Episode 88. First Love
“Why on earth did you come all the way here like that?”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum looked at Julius with a pitiful expression.
Julius didn’t respond to the Grand Duke’s words, merely adopting a deadly stance.
“What do you think? I think I’m more alluring than Julia.”
“...”
The Grand Duke, clutching at the hem of his flowing skirt, felt embarrassed at the thought of his being his longtime friend.
The Grand Duke didn’t hide his displeasure.
“It’s so disgusting.”
He looked at Julius with a gnawing expression. However, Julius seemed completely unhurt by the Grand Duke’s words.
“Lies. I’ve already seen the way you blushed at me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just froze in horror.”
Julius shrugged at the Grand Duke’s words and strode towards his bed.
Then he kicked off his shoes and sat down with his legs spread wide.
The Grand Duke, seeing Julius like that, clutched his throbbing head.
“Haa. I wasn’t asking you to come.”
“What are you saying to a friend who came all this way as soon as he received your letter? How disappointing.”
“His Majesty Mederion must be worried. You can’t give up your childhood hobbies, and even as a grown man, you act rashly.”
Julius’s eyes widened mischievously at the mention of his childhood.
“Hmm... I remember the day we first met.”
“Well. I don’t remember.”
His eyes grew dimmer at the Grand Duke's blunt words.
“Are you going to pretend not to know?”
Julius leaned forward and pressed the Grand Duke.
“I still remember vividly. Our first meeting.”
He even whistled, irritating the Archduke.
The Grand Duke's first meeting with Julius wasn't a particularly fond memory.
Because...
"You fell in love with me at first sight, and you chased me around, saying you'd marry me."
"Shut up!"
Because he'd fallen for Julius in cross-dressing.
That was the Grand Duke's dark past.
A terrible past he never wanted to revisit.
He absolutely refused to admit that he'd fallen for such a scoundrel.
The Grand Duke's eyes lit up with murder, and he clenched his fist.
"Say one more word, and I'll smash that damned face of yours."
"Oh dear. I'm scared."
Julius retorted, his words unspoken.
The Grand Duke forced himself to suppress his seething anger.
"Dealing with that bastard will only hurt me."
He sighed, feeling himself constantly drawn into Julius's trap.
"You should stop your hobbies. You'll one day lead a kingdom, so you should maintain your dignity."
"I've stopped dressing up as a woman a long time ago. I was so excited to see my old friend, whom I haven't heard from in a while, that I prepared a small event. How was it, excited?"
“We’ve already promised to get married.”
The Grand Duke was arrogant when he brought up the topic of ‘marriage.’
“Why on earth did you come all the way here like that?”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum looked at Julius with a pitiful expression.
Julius didn’t respond to the Grand Duke’s words, merely adopting a deadly stance.
“What do you think? I think I’m more alluring than Julia.”
“...”
The Grand Duke, clutching at the hem of his flowing skirt, felt embarrassed at the thought of his being his longtime friend.
The Grand Duke didn’t hide his displeasure.
“It’s so disgusting.”
He looked at Julius with a gnawing expression. However, Julius seemed completely unhurt by the Grand Duke’s words.
“Lies. I’ve already seen the way you blushed at me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just froze in horror.”
Julius shrugged at the Grand Duke’s words and strode towards his bed.
Then he kicked off his shoes and sat down with his legs spread wide.
The Grand Duke, seeing Julius like that, clutched his throbbing head.
“Haa. I wasn’t asking you to come.”
“What are you saying to a friend who came all this way as soon as he received your letter? How disappointing.”
“His Majesty Mederion must be worried. You can’t give up your childhood hobbies, and even as a grown man, you act rashly.”
Julius’s eyes widened mischievously at the mention of his childhood.
“Hmm... I remember the day we first met.”
“Well. I don’t remember.”
His eyes grew dimmer at the Grand Duke's blunt words.
“Are you going to pretend not to know?”
Julius leaned forward and pressed the Grand Duke.
“I still remember vividly. Our first meeting.”
He even whistled, irritating the Archduke.
The Grand Duke's first meeting with Julius wasn't a particularly fond memory.
Because...
"You fell in love with me at first sight, and you chased me around, saying you'd marry me."
"Shut up!"
Because he'd fallen for Julius in cross-dressing.
That was the Grand Duke's dark past.
A terrible past he never wanted to revisit.
He absolutely refused to admit that he'd fallen for such a scoundrel.
The Grand Duke's eyes lit up with murder, and he clenched his fist.
"Say one more word, and I'll smash that damned face of yours."
"Oh dear. I'm scared."
Julius retorted, his words unspoken.
The Grand Duke forced himself to suppress his seething anger.
"Dealing with that bastard will only hurt me."
He sighed, feeling himself constantly drawn into Julius's trap.
"You should stop your hobbies. You'll one day lead a kingdom, so you should maintain your dignity."
"I've stopped dressing up as a woman a long time ago. I was so excited to see my old friend, whom I haven't heard from in a while, that I prepared a small event. How was it, excited?"
"You're not seriously asking, are you?"
"Seriously?"
Julia and Julius were twins. Their appearances, as well as their physiques, were so similar that they wouldn't feel out of place in each other's guise.
Julius smirked at the Grand Duke's words and picked up his wig that had fallen to the floor.
He shook it off and walked nonchalantly to the mirror. Then, with remarkable skill, he put it back on.
"Why don't you put that disgusting wig away?"
"No. Since I've come to your mansion as Julia, I must remain as Julia until I return. If the news of my cross-dressing spreads abroad, how much will the prestige of our Kingdom of Mederion fall?"
Julius crossed his arms in a dignified manner and spoke with a charming tone.
It was the opposite of his words of concern.
“Do you come dressed as a woman without thinking, knowing that?”
The Grand Duke glanced at Julius with a pitiful look.
“Well, it’s fun. I can enjoy the freedom of being free from the Crown Prince’s position for the first time in a while.”
“Julia accepted your offer to temporarily switch identities, I guess?”
“No. I just sneaked out?”
“...”
Julius answered confidently.
The Grand Duke sighed softly and glared at Julius with a pitiful look.
“The knights really mistook you for Julia.”
Even if they were identical twins, anyone who was close by could easily tell them apart, so why were they fooled?
The Grand Duke looked at Julius with a puzzled expression.
“I prepared thoroughly. I wore a large hat that completely covered my face and acted like Julia.”
He smiled, saying he had left his hat in the carriage.
At Julius’s cheerful answer, the Grand Duke only emitted a hollow laugh.
“You immature brat.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Why don’t you stop frowning, Lucas?”
Julius approached the Grand Duke and playfully put his arm around his shoulder.
“And don’t worry about me being away. We have Julia.”
The Grand Duke gently pushed Julius’ arm away from his shoulder and took a step back.
Julius, with a familiar smile, opened his mouth.
“Julia will greet the foreign press in my stead.”
“What?”
The Grand Duke's face twisted in bewilderment at Julius’s words.
Crown Prince Julius had to attend any event where foreign press were visiting.
For him to abandon such an important occasion was an incomprehensible act for the Grand Duke.
Although the Grand Duke was known for his brutality, he was not one to ignore his duties.
Therefore, the Grand Duke's gaze, glaring at Julius, was unmistakable.
Sensing the Grand Duke's intense gaze, Julius twisted his body in embarrassment. Then, he let out a voice so aggrieved it was almost unbearable.
"Our Lucas called me after over ten years, so shouldn't I put aside all other things and come running?"
"Haa..."
The Grand Duke sighed, as if fed up.
He was completely incompetent.
"Julia had a tough time, too. She's now left to deal with the aftermath of her now-grown-up brother."
She had to greet the foreign press in an unprepared state.
The Grand Duke felt a pang of pity for Julia.
However, Julius let out a meaningful laugh at the Grand Duke's words.
“Well...”
He muttered to himself.
“She might actually like it.”
Just as the Grand Duke of Artaeum was about to ask what he meant, Julius changed the subject and asked,
“But what is your relationship with Lady Serviat? I heard she lives here.”
He questioned the Grand Duke as if testing him.
Rose had said their relationship was merely a business-related one, but he felt otherwise.
Especially because the Grand Duke’s gaze at Rose was unusual.
As soon as Rose’s story came up, the Grand Duke’s frown melted away.
Just thinking about Rose brought a faint smile to his face.
Like an untamed beast, the Grand Duke’s gaze, which had always been ferocious, was now extremely gentle.
‘Hmm.’
Julius was intrigued by the Grand Duke’s expression, which he had never seen before.
He subtly praised Rose, studying the Grand Duke's expression.
"She's a very beautiful and intelligent woman."
The Grand Duke's expression hardened terribly at Julius's compliment.
Another man taking an interest in his woman? He felt bad, even if he was his longtime friend.
"We were together the whole time before you came. The young lady even showed me around this mansion."
"The whole time... together?"
Julius chuckled at the Grand Duke's fierce reaction.
"Yes. She's even kind."
Julius leaned in closer and whispered.
"I asked you what your relationship was, Lucas."
The Grand Duke replied in a deep, hushed voice.
"Why don't you pay attention to Rose?"
He could tell at a glance that the Grand Duke was unhappy. However, Julius didn't stop.
"Why? Is there any reason I shouldn't be interested?"
The Grand Duke's expression hardened at Julius's provocative words.
"Let me get straight to the point. Are you interested in Rose?"
Julius was just slipping away like a loach at the Grand Duke's persistent questioning.
"Well. Should I tell you that?"
The Grand Duke flared at Julius's playful words.
"She's my woman."
He drew a line as if declaring war.
"It's best to give up early."
The Grand Duke's deep, sunken eyes revealed sincerity.
Julius's expression was filled with interest at the Grand Duke's unhesitating words.
He, who had always worried that he would never date and die of old age, was finally experiencing love.
It felt good, but also puzzling.
'She's no different from the other ladies.'
To Julius, she was an ordinary woman.
Of course, Rose was on the beautiful side, but many looked like her.
'I thought he had high standards, but that wasn't the case.'
The rumors surrounding the Grand Duke were vicious, that he would take women and kill them without mercy, but Julius knew they were false.
In fact, the Grand Duke of Artaeum was the one who treated women like stone.
That's why he had always wondered what kind of woman he would take.
However, Rose was not what he expected. She was so ordinary.
'I wonder what it was about her that captured Lucas's heart.'
Julius closed his eyes into half-moons and looked at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke's gaze, as he gazed at him, was still sharp.
Looking at the Grand Duke's gaze, he felt a strange sense of resentment.
"This, this. Do you like women more than your old friends?"
On the one hand, he also felt sorry for her.
Unlike the Grand Duke, who proudly declared, "My woman," Rose had drawn a clear line, denying any relationship.
He opened his mouth, convinced without a doubt that the Grand Duke had a crush on her.
"My woman... I don't think Lady Serviat thinks so."
Julius dropped the bombshell.
The Grand Duke's already gloomy demeanor intensified.
"Why are you sowing discord like that? Are you really in love with Rose? You want to drive a wedge between us?"
As expected, the Grand Duke didn't accept Julius's words. Instead, he only drove him further.
Julius looked at him with pity and spoke calmly.
“Lucas, you seem to be mistaken. Love isn’t something you can have just because you want it. No matter how much you shout, ‘She’s my woman,’ if the other person doesn’t want it, what good is it?”
He looked up at the Grand Duke and continued.
“So she’s not your woman, Lucas.”
Julius’s words seemed to tell him to come to his senses. However, the Grand Duke paid no attention to Julius.
“...You're not a child. Learn a thing or two from your twin sister, Julia.”
Julius smirked at the Grand Duke's words and picked up his wig that had fallen to the floor.
He shook it off and walked nonchalantly to the mirror. Then, with remarkable skill, he put it back on.
"Why don't you put that disgusting wig away?"
"No. Since I've come to your mansion as Julia, I must remain as Julia until I return. If the news of my cross-dressing spreads abroad, how much will the prestige of our Kingdom of Mederion fall?"
Julius crossed his arms in a dignified manner and spoke with a charming tone.
It was the opposite of his words of concern.
“Do you come dressed as a woman without thinking, knowing that?”
The Grand Duke glanced at Julius with a pitiful look.
“Well, it’s fun. I can enjoy the freedom of being free from the Crown Prince’s position for the first time in a while.”
“Julia accepted your offer to temporarily switch identities, I guess?”
“No. I just sneaked out?”
“...”
Julius answered confidently.
The Grand Duke sighed softly and glared at Julius with a pitiful look.
“The knights really mistook you for Julia.”
Even if they were identical twins, anyone who was close by could easily tell them apart, so why were they fooled?
The Grand Duke looked at Julius with a puzzled expression.
“I prepared thoroughly. I wore a large hat that completely covered my face and acted like Julia.”
He smiled, saying he had left his hat in the carriage.
At Julius’s cheerful answer, the Grand Duke only emitted a hollow laugh.
“You immature brat.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Why don’t you stop frowning, Lucas?”
Julius approached the Grand Duke and playfully put his arm around his shoulder.
“And don’t worry about me being away. We have Julia.”
The Grand Duke gently pushed Julius’ arm away from his shoulder and took a step back.
Julius, with a familiar smile, opened his mouth.
“Julia will greet the foreign press in my stead.”
“What?”
The Grand Duke's face twisted in bewilderment at Julius’s words.
Crown Prince Julius had to attend any event where foreign press were visiting.
For him to abandon such an important occasion was an incomprehensible act for the Grand Duke.
Although the Grand Duke was known for his brutality, he was not one to ignore his duties.
Therefore, the Grand Duke's gaze, glaring at Julius, was unmistakable.
Sensing the Grand Duke's intense gaze, Julius twisted his body in embarrassment. Then, he let out a voice so aggrieved it was almost unbearable.
"Our Lucas called me after over ten years, so shouldn't I put aside all other things and come running?"
"Haa..."
The Grand Duke sighed, as if fed up.
He was completely incompetent.
"Julia had a tough time, too. She's now left to deal with the aftermath of her now-grown-up brother."
She had to greet the foreign press in an unprepared state.
The Grand Duke felt a pang of pity for Julia.
However, Julius let out a meaningful laugh at the Grand Duke's words.
“Well...”
He muttered to himself.
“She might actually like it.”
Just as the Grand Duke of Artaeum was about to ask what he meant, Julius changed the subject and asked,
“But what is your relationship with Lady Serviat? I heard she lives here.”
He questioned the Grand Duke as if testing him.
Rose had said their relationship was merely a business-related one, but he felt otherwise.
Especially because the Grand Duke’s gaze at Rose was unusual.
As soon as Rose’s story came up, the Grand Duke’s frown melted away.
Just thinking about Rose brought a faint smile to his face.
Like an untamed beast, the Grand Duke’s gaze, which had always been ferocious, was now extremely gentle.
‘Hmm.’
Julius was intrigued by the Grand Duke’s expression, which he had never seen before.
He subtly praised Rose, studying the Grand Duke's expression.
"She's a very beautiful and intelligent woman."
The Grand Duke's expression hardened terribly at Julius's compliment.
Another man taking an interest in his woman? He felt bad, even if he was his longtime friend.
"We were together the whole time before you came. The young lady even showed me around this mansion."
"The whole time... together?"
Julius chuckled at the Grand Duke's fierce reaction.
"Yes. She's even kind."
Julius leaned in closer and whispered.
"I asked you what your relationship was, Lucas."
The Grand Duke replied in a deep, hushed voice.
"Why don't you pay attention to Rose?"
He could tell at a glance that the Grand Duke was unhappy. However, Julius didn't stop.
"Why? Is there any reason I shouldn't be interested?"
The Grand Duke's expression hardened at Julius's provocative words.
"Let me get straight to the point. Are you interested in Rose?"
Julius was just slipping away like a loach at the Grand Duke's persistent questioning.
"Well. Should I tell you that?"
The Grand Duke flared at Julius's playful words.
"She's my woman."
He drew a line as if declaring war.
"It's best to give up early."
The Grand Duke's deep, sunken eyes revealed sincerity.
Julius's expression was filled with interest at the Grand Duke's unhesitating words.
He, who had always worried that he would never date and die of old age, was finally experiencing love.
It felt good, but also puzzling.
'She's no different from the other ladies.'
To Julius, she was an ordinary woman.
Of course, Rose was on the beautiful side, but many looked like her.
'I thought he had high standards, but that wasn't the case.'
The rumors surrounding the Grand Duke were vicious, that he would take women and kill them without mercy, but Julius knew they were false.
In fact, the Grand Duke of Artaeum was the one who treated women like stone.
That's why he had always wondered what kind of woman he would take.
However, Rose was not what he expected. She was so ordinary.
'I wonder what it was about her that captured Lucas's heart.'
Julius closed his eyes into half-moons and looked at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke's gaze, as he gazed at him, was still sharp.
Looking at the Grand Duke's gaze, he felt a strange sense of resentment.
"This, this. Do you like women more than your old friends?"
On the one hand, he also felt sorry for her.
Unlike the Grand Duke, who proudly declared, "My woman," Rose had drawn a clear line, denying any relationship.
He opened his mouth, convinced without a doubt that the Grand Duke had a crush on her.
"My woman... I don't think Lady Serviat thinks so."
Julius dropped the bombshell.
The Grand Duke's already gloomy demeanor intensified.
"Why are you sowing discord like that? Are you really in love with Rose? You want to drive a wedge between us?"
As expected, the Grand Duke didn't accept Julius's words. Instead, he only drove him further.
Julius looked at him with pity and spoke calmly.
“Lucas, you seem to be mistaken. Love isn’t something you can have just because you want it. No matter how much you shout, ‘She’s my woman,’ if the other person doesn’t want it, what good is it?”
He looked up at the Grand Duke and continued.
“So she’s not your woman, Lucas.”
Julius’s words seemed to tell him to come to his senses. However, the Grand Duke paid no attention to Julius.
“We’ve already promised to get married.”
The Grand Duke was arrogant when he brought up the topic of ‘marriage.’
“Marriage?”
“Yes.”
“...So you and the Princess Serviat confirmed your feelings for each other and even set a wedding date?”
“Yes.”
“The Princess said she liked you?”
“Yes.”
“So she definitely said she liked you...”
“Stop saying the same thing.”
The Grand Duke, unable to bear it anymore, cut him off at Julius’s repeated questions with a bewildered expression.
Julius blinked, unable to hide his embarrassment.
Julius's dumbfounded expression seemed quite satisfying, as a triumphant smile spread across his face.
The Grand Duke's voice rang out coldly.
Julius, ever-ready, instinctively sensed that things were taking a strange turn.
This journey would surely bring some vitality to his monotonous daily life.
'...It was good that I came to Lucas's mansion.'
Julius relaxed and closed his eyes at the Grand Duke.
"Then I'll be going now."
He then walked toward the door without looking back.
"I'll have the servant show you to your room."
The moment Julius grabbed the doorknob, the Grand Duke spoke to him.
Julius slowly opened the door and turned to the Grand Duke.
"No, I'm not going to my room?"
"Then where are you going?"
"To the Lady Serviat."
Boom!
As soon as Julius finished speaking, he slammed the door shut and ran away.
"You...!"
Left alone in the room, the Grand Duke couldn't hide his anger as he chased after Julius.
“Yes.”
“...So you and the Princess Serviat confirmed your feelings for each other and even set a wedding date?”
“Yes.”
“The Princess said she liked you?”
“Yes.”
“So she definitely said she liked you...”
“Stop saying the same thing.”
The Grand Duke, unable to bear it anymore, cut him off at Julius’s repeated questions with a bewildered expression.
Julius blinked, unable to hide his embarrassment.
Julius's dumbfounded expression seemed quite satisfying, as a triumphant smile spread across his face.
“Rose, you'd be wise not to even think about touching it. Even someone like you won't get away with it.”
Julius, ever-ready, instinctively sensed that things were taking a strange turn.
This journey would surely bring some vitality to his monotonous daily life.
'...It was good that I came to Lucas's mansion.'
Julius relaxed and closed his eyes at the Grand Duke.
"Then I'll be going now."
He then walked toward the door without looking back.
"I'll have the servant show you to your room."
The moment Julius grabbed the doorknob, the Grand Duke spoke to him.
Julius slowly opened the door and turned to the Grand Duke.
"No, I'm not going to my room?"
"Then where are you going?"
"To the Lady Serviat."
Boom!
As soon as Julius finished speaking, he slammed the door shut and ran away.
"You...!"
Left alone in the room, the Grand Duke couldn't hide his anger as he chased after Julius.
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