73. A Summons.
Bianca’s eyes remained tightly shut.
“Bianca.”
Jillian’s voice was hoarse, as if someone were choking him.
“Bianca.”
Every time he called her name, her firmly closed eyelids trembled delicately… it was so beautiful.
He couldn’t bear it any longer and whispered softly,
“I’m here.”
In that moment, Bianca’s peaceful expression twisted into sorrow.
“That’s a lie.”
“Bianca.”
As he called her name again, her tearful eyes opened and met his gaze.
“You’re lying.”
“Ah…”
“I must be seeing things now.”
The moment Jillian saw Bianca smiling through eyes filled with tears, he realized what kind of time she must’ve endured.
“Bianca.”
His throat closed up, and even his tongue ached with pain.
“I’m here now. I’m sorry for making you wait.”
“Really… Jillian?”
“Your Baloch has returned.”
Ah.
With a sound that was neither a sigh nor a cry, her tears finally broke free and flowed down.
“I missed you.”
‘Ah, really…’
Jillian clenched his teeth.
So many men had once longed for this beautiful woman.
Blinded by jealousy, he had momentarily forgotten…
how she had survived the past week.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
As soon as he opened his arms, Bianca stood and rushed into them. Her soft, trembling breaths soaked warmth into his chest.
“I waited.”
He knew there were countless words hidden in that gentle whisper. But Jillian didn’t want to acknowledge them.
That burning pain, like his heart was being scorched alive, wouldn’t be eased just by someone’s understanding.
He had to leave Bianca behind once again.
He didn’t want to go, not when she was swallowing her tears in fear and silence. But he had no choice.
This was the duty of Jillian Baloch. A mission only he could complete.
‘Please endure this winter.’
Sending his unspoken regret through his embrace, Jillian tightened his arms around her.
“Ngh…”
A soft whimper escaped her lips, but instead of pushing him away, Bianca clung even harder, her fingers gripping him tightly.
Her fingertips were like delicate thorns—unable to pierce, only slipping down.
“I’m back. Please don’t cry.”
“It’s just… the bird didn’t return… That’s all.”
She knew it had snowed a lot. But still… she had worried.
Between her sniffles, a small voice kept crying on.
She wasn’t even blaming him. She was trying to understand him.
That made Jillian’s heart break.
He couldn’t even say sorry. He could only kiss the crown of her head.
“Let’s go for a walk tomorrow.”
“Of course.”
“And feel the sun on our skin.”
“Of course.”
“And have dinner together.”
“Yes.”
She couldn’t even ask, ‘When are you leaving again?’
Instead, she desperately listed everything she wanted to do together. It was so pitiful and precious.
“Kiss me.”
“Alright…!”
At the unexpected request, Jillian flinched.
Afraid he might reject her, Bianca clung to him, her fingers digging in.
“Kiss me.”
“Bianca.”
As she tilted her head to look up at him, soaked in tears, she was even more beautiful.
“I missed you…”
Mmph!
Before she could finish, Jillian twisted his head and covered her lips with his. He grabbed her nape with force.
Jillian was always a thirsty beast. He wasn’t a fool who would throw away what he had been given.
As her slender nape fit into his palm, he finally felt like he had her completely in his arms.
As if soothing her tension, he gently licked her lips, mixing their breaths. Her rigid body finally relaxed.
Jillian pressed Bianca down gently. So slowly and respectfully, she hardly noticed.
He bent her neck, pushed her shoulders, until her head sank into the soft pillow, her ragged breath scattering like snowflakes. She sweetly welcomed the weight of him pressing down.
Even though she gasped from the pressure on her chest, Bianca didn’t push him away.
In fact, afraid he might pull away, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in every time as if to choke him.
Smooch, kiss.
She desperately chased and caught his every touch.
It was both desperate and unbearably coy. Jillian had to clench his fists over and over.
Bianca’s face, flushed to her eyes, her lips swollen… He wanted to swallow the warmth on her lips, the sweetness on his tongue, and fill his gut with it.
Smooch.
As he tried to pull back, unable to hold it anymore, her lips clung to his.
Crack.
A cracking sound came from Jillian’s jaw.
“Mmhh.”
A whimper escaped her nose. She didn’t even know what sound she was making anymore.
Her blue eyes, now almost black, were dilated to the limit from excitement.
‘Let’s devour her.’
Another part of him, excited and wild, licked his lips in his head. The sound of drool was vivid.
It wouldn’t be hard. He just had to ask aloud,
‘Let me.’
Bianca would surely nod. She’d open her arms and give him everything.
But that’s exactly why he didn’t want to.
Instead, he kissed her firmly again, ignoring her clingy whispers.
Smooch.
Her lips, plump from stimulation, were crushed under his and came back alive again.
“Time to sleep now.”
“But… it’s not enough.”
“…”
Her weak arms around his neck now felt like thorny vines that dug into him.
But at least outwardly, Jillian straightened his sore back with a calm expression.
“You need to walk with me tomorrow morning.”
“I…”
“I’m very tired now. I want to sleep. Will you allow me?”
Bianca’s dazed eyes finally focused. Despite his soft tone, his pupils were slit like blades from restrained passion.
“Please, let me.”
The man’s polite plea sounded like a threatening growl.
It wasn’t scary—but Bianca nodded. If he was going to endure this desperately, she would respect that.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
His words came out like a sigh.
And from that night on, the strange sounds stopped.
***
‘I know you won’t give up that easily.’
‘…’
‘But not killing someone is also a way to properly punish them.’
‘Punishment?’
‘Sometimes, living on and carrying that pain is worse than dying.’
Izar rested his chin on his hand and curled his lips in contempt.
“Arrogant ******.”
Last night, after throwing him to the ground and entering the castle, the duke immediately sent his knight to escort the bloodied subordinates back down.
At first glance, their conditions looked severe, but in truth, there wasn’t a single fatal wound. It felt more like the duke had held back, merely venting frustration and asserting dominance, every wound was irritating but not deadly.
Missing this opportunity was deeply regrettable, but like Duke Baloch had said, it didn’t mean they had given up. It was just bad luck.
He had personally gotten involved and even activated the planted personnel, all in an effort to bring the imperial princess this time.
It was disappointing that it had come to nothing. But the more he thought about it, the more bizarre that statement felt… ‘Living can be more painful than dying’? What was that supposed to mean?
Izar’s gaze briefly touched the Baloch estate, still swallowed in darkness, then drifted away.
Morning in the North always came late, making it all the more radiant. When he closed his eyes, he could recall the mornings in Baloch… how the light would break through the snow at dawn in a halo of brilliance. It was truly breathtaking. Something to remember forever.
“Discard them.”
Suddenly irritated, Izar ordered everything in the carriage to be thrown out. The blood-stained silhouettes tumbled from the moving carriage and landed in the snow.
***
Inside, Bianca had curled herself up like she was avoiding the morning sun slipping in through the curtains.
Suddenly, she shot up.
“Jillian!”
Was it a dream? But the moment her tongue brushed her sore lips, last night’s events rushed back vividly.
‘Kiss me.’
The image of herself clinging to him, unable to let go.
‘You should sleep now.’
Even after his pupils sharpened with desire, he gently pushed her away with such restraint.
“I must be crazy!”
Blushing fiercely, Bianca buried her face into the blanket. As she lay tangled in the bedding, groaning with embarrassment, a neat knock was followed by soft footsteps.
“Milady, are you awake?”
“…Julie?”
“I heard a sound and came in. Are you alright?”
She wasn’t. But she couldn’t tell the pale, worried young maid that it was from sheer embarrassment. So Bianca could only mumble that it was nothing.
“Last night, the Duke visited.”
“Yes, I saw him.”
“He’d like to have breakfast with you. What would you like to do?”
Julie reached out habitually to help Bianca up, but her movements were a bit off.
“Did you get hurt somewhere?”
“…Huh? You noticed?”
“Where did you hurt yourself?”
Bianca had only asked because something seemed off—but Julie’s sheepish grin was all the confirmation she needed.
This girl, who never fussed even with bruises or cuts, was acting strangely cautious, so it must be serious.
“What did Mr. Benson say?”
“Uh, well…”
“How did you get hurt?”
Bianca sat up and studied Julie’s awkward posture.
“If it’s serious, we should call Mr. Benson right now.”
“I fell down the stairs a bit.”
“What?”
“I was dozing off this morning and kind of… rolled down the stairs.”
Julie chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of her head—or tried to. She flinched in pain before her hand reached.
Seeing her frozen posture with one arm half-raised, Bianca sighed.
“You should’ve taken the day off.”
“How could I leave milady’s side over something like this? I’m your personal maid!”
“How heartless do you want to make me look? Do you think I could feel comfortable being served by someone who’s in pain?”
“And would I feel comfortable leaving you alone over something this minor? No.”
Julie stuck out her lip stubbornly, but this time, Bianca was not letting it slide.
Truthfully, she didn’t need much attending to… and now that Jillian had returned, she planned to relieve the night attendants too.
“Hailey!”
Bianca immediately pulled the bell cord.
“I don’t want someone who’s hurt to be serving me. Call Mr. Benson to check on Julie, and keep her in her room all day. Make sure she eats well, three meals.”
“Julie’s hurt?”
Hailey’s face stiffened slightly.
Bianca nodded.
“She fell down the stairs this morning.”
“Oh… then she definitely needs rest. I’ll take care of it.”
“And Hailey, you can inform the Duke that I’ll join him for breakfast.”
“Of course, milady.”
Bianca handed over the pouting Julie to Benson and sat down to have breakfast with Jillian for the first time in a long while. Her happiness, however, was fleeting.
That very afternoon, a royal messenger arrived.
“A summons from His Majesty.”
The Emperor had called for Jillian.
