Just as Julian's anger subsided and Count Nicholas helped Isaac into a chair, the servants came in.
As they waited outside to be called, they were at a loss when they saw that the door to the visiting room had been torn off and disappeared.
"Your Majesty, I will bring in the servants."
A change of atmosphere was needed.
Count Nicholas quickly led them inside.
The servants filed in, each carrying a velvet cushion.
Cushions filled every table in the meeting room, and there were more than enough leftovers.
Servants who came in late had to stand along the wall and wait because they couldn't put it down.
"What is this..."
I looked at Julian.
Julian sat down next to me, seemingly with Isaac across from him.
"I was so crazy about you that I forgot something."
What does this mean?
'You were crazy about me?'
He didn't show his face even once, so he made me go find him myself.
I blinked a couple of times at first, unable to understand it, before realizing it.
Julian wants to show off to Isaac.
It was ridiculous that he was doing this just because he cared about Isaac.
Even if he was superior in every way, as a male he could not help but keep other males in check.
"It's all yours. I should have given it to you a long time ago. Would you like to take a look?"
As soon as Julian finished speaking, the servants returned and approached me, giving me a brief explanation and showing me what they were holding.
"It is a diamond called the Dragon's Tears."
"This is Queen Mary Agnes' necklace."
"This is the ring that Louis II gave to Lawrence Scott."
"This is a blue diamond named the Heart of the Sea."
....
Everything on the velvet cushion was gold and silver treasures.
There were so many that I couldn't even remember them properly, but one thing is certain.
"The treasures and history of the continent are all here."
Count Nicholas nodded, lost in thought, at my muttering.
It seemed as if Julian had decided to raid the King's treasury and give it all to me.
Even Isaac, who only had possessions, was astonished, including Millea.
He was too shy to even raise his head, but he craned his neck as he became absorbed in the jewels.
The gold and silver treasures that Julian gave to me were all precious things that could not be bought with money.
Jewels used by royalty whose names are recorded in history, or treasures that are considered the best on the continent cannot be possessed by wealth alone.
These were things that could only be touched by those with power.
In that respect, Julian hit Isaac's weakness exactly.
'All of these...'
Isaac glanced at Bridget, who was looking at the jewels in Julian's arms.
Why does it feel like something is getting farther away even though it's right next to me?
Bridget, who he thought was insignificant, seemed to shine a little today.
As he was stealing a glance at her, his eyes met with Julian's.
'... !'
Isaac lowered his head in surprise at Julian's arrogant expression.
Isaac became smaller and smaller again.
***
Bridget left the meeting room with Julian, who had woken up first, saying that he had another scheduled activity.
Julian didn't want to leave her with Isaac, so they came out together, but he became aware of them as they walked side by side.
It was clear that he was also conscious of Bridget.
They knew each other, but they walked for a long time in silence.
The King's bedroom was a short distance from the central palace.
But as she followed Julian, she walked for quite some time and the building didn't come any closer.
It seemed to go back a little.
Julian seemed to know the less traveled paths within the palace well.
The two walked in silence without seeing anyone.
Bridget felt she had to say something.
Whenever they meet, she's busy pouring out old feelings from the past, but when it comes to talking about her current feelings, she doesn't know what to say to start the conversation.
"Hey, if you have an appointment, wouldn't you stay at the central palace?"
"..."
"It would be okay for Millea and me to go to the precipitation together, but it's not because of me..."
"I have something to do, so I'm going."
“Ah.”
Silence fell again.
Bridget walked a couple more steps and then asked.
"Why did you just slam the door and come in?"
"I thought you were being threatened."
"It wasn't that bad."
Julian shrugged.
"My parasite has no brain, so it can't judge the situation very well. It just sends me signals that it senses danger."
Bridget felt disgusted with Julian, who referred to the Shadow Knight as a parasite.
Even though he was treating them like slaves, it was natural that he felt uncomfortable with those who were eating away at his life.
Bridget smiled, glad and grateful that he knew she was in danger, and came running to her.
"Still, it was refreshing. It was fun to see Isaac start shaking like an aspen tree as soon as you showed up."
Julian snorted.
Before they knew it, the two people who had been walking side by side had become closer to each other.
Bridget feels a little better now.
How long has it been since they had a conversation like this?
Bridget thought it was as if she had gone back to the old days, but then changed her mind.
'No. I shouldn't think like that. I've sinned. I don't have the right to indulge in good old memories as if nothing happened.'
The reason Julian behaved the same way as before was because he was generous.
They must not become complacent in their reliance on his generosity.
Bridget made up her mind to never forget that she was a sinner.
They walked slowly back and forth but eventually arrived at the precipitation.
Julian stopped climbing the entrance steps.
"...?"
Bridget looked at Julian, who was standing opposite her.
Julian coughed a couple of times and took something out of his pocket.
"The servants will bring the other jewels."
What he placed on Bridget's palm was a hairpin.
A pretty hairpin with a delicate white flower-shaped decoration.
Compared to what she had seen in the visiting room, the ornaments were neither flashy nor particularly impressive.
But it was just to Bridget's taste.
If she put it in her hair, it would look like flowers were scattered on her hair.
"It's so pretty."
Bridget, who had been quietly smiling even when she saw better treasures, finally let out an excited exclamation when she saw this hairpin.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Did you prepare this separately?"
"It was just there."
Julian said bluntly and turned around.
"Where are you going?"
"The schedule I mentioned earlier."
He said he had some business to do at the sink, and it looked like this was it.
Bridget gently grabbed Julian's sleeve as he was about to leave.
"Why?"
“Ah.”
Bridget, who had unconsciously grabbed him with regret, rolled her eyes for a moment and thought of what to say.
Julian had an Indifferent expression on his face as if he would shake her off and leave at any moment.
But he waited patiently until Bridget thought of what to say next.
"Julian. Allow me to cleanse you sometimes."
It was a bit of a heavy topic, but it was a much-needed conversation.
Julian refused.
"That won't extend my remaining time. I'm not dying because of Magi."
"I know. But I can make you feel better. Didn't you feel good earlier?"
A sinister smile appeared on Julian's previously expressionless face.
"I'm a little confused."
"What?"
"Whether it was the story of purification or the story of the bold kiss that made me feel good."
Bridget's face turned red as she remembered the kiss that had been pushed to the back of her memory.
Julian chuckled lowly.
"If it's the latter, then it's definitely exciting. Are you going to do it again?"
"..."
As Bridget hesitated, speechless from embarrassment, Julian chuckled and ended the joke at this point.
"Purify yourself. If that is the means of atonement you have in mind, then try it. If you need an opportunity to serve, just as the filthy believers of the world seek to cleanse themselves of their sins by serving in the temple, then so be it."
That was a pretty telling remark.
However, there was no sense of intention to attack Bridget.
Julian turned around, saying he really had to go.
Then Bridget spoke behind him.
"I'll do it again if you want. The kiss."
Julian's steps stopped for a moment.
"Don't expect it."
He left without looking back.
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