THIBV - Chapter 94

The first thing Avril did when she entered the palace was to bribe a maid.

The maids in the settlement were not easy to conquer because they were very loyal to Millea, but Avril had the strong support of her wealthy parents.

There is a saying that if there is something that money cannot buy, think about whether you have too little money.

Avril found out from the maid that someone in the family was sick and spent a lot of money on it.

"His Majesty went over there a moment ago."

The maid pointed to a building with her finger.

Since the maids-in-waiting began to parade around the King's bedroom, this was the place Julian used when he wanted to be alone.

Bridget said she wanted to use another palace, but Julian would not allow it.

Avril sneaked into the room where Julian was alone.

She was wearing only a shawl over a thin, see-through chemise.

She walked quietly down the hallway to the ward where she heard footsteps.

The hallway was very dark, as not a single candle was lit in the building. There were no windows, so no moonlight came in.

'At least turn on some lights.'

Avril got a little scared.

As she approached the room where there were sounds of people, the air felt cold.

Whioooo-

She could hear something like the wind blowing through the hallway.

In between, a faint groan could be heard, which felt like the sound of an animal, or like the sound of a human.

'What? Did I hear that wrong?'

Avril looked back without realizing it.

It seemed as if something had passed by in the darkness.

'Well, I guess I saw something wrong.'

She broke out in a cold sweat.

Avril placed her hand on her heart and consoled herself.

'Focus, Avril. Don't be afraid of the dark. After today, you will be Queen.'

Standing in front of the room where the noise was heard, Avril took off her shawl.

The soft shawl fell silently to the floor.

Avril opened the door slightly without knocking, pretending it was a coincidence.

If Julian asked how she found him, she planned to say that she couldn't sleep so shr went out for a walk at night and heard some noises so she came out of curiosity.

Squeak-

There was a sharp noise from the unmaintained hinge.

"Eek."

Avril flinched.

Fortunately, it seemed like no one heard the sound from inside.

Avril entered the room.

It was a living room with a fireplace.

The living room windows were all covered with curtains, but one window was open and the curtains were drawn.

A cold wind and moonlight came in there.

The unused fireplace was covered with a cover and had a sofa in front of it.

Julian seemed to be on that sofa.

The alcohol inside was also seen spilled.

'You seem to be quite drunk.'

The maid's words that Julian would be quite drunk by now were true.

Avril smiled and went inside.

"Who's there?"

"..."

There was no answer.

As she approached the sofa, the strong smell of alcohol hit her nose.

But when she saw Julian's face, which seemed to be asleep, Avril didn't even care about the smell of alcohol.

'How can even a sleeping face be so handsome?'

The calm face bathed in moonlight had a different charm than usual.

A straight forehead, a high nose that you want to touch, a sharp jawline shaded by moonlight.

Avril swallowed hard and moved closer to Julian.

But something was strange.

Julian was drenched in sweat.

A groan was heard from him, who had been silent. It was the sound that Avril had thought she had misheard earlier.

"Ugh"

'Are you having a nightmare?'

Avril placed her hand on Julian's forehead, who was frowning.

Just before the hand touched his skin, red eyes that could not be hidden, even by the darkness flashed open.

At the same time, Avril felt her world turn upside down.

“Gya... Ugh!”

Avril, who was thrown onto the sofa where Julian was lying while holding her wrist, was so choked that she couldn't even scream.

Julian grabbed Avril's neck as if he was going to break it, and his voice cracked in a low voice.

"Who are you?"

"I... I, huh... gasp."

Avril was breathless and couldn't speak.

Julian put more force into his hand as if he had no intention of listening anyway.

"Asleep."

"Ugh! Keuk!"

Avril struggled.

She wanted to explain that she was not an assassin or anything, but just a prospective maid to Bridget who had taken a wrong turn while taking a walk...

But Julian didn't look like he would be able to communicate.

His eyes were empty and dry.

He looked just like a dead person.

Avril felt her vision darken. Her eyes rolled back in her head.

But suddenly Julian loosened his grip.

"Cough! Huh! Cough! Huh!"

As her blocked airway cleared, Avril came to her senses, gasping for breath and coughing.

'What happened?'

When she got up, she saw Jullan lying on the floor, shivering.

"Ugh!"

Julian wasn't asleep.

He fainted for a moment from the pain.

Once again, unbearable pain engulfed him.

He tried not to lose his mind.

Gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, he glared at Avril.

'Kill her, kill her.'

Is this rational thinking or the whispering of a curse?

He couldn't figure it out.

All Julian could think about was killing the living creature right in front of him and taking its blood.

He staggered to his feet.

“Hic!”

Avril saw Julian reaching out to her again and tried to crawl away on the sofa.

But she was soon caught by Julian.

'Break her neck. Pull her head out.'

Julian grabbed Avril's ankle, his eyes were as bloodshot as his red pupils.

Avril fell helplessly down from the sofa under the Immense force.

Her whole body was shaking and she had no strength left in her body.

"Ah!"

Boom!

Julian climbed over her body and grabbed her neck.

Avril's vision went dark.

***

Knock knock knock!

I woke with a start to the loud knocking at the door.

The voices could be heard whispering outside the door

"I was wrong! Please! It was a misunderstanding!"

"It's not for me to explain whether it was a misunderstanding or not."

It was the voice of Leticia and the maid.

"Mrs. Winston! I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I think it's urgent and you'll have to come out."

As soon as Leticia finished speaking, I opened the door.

"What's going on?"

"I'm sorry. I should have gone to Mrs. Spencer, but I thought she was staying at home tonight, so I came straight to Mrs. Winston. This maid just went out with Miss Avril and came back with a bag of gold."

Leticia gave the bag of gold coins she had taken from the maid to me as evidence.

There really were a lot of gold coins in there.

It was clear that something unusual had happened.

The maid collapsed in tears.

"I... I just! I didn't do anything particularly bad! Miss Avril said she would give it to me if I told her where His Majesty was tonight...!"

"Has His Majesty not returned to the bedroom yet?"

I who had fallen asleep early today, didn't realize that Julian hadn't returned to the bedroom yet.

The maid nodded, sobbing.

"Yes, he took the strongest liquor out of the warehouse and took it to the place he always goes. I just... I didn't think it was that big of a secret..."

Leticia snorted.

"How disgusting. You think of other people as ridiculous. How can such a large sum of money be involved in something so trivial?"

"That, that is..."

The maid, at a loss for words, bit her lips.

I didn't think the maid was the problem now.

Strong drink, Julian who doesn't come back until late at night.

'He had a seizure.'

If that girl named Avril had met Julian now, it would have been a big problem.

"Mrs. Winston! Are you going there? Put this on!"

Leticia asked, wrapping the shawl she was wearing around me.

"Shall we go together? Or maybe a guard."

Leticia was reluctant to send me away alone, as she thought I would see an unsightly sight.

Because she knew what Avril was usually thinking.

But I put my finger to my lips.

"Leticia, keep an eye on this maid. Don't make a fuss. Got it?"

Leticia looked at me with confused eyes.

Don't make a fuss.

Of course, Leticia thought that Julian would not fall for Avril's seduction. He was a tyrant who did whatever he wanted, but he was surprisingly a stone to women.

So, shouldn't we call the guards and find Avril so that the whole palace is in an uproar and embarrass her?

Unless Julian rescues Avril, she will be buried in a dirty place.

'Huh, that's trivial. I thought we'd have some interesting gossip for a while.'

But Leticia knew her place.

It was right to follow what Bridget told her to do.

"Yes, Ma'am."

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