Episode 87. All Men Are the Same
“It’s been a while.”
Julia ran towards the Grand Duke, her hair fluttering in the wind.
Then, with a bright face, she stood before him.
Her smile was so captivating that even Rose, a woman, found it beautiful.
The Grand Duke and Julia stood side by side. They were a perfectly matched couple.
She always thought Julia was large, but next to the Grand Duke, she felt delicate.
'Well... they suit each other.'
Something felt strange.
When she heard the Grand Duke had a fiancée, and when she met her in person, nothing seemed to bother her.
But seeing them together made her feel uneasy.
Rose stared blankly at them.
Then, her eyes met the Grand Duke’s, who was standing far away. Rose unconsciously averted her gaze.
It felt like she was unknowingly interrupting their reunion.
Feeling like an intruder, she fled. She'd never had a relationship with the Grand Duke to begin with, so why was she feeling so suffocated?
'...It's all because of that.'
Rose squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind filled with memories of almost kissing him, and of the Grand Duke pulling her into bed at the palace.
A bitter feeling filled her.
He had a fiancée, and yet he acted like that.
She'd always thought all men were the same...
Ironically, she must have secretly expected the Grand Duke to be special.
She'd even wondered if he might have feelings for her.
'No. The Grand Duke was just drunk on the atmosphere, on the poison, and made a mistake.'
She'd almost been fooled by his kindness.
Eating with him, doing business with him... and living in the same mansion, she'd fallen into the ridiculous illusion that she'd become special to him.
Her mood was unsettling.
Rose's pace quickened.
The Grand Duke tilted his head, watching Rose, who avoided his gaze and fled as if fleeing.
The moment he moved to follow Rose,
“Where are you going, Lucas?”
Julia grabbed the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, she folded her arms, and stared at the Grand Duke.
“You’re not more concerned about that woman who’s temporarily in your care than me, whom you haven’t seen in a long time, are you?”
“You...”
The Grand Duke looked Julia up and down. He was so shocked that his mouth fell open.
Julia dove into the Grand Duke's embrace, as if trying to embrace him.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum jumped and pushed her away.
“What are you doing, you rascal?”
“You’re upset. Are you embarrassed because it’s been so long since I’ve seen you? I almost fell, Lucas.”
Julia seemed unhurt by the Grand Duke's actions and instead giggled playfully.
“Why don’t you take it easy?”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum's expression hardened menacingly at the sight of Julia, who was hugging both of his cheeks.
His expression was so cold it seemed as if the air around him was freezing, but Julia seemed completely unconcerned.
"Oh, how scary."
Instead, Julia made exaggerated gestures and blinked at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke, with a look of horror on his face, grabbed her wrist. Then, he dragged Julia into the mansion.
It was a rather aggressive move, even for a lady.
"Lucas, you've gotten more aggressive since I last saw you, haven't you?"
"Please shut your mouth,"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum growled at Julia with a displeased expression.
The employees, accustomed to the Grand Duke's treatment of Rose, seemed surprised by his brash demeanor.
However, their surprise was fleeting. They nodded, thinking,
'That was the Grand Duke of Artaeum's original form.'
They almost forgot his true colors because of the way he treated Rose with such gentleness.
“But... is it okay to treat a Princess like that?”
“Well, I’m not sure... but I think he actually likes it.”
The servants whispered as they watched Julia being led out by the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Judging by her face, Julia seemed genuinely happy, smiling and giggling.
“It seems like they’ve become close through their bickering.”
“Isn’t it? You said they’ve been close since childhood. They seem to get along quite well.”
“Where can there be friendship between a man and a woman? Hey, hey—it’ll just end up being you, honey.”
“But... what about Lady Rose?”
When one of the maids mentioned Rose, they exchanged awkward glances without anyone saying anything first.
“Um... that’s right. She looked a little hurt earlier.”
The maids all nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Neruan, who heard this, cut into their conversation with squinted eyes.
“What could be between His Highness the Grand Duke and Lady Rose that would hurt you?”
They were whispering, and they looked very surprised, as if they hadn’t expected Neruan to appear.
“Stop talking nonsense and get to work.”
They quickly dispersed, watching Neruan’s expression.
Meanwhile, Rose returned to her room and was diligently looking through business-related documents.
The sound of papers rustling could be heard frantically. One of the maids was fidgeting, noticing Rose’s expression.
She couldn’t concentrate on her work. The maid, who had been sweeping the floor and keeping her eyes fixed on Rose, opened her mouth with an awkward expression.
“Um... Lady Rose, are you okay?”
“Huh? What?”
Rose, who had been fixated on the documents, smiled and looked up at the maid’s voice.
Her expression was remarkably relaxed.
The maid blinked at Rose’s appearance, who was trying hard to pretend to be okay, and said cautiously,
“The documents... you’re holding them upside down.”
“Hmm?”
Rose, hearing the maid’s words, turned her gaze to the documents she was holding.
“Oh my, since when...”
Rose looked perplexed and hurriedly began to organize the documents.
“You’ve been doing that from the beginning.”
“Yes? No way.”
When Rose retorted that it was absurd, she simply shrugged.
“Because of the Princess?”
Rose was startled by the maid’s words and shook her head.
“Haha. Why are you talking about the Princess here? Ouch!”
Rose was so flustered that she dropped the documents she was holding.
The wind blew, and the documents she had painstakingly organized scattered to the floor.
The maid looked at Rose, shook her head, and sighed.
She helped Rose, who had collapsed, organize the documents.
“Well, that’s because you like the Grand Duke. Don’t worry too much about it. You two...”
“Huh, huh?!”
Rose’s face began to turn bright red at the maid’s words. Red as a carrot, Rose couldn’t say anything to the maid and jumped up.
She was so shocked that she didn’t hear the maid’s next words.
Rose was utterly confused.
Only the maid’s words resonated strongly in her head.
“Because you like the Grand Duke.”
“Because you like the Grand Duke.”
“You like the Grand Duke—.”
No... Stop!
Rose pressed her temples to rid herself of the maid’s voice that filled her head.
Then she took a deep breath. The deep breath calmed her somewhat. Of course, her flushed face still showed no signs of calming down.
Julia, dragged by the Grand Duke, sat on the edge of the bed with a sullen expression.
She gazed at the Grand Duke of Artaeum with a serious look, as if trying to seduce him.
"Say one more word. I'll rip your mouth open so you never say anything like that again."
Murderous blue eyes stared fiercely at Julia.
Julia giggled at the Grand Duke's abusive words, her eyes narrowing into crescents.
"You shouldn't say things like that to a lady. There's a reason you've never been in a relationship before. It's because you're so scary that no one approaches you."
Despite her fearful words, Julia still had a smile on her face.
Unable to hide the playful look in her eyes, she slowly got up.
She took a slow step toward the Grand Duke.
"Lucas."
He called the Grand Duke's name affectionately, then instantly grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
The force of the blow caused the Grand Duke to lean forward.
The Grand Duke and Julia locked eyes, their lips seemingly close enough to touch.
Julia pursed her crimson lips and whispered softly,
"You... haven't even kissed yet, have you?"
“It’s been a while.”
Julia ran towards the Grand Duke, her hair fluttering in the wind.
Then, with a bright face, she stood before him.
Her smile was so captivating that even Rose, a woman, found it beautiful.
The Grand Duke and Julia stood side by side. They were a perfectly matched couple.
She always thought Julia was large, but next to the Grand Duke, she felt delicate.
'Well... they suit each other.'
Something felt strange.
When she heard the Grand Duke had a fiancée, and when she met her in person, nothing seemed to bother her.
But seeing them together made her feel uneasy.
Rose stared blankly at them.
Then, her eyes met the Grand Duke’s, who was standing far away. Rose unconsciously averted her gaze.
It felt like she was unknowingly interrupting their reunion.
Feeling like an intruder, she fled. She'd never had a relationship with the Grand Duke to begin with, so why was she feeling so suffocated?
'...It's all because of that.'
Rose squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind filled with memories of almost kissing him, and of the Grand Duke pulling her into bed at the palace.
A bitter feeling filled her.
He had a fiancée, and yet he acted like that.
She'd always thought all men were the same...
Ironically, she must have secretly expected the Grand Duke to be special.
She'd even wondered if he might have feelings for her.
'No. The Grand Duke was just drunk on the atmosphere, on the poison, and made a mistake.'
She'd almost been fooled by his kindness.
Eating with him, doing business with him... and living in the same mansion, she'd fallen into the ridiculous illusion that she'd become special to him.
Her mood was unsettling.
Rose's pace quickened.
The Grand Duke tilted his head, watching Rose, who avoided his gaze and fled as if fleeing.
The moment he moved to follow Rose,
“Where are you going, Lucas?”
Julia grabbed the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, she folded her arms, and stared at the Grand Duke.
“You’re not more concerned about that woman who’s temporarily in your care than me, whom you haven’t seen in a long time, are you?”
“You...”
The Grand Duke looked Julia up and down. He was so shocked that his mouth fell open.
Julia dove into the Grand Duke's embrace, as if trying to embrace him.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum jumped and pushed her away.
“What are you doing, you rascal?”
“You’re upset. Are you embarrassed because it’s been so long since I’ve seen you? I almost fell, Lucas.”
Julia seemed unhurt by the Grand Duke's actions and instead giggled playfully.
“Why don’t you take it easy?”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum's expression hardened menacingly at the sight of Julia, who was hugging both of his cheeks.
His expression was so cold it seemed as if the air around him was freezing, but Julia seemed completely unconcerned.
"Oh, how scary."
Instead, Julia made exaggerated gestures and blinked at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke, with a look of horror on his face, grabbed her wrist. Then, he dragged Julia into the mansion.
It was a rather aggressive move, even for a lady.
"Lucas, you've gotten more aggressive since I last saw you, haven't you?"
"Please shut your mouth,"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum growled at Julia with a displeased expression.
The employees, accustomed to the Grand Duke's treatment of Rose, seemed surprised by his brash demeanor.
However, their surprise was fleeting. They nodded, thinking,
'That was the Grand Duke of Artaeum's original form.'
They almost forgot his true colors because of the way he treated Rose with such gentleness.
“But... is it okay to treat a Princess like that?”
“Well, I’m not sure... but I think he actually likes it.”
The servants whispered as they watched Julia being led out by the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Judging by her face, Julia seemed genuinely happy, smiling and giggling.
“It seems like they’ve become close through their bickering.”
“Isn’t it? You said they’ve been close since childhood. They seem to get along quite well.”
“Where can there be friendship between a man and a woman? Hey, hey—it’ll just end up being you, honey.”
“But... what about Lady Rose?”
When one of the maids mentioned Rose, they exchanged awkward glances without anyone saying anything first.
“Um... that’s right. She looked a little hurt earlier.”
The maids all nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Neruan, who heard this, cut into their conversation with squinted eyes.
“What could be between His Highness the Grand Duke and Lady Rose that would hurt you?”
They were whispering, and they looked very surprised, as if they hadn’t expected Neruan to appear.
“Stop talking nonsense and get to work.”
They quickly dispersed, watching Neruan’s expression.
***
Meanwhile, Rose returned to her room and was diligently looking through business-related documents.
The sound of papers rustling could be heard frantically. One of the maids was fidgeting, noticing Rose’s expression.
She couldn’t concentrate on her work. The maid, who had been sweeping the floor and keeping her eyes fixed on Rose, opened her mouth with an awkward expression.
“Um... Lady Rose, are you okay?”
“Huh? What?”
Rose, who had been fixated on the documents, smiled and looked up at the maid’s voice.
Her expression was remarkably relaxed.
The maid blinked at Rose’s appearance, who was trying hard to pretend to be okay, and said cautiously,
“The documents... you’re holding them upside down.”
“Hmm?”
Rose, hearing the maid’s words, turned her gaze to the documents she was holding.
“Oh my, since when...”
Rose looked perplexed and hurriedly began to organize the documents.
“You’ve been doing that from the beginning.”
“Yes? No way.”
When Rose retorted that it was absurd, she simply shrugged.
“Because of the Princess?”
Rose was startled by the maid’s words and shook her head.
“Haha. Why are you talking about the Princess here? Ouch!”
Rose was so flustered that she dropped the documents she was holding.
The wind blew, and the documents she had painstakingly organized scattered to the floor.
The maid looked at Rose, shook her head, and sighed.
She helped Rose, who had collapsed, organize the documents.
“Well, that’s because you like the Grand Duke. Don’t worry too much about it. You two...”
“Huh, huh?!”
Rose’s face began to turn bright red at the maid’s words. Red as a carrot, Rose couldn’t say anything to the maid and jumped up.
She was so shocked that she didn’t hear the maid’s next words.
Rose was utterly confused.
Only the maid’s words resonated strongly in her head.
“Because you like the Grand Duke.”
“Because you like the Grand Duke.”
“You like the Grand Duke—.”
No... Stop!
Rose pressed her temples to rid herself of the maid’s voice that filled her head.
Then she took a deep breath. The deep breath calmed her somewhat. Of course, her flushed face still showed no signs of calming down.
“There seems to be some misunderstanding. I don't think of His Highness the Grand Duke as a romantic interest.”
Rose said firmly to the maid. But the maid didn’t seem to believe her.
“Oh, really?”
The maid seemed to listen with one ear and let it out the other. With a cold expression, she organized a stack of documents and handed them to Rose. Rose accepted the documents the maid gave her, cleared her throat a couple of times, and then spoke.
“Don’t misunderstand. We’re just entangled in a business relationship.”
Rose drew the line, telling the maid that they were merely a “business” relationship. The maid, listening to Rose, muttered quietly.
“Well, I don’t think it’s particularly a business relationship.”
She began doing her job, adding that the Grand Duke was, strictly speaking, the weak party.
Rose tried to grab the maid and ask her what she meant, but she made the excuse that she was busy and refused to listen to her.
"No matter how much others explain this to you, you won't understand. You have to figure it out for yourself."
The maid muttered strange words until the end and left Rose's room. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Artaeum took Julia to his bedroom.
"Lucas. What are you doing, dragging me here in broad daylight? You beast!"
"Lucas. What are you doing, dragging me here in broad daylight? You beast!"
Julia, dragged by the Grand Duke, sat on the edge of the bed with a sullen expression.
She gazed at the Grand Duke of Artaeum with a serious look, as if trying to seduce him.
"Say one more word. I'll rip your mouth open so you never say anything like that again."
Murderous blue eyes stared fiercely at Julia.
Julia giggled at the Grand Duke's abusive words, her eyes narrowing into crescents.
"You shouldn't say things like that to a lady. There's a reason you've never been in a relationship before. It's because you're so scary that no one approaches you."
Despite her fearful words, Julia still had a smile on her face.
Unable to hide the playful look in her eyes, she slowly got up.
She took a slow step toward the Grand Duke.
"Lucas."
He called the Grand Duke's name affectionately, then instantly grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
The force of the blow caused the Grand Duke to lean forward.
The Grand Duke and Julia locked eyes, their lips seemingly close enough to touch.
Julia pursed her crimson lips and whispered softly,
"You... haven't even kissed yet, have you?"
A husky voice echoed secretly. In the Grand Duke Artaeum's head, a snapping sound echoed, along with the sound of his reason snapping. The patience he had been forcibly suppressing had finally reached its limit. An immense murderous rage emanated from the Grand Duke. He glared at Julia with slightly sullen, dazzling eyes, then swung his hand at her without hesitation. The Grand Duke's hand curved and reached into Julia's hair. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled with all his might. In an instant, her once lush hair fell to the floor with a thud.
“It was disgusting that you were imitating Julia.”
Grand Duke Artaeum stared at Julia as if he was about to swing his fist.
“You dare point that filthy mouth at me?”
Thud! Grand Duke Artaeum kicked Julia, causing her to stumble and falter.
“You’re still as violent as ever, aren’t you?”
Julia’s voice, echoing through the room, took on a low, manly tone. Unlike its initial husky tone, it was a distinctly masculine voice. Julia looked at her wig on the floor and lightly brushed away the sweat-crushed strands. The short hair hidden beneath the wig seemed to match the color of the wig on the floor. The unkempt emerald hair exuded a mysterious aura.
“You’re still the same, calling for violence, Julius.”
The Grand Duke looked at him with a disapproving expression as he revealed his true form. The person before him was not Julia, but Julius, his brother and longtime friend.
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