word. Before anyone sees you."

Bridget, who keenly noticed that Millea's voice had become slightly sharp, shut her mouth.

The place Millea guided her to was in the direction of Julian's bedroom.

***

"I'll have someone bring your luggage, so make a list for me. I can assign you a personal maid, but if you want, you can bring Bridget's person."

Millea explained a little stiffly.

"His Majesty's secretary will come to see Bridget in a few days. If you sign the papers he shows you, Bridget will be staying in this palace from now on. Since you are married, your husband's signature will also be required on the papers. Do you have any questions?"

"...No."

"Then wait, I'll bring you some clothes to change into. Do you need a maid to help you wash up?"

"It's okay. I can do it by myself."

"I'll just help you take off your dress."

After that, an awkward silence fell between the two.

All she could hear was the sound of a dress being taken off.

Bridget understood why Millea's attitude had suddenly changed after seeing the guided room.

This was the room where the King's government stayed.

There was a door right next to the bed that led to Julian's bedroom, so they shared a common room.

Julian must have heard Millea bringing Bridget here, but he remained silent behind the door.

It meant that Millea had correctly understood his intentions.

The document the secretary was to bring was a contract to become the King's government.

Like a marriage contract signed when getting married, the King's government had to sign an 'official government contract'.

It was a contract that specified the government's rights and obligations, as well as economic compensation.

It doesn't matter that Bridget is married.

Kings of the past would often marry low-class women into the hands of nobles and give them titles in order to take them as their mistresses. This was quite common.

Isaac would be given a contract stating that he would be compensated, and he would be jumping for joy.

He had such an experience today, but instead of death he was rewarded, it was a windfall for him.

From now on. Bridget's job was to faithfully fulfill the role of a jester who would please Julian.

***

That dawn.

"Ugh."

A suppressed groan hung heavy in the night air.

"Ugh!"

Julian's body swayed violently.

He covered his mouth with his hand, but a clump of dark red blood slipped between his fingers and fell onto the bathroom floor.

"Whew! Whoa!"

Julian spit out the clump of blood that was welling up again into the sink and sat down, breathing heavily. Pain ripped through his body for a moment.

He fell face down, clutching his chest, his pupils dilated.

"Ugh...!"

His clenched fists trembled.

A feeling of discomfort that would never be understood by someone who has never experienced it ran through his whole body.

Julian felt something was seriously wrong with his body, but he was helpless. A pain that cannot be stopped or prevented.

"Ugh."

He barely managed to keep his mouth shut to keep himself from screaming.

Beneath the crouching Julian, in the shadows cast by the black knights, they howled in hunger.

It was a competition among them to share his life.

They sucked Julian's energy with all their might, like a baby sucking milk.

Julian, exhausted, finally collapsed.

He collapsed face down on the clump of blood he had spit out, staring helplessly into space, gasping for breath.

'I want to die.'

If it's going to be this painful, wouldn't it be better to just die?

Sweet rest. That's what he wanted.

It was a pain that started from the day he lost Bridget, the day he awakened the Shadow Curse.

It got worse as the days went by, and now he would often have seizures and lose consciousness.

The eyes, which had turned blood red, had long since lost their vitality.

Could hell be more miserable than this?

Isn't this already hell?

Can this be considered alive?

Julian thought about death. He thought about it for a long time and thought about it again.

But then, suddenly, he heard a sound in his ear.

It was a faint singing voice.

"..."

Julian turned his attention away from death and listened to the small song.

Bridget was singing a lullaby in the room across from me.

'I thought you were sleeping.'

His fingers sneaked through the gap between the bedroom and the door.

Sleep, child.

Fall asleep with the stars in your arms.

May your night be a rest.

Your dreams will bloom beautifully.

Sleep, child.

Embrace the light of tomorrow.

Your dawn is sprouting

The buds of a bright tomorrow are blooming.

Rest in peace, child.

The calm voice and gentle melody blended harmoniously.

Julian held his breath and lost himself in the voice.

Before he knew it, his panting breathing had calmed down and the pain had subsided.

The black knights who had been screaming also became quiet as if they had fallen asleep after listening to the lullaby.

Julian was lost in a sweet past blooming in his mind as he listened to Bridget's thin singing voice.

"That's a miracle."

"Love?"

"To love someone is to go against one's instincts and love the other person as one loves oneself, as a human being who cannot help but love one's self the most. It means being generous to all the other person's faults as one is generous to oneself."

"I see."

"It's a very strange phenomenon that defies common sense. Do you know what that is called?"

"What are you saying?"

"Miracle."

How dare you say such embarrassing things.

Hearing those words, Bridget's shy smile became vivid.

There was nothing he wouldn't do if it just made her smile.

Because it was a miracle back then.

Soon Bridget stopped singing.

But Julian lay there all night, humming the lullaby she had been humming to him over and over again.

Remembering that shy smile that day.

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