Chapter 73

I placed my hands on Julian’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes. He seemed utterly lost, desperate to comfort me. I stared at him through my tear-streaked face.

“…Are you an idiot?”

“I’m your husband.“

“An idiot, indeed.”

Strangely, the tears continued to fall. Julian used his large hands to wipe them away. I grabbed his hand with both of mine and leaned my cheek against it.

A person who isn’t good with words, but every word he says is kind. And yet, someone I can’t help but resent. Someone whose words I always want to hear, even though I resent him.

I think I like you.

I couldn’t deny it any longer. I knew it was a feeling I shouldn’t harbor, so I tried to ignore it. I tried to push him away with unpredictable behavior that no one could understand, but this was the result.

I like you.

How could anyone not like someone as kind as you?

I removed Julian’s mask. He blinked once but didn’t stop me. With resentment, I looked at the rare stones embedded in his cheeks and held both sides of his face.

This is something a friend wouldn’t do.

I tilted my head and pressed my lips against his. I could feel Julian’s grip tighten around my waist.

But that was all. We stayed like that, lips pressed together, holding each other, until we slowly pulled apart. I lowered my gaze.

“I… I like you, even though I shouldn’t.”

Julian gently tilted my chin toward him and said,

“Me too.”

Before I could say anything more, he covered my lips with his. Every nerve in my body felt heightened— the warmth of his lips, the sound of our clothes brushing against each other, and the firmness of his arms around my waist. Everything felt vividly real.

Julian and I held each other, kissing for a long time. It wasn’t until I began to suffocate and pounded on his shoulder that he finally let me go.

“I… I can’t breathe. Do you not breathe at all?”

Julian apologized immediately, his tone sincere.

“Sorry. I’m not good at this; it’s my first time.”

In that sense, Julian was remarkable. He didn’t seem like it was his first time at all. Though I had initiated the kiss, I was swept away before I knew it.

I bit my lower lip as I rested my forehead against his. The reality that I had just kissed him started to sink in, and a slow heat spread across my face.

Julian looked at me with a gaze filled with affection. I turned my head away and spoke gruffly.

“Don’t look at me like that.“

“Why not?“

“I probably look awful. I’ve been crying and yelling…”

At that, Julian smiled and kissed my cheek.

“You’re the most beautiful when you smile. But you’re lovely even when you’re pouting.“

“You always know what to say.”

A smile tugged at my lips despite my words. I lightly grasped Julian’s hand, which was still cupping my cheek. His large hand was familiar to me, yet something felt different. I tilted my head and gently stroked the back of his hand. Julian, seemingly unaware of anything unusual, kissed my forehead once more.

“Julian.”

“Yes?”

I hesitated to respond. I didn’t want to say anything that might give Julian false hope. I simply continued to trace his hand with my fingertips.

“Laila?”

I pulled Julian’s hand up to my face when suspicion turned into certainty. I tried to remove his glove, but he instinctively stopped me.

I leaned in and kissed Julian on the lips. As his shoulders stiffened, I carefully slipped off the glove. Though it had been tailored to fit him perfectly, it now slipped off quickly.

His arm had once been covered entirely by solid stone, leaving no skin visible. The rare stones in his flesh had lost their magic and turned into a rock. But now, things were different. There were still patches of gray stone, but his skin was visible.

I slowly ran my hand down his arm, looking into Julian’s eyes. He stared at his arm in disbelief.

“What is this…?”

The curse had bound Julian’s body for as long as he could remember. It hadn’t disappeared completely. If anything, it was still very much present.

Yet, even with just a tiny part of it gone, neither Julian nor I could find the words to speak.

“It’s gone,“ I whispered.

It took me a long time to finally get the words out. I clutched his arm tightly and repeated myself with more conviction.

“Julian, it’s gone.”

I looked at him with a bright smile. Julian still seemed unable to grasp what was happening.

His bewildered expression was so touching that I couldn’t help but pull him into a tight hug. Given our difference in size, it was more like I was being embraced by him, but it didn’t matter—I was happy. My curse had been lifted, and I was just as overjoyed.

“Julian, are you happy?”

When I asked in an excited voice, Julian responded with a bewildered tone.

“How?”

His response was still incomplete. Julian was likely overwhelmed by an emotion too big to properly express. I quickly released him and stood up.

“We shouldn’t just stand here. We need to call Thien.”

“Thien?”

“Yes! Thien Yus! That person…”

I didn’t finish my sentence before Julian pulled me back into his arms and kissed me again.

He bit my lower lip gently, then let go, only to kiss deeply on my neck. I barely held onto his shoulders as my fingers curled into his shirt.

“Why bring up another man all of a sudden?”

His hot breath brushed against my nape, sending a shiver down my spine. Yet, strangely, that sensation was intertwined with pleasure. I shuddered, laughing awkwardly.

“Thien…“

“You call him by his name?“

“I thought it would be good to get closer to him. After all, you’re the one who introduced him to me.”

I tried to calm him by soothingly rubbing his back, as one might with an agitated animal. Yet his tense expression didn’t soften. Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been so pleasant. I wondered why things had turned out this way, and then, amused by my thoughts, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you… really jealous?”

Julian furrowed his brow before answering plainly.

“Yes.“

“Really? Over something this small? Do you like me that much?”

Realizing I was teasing him, Julian sighed and took a slight step back, letting out a small chuckle. I nudged him playfully, but Julian didn’t relent.

“Don’t get too close to that doctor.”

I smiled, shaking my head.

“Sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“Why not?“

“Because Thien… Sir Yus knows a lot about curses. You should meet him, too.“

“…Alright.”

Julian agreed, but he didn’t seem particularly hopeful. He had been cursed since birth and must have met other sorcerers before.

Yet he was still cursed. I could understand his reluctance; even I was reluctant to meet with a doctor. But just as I had found hope, I also wanted to give him some.

“Somehow, your curse has improved a little, hasn’t it? We’re bound to figure this out.“

“I’ll do it because my wife insists.”

He still didn’t seem convinced. When I shot him a glance, Julian brushed his fingers against my cheek and said,

“Maybe kissing is the key to breaking the curse.”

Understanding his suggestion, I slightly parted my lips and quickly turned away. Behind me, I heard Julian’s low chuckle.

I couldn’t decide whether his comment was meant to tease me or if there was a small part of him that genuinely believed it. After all, stories of curses being lifted by a kiss are familiar in fairy tales. Pondering this, I turned back to face Julian.

After all, it wouldn’t wear out, right? And if kissing could gradually break his curse, I would do it a thousand, no, ten thousand times.

After some hesitation, I kissed him again. But nothing changed. Disappointed, I muttered,

“I guess that’s not it.“

“What a pity.”

I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. As I leaned back against the sofa, Julian leaned sideways on the couch, his eyes lingering on my cheek, my eyes, and finally, my lips. I lowered my gaze and nervously licked my lips, which had gone dry.

“Sh-should we talk about the beasts?“

“I’d rather tell you about something first.”

It was rare for Julian to say something like that. I quickly nodded, eager to hear whatever he had to say.

Julian smiled, finding my eagerness endearing, but when he began speaking, his expression turned serious.

“After you left the Grand Duke’s estate, I had one of my men follow Lady Eriant.“

“The Lady Eriant?”

Already? But Julian seemed to interpret my confusion differently and responded apologetically.

“Yes. I haven’t had a chance to place someone in the imperial palace yet. Especially around the princess; the security there is incredibly tight. I even got a few of her people dismissed, but she didn’t take on any new staff.”

That meant Princess Abigail was growing wary of those around her, even at the cost of being short-staffed. It was intriguing, but something else caught my attention.

“You got rid of the princess’s people?“

“Yes.“

“You went that far?”

Julian nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Even though I knew it was an obvious question, I couldn’t help but ask,

“Why?”

And, as always, Julian didn’t disappoint.

“Because I promised 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.