Chapter 22

I managed to escape that madman, but the future worried me. He might seem like a wealthy idler, but he was still the second prince. Having kicked such a person in the groin, it wouldn’t be easy to avoid repercussions. Lost in thought, I soon turned to Shuan and shouted.

“I’m going to run away!”

“What?“

“This is why I married someone powerful.”

“What?”

Though I was out of breath, I didn’t stop walking. Shuan, bewildered, tried to grab me, but I dashed away faster than he could.

Even though I wasn’t in the best health, I was the daughter of Count Winsley. I was confident I wouldn’t lose in a race to most people.

“Watch my back, Lethe.”

I whispered as I lightly pushed his hand away. It was amusing to see Shuan’s handsome face turn bewildered.

Not saying goodbye to the Marchioness of Eriant would undoubtedly hurt her pride, but my life was more important now.

I quickly got into the carriage and told the coachman to hurry. Fortunately, no one was chasing after me yet.

In the distance, I could see Shuan confronting Prince Cain. Despite his surprise, he seemed determined to help me. I should thank him in a letter.

Meanwhile, Shuan held back Prince Cain, who was ready to charge out.

“Eriant brat! Get out of my way! I need to kill that woman right now!”

Prince Cain, clutching his groin and shouting, looked utterly undignified. He was always a pretty face, but now he looked even worse. Shuan had to stifle a laugh.

After hearing the carriage wheels roll away, Shuan only let go of Prince Cain. Once the prince was gone, Shuan let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.

“She’s really an audacious woman.”

There was no shadow in his voice that usually accompanied him. His voice was filled only with amusement.

* * *

Bark!

A fluffy white dog barked joyfully at my sight as I entered the mansion. Just as I had asked Julian, Duke greeted me in his place.

Duke licked my cheeks wildly, eventually knocking me over. I lay on the lawn, laughing heartily.

“Duke! It tickles! Someone help me! Hahaha!”

Hearing my loud laughter, the gardeners, footmen in the hall, and even Anna came rushing out. Feeling embarrassed, I gently pushed Duke’s chin and tried to regain my composure.

“I’m back, so can you prepare a bath?”

No matter how composed I tried to be, Duke was overly excited. He licked my hair like a cat, messing up my elegantly styled hair.

The footmen couldn’t help but burst into laughter. I laughed awkwardly and stood up, brushing grass off my skirt.

“Ahem”

I cleared my throat and approached Anna. She led me to the bathroom, trying to suppress her laughter.

“My lady, Duke seems to recognize his master. Despite the gardeners taking him for walks daily, he gets so excited whenever he sees you.“

“Really? I like Duke, too.“

“You’ve always liked dogs, my lady.”

Dogs are loyal, brave, and affectionate. They always welcome and love me wholeheartedly, so how could I not like them?

Honestly, before my return, I found loyal hunting dogs cute and enjoyable. But after coming back, I craved genuine affection more than ever. It might have been because of the wounds from being deceived by Kazak.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

“What is Julian up to?”

I didn’t expect Julian to greet me, so I wasn’t disappointed that he wasn’t in the garden.

Kazak also never came out to greet me. I was disappointed at first, but later, I came to think that was just how normal couples were.

“Huh?”

So it was no surprise that I was shocked to see Julian standing at the hall stairs.

“Julian!”

I hurried my steps towards him. It wasn’t until then that I realized how disheveled I looked and quickly turned away. As I hurriedly redid my hair, I asked.

“Julian, why are you out here? Do you have less work today?“

“Not really.“

“Are you just going for a walk?”

Julian sighed at my question. His sigh made me worry that I had made a mistake. But he said something entirely different.

“I came to greet you.”

Startled, I turned around, my hair falling softly over my shoulders as I lowered my arms. I couldn’t even pay attention to that as I stared at him wide-eyed.

Julian frowned slightly as if he found my reaction a bit frustrating.

“Why do you look at me like that? Is it wrong for me to come out and greet you?“

“No. No, not at all!”

I waved my hands vigorously. The word ‘greeting‘ coming from Julian’s firm lips felt very unfamiliar. It wasn’t that I disliked it. In fact, I felt a ticklish sensation in my chest, unsure of what to do with my hands.

“I just… I wondered if you remembered what I said. That you wouldn’t come out to greet me…”

Embarrassed, I kept touching my neck and earlobes. I knew they would turn red, but I couldn’t stop.

Julian reached out, took my hand, and pulled it down. It must have been uncomfortable to watch me fidgeting like that. He placed my hand by my side and nodded.

“I wondered whether your family members used to come out to greet you.“

“Oh, yes. But I didn’t expect you to. You’re always busy.“

“It wasn’t an expectation. I just had some time.”

“…Thank you.”

Feeling awkward, I thanked him, and a silence settled between us. I was talkative, but Julian was the opposite. It was hard to keep talking with someone so stoic.

Just as I was about to excuse myself for a bath, I remembered the emergency situation I had faced. How could I forget?

Duke licking me and Julian’s handsome face had made me forget everything like a fool.

How could I forget that I kicked the second prince’s groin at the party?

“Ju-Julian.”

I stammered, my dry lips reaching for my hand. As I looked up at him nervously, Julian also looked down at me.

“I made a mistake.“

Julian’s eyebrows twitched at my words. He had a remarkable ability to express himself through his face, even with a half-mask on. This time, a look asked, ‘What mistake?‘ I marveled at myself for understanding that.

“I kicked the second prince’s… well…”

I struggled to find the right word to describe that part of his anatomy. I placed my palm on my stomach, unable to say it was lower than that, and shut my eyes tightly.

“I kicked the second prince in the groin!”

Only after saying it did I realize there were more sophisticated terms like ‘nether regions‘ or ‘crotch.’

I covered my face in panic. When I kicked him, I didn’t think much of it and even felt a sense of satisfaction, but telling Julian was incredibly embarrassing.

Julian didn’t respond immediately, so I spread my fingers to peek at him. To my left, Anna looked shocked, her eyes and mouth wide open. And Julian, standing right in front of me…

“Grand Duchess.”

His deep voice called to me.

“Yes!”

I replied loudly and nodded.

How angry would Julian be? I had caused such a significant incident, ran away without thinking, and seemed irresponsible.

A large hand touched my head while my mind raced with all sorts of thoughts.

“Well done.”

That hand briefly touched my shoulder before giving me a firm squeeze and then letting go. I found myself missing the warmth.

“You’re not going to scold me?”

I felt strangely conflicted hearing praise instead of the scolding I expected. Hesitantly, I asked, and Julian spoke firmly.

“I believe he deserved it. Did he disrespect you?”

I nodded in confusion. I had expected a scolding and was ready to shamelessly ask for his help because I was his wife. But Julian acted differently. He wondered if the second prince had disrespected me…

“From now on, no carriages can enter the Grand Duke’s territory without permission. No one, except the emperor, can enter without authorization.“

Julian’s order was met with a loud response from the nearest guard.

“Yes, Your Grace!”

I watched the guard march off, eyes wide. It had happened so quickly that I had no time to intervene.

Julian looked at me calmly. His red eyes, which others feared, felt endlessly comforting to me. Before I could even ask or negotiate, he had firmly decided to protect me.

“Grand Duchess. Have your bath first. We’ll talk afterward.”

I nodded dumbly and followed Anna. As she supported me, she cautiously asked,

“Are you all right, my lady?”

What could I say to that? How could I not be? I had never felt this secure. I glanced back at Julian’s receding figure and murmured,

“I’m okay, but not okay.”

That was my honest feeling.

While bathing, I heard that the second prince had indeed come. He had chased after me at full speed shortly after I left. But Anna, with a satisfied look, said,

“He couldn’t even set foot in Duke’s territory.”

* * *

Just as Anna said, Cain was turned away at the gates of the Grand Duke’s territory. It must have been the first time he faced such rejection in his pampered life. Cain raged, kicking his guards.

“Kill those bastards immediately!”

By ‘those bastards,‘ Cain meant the guards blocking the entrance to the Grand Duke’s territory. Despite Cain’s furious shouts, they stood firm, glaring at his guards without a change in expression.