Was the silence so far the calm before the storm? It was a bolt from the blue. I took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as I could.
“...My hand is completely healed.”
Julian tightened his grip on my hand. I realized it was taking a lot of courage for him to say those words. He didn't want to argue with me again. Still, he had no choice but to say it.
"I won't ask you anything. I won't call a doctor, and I won't dig up any more information."
“Julian, you...”
"See a doctor. It doesn't matter how much you pay. Nothing..."
Julian spoke very firmly.
“You don’t have to tell me anything.”
Since when did Julian know there was something wrong with me? Why didn't he immediately confront me?
My health was crucial to our agreement, so even if he vehemently criticized me, I had no choice but to say something.
But instead of accusing me, Julian grabbed my hand and spoke as if he were asking for something. His voice sounded so plaintive that I nodded.
“I will do that.”
At my answer, Julian smiled faintly, but clearly visible even through the veil. I moved the hand he was holding unilaterally and interlocked my fingers.
Why does the world call you a monster? There can't be anyone more affectionate.
***
Since there were two carriages brought to the capital, there were also two on the way back. Julian instructed his servants and maids to ride in the back, and he took my hand and led me into the front carriage. I sat across from Julian.
“What do you have to say?”
When I asked after the carriage had set off, Julian shook his head as if it was nothing.
“I want to hear my wife whine.”
“What are you talking about? Who is it?”
It was both amusing and repulsive to hear such a cute "jjong-al" come out of Julian's mouth, so I quickly questioned him. Contrary to his tone, my mouth was beaming.
“You always chatter when you’re in a good mood.”
A smile played on Julian's lips as he responded. I chuckled and then pondered what to say.
“Oh, the Marquis Amber will be doing something soon.”
I brought it up because I thought Julian might be curious about it. But Julian frowned and looked me up and down.
“What's wrong?”
“...My hand is completely healed.”
Julian tightened his grip on my hand. I realized it was taking a lot of courage for him to say those words. He didn't want to argue with me again. Still, he had no choice but to say it.
"I won't ask you anything. I won't call a doctor, and I won't dig up any more information."
“Julian, you...”
"See a doctor. It doesn't matter how much you pay. Nothing..."
Julian spoke very firmly.
“You don’t have to tell me anything.”
Since when did Julian know there was something wrong with me? Why didn't he immediately confront me?
My health was crucial to our agreement, so even if he vehemently criticized me, I had no choice but to say something.
But instead of accusing me, Julian grabbed my hand and spoke as if he were asking for something. His voice sounded so plaintive that I nodded.
“I will do that.”
At my answer, Julian smiled faintly, but clearly visible even through the veil. I moved the hand he was holding unilaterally and interlocked my fingers.
Why does the world call you a monster? There can't be anyone more affectionate.
***
Since there were two carriages brought to the capital, there were also two on the way back. Julian instructed his servants and maids to ride in the back, and he took my hand and led me into the front carriage. I sat across from Julian.
“What do you have to say?”
When I asked after the carriage had set off, Julian shook his head as if it was nothing.
“I want to hear my wife whine.”
“What are you talking about? Who is it?”
It was both amusing and repulsive to hear such a cute "jjong-al" come out of Julian's mouth, so I quickly questioned him. Contrary to his tone, my mouth was beaming.
“You always chatter when you’re in a good mood.”
A smile played on Julian's lips as he responded. I chuckled and then pondered what to say.
“Oh, the Marquis Amber will be doing something soon.”
I brought it up because I thought Julian might be curious about it. But Julian frowned and looked me up and down.
“What's wrong?”
“Are you all right?”
Now that I looked at him, he seemed unhappy with my meeting with Kaiser. I smiled brightly to appease Julian, gently grabbing his knee and then releasing it.
“Do you think I’ll lose to Marquis Amber? I hurt him.”
At those words, Julian chuckled and shook his head as if he couldn't stop himself.
“Why? Do you think I’m acting too noisily?”
“No. I thought you did well.”
“I see, right?”
Julian laughed again at my sudden change of posture. This time, it was only a low, small sound. He'd be really handsome if he smiled brightly. Well, this too has softened considerably.
“Still, I’ll make sure to see a doctor when you get back.”
“I really wasn’t hurt?”
“Layla.”
I shrugged and looked at Julian. His voice was stern, as if he were about to scold me. I pursed my lips and answered dryly.
“Yes, I will.”
Julian stared blankly at me. Are you really trying to scold me? Even though I look like this, I'm still a lady.
I was furtively observing him, but instead of opening my mouth, Julian tapped the wall behind me, leading to the stable, twice with his middle knuckles.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The carriage slowed down, and a reply came from the coachman.
“Go to the villa.”
"Yes."
After conversing with the groom, Julian sat up straight again. I rolled my eyes from side to side, then, unable to contain my curiosity, asked.
“What’s going on at the villa all of a sudden?”
“Because I wanted to show you.”
“A villa?”
"Yes."
I was about to ask why he suddenly wanted to show me the villa, but I kept my mouth shut. There was no way Julian would do anything unnecessary, and I figured I'd know when we got there.
Before I knew it, the carriage had entered Duchzan Territory. I opened the carriage window slightly and enjoyed the air, which was much cooler than the capital.
When I first visited, I thought it was really cold, but now I find this temperature that makes my nose tingle really welcome.
The carriage drove in a different direction from the one I was familiar with. Judging by the carriage's familiarity with the location of the villa, it seemed to be a place Julian frequented.
I knew they had a villa, having been a housekeeper myself, but it was small, in a remote location, and seemed to have few people managing it, so I just left it alone.
Why do you suddenly want to go there?
After a long ride, the carriage finally stopped in a place as quiet as the map had shown. Not a single human sound could be heard, and the only path was a solid earthen path. The sweet chirping of birds could be heard from the forest behind the house.
“What a wonderful place.”
It was a remarkably simple place for the Duke of Duchzan's villa. Yet, if you stood still, you could hear the wind rustling the grass.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful.”
The maid, Sarah, approached me to wrap a cloak around me. Julian took it and placed it around my shoulders. I faced Julian, feeling his meticulous touch. After my clothes were completely adjusted, I smiled and expressed my gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Sure."
I walked, linking arms with Julian's outstretched hand. The caretaker at the villa, startled by the sudden visit of the Grand Duke and his wife, came running out in a panic.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke! Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
The manager greeted us urgently. I smiled and looked up at Julian.
“I will be staying for a while, so prepare some tea for the Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After the caretaker left, I pushed aside my leanings against Julian and walked ahead. I wanted to see more of this beautiful villa. As I hurried my pace, Julian clicked his tongue and said,
“Then you’ll fall over.”
I turned around and walked away, sticking my tongue out.
“Don’t fall.”
Julian's expression became urgent, as if he were about to snatch me away at any moment. I enjoyed seeing his face, so I kept my distance and walked steadily, trying to avoid being caught.
"Ma'am."
“You told me not to fall?”
“Madam, don’t act like a child.”
I burst into laughter at the soothing tone. A rock caught my toe, and I tilted to one side. My eyes widened, and I reached out to steady myself.
"Oh, I'm falling." Just as I thought that, Julian grabbed my arm. I leaned against him, leaning back against his body.
“Wow, I almost fell.”
Julian's eyebrows furrowed at my casual remark. I pointed at him and burst out laughing.
“Layla.”
“You treat me like a child, so I become a child.”
“Is it my fault?”
“It’s your fault.”
I spoke shamelessly and grinned. Julian gave me another look of disapproval. He held me tightly in his grip, preventing me from moving any further, and then turned back toward the back of the mansion.
There was a small garden there. A white tea table sat in the center, with flowers meticulously planted on either side. I took Julian's hand and pulled him closer to the flowers.
“What a cute garden.”
It was when I bent down to smell the flowers.
“This is the garden my mother tended.”
It was something I'd never expected. I blinked and turned my head to look up at Julian. I thought it would be rude to ask him about his family, and I figured I'd probably never hear about it again.
“Did the former Grand Duchess like flowers?”
“To be honest, no.”
A smile appeared on Julian's lips as he thought of his mother.
"The garden was a mess, too. But she always said she'd show me, and she'd do it herself."
“I think the former Grand Duchess was cuter than the garden.”
Listening to Julian's story, I couldn't help but laugh. The image of the noblewoman clumsily tending her garden came to mind.
“Julian, I guess you came here often when you were young.”
“I spent my time here until I inherited the title.”
"Yes?"
“I went to the Grand Duke’s residence only after hearing the news of my father’s death.”
I immediately shut my chattering mouth. A child who spent his entire childhood in a villa. A child who never had the chance to protect his father after his death. I had a vague picture in my mind.
When I didn't say anything, Julian continued talking to himself.
"My father hated me for inheriting the curse of my ancestors. But my mother was different. She always treated me with sincerity."
“She was a warm person.”
Julian nodded.
"My mother, who left home with me, said everything would be okay if we lived together in this small house. She said my father would love me someday. As a child, I believed those words. But reality was harsh."
Aside from his father's cold treatment, other harsh realities awaited young Julian.
"My mother had a long-standing illness and passed away before I could inherit the title. My father didn't even come to her funeral. That's when I realized: I had only one person on my side, and now even that person was gone."
Julian gazed out at the garden with a hazy gaze. His lips were slightly parted, indicating that he was reminiscing.
“Layla.”
I held Julian's hand tightly in mine. I wanted to comfort him. It must have been a long time ago, but I could still sense Julian's sadness. But Julian, accepting my comfort, spoke.
“I told you to see a doctor because I don’t want my precious friend to go down the same path as my mother.”
The reason Julian came here in his carriage was because of me.
“I don’t want to force my wife to do something she doesn’t want to do. So...”
Julian, who was looking out over the garden, looked at me. He gently cupped my cheek, as I had once done. His hands were soft and warm, as if they were melting my numb cheek.
“I will beg you.”
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