Why did I want to check that? The arrogant man's meek answer resonated with me.
Without realizing it, I reached out and touched Julian's cheek. I ran my thumb across his smooth, hard cheek, but Julian didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned down, making it easier for me to touch his cheek.
'Don't touch your face.'
I've said that before. Just as I was gripped by the satisfaction of touching the cheek of a gigantic, mystical beast for the first time, I heard very cautious footsteps behind me.
I hurriedly lowered my hand, like a teenage girl caught in a love affair. I turned around and saw the maid who'd asked me to bring her bathwater, standing there with a polite demeanor.
“Madam, the bath water you ordered is ready.”
My face flushed at the thought that the maid had seen my actions just now. I covered my nose and mouth with my hands and lowered my head.
“I’ll go. See you later, Julian.”
"Ma'am."
“Later!”
Julian called me over as if he had something to say, but I quickly left.
I undressed, attended to by my maids, and stepped into the warm bath. Flowers floated on the water, and the water itself smelled delicious. The Winsley family, who valued frugality, had never imagined such a thing. Since becoming the Archduchess of Duchzan, I'd often taken baths like this, but it always felt like an endless indulgence.
I once hinted to Julian that I didn't need such a luxurious bath. But Julian, on the contrary, seemed suspicious and said:
'Are you saying that bathing is a luxury for my wife?'
After hearing that, I felt like it was true, so I accepted this awkward bath. I gently sprinkled water over the petals and savored the moment.
Meeting the Emperor was more tiring than I'd imagined. I was gently rubbing my neck and closing my eyes.
“Madam, they said everything is ready on the third floor.”
Anna spoke through the curtain.
"Yes."
I answered with my eyes still closed and spoke to Anna, who was waiting beyond the curtain.
"Tell the butler I have something to ask. I'll see him briefly before I meet Julian."
“Yes, Ma’am.”
At my words, I heard Anna step outside for a moment. I opened my eyes, leaning against the bathtub. I wanted to sleep, but the urge to play chess with Julian was stronger. I wasn't a huge fan of chess, but playing with Julian was enjoyable.
I enjoyed watching Julian stroke his sharp jaw in thought, and I also enjoyed seeing him play with his own blunt, direct approach. Above all, I enjoyed chatting with him about trivial matters.
I changed into a light dress and met the butler.
“I want to know if there is any room in the budget.”
“What budget are you talking about?”
"That is..."
I poured out my thoughts on the way back from the palace to the Grand Duke's residence. The butler listened to my suggestion and nodded with a mysterious smile. Perhaps it would be best to discuss the details with Julian.
Among the rooms on the third floor, I headed to the one where we always played chess. Julian was already there, fiddling with the chess pieces. The pieces, which were quite large in my hands, seemed tiny in his.
“Julian.”
“Madam, you’re early.”
“If I bathe all day, the maids will get tired.”
Julian answered my words with a resounding affirmation.
“As I said before, you don’t need to worry about that.”
I sat down in front of Julian and shook my head.
"No, that's not true. The image of a master you want to serve for life is quite important. It eliminates the desire to go somewhere else and start anew."
Unlike their masters, who were forced to live here their entire lives, servants could leave. While a letter of recommendation was required to secure a good job, there was another condition for securing it: betraying their previous master.
In my previous life, I didn't need to think this carefully, but this life was different. I never knew when Prince Cain would resurface and block my path. And the easiest way was to bribe people with money.
“My wife lives a pretty tiring life.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I pulled the shawl around my shoulders and selected the chess pieces. When I chose the white ones, Julian naturally took the black ones. As we placed the pieces one by one in their proper places, I asked him questions I'd always wondered about.
“Julian doesn’t grow a beard?”
The cheek I'd touched earlier on Julian's was so smooth it was hard to believe it belonged to a man. It was such a satisfying sensation that I even recalled it, clasping and unclenching my hand while bathing.
Julian asked, raising his head slightly.
“Do you think it is good for a husband to grow a beard?”
"No."
I answered very quickly and accurately.
“But why do you ask?”
“I like it because it looks nice.”
Julian's face was always clean. Even when meeting him early in the morning, seeing his clean face was all the more pleasing, like looking at a beautiful painting. His cold mask suited him perfectly, like a star at a masquerade ball.
Julian, who was nodding his head while thinking to himself, asked.
“To touch?”
That question almost made me fall into a rage without even eating.
“Well, yes.”
I answered as calmly as I could, bringing the tea the maid had brought to my lips. But I couldn't continue like that forever. I sighed deeply and put the teacup back down.
“I’m sorry for touching your face earlier.”
At the Count of Winsley, family members often caressed each other's faces and playfully pinched each other. It's not the case now, but when I was younger, I often gave and received kisses from my cute younger brothers.
It seemed like the habits from back then were popping up again and again, because Julian had treated me so comfortably.
"Ma'am."
“Yes! I’ll listen even if you nag me.”
“I didn’t mean to blame you. You misunderstood.”
"Yes?"
Julian's face was perplexed at my questioning answer. With that rare expression right before my eyes, I found myself unconsciously focusing on his face. Julian's red lips parted and he spoke slowly.
“I thought your family also expressed their friendliness in that way.”
"Ah..."
“Isn’t it?”
Julian asked, his eyes redder than his own lips. Without realizing it, I placed both hands on my thighs in a polite gesture. Then I nodded vigorously.
“That’s right. My family does that often.”
“I see. I was like that too, so don’t worry.”
Julian too? I stared at him, my eyes wide. I was surprised to learn that Julian, too, had exchanged such expressions of affection with his family. Was the affection shining through his stiff demeanor something he inherited from his family?
So whose affection did it belong to? Julian's father? Or his mother? Or perhaps his grandparents. But it was difficult to ask what happened next.
None of Julian's family remained in this Grand Duke's residence. Not even his father, who had been the Grand Duke, or his mother. As far as I know, he had no siblings living in other provinces. While he may not have had any siblings, his parents were likely deceased.
I decided to postpone asking about Julian's family until later.
"You mean you think of me as family? Thank you."
I abandoned my reflective attitude and immediately knocked over one of his black chess pieces. But as if to scold me for thinking of something else, Julian's black piece immediately knocked my white piece over.
“Oh, please step back.”
“It was my wife who compared the chessboard to a battlefield.”
“This is too much.”
I grumbled and stared at the chessboard. If things continued this way, I'd lose. If I won, I was going to use that as an excuse to ask him a favor.
“What would you like to ask?”
How on earth did he read my mind? Julian was surprisingly perceptive, considering he rarely met people. When I looked up at him in surprise, Julian responded with a faint smile.
“How did you know?”
“It’s not something I know very well. Madam is defenseless.”
"No. Julian knows better. I'm defenseless against you. I'm weak against my family."
I spoke very firmly. At least, Kaiser had no idea what I was thinking. Not only did I feel it was wrong to reveal my personal feelings to him, but Kaiser wasn't interested in me either.
Having thought about that, I looked at Julian with renewed interest. Does that mean he's that interested in me?
“Julian, will you do me a favor even if I don’t win at chess?”
I asked with a small expectation. And as always, Julian never disappoints.
“As long as it’s not too much.”
“I will never force you.”
Julian nodded at my boast, as if to suggest I speak. I sat up straight and spoke.
“I’ve never had a party up north since I got married, so I’d like to have one sometime.”
Julian grabbed my horse, which he had just knocked over, and ran his thumb over it. The slowness of his movement alone told me he had finished his thought.
“I guess there’s someone you’d like to invite.”
“Yes. I would like to invite the people of the Marquis of Ariant’s family.”
I spoke honestly. It was pointless to keep secrets from him. Information only the future could know, my lifespan—that was all I could keep. Even that would eventually be discovered.
Instead of questioning, Julian gave what sounded like permission.
“If I don’t show up to the party, my wife will be in trouble.”
That was a very kind permission. I smiled and placed my hand on the table. I raised my palm upward, gently bending and opening my fingers, as if asking for his hand to be placed there.
Julian, as if helpless, gently placed his hand on mine. I held his large, thick hand and said, "Julian was the greatest ally in the world."
“Who dares to talk about my wife?”
Without realizing it, I reached out and touched Julian's cheek. I ran my thumb across his smooth, hard cheek, but Julian didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned down, making it easier for me to touch his cheek.
'Don't touch your face.'
I've said that before. Just as I was gripped by the satisfaction of touching the cheek of a gigantic, mystical beast for the first time, I heard very cautious footsteps behind me.
I hurriedly lowered my hand, like a teenage girl caught in a love affair. I turned around and saw the maid who'd asked me to bring her bathwater, standing there with a polite demeanor.
“Madam, the bath water you ordered is ready.”
My face flushed at the thought that the maid had seen my actions just now. I covered my nose and mouth with my hands and lowered my head.
“I’ll go. See you later, Julian.”
"Ma'am."
“Later!”
Julian called me over as if he had something to say, but I quickly left.
I undressed, attended to by my maids, and stepped into the warm bath. Flowers floated on the water, and the water itself smelled delicious. The Winsley family, who valued frugality, had never imagined such a thing. Since becoming the Archduchess of Duchzan, I'd often taken baths like this, but it always felt like an endless indulgence.
I once hinted to Julian that I didn't need such a luxurious bath. But Julian, on the contrary, seemed suspicious and said:
'Are you saying that bathing is a luxury for my wife?'
After hearing that, I felt like it was true, so I accepted this awkward bath. I gently sprinkled water over the petals and savored the moment.
Meeting the Emperor was more tiring than I'd imagined. I was gently rubbing my neck and closing my eyes.
“Madam, they said everything is ready on the third floor.”
Anna spoke through the curtain.
"Yes."
I answered with my eyes still closed and spoke to Anna, who was waiting beyond the curtain.
"Tell the butler I have something to ask. I'll see him briefly before I meet Julian."
“Yes, Ma’am.”
At my words, I heard Anna step outside for a moment. I opened my eyes, leaning against the bathtub. I wanted to sleep, but the urge to play chess with Julian was stronger. I wasn't a huge fan of chess, but playing with Julian was enjoyable.
I enjoyed watching Julian stroke his sharp jaw in thought, and I also enjoyed seeing him play with his own blunt, direct approach. Above all, I enjoyed chatting with him about trivial matters.
I changed into a light dress and met the butler.
“I want to know if there is any room in the budget.”
“What budget are you talking about?”
"That is..."
I poured out my thoughts on the way back from the palace to the Grand Duke's residence. The butler listened to my suggestion and nodded with a mysterious smile. Perhaps it would be best to discuss the details with Julian.
Among the rooms on the third floor, I headed to the one where we always played chess. Julian was already there, fiddling with the chess pieces. The pieces, which were quite large in my hands, seemed tiny in his.
“Julian.”
“Madam, you’re early.”
“If I bathe all day, the maids will get tired.”
Julian answered my words with a resounding affirmation.
“As I said before, you don’t need to worry about that.”
I sat down in front of Julian and shook my head.
"No, that's not true. The image of a master you want to serve for life is quite important. It eliminates the desire to go somewhere else and start anew."
Unlike their masters, who were forced to live here their entire lives, servants could leave. While a letter of recommendation was required to secure a good job, there was another condition for securing it: betraying their previous master.
In my previous life, I didn't need to think this carefully, but this life was different. I never knew when Prince Cain would resurface and block my path. And the easiest way was to bribe people with money.
“My wife lives a pretty tiring life.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I pulled the shawl around my shoulders and selected the chess pieces. When I chose the white ones, Julian naturally took the black ones. As we placed the pieces one by one in their proper places, I asked him questions I'd always wondered about.
“Julian doesn’t grow a beard?”
The cheek I'd touched earlier on Julian's was so smooth it was hard to believe it belonged to a man. It was such a satisfying sensation that I even recalled it, clasping and unclenching my hand while bathing.
Julian asked, raising his head slightly.
“Do you think it is good for a husband to grow a beard?”
"No."
I answered very quickly and accurately.
“But why do you ask?”
“I like it because it looks nice.”
Julian's face was always clean. Even when meeting him early in the morning, seeing his clean face was all the more pleasing, like looking at a beautiful painting. His cold mask suited him perfectly, like a star at a masquerade ball.
Julian, who was nodding his head while thinking to himself, asked.
“To touch?”
That question almost made me fall into a rage without even eating.
“Well, yes.”
I answered as calmly as I could, bringing the tea the maid had brought to my lips. But I couldn't continue like that forever. I sighed deeply and put the teacup back down.
“I’m sorry for touching your face earlier.”
At the Count of Winsley, family members often caressed each other's faces and playfully pinched each other. It's not the case now, but when I was younger, I often gave and received kisses from my cute younger brothers.
It seemed like the habits from back then were popping up again and again, because Julian had treated me so comfortably.
"Ma'am."
“Yes! I’ll listen even if you nag me.”
“I didn’t mean to blame you. You misunderstood.”
"Yes?"
Julian's face was perplexed at my questioning answer. With that rare expression right before my eyes, I found myself unconsciously focusing on his face. Julian's red lips parted and he spoke slowly.
“I thought your family also expressed their friendliness in that way.”
"Ah..."
“Isn’t it?”
Julian asked, his eyes redder than his own lips. Without realizing it, I placed both hands on my thighs in a polite gesture. Then I nodded vigorously.
“That’s right. My family does that often.”
“I see. I was like that too, so don’t worry.”
Julian too? I stared at him, my eyes wide. I was surprised to learn that Julian, too, had exchanged such expressions of affection with his family. Was the affection shining through his stiff demeanor something he inherited from his family?
So whose affection did it belong to? Julian's father? Or his mother? Or perhaps his grandparents. But it was difficult to ask what happened next.
None of Julian's family remained in this Grand Duke's residence. Not even his father, who had been the Grand Duke, or his mother. As far as I know, he had no siblings living in other provinces. While he may not have had any siblings, his parents were likely deceased.
I decided to postpone asking about Julian's family until later.
"You mean you think of me as family? Thank you."
I abandoned my reflective attitude and immediately knocked over one of his black chess pieces. But as if to scold me for thinking of something else, Julian's black piece immediately knocked my white piece over.
“Oh, please step back.”
“It was my wife who compared the chessboard to a battlefield.”
“This is too much.”
I grumbled and stared at the chessboard. If things continued this way, I'd lose. If I won, I was going to use that as an excuse to ask him a favor.
“What would you like to ask?”
How on earth did he read my mind? Julian was surprisingly perceptive, considering he rarely met people. When I looked up at him in surprise, Julian responded with a faint smile.
“How did you know?”
“It’s not something I know very well. Madam is defenseless.”
"No. Julian knows better. I'm defenseless against you. I'm weak against my family."
I spoke very firmly. At least, Kaiser had no idea what I was thinking. Not only did I feel it was wrong to reveal my personal feelings to him, but Kaiser wasn't interested in me either.
Having thought about that, I looked at Julian with renewed interest. Does that mean he's that interested in me?
“Julian, will you do me a favor even if I don’t win at chess?”
I asked with a small expectation. And as always, Julian never disappoints.
“As long as it’s not too much.”
“I will never force you.”
Julian nodded at my boast, as if to suggest I speak. I sat up straight and spoke.
“I’ve never had a party up north since I got married, so I’d like to have one sometime.”
Julian grabbed my horse, which he had just knocked over, and ran his thumb over it. The slowness of his movement alone told me he had finished his thought.
“I guess there’s someone you’d like to invite.”
“Yes. I would like to invite the people of the Marquis of Ariant’s family.”
I spoke honestly. It was pointless to keep secrets from him. Information only the future could know, my lifespan—that was all I could keep. Even that would eventually be discovered.
Instead of questioning, Julian gave what sounded like permission.
“If I don’t show up to the party, my wife will be in trouble.”
That was a very kind permission. I smiled and placed my hand on the table. I raised my palm upward, gently bending and opening my fingers, as if asking for his hand to be placed there.
Julian, as if helpless, gently placed his hand on mine. I held his large, thick hand and said, "Julian was the greatest ally in the world."
“Who dares to talk about my wife?”
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