“Episode 28”
“What could be his lowest memory?” Yuliana pondered quietly. In the silence, Lucian spoke again.
“You want to know everything about him, don’t you? It would be nice if he obediently answered the Duke’s questions, but… as the Duchess knows, is the Duke that kind of person? He’ll probably try to show only the good sides, like a snake, flicking his tongue, that despicable fellow. That’s how he learned to love you. But the Duchess is not someone who can be satisfied like that.”
“You Majesty, you don’t know.”
Yuliana gritted her teeth. Then she swiftly kicked away what she had hidden in her embrace for a moment, but now rolled underfoot.
Rolling―.
The experiment bounced back under Lucian’s foot. He didn’t even bother to pick it up, just playfully lit up the dense gold like melting gold as he spoke.
“Since it once fell into your hands, this fellow will also seek the Duchess. Of course, if the Duchess desires it.”
“That will never happen!”
Yuliana burst out angrily.
And unable to bear it, she fled the place, the graveyard.
* * *
“Panting!”
She pushed open the door with a creak and leaped into the darkness. Then Yuliana felt herself being crushed under the influence of dark magic.
All magic worked in association with the caster’s will, but dark magic especially so.
The reason she was able to enter this mansion was probably because Lucian, the ultimate master of this mansion and the Emperor who had undergone the process of torture during his academy days, allowed it.
Yuliana turned swiftly and stared at the firmly closed door. The black darkness underfoot and above seemed like it would swallow her up. She couldn’t suppress her flaming anger and engulfed her hand in flames.
‘I’ll make them kick me out right away!’
It was a moment when she was about to pour out flames even from outside the door. Suddenly, the space began to warp, and Yuliana’s feet slipped away.
“….!”
They say when you’re too surprised, you can’t even make a sound. Sensing that she would collapse somewhere, she crouched down.
But when she opened her eyes after closing them once, the place in front of her was a peaceful palace garden.
How much time had passed? It was already after the dim dawn. Thick raindrops were falling sporadically, thicker than the morning dew.
Yuliana laughed loudly, amazed. And she walked aimlessly without even thinking about blocking the rain.
―Isn’t Evan Hillen unsure why he loves a deficient person like you? When anxiety swallows anxiety, it only deteriorates into greater anxiety. With obsession and violent methods.
Whether the Emperor knew it secretly or not, he touched upon the feelings she wanted to hide the most.
Perhaps he had secretly investigated her household affairs. The fact that Lucian, of all people, noticed the oldest affection deficiency created by her mother Theresa made her feel humiliated.
And the fact that the previous ‘Icienne’ was also an orphan with an affection deficiency hurt her pride even more.
“Aargh!”
Yuliana stomped her foot in anger. The frozen earth melted in the rain and became quite muddy.
Not knowing where to go, she ran forward recklessly.
She wanted to see Evan. Her husband, who would swallow even the deficiencies of an affection-deficient wife lying in bed as a joke.
The greedy one who coveted her lacking self was appealing.
‘…This time, let’s properly tell him that I love him.’
Wanting to fill the gaping hole in her heart, Yuliana ran without knowing the way.
* * *
“Evan!”
How long had she been wandering?
Her husband stood with someone, leaving the guards behind. Ovon Viscount and Iris were nowhere to be seen.
‘…What do I know.’
In the moment Yuliana shouted again to call him.
Evan, who stood with his arms crossed in front of the guards, turned his head to someone.
It was a very tall woman. With curly hair down to her waist, she was smiling gracefully.
‘…Who is she?’
“Reiatt?”
Even amidst Evan’s puzzled expression, Yuliana felt a slight sense of bewilderment. Reiatt rarely handled estate matters unless it was urgent.
“What’s going on?”
“Um… well…”
The guard, looking uncomfortable, lowered his head, then gathered his courage to speak.
“I’ll relay the steward’s message exactly as he said. According to him, even if kept secret, it’s certain to be reported in the newspapers the next day. Something appeared by the lakeside with a brilliant light―. Oh, no… that is…”
What was he saying…?
Yuliana widened her eyes upon hearing that. Her neatly combed hair, slicked back due to the rain, felt heavy against her waist. Her makeup was smudged, and the dress Anna had prepared yesterday was thin for the transitional season. Thanks to getting caught in the rain, she quickly felt cold.
Yuliana felt like crying.
“It’s already… it can’t be. The Duchess said she would come in the spring…”
At that moment, Evan, who had approached unnoticed, wrapped his arms around Yuliana’s trembling shoulders. Ignoring the hesitant guard’s words, he lowered his head to the trembling woman.
“Yuliana, it’s best to go inside. First―.”
“So? What appeared? A demon? A monster? Huh? I’m curious.”
Clodier tied up her loose hair in a messy bun.
In the dawn light, Clodier, drenched from the rain, looked much more vibrant with curiosity. Prompted by her, the guard, standing up straight, spoke in a rush.
“A woman appeared with a bright light!”
“Oh…?”
Clodier glanced mischievously at Evan.
“What, a hidden lover? Who is she?”
“Shut up.”
Evan growled at Clodier, glaring at her.
And just as he was about to growl even more, Yuliana, steadying her trembling body, began to press the guard persistently with determined eyes.
“It can’t be! There’s no reason for something to appear by the lake… No, it’s not the right time!”
“D-Duchess. I’m not the Duke’s steward. I-I think if you go there now, you’ll be able to deal with it.”
Upon hearing that, Yuliana immediately nodded. Then Evan, without even looking at Clodier, spoke.
“Let’s use the portal.”
“What, what? Do you know how complex it is to use a portal? Just take the carriage. Like any other noble―.”
“Clodier Anne Ariagne. If Her Highness allows it, Your Majesty will not waste time like this.”
Evan, the commander of the guard and the nominal princess who gave up her right to the throne, Clodier, glared intimidatingly at her.
Clodier, instead of looking around, laughed incredulously at the crazy eyes of the madman who only looked at his wife.
“You lunatic. It’s been years since I wasn’t a princess anymore. Do you think I have authority?”
“Then ask your brother. Your cousin.”
“Why me?”
Clodier laughed as if amazed.
They were once friends who lived with a sense of camaraderie as fellow orphans at the academy.
From Clodier’s perspective, Lucian Bu Aryagn, her cousin, was still the owner of a soft impression like a scholar, but at the same time, he was also the Emperor.
The palace portal was managed directly by the Emperor, her cousin. He wouldn’t allow smoking there.
But―.
“I don’t know. You handle it. You lunatic. Just when I wanted to see your face after a long time, you’re more crazy about my wife.”
Clodier waved her hand impatiently, feeling annoyed. When she had given up halfway, Evan quickly strode towards the portal, holding his soaking wet wife in his arms.
* * *
“It can’t be…”
“Yuliana.”
Using the portal, Evan, who had arrived at the Duke’s mansion in a moment, felt Yuliana, whom he had embraced, suddenly exerting strength to break free.
Feeling that forcibly holding her would only cause trouble, he reluctantly let go of his wife.
The wife, who had been standing dazedly, suddenly started running towards the Emerald Lake.
The Duke’s estate was vast. The distance to the forest and the small glass pavilion visible beyond it, overlooking the Emerald Lake, was so far that it required a carriage ride.
It was impossible for a weak wife to run such a distance. As expected, Evan easily caught up with her, who was running with all her might.
“Yuliana, go inside and rest. It’s enough for me to go there.”
“No, I have to go. I, I have―.”
“You need to rest.”
“I have to see!”
Yuliana shook her head vigorously.
For some reason, she seemed paler and more confused than ever, and Evan, rather than her, seemed more confused.
He ordered the soldiers guarding the Duke’s mansion.
“Bring the carriage immediately!”
“Yes!”
As the owner of the mansion finally arrived, the startled soldiers who had been confused by the unexpected incident hurriedly moved away.
Not long after, the carriage arrived. Anna, who had followed on horseback behind the carriage, was also there.
Anna, skillfully, brought spare clothes for the Duchess, as her soaked clothes were replaced.
Evan, holding his trembling wife, climbed into the carriage. As Anna, who had followed on horseback and caught up with the carriage, handed the dress to the Duchess.
“Duke! The Duchess’s clothes are wet… Um, what should we do? If she has a fever recently, and if she gets a fever again…”
“Good job.”
Evan bluntly accepted the dress.
It was a dress that was simple enough to just put on like pajamas. Still, it seemed to be made of thick material, prepared for winter use.
Yuliana, looking at her dress and still not fully grasping reality, just sat there with her wet body. Evan, carefully closing the carriage door, handed her the dress.
“It would be better to change inside, but even going into the house would be a waste of time, right?”
“…Yes, yes.”
“Yuliana?” Even as Evan furrowed his brows in bewilderment, he was slightly puzzled. Unless it was urgent, Rayat typically used a servant to report estate matters.
“What’s going on?”
“Well… um…”
The guard hesitated, then gathered his courage to speak.
“I’ll relay the steward’s message as is. According to him, even if we keep it a secret, it will undoubtedly be featured prominently in the newspaper the next day. Something appeared by the lakeside with a radiant light—oh, no… well…”
What on earth…?
Yuliana’s eyes widened in surprise. Her neatly combed hair, drenched by the drizzle, hung heavily on her shoulders. The makeup was washed away, and the dress Ana had diligently prepared yesterday was thin for the transitional season, leaving her chilled from the rain.
Yuliana wanted to cry.
“It can’t be true… It’s too early. The spring arrives later.”
At that moment, Evan, who had approached, wrapped his arms around Yuliana, who was trembling. Without even listening to the hesitant guard’s words, he stooped to embrace his wife, who had just risen from bed. She was just regaining her strength. Her body was cold, and although she tried to speak clearly, some of her words seemed muddled, reflecting her confusion.
Evan glanced sternly at Claudie as she made a sarcastic joke, tying up her disheveled hair.
“What’s hidden? A secret lover? Who is it?”
“Shut up.”
Evan growled at Claudie, and just as he was about to snap further, Yuliana, with determination in her eyes, began to insistently plead with the guard.
“It can’t be true! There’s no reason for something to appear by the lake… No, it’s not the right time!”
“Milady, I’m not the steward of the Duke’s estate. If you go now, you may be able to handle the situation.”
Yuliana immediately nodded in agreement. Evan then pulled his drenched wife closer, who had just gotten up from the bed. She was now wrapped in blankets, trying to speak clearly but seeming confused as some of her words became jumbled.
“Let’s go to the portal.”
“What, why? Do you know how complicated it is to use the portal? Just take a carriage like regular nobles do…”
“Countess Claudie Ariagne. If Her Highness permits, Her Majesty won’t waste time with such trivial matters.”
Evan, the commander of the guard and the former Crown Prince who had relinquished his claim, glared intimidatingly at Claudie, the Countess. Ignoring Claudie’s gaze fixed solely on his wife, Evan spoke firmly.
“You crazy man. It’s been years since I stopped being a princess, do I have any authority?”
“Then ask your brother. Your cousin.”
“Why me?”
Claudie laughed as if astonished. They had once been friends who grew up together with a sense of camaraderie at the same academy.
From Claudie’s perspective, Lucien Bu Ariagne, her cousin and once her friend, was still the gentle scholar, but at the same time, he was also the Emperor.
The imperial palace portal was directly managed by the Emperor, her cousin. He wouldn’t allow her to use it just to smoke a pipe. No way.
But…
“I don’t know. You figure it out. You crazy man. After a long time, you’ve gone even crazier with my wife.”
Claudie waved her hands in frustration. What had she hoped for? Just as Lucien Bu Ariagne wasn’t just a cousin anymore, her friend wasn’t just the same as before.
Claudie was tired and closed her tired eyes. What had she hoped for? Lucien Bu Ariagne wasn’t just her cousin anymore, and her friend wasn’t just the same as before.
Claudie was tired and closed her eyes.
