On my way to Julion, I made a promise to myself.
I would inquire about the situation as calmly as possible.
And to listen carefully to what he had to say.
Then surely this frustrating feeling would dissipate, or so I thought.
‘But this is really… infuriating.’
I already knew that Chersoniet and Julion were meeting.
Curious about what kind of conversation they could be having at this late hour, I had asked Freck not to announce my arrival.
But I never imagined that Julion would be gripping Chersoniet’s wrist so tightly and in close proximity.
Was it because I didn’t anticipate such a scene?
The thread of rationality I had maintained suddenly snapped.
I was so angry that even thinking about it made me feel irrational.
Julion’s bewildered appearance seemed suspicious, and everything about the medicine bottle felt like a mere excuse.
Of course, I knew logically that it could very well be true.
However, my emotions didn’t align with my reasoning.
Even when facing Cassian, I could maintain composure, but why now, over something so trivial?
“Prince Shutkatan Razia exclaims that he must see Her Highness.”
Fortunately, the inexplicable rage that had been surging could be momentarily suppressed by the arrival of Prince Shutkatan.
He had been desperately calling for me from behind, eventually chasing me all the way here.
Laughing bitterly at this absurd situation, Julion sternly asked me,
“Rohiriel, why has Prince Shuttan come all the way here looking for you?”
I also don’t know the exact reason.
Shutkatan was simply an annoying prince who tried to flatter and cling to me in order to win my heart.
But facing his seemingly reproachful gaze, I didn’t feel like being honest.
“Well, I was just talking with the prince earlier; maybe he has more to say. And it’s Prince Shutkatan, not Shuttan.”
“You… had a conversation. With him?”
Julion’s eyes narrowed sharply.
I was struck by how he seemed to be holding back his anger.
“Julion, are you angry right now? You’re here for a secret meeting with the princess, but I can’t speak to the prince?”
“I told you it wasn’t like that. Why are you so angry then?”
“Because you……!”
I couldn’t finish my sentence.
Was this really something to get angry about? Seriously?
I shouted that it was irrational, yet my heart said otherwise.
Before I could respond, Julion spoke again.
“I’m angry that you met with Prince Shuttan at this hour. Even I haven’t had a stroll with you for a long time, so it’s strange that I wouldn’t be upset that you spent time with another man.”
It was Prince Shutkatan, not Shuttan.
At this point, it almost felt like he was deliberately getting the name wrong.
Instead of pointing out the trivial, I asked something else.
“Why does that make you angry?”
It was also a question for me.
I was also angry because Julion was with Chersoniet.
To my question, Julion responded as if it were obvious and trivial.
“Because I love you. Just the thought of you looking at another man makes me jealous. I want to be by your side and see you every day; I want to hold you in my arms and fall asleep together at night; and in the morning, I want to wake up and kiss you to ask if you slept well.”
Julion poured out his words, then suddenly stopped, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.
But his cheeks were already flushed red, even his ears, after he had already revealed everything.
He seemed utterly embarrassed by his own words.
Julion’s golden eyes blinked in confusion, his gaze wandering as if unsure of what to do next.
I, too, was utterly bewildered.
Unable to say anything, I simply stared at Julion in surprise.
“So… Rohiriel, what I mean is…”
Julion’s soft voice broke the silence.
His usual composure was gone, replaced by a slight tremor.
He averted his gaze downward, squeezing his eyes shut briefly before glancing back at me, his earlobes turning even redder.
Watching him, my throat involuntarily went dry.
“Julion.”
At my call, Julion visibly flinched, then slowly met my gaze.
His golden eyes, glittering even more brilliantly in the moonlight, were filled with heat.
Finally, I understood.
Why I was so angry.
I raised a hand, pressing it firmly against my pounding heart.
Thump.
Thump.
I don’t know when it started, but my heartbeat kept getting faster.
This wasn’t out of anger—
“I’m sorry, Rohiriel; I didn’t mean to imply that I have any dark intentions.”
“Those dark intentions might not be so unwelcome, you know.”
“Ah, just pretend you didn’t hear that… Wait, what?”
Julion muttered as if he had heard something incomprehensible.
His round, wide golden eyes were so captivating that all my irritation from earlier vanished.
“Y-yes. We shouldn’t have dark intentions.”
Julion seemed to have interpreted it differently, shaking his head and saying something quite off the mark.
I didn’t hold back my amused chuckle as I took a step closer to Julion.
“It’s okay to have some.”
“W-what… are you saying?”
“I think I might have some of those dark intentions towards you as well.”
Our relationship, somewhat ambiguous from the start, had led us to this point.
Julion had held onto me, but I wasn’t sure of the exact emotions behind it.
I had only vague guesses.
That’s why I had been so frustrated, digging myself into a hole.
But I, too, had failed to truly face my own feelings for Julion.
Glancing at the medicine bottle in my hand, I turned my gaze aside.
Chersoniet, who had been looking at me this whole time, met my eyes directly.
Her red eyes were filled with bewilderment, but I couldn’t blame her for that emotion.
‘I’d be bewildered, too, if I were in her shoes.’
He had abruptly confessed, embarrassed himself, and created a commotion without taking into account my feelings. I couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward and embarrassed, so I cleared my throat and said,
“I’ll thoroughly investigate this medication so no one feels wronged. So, Princess Chersoniet, if you have any sense of propriety, it would be best to step back now.”
Originally, I had planned to argue it out thoroughly, but now it doesn’t matter anymore.
Right now, more than anything else, I needed to be alone with Julion.
I tried to politely usher the princess out, but she had other plans.
“I need that medicine for tonight as well. If you could just return it…”
Unfortunately, the princess seemed to have a different idea.
I clicked my tongue slightly and spoke again in a stern tone.
“Princess, did you not hear what Julion said earlier?”
“W-what do you mean?”
I put my arm on Julion’s shoulder and leaned my face gently against his chest.
I could feel his body stiffen with tension against mine.
In a gesture to relax him, I gently stroked the nape of his neck.
…It felt like he was stiffening even more, but first things first—I had to deal with the annoying thing in front of me.
“He said he loved me. Since he confessed, it would be polite to give him an answer, wouldn’t it?”
“…….”
“Well, I don’t make a habit of whispering my love in front of others.”
Chersoniet’s face twisted. It looked like a clump of spilled dough. Venom filled her gaze, and a sharp voice flowed out.
“I’m a princess, representing Razia’s envoy. Treating me so rudely! I can overlook other things, but not that medicine. Return it immediately!”
“You’re insisting so strongly that it’s becoming suspicious. Isn’t that right, Julion?”
I looked up at Julion, seeking his support, but he didn’t seem to be in a state to back me up. He was as stiff as a rock, not even taking a breath.
“…Anyway, Princess Chersoniet. Withdraw when I ask politely. Next time, it will be an order.”
“Your Highness, how could you…”
“Or do you really want to be dragged out? Your hobbies are a bit strange. If that’s what you truly desire.”
Seeing my resolve, the princess trembled but eventually stood up.
“Alright. But if it’s confirmed that there’s nothing wrong with that medicine, I will lodge a formal complaint. I promise!”
Her persistence was truly admirable.
As Chersoniet left the garden, I added one last remark:
“Oh, and take that unpleasant fellow hanging at the garden entrance with you.”
Chersoniet paused briefly, then left without saying a word. Confirming she was completely gone, I turned to Freck.
“Freck, could you please make sure she’s completely gone?”
“Oh, at the garden entrance… Is that what you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll go very slowly, just to make sure.”
With a sly smile, Freck walked off slowly and disappeared from view.
Now, it’s just Julion and me.
Throughout this time, Julion barely breathed, standing as stiff as a statue.
I laughed and poked him in the cheek.
“Julion. I want to talk to you. Are you going to stay as unresponsive as a rock?”
Bros hard 💀😭