The maids pushed me and Julian away and into the bathtub.
“Hey, you don’t have to do this!”
At my cry, the maid poured water over my shoulders. The water had a strong fragrance. It was understandable, as the water had been soaking up all sorts of flowers.
“Oh my, it’s your first night, why don’t you do it?”
“I’m sure His Highness the Grand Duke is already all dressed up by now.”
Julian? I looked at Anna in surprise. Anna clasped her hands together and nodded. "So Julian's been taken away and soaked in the bathwater too?"
"His Highness the Grand Duke always bathes the maids, but they said the maids worked hard to prepare it. We can't afford to lose!"
It's not like we're going to fight on our wedding night, so where's the difference between winning and losing? Besides, we were a political couple, and on top of that, our contract stipulated we'd be given time to have children.
But the maids didn't know about that, so they seemed to have done their best for their masters.
'It's also proof that I chose the maids well, but it's embarrassing.'
Of course, it wasn't my first night. In my previous life, I'd married Kaiser and even had a child. But back then, I thought I was doing what was expected of a wife.
We spent our first night together, following strict protocol and with the help of others. Things were very different now. There was no way Julian would let a maid into his room.
'Nothing will happen anyway.'
I thought that and held my pounding heart.
I stepped into the room the maids had prepared for my first night. The cold air touched my bare feet, sending goosebumps down my spine.
The room was rather dark, but small candles flickered in every corner.
The bed in the middle of the room appeared to be made of high-quality wood, and it was also tall. A dark purple curtain covered the bed, and across it, a man's silhouette could be seen.
"Your Highness?"
Who else could be here besides Julian? Nevertheless, I couldn't help but ask.
“Come in.”
The low voice blended eerily well with the dark bedroom. I hesitated for a moment, clutching the blind.
I thought of my marriage to Kaiser. At first, Kaiser and I had a very formal and formal life together.
But as time went on, he became increasingly self-serving, and as time went on, he began to disrespect my wishes. I accepted that men were like that, that it was an unavoidable instinct, and I endured it.
Julian certainly made a promise to me, but he might not keep it. As for my will...
That was the time when I was hesitating while thinking like that.
"I'll get out of bed, so come in and rest. If you sleep separately from the first night, the servants you brought in will start grinding their teeth."
"Ah."
The curtain opened, revealing Julian. He still wore a half-mask, but his usual cloak was removed, revealing his relaxed appearance. His shoulders and arms were made of stone.
In the darkness, he looked like a giant stone statue, even his solid chest visible through his white shirt.
“Excuse me. Where are you going?”
I stared blankly at him, then stopped him with my hand in the air.
“I had already thought about the documents better, so it doesn’t matter where.”
Only after hearing that did I notice the papers lying on the table where Julian had been sitting. It occurred to me that I'd been worrying for nothing. He hadn't even considered tonight in the first place.
“Haha, I look like an idiot.”
“What seems idiotic?”
“Just.”
Comparing Julian and Kaiser seemed foolish. Kaiser was the world's worst scum, and Julian, unknown to anyone, was actually a man of deep convictions. Between them lay a vast, uncrossable river.
I gently pushed Julian's shoulder and pushed him back into bed.
“We’re a married couple anyway, so it’s okay to sleep in the same bed.”
I tried to climb onto the high bed, buttocks hanging off it. At that moment, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me up.
"Ah," a sound echoed across the bed, but nothing happened. He simply placed me on the bed. With a sheepish expression, I straightened my flowing clothes.
“Why is the bed so high?”
Julian answered nonchalantly as I grumbled and spoke.
“Because I’m tall.”
“It would be nice if it were bigger.”
I muttered and slowly crawled back into bed. Julian was already leaning comfortably against the back of the bed, reading some paperwork. Beside him was a side table and a lamp, and it seemed he was reading the paperwork by the light.
'I guess nothing will really happen tonight.'
As these thoughts began to creep into my mind and body, I began to feel tired. I lay on my side, resting my head on the pillow, and looked up at him.
He flipped through the papers, occasionally scribbling something roughly with a pen. Occasionally, he'd toss a document toward his leg, seemingly completely uninterested.
Having some free time, I picked up one of the papers he threw at me. Julian's gaze followed.
“Can I see it?”
"...Yes."
With permission granted, I pulled the document closer and read it. As soon as I read it, I knew it was something he'd throw at me.
Outrageous plans, outrageous demands... They weren't worth listening to. If they took care of each and every one of these, Duchzan's territory would perish before it even reached the Emperor.
As I was reading each document, I hesitated in front of one document.
“...Request for a visit to Duchzan territory by Kaiser Amber.”
Julian answered, as if he heard me mumbling.
“I refused.”
"Why?"
"Because it's obvious their motives are impure. Duchzan doesn't let just anyone in."
"But the gift he's bringing is quite generous. Look, this grain is quite valuable in Duchzan Territory. Agriculture isn't particularly developed there."
My heart pounded as I spoke, word for word. I knew he was expecting an answer.
Julian lowered the documents he was looking through to his thigh for a moment and looked at me.
“Because my wife could be in danger.”
The answer resonated with me. I shrugged, trying not to laugh too hard.
“That’s good to hear.”
I lay down on the bed and held the document high in the air, looking at it.
Why would Kaiser want to come here?
“What are you looking for?”
“Yes? How did you know I was thinking that?”
Julian just smiled, as if he'd been smitten, but didn't respond. I knew my face was marked, but I didn't realize he was too. Was Julian feeling quite comfortable?
“He might be looking for the government you brought.”
“That’s not true. He’s not that kind of loyal man.”
This time, he looked at me as I muttered something.
“Are you that angry that the Marquis of Amber brought the government?”
That was a tricky question to answer. It would have been normal for everyone at that party to be understandably angry, but when I first learned of it in my past life, I wasn't that angry. I just thought it was coming, that it had been coming for a very long time.
"Well, unlike the royal family, the nobles easily accept government. It was anger born of necessity."
I thought I could be honest, so I answered that way. But the answer I got was contrary to my expectations.
“You can have it too.”
"Yes?"
"If necessary, you can have a government or two. I'm sure you're not as foolish as the Marquis of Amber."
Those words made me hard.
Why was it? I felt like I'd suddenly become close to him, then drift away like the ocean's receding tide. There were moments when I thought he'd opened up to me, but then I kept facing that giant iron gate.
"But the child must be seen by me. That was our contract."
I lay there blankly, staring at him, and then put the papers down with a loud thud.
“Why do you speak so hatefully?”
“What does that mean?”
"I think we can at least be friends. So, at least for the duration of our marriage, we shouldn't betray each other's trust, right?"
Julian couldn't easily respond to my words. This must have been the result of a lot of thought on his part. Thinking about it, even his cold words felt a little regretful. That doesn't mean I wasn't angry, though.
“You can find a new woman, too. After I die.”
I turned my head away, answering coldly. Silence fell beside me. It was only after a long while that I finally looked back.
Julian was looking through the papers, and I could see his firm lips forming a faint curve.
I liked that smile so much that I couldn't take my eyes off him even as I burrowed under the covers.
“If you’re going to say something like that in the future, you might as well not say it. You’re handsome if you just keep quiet.”
“There’s nothing I can’t say.”
“Yes, there isn’t. Do you understand now?”
Our wordplay ended there. I closed my eyes. Then all I could hear was the rustling of papers.
When I wake up tomorrow, I'll have to contact the Owl Information Center. I'll find out what Kaiser is looking for. But before that, I'll also have a quick chat with Marian...
As my thoughts wandered, my tired body drifted off to sleep. As I was being dragged along, giving up, I felt something brush the hair off my cheek. A gentle hand brushed my ear before disappearing.
“Strange woman.”
I smiled faintly as I heard the faint voice.
“Hey, you don’t have to do this!”
At my cry, the maid poured water over my shoulders. The water had a strong fragrance. It was understandable, as the water had been soaking up all sorts of flowers.
“Oh my, it’s your first night, why don’t you do it?”
“I’m sure His Highness the Grand Duke is already all dressed up by now.”
Julian? I looked at Anna in surprise. Anna clasped her hands together and nodded. "So Julian's been taken away and soaked in the bathwater too?"
"His Highness the Grand Duke always bathes the maids, but they said the maids worked hard to prepare it. We can't afford to lose!"
It's not like we're going to fight on our wedding night, so where's the difference between winning and losing? Besides, we were a political couple, and on top of that, our contract stipulated we'd be given time to have children.
But the maids didn't know about that, so they seemed to have done their best for their masters.
'It's also proof that I chose the maids well, but it's embarrassing.'
Of course, it wasn't my first night. In my previous life, I'd married Kaiser and even had a child. But back then, I thought I was doing what was expected of a wife.
We spent our first night together, following strict protocol and with the help of others. Things were very different now. There was no way Julian would let a maid into his room.
'Nothing will happen anyway.'
I thought that and held my pounding heart.
I stepped into the room the maids had prepared for my first night. The cold air touched my bare feet, sending goosebumps down my spine.
The room was rather dark, but small candles flickered in every corner.
The bed in the middle of the room appeared to be made of high-quality wood, and it was also tall. A dark purple curtain covered the bed, and across it, a man's silhouette could be seen.
"Your Highness?"
Who else could be here besides Julian? Nevertheless, I couldn't help but ask.
“Come in.”
The low voice blended eerily well with the dark bedroom. I hesitated for a moment, clutching the blind.
I thought of my marriage to Kaiser. At first, Kaiser and I had a very formal and formal life together.
But as time went on, he became increasingly self-serving, and as time went on, he began to disrespect my wishes. I accepted that men were like that, that it was an unavoidable instinct, and I endured it.
Julian certainly made a promise to me, but he might not keep it. As for my will...
That was the time when I was hesitating while thinking like that.
"I'll get out of bed, so come in and rest. If you sleep separately from the first night, the servants you brought in will start grinding their teeth."
"Ah."
The curtain opened, revealing Julian. He still wore a half-mask, but his usual cloak was removed, revealing his relaxed appearance. His shoulders and arms were made of stone.
In the darkness, he looked like a giant stone statue, even his solid chest visible through his white shirt.
“Excuse me. Where are you going?”
I stared blankly at him, then stopped him with my hand in the air.
“I had already thought about the documents better, so it doesn’t matter where.”
Only after hearing that did I notice the papers lying on the table where Julian had been sitting. It occurred to me that I'd been worrying for nothing. He hadn't even considered tonight in the first place.
“Haha, I look like an idiot.”
“What seems idiotic?”
“Just.”
Comparing Julian and Kaiser seemed foolish. Kaiser was the world's worst scum, and Julian, unknown to anyone, was actually a man of deep convictions. Between them lay a vast, uncrossable river.
I gently pushed Julian's shoulder and pushed him back into bed.
“We’re a married couple anyway, so it’s okay to sleep in the same bed.”
I tried to climb onto the high bed, buttocks hanging off it. At that moment, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me up.
"Ah," a sound echoed across the bed, but nothing happened. He simply placed me on the bed. With a sheepish expression, I straightened my flowing clothes.
“Why is the bed so high?”
Julian answered nonchalantly as I grumbled and spoke.
“Because I’m tall.”
“It would be nice if it were bigger.”
I muttered and slowly crawled back into bed. Julian was already leaning comfortably against the back of the bed, reading some paperwork. Beside him was a side table and a lamp, and it seemed he was reading the paperwork by the light.
'I guess nothing will really happen tonight.'
As these thoughts began to creep into my mind and body, I began to feel tired. I lay on my side, resting my head on the pillow, and looked up at him.
He flipped through the papers, occasionally scribbling something roughly with a pen. Occasionally, he'd toss a document toward his leg, seemingly completely uninterested.
Having some free time, I picked up one of the papers he threw at me. Julian's gaze followed.
“Can I see it?”
"...Yes."
With permission granted, I pulled the document closer and read it. As soon as I read it, I knew it was something he'd throw at me.
Outrageous plans, outrageous demands... They weren't worth listening to. If they took care of each and every one of these, Duchzan's territory would perish before it even reached the Emperor.
As I was reading each document, I hesitated in front of one document.
“...Request for a visit to Duchzan territory by Kaiser Amber.”
Julian answered, as if he heard me mumbling.
“I refused.”
"Why?"
"Because it's obvious their motives are impure. Duchzan doesn't let just anyone in."
"But the gift he's bringing is quite generous. Look, this grain is quite valuable in Duchzan Territory. Agriculture isn't particularly developed there."
My heart pounded as I spoke, word for word. I knew he was expecting an answer.
Julian lowered the documents he was looking through to his thigh for a moment and looked at me.
“Because my wife could be in danger.”
The answer resonated with me. I shrugged, trying not to laugh too hard.
“That’s good to hear.”
I lay down on the bed and held the document high in the air, looking at it.
Why would Kaiser want to come here?
“What are you looking for?”
“Yes? How did you know I was thinking that?”
Julian just smiled, as if he'd been smitten, but didn't respond. I knew my face was marked, but I didn't realize he was too. Was Julian feeling quite comfortable?
“He might be looking for the government you brought.”
“That’s not true. He’s not that kind of loyal man.”
This time, he looked at me as I muttered something.
“Are you that angry that the Marquis of Amber brought the government?”
That was a tricky question to answer. It would have been normal for everyone at that party to be understandably angry, but when I first learned of it in my past life, I wasn't that angry. I just thought it was coming, that it had been coming for a very long time.
"Well, unlike the royal family, the nobles easily accept government. It was anger born of necessity."
I thought I could be honest, so I answered that way. But the answer I got was contrary to my expectations.
“You can have it too.”
"Yes?"
"If necessary, you can have a government or two. I'm sure you're not as foolish as the Marquis of Amber."
Those words made me hard.
Why was it? I felt like I'd suddenly become close to him, then drift away like the ocean's receding tide. There were moments when I thought he'd opened up to me, but then I kept facing that giant iron gate.
"But the child must be seen by me. That was our contract."
I lay there blankly, staring at him, and then put the papers down with a loud thud.
“Why do you speak so hatefully?”
“What does that mean?”
"I think we can at least be friends. So, at least for the duration of our marriage, we shouldn't betray each other's trust, right?"
Julian couldn't easily respond to my words. This must have been the result of a lot of thought on his part. Thinking about it, even his cold words felt a little regretful. That doesn't mean I wasn't angry, though.
“You can find a new woman, too. After I die.”
I turned my head away, answering coldly. Silence fell beside me. It was only after a long while that I finally looked back.
Julian was looking through the papers, and I could see his firm lips forming a faint curve.
I liked that smile so much that I couldn't take my eyes off him even as I burrowed under the covers.
“If you’re going to say something like that in the future, you might as well not say it. You’re handsome if you just keep quiet.”
“There’s nothing I can’t say.”
“Yes, there isn’t. Do you understand now?”
Our wordplay ended there. I closed my eyes. Then all I could hear was the rustling of papers.
When I wake up tomorrow, I'll have to contact the Owl Information Center. I'll find out what Kaiser is looking for. But before that, I'll also have a quick chat with Marian...
As my thoughts wandered, my tired body drifted off to sleep. As I was being dragged along, giving up, I felt something brush the hair off my cheek. A gentle hand brushed my ear before disappearing.
“Strange woman.”
I smiled faintly as I heard the faint voice.
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