Shuan's face was a confused one. He couldn't even look at me directly. His gaze was shaking violently like waves.
I grabbed his arm. I felt a firm muscle in my hand, but Shuan's body was helpless.
“Young Master Eriant!”
After I urged him strongly, Shuan finally nodded. There was no strength in his nod. He spoke with a sigh.
“I knew it.”
I let go of his arm, chuckling.
“I think I know how you knew without you asking.”
The knights passed us by, chasing the assassin. However, the assassin seemed to have disappeared into the darkness, and the knights shouted loudly for him to be found.
I looked at them from afar, then back at Shuan. He was sheathing his sword.
I looked straight at Shuan and said in the midst of this commotion.
“You still don’t know your sister?”
“I’ll go now.”
“I think your sister knew you.”
Despite my mocking words, Shuan couldn't say a word in response. A deep sense of remorse etched across his face. He groaned faintly, his face etched with pain. He turned away, then turned back to me.
“Your Highness, please help me.”
“Again, I have to help you? For nothing?”
I looked at him with cold eyes.
Our contractual relationship was built solely on trust, and it was Shuan who broke that trust. Therefore, if we were to rekindle this relationship, Shuan had to cling to me unconditionally. Shuan clenched his fist and bowed his head before me.
“I know I'm shameless. But...”
“If you know you're shameless, get away from my wife.”
A low voice separated Shuan and me. Shuan and I both raised our heads and looked in the direction of the voice. There, standing there, was a man who seemed to melt into the darkness.
“Julian.”
“Your Highness.”
I called out to him, but Julian's gaze was fixed solely on me. As he approached me, Shuan distanced himself accordingly.
"Thank you for saving my wife. I don't think I need to thank you."
I covered my mouth and rolled my eyes at Julian. He was overly wary of Shuan, drawing a line. For some reason, I felt a burning sensation at the back of my neck.
It seemed to be because of what had happened the last time I saw Julian. I cared about Julian as much as I cared about Shuan.
Shuan took a step back, but he didn't seem to have any intention of leaving completely.
“Your Highness, I know this may be rude, but may I speak with Your Highness the Grand Duchess for a moment?”
At those words, Julian looked straight at me. I pondered, then recalled the circumstances that had brought me here.
I avoided Ari because I wanted to gain Julian's trust, and that's why I came here. Talking to Shuan wasn't urgent. When I shook my head, Julian became even more resolute in blocking Shuan.
“My wife doesn’t like it.”
Because of Julian's broad back, I couldn't see Shuan. Shuan greeted me with a voice that seemed to be holding back something.
“I’ll see you later. Have a safe trip.”
With a thumping sound, Shuan walked away. Julian turned to me. Perhaps because I was in a wheelchair, he seemed much larger than usual.
After I had been tilting my head for a while, he knelt before me. I cupped his cheeks with both hands. I felt his mask on one side, his hard cheek on the other.
“You kicked out the bad guy.”
As I spoke affectionately, Julian seemed to notice and lowered his gaze. I didn't like the way his gaze was fixed on my knees. I lifted his face to meet mine. Then, Julian whispered softly.
“Are you feeling a little better now?”
“...I’m not angry.”
“I told you yesterday not to even think about coming to my wife’s room.”
I glanced at him and listened to his argument.
“So you didn’t come near at all?”
"Yes. I'm afraid of my wife. But if I'd known this would happen, I would have held on."
Julian placed his hand over mine. If I said his hand seemed to be shaking, was it just my imagination? I rubbed his cool cheek with my hand and smiled triumphantly.
“Please compliment me.”
“There has to be something to praise.”
“Yes. I think you’ll like it when you hear it.”
Julian's pupils focused on me without a hint of hesitation. I loved the moment he listened intently to my story.
He wasn't a sleazy man, but he wasn't a heartless man either. No matter how many times I've disappointed him, he's always given me a chance. How could he be heartless?
As I was about to chit-chat with Julian, a knight approached and saluted me with a firm bow. Even in the darkness, I could see he was sweating profusely. It seemed to be because of Julian, who was kneeling affectionately before me.
Now I saw that people were crowded together inside the banquet hall, watching us closely. Behind the knight, Ruin and Nife were holding hands, seemingly at a loss, unable to approach us.
The moment I saw that, my mouth snapped shut like a mute who had swallowed honey, but Julian seemed calm. Someone who had lived their entire lives under the gaze of others was different, no matter what.
Julian stood up and asked the knight.
“What’s going on?”
The knight continued to do his job, still dripping with sweat.
“I, I, Grand Duchess, would like to confirm whether Her Highness has seen the assassin’s face.”
The knight stuttered, clearly terrified of Julian. Julian, who seemed so gentle, was so frightened, and I didn't like how he could be so terrified. I asked sharply.
“So you’re saying you didn’t catch it in the end?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
"How many knights are here, and yet you can't catch a single assassin? Aren't you ashamed as a member of the Imperial Knights?"
“I have no face.”
I clicked my tongue deliberately and recalled the sight of the assassin I had seen.
"I couldn't see her face because everything but her eyes was covered. If you need a montage of just her eyes, I'll be happy to help. Judging by the silhouette, she's a woman, and she uses the swordsmanship of the Imperial Knights. She's likely either joined the Imperial Knights or one of their former members who has since left."
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
I didn't answer the knight, but shook Julian's arm. Julian naturally came up behind me and pushed the wheelchair. Anna said she'd do it, but Julian simply said it was okay. I smiled, feeling the wind tickle my hair.
“You know what? You have such long strides that the wheelchair goes too fast.”
“Let’s push slowly.”
"It means fun. Can you run faster?"
“It’s dangerous, so don’t do it.”
I snorted. The wheelchair naturally entered my barracks. Anna quickly lifted the blanket and helped me lie down on the bed. I covered my legs with the blanket and sat up.
“Julian, sit here in the chair.”
Instead of urging him to sit on the bed, I tapped the chair next to the bed. Julian sat down obediently, like a dutiful Duke. I took his hand in my own and looked at him.
“Julian, do you know what I just did?”
“I had a dangerous encounter with an assassin.”
I slapped the back of his hand that I was holding.
“Before that!”
Julian shook his head without showing any sign of pain, even after being hit on the back of his hand. He meant he didn't know.
“I entered the banquet hall, and the Young Lady of Marquis Eriant was there.”
“Yes, that person.”
I laughed again as I recalled the joke Julian had made. Was it that he said she was more beautiful than Ari Eriant? Even Julian had a funny side, making such a ridiculous joke. Anyway, that wasn't the point right now.
“That person signaled for me to chase after them.”
I grabbed his arm. I felt a firm muscle in my hand, but Shuan's body was helpless.
“Young Master Eriant!”
After I urged him strongly, Shuan finally nodded. There was no strength in his nod. He spoke with a sigh.
“I knew it.”
I let go of his arm, chuckling.
“I think I know how you knew without you asking.”
The knights passed us by, chasing the assassin. However, the assassin seemed to have disappeared into the darkness, and the knights shouted loudly for him to be found.
I looked at them from afar, then back at Shuan. He was sheathing his sword.
I looked straight at Shuan and said in the midst of this commotion.
“You still don’t know your sister?”
“I’ll go now.”
“I think your sister knew you.”
Despite my mocking words, Shuan couldn't say a word in response. A deep sense of remorse etched across his face. He groaned faintly, his face etched with pain. He turned away, then turned back to me.
“Your Highness, please help me.”
“Again, I have to help you? For nothing?”
I looked at him with cold eyes.
Our contractual relationship was built solely on trust, and it was Shuan who broke that trust. Therefore, if we were to rekindle this relationship, Shuan had to cling to me unconditionally. Shuan clenched his fist and bowed his head before me.
“I know I'm shameless. But...”
“If you know you're shameless, get away from my wife.”
A low voice separated Shuan and me. Shuan and I both raised our heads and looked in the direction of the voice. There, standing there, was a man who seemed to melt into the darkness.
“Julian.”
“Your Highness.”
I called out to him, but Julian's gaze was fixed solely on me. As he approached me, Shuan distanced himself accordingly.
"Thank you for saving my wife. I don't think I need to thank you."
I covered my mouth and rolled my eyes at Julian. He was overly wary of Shuan, drawing a line. For some reason, I felt a burning sensation at the back of my neck.
It seemed to be because of what had happened the last time I saw Julian. I cared about Julian as much as I cared about Shuan.
Shuan took a step back, but he didn't seem to have any intention of leaving completely.
“Your Highness, I know this may be rude, but may I speak with Your Highness the Grand Duchess for a moment?”
At those words, Julian looked straight at me. I pondered, then recalled the circumstances that had brought me here.
I avoided Ari because I wanted to gain Julian's trust, and that's why I came here. Talking to Shuan wasn't urgent. When I shook my head, Julian became even more resolute in blocking Shuan.
“My wife doesn’t like it.”
Because of Julian's broad back, I couldn't see Shuan. Shuan greeted me with a voice that seemed to be holding back something.
“I’ll see you later. Have a safe trip.”
With a thumping sound, Shuan walked away. Julian turned to me. Perhaps because I was in a wheelchair, he seemed much larger than usual.
After I had been tilting my head for a while, he knelt before me. I cupped his cheeks with both hands. I felt his mask on one side, his hard cheek on the other.
“You kicked out the bad guy.”
As I spoke affectionately, Julian seemed to notice and lowered his gaze. I didn't like the way his gaze was fixed on my knees. I lifted his face to meet mine. Then, Julian whispered softly.
“Are you feeling a little better now?”
“...I’m not angry.”
“I told you yesterday not to even think about coming to my wife’s room.”
I glanced at him and listened to his argument.
“So you didn’t come near at all?”
"Yes. I'm afraid of my wife. But if I'd known this would happen, I would have held on."
Julian placed his hand over mine. If I said his hand seemed to be shaking, was it just my imagination? I rubbed his cool cheek with my hand and smiled triumphantly.
“Please compliment me.”
“There has to be something to praise.”
“Yes. I think you’ll like it when you hear it.”
Julian's pupils focused on me without a hint of hesitation. I loved the moment he listened intently to my story.
He wasn't a sleazy man, but he wasn't a heartless man either. No matter how many times I've disappointed him, he's always given me a chance. How could he be heartless?
As I was about to chit-chat with Julian, a knight approached and saluted me with a firm bow. Even in the darkness, I could see he was sweating profusely. It seemed to be because of Julian, who was kneeling affectionately before me.
Now I saw that people were crowded together inside the banquet hall, watching us closely. Behind the knight, Ruin and Nife were holding hands, seemingly at a loss, unable to approach us.
The moment I saw that, my mouth snapped shut like a mute who had swallowed honey, but Julian seemed calm. Someone who had lived their entire lives under the gaze of others was different, no matter what.
Julian stood up and asked the knight.
“What’s going on?”
The knight continued to do his job, still dripping with sweat.
“I, I, Grand Duchess, would like to confirm whether Her Highness has seen the assassin’s face.”
The knight stuttered, clearly terrified of Julian. Julian, who seemed so gentle, was so frightened, and I didn't like how he could be so terrified. I asked sharply.
“So you’re saying you didn’t catch it in the end?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
"How many knights are here, and yet you can't catch a single assassin? Aren't you ashamed as a member of the Imperial Knights?"
“I have no face.”
I clicked my tongue deliberately and recalled the sight of the assassin I had seen.
"I couldn't see her face because everything but her eyes was covered. If you need a montage of just her eyes, I'll be happy to help. Judging by the silhouette, she's a woman, and she uses the swordsmanship of the Imperial Knights. She's likely either joined the Imperial Knights or one of their former members who has since left."
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
I didn't answer the knight, but shook Julian's arm. Julian naturally came up behind me and pushed the wheelchair. Anna said she'd do it, but Julian simply said it was okay. I smiled, feeling the wind tickle my hair.
“You know what? You have such long strides that the wheelchair goes too fast.”
“Let’s push slowly.”
"It means fun. Can you run faster?"
“It’s dangerous, so don’t do it.”
I snorted. The wheelchair naturally entered my barracks. Anna quickly lifted the blanket and helped me lie down on the bed. I covered my legs with the blanket and sat up.
“Julian, sit here in the chair.”
Instead of urging him to sit on the bed, I tapped the chair next to the bed. Julian sat down obediently, like a dutiful Duke. I took his hand in my own and looked at him.
“Julian, do you know what I just did?”
“I had a dangerous encounter with an assassin.”
I slapped the back of his hand that I was holding.
“Before that!”
Julian shook his head without showing any sign of pain, even after being hit on the back of his hand. He meant he didn't know.
“I entered the banquet hall, and the Young Lady of Marquis Eriant was there.”
“Are you talking about the woman you used to sing about, saying she was beautiful?”
I laughed again as I recalled the joke Julian had made. Was it that he said she was more beautiful than Ari Eriant? Even Julian had a funny side, making such a ridiculous joke. Anyway, that wasn't the point right now.
“That person signaled for me to chase after them.”
Julian frowned as soon as he heard me. But after a moment of reflection, his expression slowly relaxed. Still, he asked with a look of disbelief.
“Madam?”
“Yes, me. I didn’t chase after her.”
"No way."
Julian chuckled, as if it were nonsense. Watching him, I felt a strange sense of uneasiness. It made me realize how much distrust I'd built up toward him, and yet, I felt grateful to him for protecting me. A heavy weight filled my heart.
"To be honest, at first I was going to chase after her. But then I thought of you. If I chased her, and I ran into an assassin, Julian would be really upset... That's what I thought, and I turned back."
After finishing speaking, I added sheepishly.
"Well, I did eventually meet the assassin. I didn't know Young Lady Eriant was such a meticulous person."
I gently rubbed the back of Julian's hand, where I'd just struck him, with my palm and watched his reaction. Julian listened to my story silently. He was, as always, quiet and composed. But I sensed he was listening with greater concentration than ever.
"How was it? Did I do well? Should I recover my score with this?"
When I asked with a grin, Julian smiled. He lowered his head and kissed my hand. Warm breath slowly spread from his lips to my hand.
Just touching him made me feel a ticklish sensation all the way to my toes. I wanted to pull my hand away, but I also wanted to be kissed by him forever.
Julian looked up at me and whispered.
“Good job, ma’am.”
Julian and I locked eyes. We were so close we could feel each other's breath.
Comments
Post a Comment