Chapter 12

The maids separated Julian and me and then pushed me into the bathtub.

“Th-This isn’t necessary!”

I exclaimed as one of the maids poured water over my shoulders. The water had a strong fragrance, likely because it had been steeped with various flowers.

“Oh, come on, it’s your first night together; why wouldn’t it be necessary?”

“By now, His Grace is probably getting groomed too!”

Julian? I looked at Anna in surprise. She clasped her hands together and nodded. Was Julian also being scrubbed in a bath somewhere?

“His Grace’s baths are usually attended by the butler, but the maids prepared everything meticulously this time. We can’t lose, right?“

It’s not like we were having a duel on the first night—where was there to win or lose? Besides, we were in a political marriage and even had an agreement that allowed time before having children.

But the maids couldn’t know all that, so they did their best for their masters.

‘It’s proof I’ve chosen good maids, but still embarrassing.’

Of course, it wasn’t my first time. In my past life, I had married Kazak and even had a child. But back then, I thought it was just part of my duty as a wife.

We followed proper procedures and had our first night with the help of others. Now, the situation was very different. Julian would never allow maids into his room.

‘Nothing is going to happen anyway.’

I thought as I tried to calm my pounding heart.

I stepped into the room the maids had decorated for the first night. The cold touch of the floor on my bare feet gave me goosebumps.

The room was rather dim, but small candles flickered in the corners.

In the center of the room was a bed that looked expensive. It was made of high-quality wood and quite high off the ground. The bed had dark purple curtains, and I could see the silhouette of a man through them.

“Your Grace?”

Who else could it be but Julian? Nevertheless, I had to ask.

“Come in.”

His low voice matched the dark bedroom eerily well. I hesitated, holding the curtain.

I thought of my marriage with Kazak. At first, Kazak was polite and valued formality in our relationship.

But as time passed, he acted more for himself, disregarding my wishes. I endured it, thinking all men were like that, and it was an inevitable instinct.

Julian had made promises to me, but he might not keep them. My wishes might be ignored…

I was hesitating when…

“I’ll leave the bed. Come in and rest. If we sleep separately on our first night, your maids will gossip.”

“Oh.”

Julian stepped out from behind the curtain. He was still wearing his half-mask, but his usual cloak was off, showing his relaxed form. His stone-like shoulder and arm were exposed.

In the dim light, he looked like a massive statue. Even his solid chest under the white shirt looked like it was made of stone.

“W-Wait, where are you going?”

I watched him in a daze, then reached out to stop him.

“I was planning to review documents anyway, so where I go doesn’t matter.“

Only then did I notice the documents lying where Julian had been sitting. I realized my worry was pointless. He hadn’t even considered tonight in his plans.

“Haha, I feel so foolish.“

“Why foolish?“

“Just… nothing.”

Comparing Julian to Kazak felt foolish. Kazak was a worthless scoundrel, while Julian, though misunderstood, was intensely thoughtful. There was an unbridgeable chasm between them.

I lightly pushed Julian’s shoulder, guiding him back into the bed.

“We’re a couple anyway, so sleeping in the same bed is fine.”

I sat on the high bed’s edge, attempting to climb up. At that moment, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up.

A soft gasp escaped my lips, but nothing more happened. He merely helped me onto the bed. I adjusted my delicate clothes with an awkward expression.

“Why is the bed so high?”

I grumbled, and Julian answered nonchalantly.

“Because I’m tall.“

“Must be nice to be tall.”

Mumbling, I crawled under the covers. Julian was already leaning against the headboard, reviewing documents. A side table with a lamp next to him provided light for his work.

‘It really seems like nothing is going to happen tonight.’

With that thought, my body and mind began to relax. I lay on my side, resting my head on the pillow, and looked up at him.

He flipped through the papers, occasionally jotting down notes with a pen. Sometimes, he would dismissively toss a document towards his legs.

Bored, I picked up one of the discarded papers. Julian’s gaze followed.

“Is it okay if I look at this?“

“… It’s fine.”

Given permission, I pulled the document closer to read. It was immediately apparent why Julian had discarded it.

Absurd proposals and unreasonable demands- none of them were worth considering. Paying attention to such nonsense would ruin the Duchy long before the Emperor could get his hands on it.

As I read through them, I paused at one document.

“…Kazak Amber’s request to visit the Duchy.”

Julian responded to my murmured words.

“I rejected it.“

“Why?“

“His intentions are obviously impure. I don’t let just anyone into the Duchy.“

“But the gifts he’s offering are quite generous. This grain is valuable here since agriculture isn’t highly developed.“

I spoke carefully, my heart pounding. I realized I was eager for his response.

Julian set aside the documents on his lap and looked at me.

“Because my wife might be in danger.”

His answer pleased me greatly. I couldn’t help but shrug and tried not to smile too widely.

“That’s good to hear.”

I flopped back on the bed, holding the document to read it.

Why does Kazak want to come here?

“He’s looking for something.“

“What? How did you know what I was thinking?”

Julian chuckled but didn’t answer. I knew my face was easy to read, but I didn’t realize he could read it so well. Has he become more comfortable with me?

“He might be looking for that mistress you brought along.“

“No, he wouldn’t do that. He’s not that loyal.”

My muttered words made Julian look at me.

“Are you that upset about the Marquis Amber and his mistress?”

That was a tricky question. Everyone at the party expected me to be angry, but I wasn’t when I first learned about it in my past life. I just thought it was inevitable, something I had long anticipated.

“Not really. Unlike the royals, nobles often take mistresses. My anger was more out of necessity.”

I could be honest with him, but I didn’t expect his response.

“You can have one too.“

“What?“

“If you need one or two lovers, that’s fine. You won’t be as foolish as the Marquis Amber.”

His words stunned me.

Why did it feel like we were getting closer, only to be pushed apart again like waves? There were moments when it seemed he was opening up to me, but then I’d hit a massive iron gate.

“But any children must be mine. That was our agreement.”

I lay there blankly, staring at him before slamming the document with a loud thud.

“Why do you have to speak so meanly?“

“What do you mean?“

“I think we can at least be friends. If that’s the case, it would be best to not betray each other’s trust while we’re still married, right? Don’t you think so?”

Julian couldn’t quickly answer my words. To him, this must have been a result of deep thought. Realizing this, his cold words seemed a bit pitiable. Not that I wasn’t angry.

“You can have a new woman too. After I die.”

I turned my head away coldly. Silence followed beside me. It was a long time before I looked back.

Julian stared at the document, but I saw a faint curve on his stiff lips.

I liked that smile, so I burrowed into the blanket without looking at him.

“If you’re going to say something like that in the future, I’d rather you didn’t. Because you’re handsome when you’re still.“

“There’s nothing you can’t say, is there?“

“No, there isn’t. Have you realized that now?”

Our banter ended there. I closed my eyes. Then, only the rustling sound of papers turning was heard.

Tomorrow, I’ll contact the Night Owl Information Guild. I need to find out what Kazak is looking for. Before that, I should have a talk with Marian…

As I thought about this, my tired body pulled me to sleep. I was about to give up and let myself be dragged along when I felt something brush the hair from my cheek. The gentle touch softly grazed my ear before disappearing.

“Strange woman.”

I smiled faintly at the muffled voice.