Julian snorted as he looked at the crowd in front of the square.
"Like turning the palm of your hand over like that."
"Because there was a turning point."
Bridget was at his side.
The two men stood on the bell tower of the central palace, looking down at the square.
The turning point. Julian knew that it was Bridget who had cleverly woven the puzzle together to create this result.
It just so happened that the Supreme Court Justice made a speech during the banquet.
The Supreme Court Justice's announcement spread among the people so quickly.
It couldn't have been a coincidence.
People thought that everything was falling into place perfectly because of heaven's help, but that wasn't the case.
If Julian received help, it came from Bridget, not from heaven.
"It's a shame that the auction was canceled."
Julian studied Bridget's calm expression.
The banquet could not continue because several nobles were arrested by the police. The atmosphere became chaotic.
The auction ended before it even began.
Julian thought Bridget would be upset.
But Bridget smiled as if she had known that would happen.
"All the treasures have been sold."
It was sold?
"I had people contact me personally saying they wanted to buy the treasure. I sold it for a good price."
"Who is it?"
"The two necklaces were bought by Chancellor Langston and Count Frederick respectively."
Chancellor Langston wanted to make friends with Bridget.
He couldn't let Bridget's great intentions be dashed in vain, so he bought the necklace for a generous price.
The real purpose was to arrange a private meeting. It seemed that he was only now becoming interested in what kind of person Bridget was.
Count Frederick was a stranger. He seemed to want to catch Julian's eye.
He beat out other competitors by offering a very high price from the beginning and took the necklace.
It was a good sign because it meant that there were people who wanted to stick with Julian.
"The last remaining bracelet was bought by the Count of Highbury. It was a gesture of gratitude."
"It's a gratitude."
Julian found it amusing, or rather, refreshing, that the Duke of Linchester's son-in-law had spoken of repaying Bridget.
It was obvious that the Duke of Linchester would be furious if he found out about this.
The rumor that the Count of Highbury had turned against the Duke of Linchester would quickly stir them up.
"I didn't know he was so fearless."
"He is a young and energetic person. It was the Duke of Linchester's mistake to send the Countess of Highbury here."
No. It was Bridget who made that mistake.
Julian looked blankly at Bridget.
"You have changed."
Bridget met his gaze silently.
Unfamiliar eyes. Unfamiliar expression. Now. It is an unfamiliar atmosphere that goes beyond discomfort.
And the audacity to say things like blindfolds and gags without even blinking an eye.
Julian recalled it and laughed in disbelief.
"I can't say no. To not know yourself to that extent is no different from being an idiot."
"I think I've changed too."
Bridget admitted it readily.
It is said that people who are about to die, or who have once stepped on the threshold of death, change.
Bridget came over the threshold.
Could it not change?
The many hours of regret and agony leading up to her death had carved her into a different person from before.
Your senses have been sharpened, your vision has expanded, and your values and way of thinking have changed.
He looked down at her obsequiously.
"What could have changed you like this?"
Bridget could say with confidence.
"You."
"..."
"You are the only person who can have this much influence on me."
Julian narrowed his eyebrows slightly as if he found it amusing.
"You've been talking too much."
"I'm serious."
Bridget was adamant, but Julian did not believe her.
His expression seemed quite displeased as he wondered what had changed her.
No, it's not that you've changed. it's just that I didn't know you.
It was a meaningful statement.
"People can't change like this all of a sudden, so that's probably more appropriate."
"You don't like that I've changed?"
"Can I say no, yes, no?"
Julian walked back and forth around Bridget with a relaxed attitude.
The collar of his coat brushed against hers.
Julian crossed the line between the two without a care.
Bridget, the traitor, toyed with sensitive topics that could never be overcome, sometimes broaching them, covering them up.
"The Bridget Florence I knew I loved. Now you are just a shell of her."
There was only a span of space between the two, but there was a wall that could never be narrowed.
A wall intertwined with Bridget's secrets and Julian's wounds.
"No matter what changes, a shell is still a shell."
Bridget thought it could never be broken, that it was so deeply rooted that it could not be lifted out.
"Still, it's not bad to keep it by my side and look at it."
Julian grabbed a handful of Bridget's hair and kissed her.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm still in that time I loved."
His attitude was hard to read, so she was nervous.
What is he thinking when he says something like that?
Bridget tried to be brave.
"That's fine with me. If it brings you any comfort."
Julian pulled the hair he was holding a little tighter.
It was a look of pain on the face of an opponent who did not respond to provocation.
Oh, you were being grumpy.
When Bridget realized that, she laughed at her own absurdity.
It was a leisurely laugh that came from knowing his mind very well.
Say something so bad that your mouth becomes crooked...
The image of Julian whispering his love to her while crying as if the world was falling apart occasionally appeared on his grumpy face, so Bridget was not angry at him.
There have been times when the secrets she's been holding on to have been painful.
"Don't laugh like that. It'll mess up the judging."
Julian made a grim face. But in fact, Bridget's words were quite pleasant to hear.
The obedient Bridget felt some sadistic and thirsty desire in her.
Are you doing that on purpose? It makes me want to touch you.
"Thank you for today. I know you made the banquet so grand for me. And that you endured It for me the whole time."
Julian shrugged. It wasn't something to be particularly grateful for. It was just for his own sake and his own whims.
"Because it seems like I want to play the role of a King who can't come to his senses while being wrapped in a woman's skirt."
"That's 100 harsh a word. I never saw it that way."
"Really? That's too bad. I actually did that."
Bridget laughed.
"No one who attended the banquet would have seen it that way."
"I guess so. But you saw me. I was wrapped in your skirt and passed out."
Ah. That wasn't the story from the banquet.
It was a story about when she kissed and calmed him down while he was having a seizure.
Julian took a step closer to Bridget.
From the moment he had the thought of touching her, it became an irresistible impulse.
The bell tower was a pointed roof resting on four pillars without walls.
The sun had long since disappeared, and a red sunset was beautifully painting the sky behind Julian.
A glow spread across Bridget's cheeks as well.
She didn't back down.
Oh, dear. Julian raised an eyebrow.
One step further.
One approached and the other did not retreat, so the two bodies were pressed against each other.
Bridget looked straight at him as if provoking him and asked.
"Didn't you say that you didn't lose consciousness, but that you suddenly came to your senses?"
"When it comes to kissing, they are ultimately the same expression."
Julian, unable to resist the impulse, bent down. Bridget, who had not been able to stop him, tilted her head.
As soon as she put her arms around his neck to keep her balance, their lips met.
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