'I thought we were going together.'
Julian imagined him entering the room arm-in-arm with Bridget.
It wasn't necessary, but he felt bad that she went to greet her husband first.
'Even that guy is her husband.'
He made her wait a little while, and now she's run away.
Considering his past behavior, it wouldn't be enough to lock him in the visiting room and make him wait another week.
"Alright."
Julian left the room in a flash.
But before he could even take a step into the hallway, Julian was back again, checking himself in the mirror.
Millea gave him some advice.
"Do you wish to stamp out Isaac Winston's prestige in front of Bridget? Well, there is a surer way than to take another look in the mirror, Your Majesty. I think you've forgotten."
Julian, whose true intentions were revealed, calmly looked back at Millea.
"Tell me what I forgot."
***
Isaac wasn't bored.
He arrived at the palace earlier than scheduled and had to wait for almost half a day, but he wasn't uncomfortable at all.
'I'm entering the palace."
My dream has come true, so is this waiting worth it?
Besides, the palace was a delight to the eyes and ears.
Outside the window of the reception room, people dressed up in elaborate costumes like fairies and butterflies passed by.
It seemed like everyone was wearing wing suits.
If at Winston Manor, Penelope alone stood out as a single flower, dressed up like that, in the palace, the whole place was a paradise of flowers.
'What are all these people doing here? What do they do?'
The palace, where rivers of blood flowed every day due to the tyrannical King's tyranny, seemed peaceful, contrary to the imagination. At least on the outside.
It seemed like all the nobles who were rarely seen on the streets were here.
'It's not like there's a banquet.'
In addition to the numerous servants, the palace was also home to many people commuting to and from work. The servants and maids who commanded the servants of each palace, and those who managed them, the knights of the guard, the administrators of each department, the chief officials and their attendants, and the King's attendants... If he were to list them in detail, it would be endless.
In addition, there were many nobles who came to ask questions about lands, taxes, Inheritance, etc.
Isaac lamented that while so many people came and went from the palace as if it were their home, he was not included.
He came in with a temporary pass.
If it weren't for Bridget, he would never have received that in his life. As the waiting time grew longer. Isaac could not control his curiosity and left the visiting room, wandering around various places like a rat.
People were gathered in groups of three or four on benches and tables placed here and there in the palace. If you kept your ears peeled and walked around, you could eavesdrop on what they were talking about.
Isaac wandered around, eavesdropping on people's conversations.
The hottest topic in the palace right now is Bridget.
"I thought His Majesty would accept the government."
"Who knew? I thought he was only interested in war and purges."
"A man who has everything can't be uninterested in women, right? Haha!"
"What kind of people are those in that government?"
"Don't you know? It's been really famous lately. You know, that ugly gossip."
"Isn't that the lady who brought a mistress to live in the mansion with her? Didn't you say that she was buried alive? She said something about the grave."
"No, they didn't actually bury the person, they just made a tomb and cursed it."
""Tsk tsk, that's amazing!"
"It's strange how all the women gathered in that house are so noisy. The concubine is acting crazy, and the main wife is taking over the King's bedroom. Should I call her the mistress or the main wife?"
Isaac couldn't join in on the taunting, so he hid and beat his chest.
'Penelope shouldn't have done something useless!!'
He moved to another place, grumbling, and heard Bridget's story there too.
"She must be quite the vixen. Otherwise, how could she have seduced His Majesty the King?"
"She looks like a gentlewoman in her portrait in the gossip magazine. But do you know? People who pretend to be gentle change completely in bed. Men are fascinated by such women."
"If she can charm His Majesty, then she would not charm any other man, would she?"
"That's right. She's a problematic woman, so her husband can't get attached to her and looks elsewhere. Look at my husband. He still only cares about me."
"Oh my. I heard that your husband lost all his money by hanging out at a gambling den and that you were getting a divorce. I guess things worked out well?"
"Ah, that... It was so long ago that I had forgotten. Haha, that kind of thing happened too..."
The lady, who was trying to subtly elevate herself while putting down Bridget felt embarrassed and quickly brought up Bridget's story again.
Bridget was also a good topic to use as a change of subject when things got awkward.
"By the way, that government. They sign government contracts without receiving a single gift from His Majesty, oh my God."
"Isn't this the time when she and His Majesty are having a good time? And she's already being treated like this?"
"That's right. It seems His Majesty brought her here for a brief moment of entertainment, but isn't he already tired of it? How many days will she last in the palace?"
Everyone was happily chopping Bridget up on the chopping board.
They were just people who had fun criticizing and mocking others.
But Isaac became uneasy when he heard those words.
Just then, he caught sight of Bridget walking towards the central palace where the reception room was located.
Isaac quickly ran to Bridget and grabbed her wrist.
"You, come here."
"Oh! Who!"
Bridget didn't notice Isaac at first as he suddenly ran up to her, dragged her away with brute force, and almost screamed.
In her shadow, the black knight moved so subtly that no one could notice.
Bridget calmed down when she saw Isaac.
"I was surprised. What are you doing?"
"Just follow me and don't talk nonsense."
Isaac quickly walked into the visiting room and closed the door.
This was now the quietest place in the palace.
“Let go.”
Bridget frowned and shook Isaac's hand away.
He grabbed and pulled so hard that a red handprint was left on her wrist.
Isaac didn't care about Bridget's suffering.
"What have you been doing in the palace all this time?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"You didn't receive a single gift from the government? You should have sucked His Majesty's soul out of him! Are you being as foolish as you are to me?"
"What?"
"Are you trying to show off your pride and grandeur again? Please, figure out your place. Okay?"
"...Ha."
Bridget didn't answer. It wasn't worth responding.
Isaac looked Bridget up and down.
"When did you get this dress tailored? You look like that because you're wearing such an outdated, tacky dress. Look out the window! How people dress up! If you lack natural looks, you should at least try to acquire them"
Bang!
Isaac's words were cut off by a sudden loud noise,
"Huh?"
Isaac fell on his butt in shock as he saw the heavy door of the waiting room slam past his back.
"Wh, what...!"
"Oh. He's not dead?"
Julian appeared behind the blown door with a wicked smile.
Beside him, Millea sighed quietly.
"I... I... Your Majesty..."
Isaac trembled and fell down before Julian.
Julian was very angry.
It was the path he had been running on after receiving a danger signal from the black knight hidden in Bridget's shadow.
It was usually quiet, but it would react when it sensed the host's fears.
The short signal was cut off quickly, but even that was enough to ignite Julian's anger.
His gaze swept over Bridget, stopping at her wrist where a red mark had remained.
Bridget unconsciously shut her eyes tightly as the magical energy exploded out of Julian's body.
"...!"
Even people who couldn't see the magi would have felt it.
Because the air was so heavy and clammy that it was hard to breathe.
"Ugh!"
Isaac groaned as he lay face down.
Julian lowered himself and asked Isaac's head,
"Who decides if my woman is lacking?"
"Yes, yes?"
"Don't make me ask twice. I'll end up wanting to kill you."
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