Go, don’t go, go, don’t go, go…
…not go.
“Sigh…”
Julion sighed as he looked at the last leaf that had fallen into his hand.
Just a moment ago, the result was “go,” and he had agonized over it for a while.
But this time, the result changed to “don’t go.”
‘It’s not consistent, so it’s not reliable.’
If it had consistently said “go,” he could have trusted it.
Julion thought to himself how ridiculous this was and threw the twig with all its leaves plucked off into the bushes.
The moon, which had been hidden by the clouds, reappeared, illuminating Julion’s face.
His golden eyes, filled with deep sorrow, flickered sadly.
He rubbed his face dry as if feeling suffocated, then picked up another small twig and held it in his hand.
Just one more time, for the last time.
He would decide whether to go find Rohiriel based on the result this time. No matter what the outcome, he would definitely follow it this time.
Julion glared at the twig with a resolute look, as if pondering an important decision.
Then he slowly started plucking the leaves one by one, in order.
Go, don’t go, go, don’t go, go, don’t go, go…
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Unfortunately, Julion couldn’t see the result of his final attempt.
While he was deeply focused, Freck carefully called out to him.
Julion, still in the position of plucking a leaf, turned his eyes slightly to look at Freck.
Freck stiffened and swallowed nervously under Julion’s menacing gaze.
“A guest has come to see you.”
“…A guest?”
For a moment, he thought it might be Rohiriel, but Julion quickly realized that couldn’t be the case and hardened his expression.
If it were Rohiriel, they would have announced the Crown Princess’s arrival.
“It’s already past evening. Who could it be?”
Perhaps it was one of the outside guests who had come as envoys.
Julion clicked his tongue and threw the twig into the bushes.
Perhaps today was not the day.
As he lifted his head with a bitter feeling, he saw the moon shining brightly, unaware of his inner turmoil.
He had come out to the garden to relieve his frustration, but it only made him feel more suffocated.
Freck cautiously added an explanation to Julion.
“It’s the Princess of Razia, Your Highness. What do you… want me to do?”
As expected, it was one of the envoys.
Julion squinted and pondered for a moment. But Freck’s next words quickly dispelled his hesitation.
“She says she has something to discuss regarding Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”
Just as Julion was about to tell the guest to come back tomorrow as he was busy, he scowled and said,
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier…? Sigh. Let her in immediately.”
Watching Freck scurry out of the garden, Julion unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
The unresolved frustration continued to linger.
‘Ah, didn’t they say there was a tour of the imperial palace today?’
He heard that the prince and princess of Razia also attended.
Could it be about that?
What on earth could she have to say about Rohiriel?
While pondering all sorts of thoughts, the sound of soft footsteps soon reached his ears.
Instinctively turning his gaze, he saw the pink-haired princess walking slowly towards him.
As their eyes met, she gave him a slight smile and shyly lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am Chersoniet.”
She lifted her skirt slightly and bowed with a gentle smile.
Her greeting was flawless, befitting royalty, but Julion’s mind was entirely on what she was about to say.
“I hear you have something to say about my wife.”
“…Yes, Your Highness. In fact, I hesitated to come, fearing it would be burdensome to you. But I feel I’ve done something wrong, so I came despite the risk of being discourteous.”
“I don’t understand. What is it you want to say? Isn’t it about Rohiriel?”
As Julion urged her to get to the point, Chersoniet gave a troubled smile.
She looked unsure of how to begin.
Julion was generally very patient, but when it came to Rohiriel, that patience was as thin as a thread.
About to urge her again, Julion opened his mouth.
At that moment, Chersoniet took a step closer to Julion and suddenly began to shed tears.
“Please, I beg you, Your Highness. Forgive me and my brother!”
What on earth is happening now?
Chersoniet was trembling, as if she could collapse at any moment.
Julion’s golden eyes reflected both confusion and displeasure as he looked at her.
He’d agreed to meet because it was about Rohiriel, but this behavior was absurd.
He wanted to reprimand her, but she was a princess who had come as an envoy.
Suppressing his irritation, Julion spoke quietly.
“Princess, you need to explain this in a way I can understand.”
“I-I apologize. I was hasty… The truth is, I met Her Highness the Crown Princess during the palace tour today.”
Finally, she started talking about Rohiriel. Julion waited silently for Chersoniet to continue.
“Her Highness said that you were very angry. Because of what happened that day.”
“Did Rohiriel say that to you directly? In the palace?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Her Highness seemed still upset, so I came to ask for forgiveness.”
“What are you talking about?”
Julion needed a moment to process what Chersoniet was saying.
So, Rohiriel had supposedly told her, in front of many people, that Julion was still very angry about the prince’s rudeness that day, and that Rohiriel herself was still angry too?
But Rohiriel hadn’t shown any anger that day; if anything, she had seemed flustered. She had even tried to stop him from getting angry.
Moreover, he wasn’t angry about it anymore either.
Julion shook his head firmly and said,
“Rohiriel was not angry that day, Princess.”
“…But if that’s truly the case, then why would the Crown Princess have mentioned that incident to me again today? Your Highness, you simply do not understand a woman’s heart. The scariest thing is silent anger.”
“So you’re saying that Rohiriel is silently holding on to her anger?”
A memory of Rohiriel’s cold smile flashed in Julion’s mind. It was the same expression she wore when she was plotting against Cassian.
‘Certainly, Rohiriel’s anger can be cold and silent.’
Julion could confidently say he knew that better than anyone else. Thus, he could say with certainty:
“It appears that the one who doesn’t know my wife is you, Princess. Rohiriel is not the type to easily show her emotions in front of many people.”
How many times had he been astonished by Rohiriel’s meticulous nature?
There was no way someone like Rohiriel would openly express such cold anger over something so trivial.
However, Chersoniet seemed to interpret Julion’s words differently, her face showing a hint of bewilderment as she responded.
“So, are you saying that Her Highness wasn’t angry, but she pointed out my and my brother’s mistakes in front of foreign ambassadors?”
Chersoniet, looking confused, murmured softly while her red eyes wavered.
“Surely, she didn’t intend to embarrass us on purpose. Then, why…?”
Trailing off, Chersoniet bit her lip nervously, shocked by her own words, and glanced at Julion to see his reaction.
“I, I apologize. I just wanted to formally apologize again to Your Highness, the crown prince, and the princess. However, given your statement that Her Highness wasn’t even angry, I’m at a loss for words. What am I supposed to do…….?”
Julion was perplexed by Chersoniet’s actions as she silently wept, clutching her forehead.
He couldn’t understand what she was trying to accomplish.
Growing more irritated, Julion frowned and said,
“But Princess, if you’re so sure Rohiriel is that angry, why are you only coming to apologize to me?”
Caught off guard by this unexpected question, Chersoniet could only move her lips without giving an immediate answer.
Julion spoke again, without waiting for Chersoniet to answer.
“If you are so worried about Rohiriel being angry, wouldn’t it make sense to apologize to her directly?”
“That, that.”
“Moreover, I agreed to listen because it was about Rohiriel, but all you’ve told me is that she got angry with you in front of everyone.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Seeing Julion’s cold, golden eyes, Chersoniet realized that she would be in serious trouble if she didn’t give a proper answer.
She swallowed nervously and tried to appear as sympathetic as possible, her eyes welling up with tears.
“I thought Her Highness was very angry. I came to ask how I could appease her anger.”
Tuduk, tuduk.
Tears quickly gathered and trickled down her pale cheeks. Wiping them away with her sleeve, Chersoniet continued.
“I thought Your Highness would know best about Her Highness. If I return to Razia with both of you still angry, then my brother and I…”
Her red eyes filled with fresh tears again, and her voice trembled as she struggled to hold back sobs.
“Our lives would not be guaranteed. So, Your Highness, I beg for your forgiveness. Please tell me how I can appease Her Highness.”
Chersoniet looked up at Julion with hands clasped together, truly desperate.
Her tear-streaked, red-rimmed eyes might have evoked a protective instinct in someone else, but to Julion, she was just an annoying woman wasting his time.
In fact, Julion was already eyeing the tree behind Chersoniet.
‘I should quickly send her away and give it another try with that.’
To be precise, it was the small branch of a tree, barely touching Chersoniet’s head.
Seeing Julion’s gaze fixed intently on her, a faint warmth spread in Chersoniet’s red eyes.
Julion slowly began to speak.
“Princess, I think you should…”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please, go ahead.”
“I don’t think you need to do anything.”
“…What?”
Chersoniet’s pink eyelashes fluttered rapidly, showing her confusion.
Ignoring this, Julion continued, eager to send her away quickly.
“I’ll say it again: Rohiriel is not angry.”
“B-but, Your Highness…”
“However, I might get angry if you keep making me repeat myself.”
Her teary-red eyes widened in shock.
Staring directly into her trembling eyes, Julion drove the point home.
“So, the wisest choice would be to do nothing and simply return to your lodging.”
