Chapter 6 (Part 8)

Her lips were swollen and sore. After those heated moments, unexpected parts of her body always ached.

“My lips…”

“What about your lips, Lia?”

At his question, Yuliana formed a fist with her hand and started hitting Anthus’s shoulder.

“Ouch! Lia, why are you doing this?”

Yuliana glared at Anthus and hit him a few more times, but it was a feeble act of violence that didn’t affect Anthus much.

“My lips are swollen. They hurt. How many times do you plan to do this?”

“I didn’t count. I thought of doing it many more times… But I restrained myself because I thought you might be tired, Lia…”

Anthus gave her a pitiful puppy look with teary eyes.

“Yan, look here.”

As Yuliana moved the blanket slightly, her white skin was covered in red marks like blooming roses. Anthus looked at her with eyes filled with desire again.

“Are you tempting me again?”

“I’m not tempting you. Look at all the red marks.”

“But the more I make them, the more beautiful expressions you make, Lia…”

“Stop talking!”

Yuliana’s voice was hoarse, and she was exhausted.

“For some reason, I can’t control myself around you, Lia, but I will try.”

Anthus looked sullen but gazed at Yuliana with a fervent gaze, like a predator searching for an opportunity.

Yuliana felt his gaze and closed her eyes slightly. If their eyes met, he might kiss her and tempt her again.

Peck.

Feeling the soft touch of lips, Yuliana opened her eyes and scolded Anthus.

“Yan! I said no.”

“You closed your eyes, so I thought it was okay to kiss you.”

Anthus approached her with a mischievous smile and pressed his forehead to hers, smiling happily.

“I will try to restrain myself more.”

“Yan, you always say that…”

“I’m sorry. I’m a man who only talks in bed… It’s because I want you so much, Lia.”

Anthus made a small plan to prepare herbs and food that were good for Yuliana, who quickly lost her stamina.

* * *

The next morning, Yuliana headed to the palace with Anthus. The maid who came to guide Yuliana turned pale when she saw Anthus.

“Hello, Duke Rockbellion. Lady Loengrin.”

The maid, with a resigned look, guided Anthus and Yuliana.

“Yan, you must be busy… Thank you for escorting me.”

“I don’t want to be apart even for a little while.”

Anthus looked at her with an intense desire to hold her, his face unconsciously showing a longing expression.

“Yan? You look worried.”

“Yes. I have a serious concern.”

Yuliana, unfamiliar with seeing Anthus worried, tilted her head and looked at him.

Not knowing Anthus’s real concern, Yuliana thought it was because of his many duties and wanted to comfort him.

‘He must have a lot of work and an audience with His Majesty…’

“Yan… I don’t know what your concern is, but I hope it gets resolved soon. Or you can tell me about it.”

Anthus hugged Yuliana tightly.

Love is like a maze with no way out. Once you enter, you fall deeper and deeper. There’s no escape. No, you don’t want to escape.

“Thank you. I’ve fallen for you even more today than yesterday, Lia.”

Anthus lifted her hands and kissed them reverently like a knight making a solemn vow.

“Then, Yan, see you later.”

“Yes.”

Anthus waved goodbye to Yuliana with a bright smile.

As soon as Yuliana disappeared from sight, Anthus’s bright smile turned into a cold expression. And Lara, who had approached quietly, was standing there.

“Lara.”

“Yes.”

“Where is Young Lord Beonar?”

“At the tea party location with the Princess.”

“Lara, please handle the task I gave you last time well.”

“Yes. Don’t worry, Duke. I will be the best witness for you.”

Anthus smirked, his red eyes shining coldly.

* * *

The place where Yuliana was guided to was a pretty glass greenhouse. Beautiful flowers and plants welcomed her, but as soon as she entered the glass greenhouse, Yuliana’s face hardened.

In the middle of the greenhouse, there was a small square table with only three chairs. And there, Princess Ophelia and Beonar were seated. No one else was in sight.

Swallowing a sigh, Yuliana decided to stay calm.

“Lady Loengrin, welcome.”

“Yuliana of the Loengrin family greets the precious light of the moon, Princess Ophelia.”

“You see the one chair left? Sit there.”

Ophelia seated Yuliana next to Beonar.

“Due to a maid’s mistake, the invitations didn’t reach other ladies and lords. Fortunately, the invitations went well to Young Lord Beonar and you, Lady Yuliana. Hoho.”

Seeing Ophelia lying with a fresh smile, Yuliana felt a surge of irritation. It was a time to stay composed.

Sitting down, Yuliana couldn’t shake off a chilling feeling.

“Young Lord Beonar, I heard your lover, Lady Sophia, is marrying another noble. That’s unfortunate.”

“It’s fine. Because of that ordeal, I realized what true love is. I realized too late that true love is someone who stays by your side during really hard times.”

Beonar recalled the conversation he had with Sophia on the day of the Crown Prince’s birth banquet.

<They opposed our marriage. I don’t want to marry someone else. I love you so much, Beonar…>

Earl Lumichua didn’t want to marry her off more than expected.

The only good news is that Sophia has guaranteed part of the bond to Iudi, and now the rest of the bond will be guaranteed by Yuliana, the so-called Saint of the Battlefield, and it would be perfectly sorted out.

“Right. A fleeting breeze can’t shake love. I support your love, Young Lord Beonar.”

“Yes. I will strive so that love can see me again.”

Yuliana quietly listened to the conversation between Ophelia and Beonar without interrupting.

Then it happened.

“Lady Loengrin. And Young Lord Beonar. I need to excuse myself for a moment. Please continue enjoying your tea together.”

Ophelia hurriedly got up and left the glass greenhouse, taking the maids and attendants with her.

Left alone with Beonar suddenly, Yuliana didn’t like the current situation. She felt uncomfortable.

A short but long silence ensued. It was Beonar who spoke first.

“Lia.”

“I don’t want anyone other than my lover and family to call me by my nickname.”

“I’m sorry. I was so foolish.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

He was hoping for forgiveness, but it was laughable nonsense.

“I want to restore our previous relationship, Yuliana. If we can do that, I’ll really do well.”

“Young Lord Beonar!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize your love.”

“There’s no reason to apologize.”

Yuliana’s usually lively voice turned cold.

“I don’t think our relationship is over. I know you became lovers with Duke Rockbellion to forget me! That’s a cruel and miserable thing to do to the Duke!”

Listening to Beonar’s desperate and sorrowful voice, Yuliana felt more and more dumbfounded.

Of course, she admitted that her pride was hurt by the broken engagement with Beonar. But the idea that she used Anthus to forget that wound was nonsense!

“No need to hide it! I’m sincerely reflecting on it. If we had talked about our feelings before breaking off the engagement… This wouldn’t have happened!”

“What? Feelings?”

“Yes. I should have confessed earlier… Then we wouldn’t have had to part so miserably.”

Beonar started to cling to Yuliana to somehow hold on to her.

He had been having hard days after hearing that Sophia was marrying another man. Especially since the business funds Sophia used to provide were cut off suddenly. He was hounded by debt collectors. Moreover, his father even said, ‘It wouldn’t be bad if Maxwell, who is marrying Princess Seria, becomes the next marquis.’

During such distressing days, Beonar received an invitation from Princess Ophelia.

<Lady Yuliana is dating Duke Anthus Rockbellion forcibly to forget you, Young Lord Beonar.>

Beonar found hope in those words.

“Don’t hurt yourself anymore!”

Yuliana held her forehead. She felt a throbbing headache.

“I don’t love you, Young Lord Beonar.”

“Why are you lying so much? Can’t you forgive me? Please… forgive me.”

Yuliana was slightly impressed by Beonar’s eloquence. How could a person be so shameless!

Even when the truth was told repeatedly, he denied it and only said what he wanted. In a way, it was quite impressive.

“I don’t want to talk to you, Young Lord Beonar, anymore.”

“I’m sincere. Please give me another chance.”

“Sorry, but I’m already deeply involved with the Duke, so it’s impossible.”

Bang.

Beonar slammed his fist on the table in front of him and laughed loudly.

“Duke Anthus Rockbellion is already in marriage talks with Princess Ophelia! Open your eyes! I’m begging for forgiveness! We can be happy again like before!”

After Beonar’s words, a cold atmosphere quickly settled in the glass greenhouse.

“Even if I break up with the Duke, I have no intention of getting engaged to you, Young Lord Beonar, again.”

Beonar stood up and approached Yuliana, bowing his head.

“I’m sorry… Even though I’m apologizing like this, why won’t you forgive me? If you’re pretending to be lovers with Duke Rockbellion to make me jealous, it worked perfectly. I was really jealous. Anyway, the Duke will marry the Princess. So, Lia, come back to my side. I’ll accept you.”

Yuliana let out a hollow laugh. Beonar was acting as if he were a righteous man overcoming all the world’s sadness and adversity to protect his love.

“When I was out protecting the empire, you, Young Lord Beonar, had an affair with Lady Sophia. In front of me, you supported me for the peace of the empire, but behind my back, you spoke ill of me. Did you think I didn’t know?”

“I was wrong. Lady Sophia seduced me! Lia, I’m sincerely reflecting.”

“I told you not to call me by my nickname, Young Lord Beonar Fedeurus.”

Yuliana wanted to get up and leave immediately, but the tea party hosted by Princess Ophelia had to end for her to do so.

“I know you’re angry. But can’t you understand my situation too? Do you know how lonely I was every day with my fiancée out in the war?”

Beonar stood up and approached Yuliana.

“I’m sorry. I did it because I was lonely. Please forgive me just once. I love you.”

“It would be best if you didn’t come any closer, Young Lord Beonar.”

Yuliana quietly summoned Sylph.