Chapter 40

Had the previous silence been the calm before the storm? His words struck like a bolt from the blue. After taking a breath, I spoke as calmly as I could.

“…My hand is healed.”

Julian gripped my hand a bit tighter. I realized that it took considerable courage for him to say this. Julian didn’t want to fight with me again. Yet, he felt he had to say those words.

“I won’t ask anything. I won’t call for a doctor separately or investigate further.”

“Julian, you…“

“See a doctor. It doesn’t matter how much it costs. Nothing…”

Julian spoke with firm determination.

“You don’t have to tell me anything.”

How long had Julian known something was wrong with my health? And why hadn’t he confronted me directly?

My health was crucial to our contract. Even if he vehemently criticized me, I wouldn’t have had a word to defend myself.

But instead of criticizing, Julian was holding my hand tightly, as if pleading. His voice sounded so earnest that I nodded.

“I will.”

Julian gave a faint smile, recognizable even through the veil. I intertwined my fingers with his.

Why does the world call you a monster? There’s no one kinder than you.

* * *

We had two carriages when we came to the capital, so we also had two on the way back. Julian instructed the servants to ride in the rear carriage and took my hand, leading me into the front. I sat across from Julian.

“Do you have something to say?”

When I asked after the carriage had started moving, Julian shook his head as if it was nothing.

“I want to hear you chatter.”

“Chatter? Me?”

I found Julian’s use of a cute word like “chatter ” amusing and a bit provocative, so I quickly retorted. Despite my tone, I was smiling widely.

“You always chatter when you’re in a good mood.“

Julian’s lips also curled into a smile. I chuckled and pondered what to chatter about.

“Oh, the Marquis of Amber will cause trouble soon.”

I mentioned it because I thought Julian might be curious. But Julian frowned and looked me up and down.

“What’s wrong?“

“Are you hurt anywhere?“

“Hurt? Oh, from meeting the Marquis of Amber?”

Now I realized he didn’t like that I had met Kazak. To reassure Julian, I smiled brightly and lightly placed my hand on his knee before withdrawing it.

“Do you think I’d lose to the Marquis of Amber? I hurt him instead.”

Julian chuckled and shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“What? Do you think I’m acting too tomboyish?“

“No. I was thinking you did well.“

“Of course, right?”

Julian laughed again at my quick change in attitude. It was still a tiny, low sound, but he would be really handsome if he smiled broadly. Well, even this was much softer than usual.

“But still, see a doctor when we get back.“

“I’m really not hurt.“

“Laila.”

I flinched and looked at Julian. His voice was stern, as if he was about to scold me. I pouted and replied half-heartedly.

“Yes, I will.”

Julian gazed at me intently. Was he really going to scold me? Even though I appear like this, I am a noblewoman too.

I glanced at him cautiously, but instead of speaking, Julian tapped the wall behind him, which led to the coachman’s seat, twice with his middle finger.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

As the carriage slowed, the coachman responded from the front.

“To the villa.“

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After finishing his conversation with the coachman, Julian returned to his upright posture. I couldn’t help but ask, unable to contain my curiosity.

“Why are we going to the villa all of a sudden?“

“Because I want to show it to you.”

“The villa?“

“Yes.”

I was about to ask why he suddenly wanted to show me the villa but decided to keep quiet. Julian wouldn’t do anything without reason, and I would find out once we arrived.

Soon, the carriage entered the Duchy of Zan. I opened the carriage window slightly, enjoying the much cooler air compared to the capital.

The first time I visited, I thought it was cold, but now I welcomed the chill that nipped at my nose.

The carriage traveled in a different direction from the familiar scenery. Given how the carriage seemed to know the villa’s location, Julian seemed to frequent this place.

As the mistress, I knew there was a villa, but I had left it alone since it was small, remote, and had few caretakers.

Why was he suddenly taking me there?

After a long ride, the carriage stopped in a tranquil place, just as I had seen on the map. There was no sound of people, and the road was solid dirt. The forest behind the house resonated with the sweet sound of birds.

“It’s a beautiful place.”

For the villa of the Duke of Zan, it was very modest. However, if you stood still, you could even hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, a very peaceful place.

“Do you like it?“

“Yes. It’s beautiful.”

Sarah, the maid, approached to drape a cloak over me. Julian took it from her and wrapped it around my shoulders himself. I faced Julian, appreciating his meticulous touch. Once he had adjusted my outfit entirely, I smiled and thanked him.

“Thank you.“

“Let’s go.”

I hooked my arm through Julian’s outstretched hand and walked with him. The caretaker of the villa, seemingly surprised by the sudden visit of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, came running out.

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

The caretaker urgently bowed. I looked up at Julian, smiling.

“We’ll stay for a while, so have some tea ready for the Grand Duchess.“

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After the caretaker left, I released myself from Julian’s support and walked ahead. I wanted to explore this beautiful villa more. As I moved briskly, Julian clicked his tongue and spoke.

“You might trip.”

I turned around and stuck out my tongue.

“I won’t trip.”

Julian looked anxious as if he was ready to catch me at any moment. I liked seeing that expression, so I kept walking while maintaining a distance to avoid being caught.

“Duchess.“

“I said I won’t trip.“

“Duchess, don’t act like a child.”

I was about to laugh at his coaxing tone when my foot caught on a stone, causing me to stumble. I reached out to regain my balance.

Oh, I’m going to fall. But before I could hit the ground, Julian grabbed my arm. I leaned into him as I righted myself.

“Wow, that was close.“

Julian’s eyebrows furrowed at my nonchalant comment. Pointing at him, I laughed heartily.

“Laila.“

“You treat me like a child, so I act like one.“

“Is it my fault?“

“Of course, it’s your fault.”

I spoke shamelessly and smiled. Julian looked at me in exasperation. He firmly held onto me and led me to the back of the house.

There was a small garden. A white tea table sat in the middle, with flowers carefully planted on either side. I pulled Julian’s hand, moving closer to the flowers.

“It’s a cute garden.”

As I bent down to smell the flowers, Julian spoke.

“My mother used to tend to this garden.”

It was a completely unexpected revelation. I blinked and looked up at Julian. I had thought it was impolite to ask about his family, and I never expected to hear about them.

“Did the former duchess like flowers?“

“To be honest, not particularly.”

A smile appeared on Julian’s lips as he remembered his mother.

“The garden was even more of a mess than this. Still, she always tended to it to show me.“

“I think the former duchess must have been more endearing than the garden.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the image of a noblewoman tending to a garden with clumsy hands.

“Julian, you must have come here often when you were young.“

“I spent my time here until I inherited the title.“

“Really?“

“I only went to the grand duchy after I heard of my father’s passing.”

I immediately closed my chattering mouth. A child who spent their childhood in a secluded villa, not even getting the chance to see their father one last time. The picture was becoming more apparent in my mind.

As I fell silent, Julian continued speaking on his own.

“My father despised me for inheriting the ancestral curse. But my mother was different. She always treated me with genuine affection.“

“She must have been a warm-hearted person.”

Julian nodded.

“My mother believed that everything would be okay if we lived together in this small house. She said my father would eventually come to love me. As a child, I believed her words. But reality was harsh.”

Young Julian faced more than just his father’s coldness.

“My mother had a long-term illness and passed away before I inherited the title. My father didn’t even attend her funeral. That’s when I realized—I had only one person on my side in this world, and now she was gone.”

Julian gazed at the garden with distant eyes. His slightly parted lips indicated he was lost in memories.

“Laila.”

I grasped Julian’s hand tightly with both of mine. I wanted to comfort him. Even though it had been so long ago, I could feel that Julian was still mourning. But he accepted my comfort and spoke.

“I asked you to see a doctor because I don’t want my precious friend to follow the same path as my mother.”

Julian had brought us here because of me.

“I don’t want to force you into anything unpleasant. So…”

Julian, gazing at the garden, now looked at me. He gently cupped my cheek, as I had once done to him. His touch was soft and warm as if to melt away the chill in my cheek.

“I’m begging you.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.