Chapter 32

“Should I just go back? I don’t want to make things difficult for you, Beatrice. It’s already enough that I disappointed my brother and father.”

“That’s not it…!”

The moment Julian spoke about his family, his expression darkened, and Beatrice couldn’t refuse him any further. She squeezed her eyes shut. However, since Julian only knew she was simply returning to her hometown, she needed to explain her situation clearly.

“Julian, I’m not sure if you remember, but I’m from an orphanage.”

“Of course I remember. You told me last time. You said you had to become a Priestess for the sake of your siblings at the orphanage.”

“And yet you still want to stay?”

Julian nodded.

“I mentioned it before, but my brother is really interested in relief activities. There are so many places in need of help, but he said there are few who care about things beyond the capital.”

Beatrice listened to Julian’s words in silence. She knew it well herself. If it was a place located in the capital, things were at least a little better. That way, places could get the attention of nobles like Julian’s brother. But just a little outside the capital, the number of commoners increased dramatically, and the number of nobles dropped sharply. Instead of receiving help, people were often neglected, and even their subsidies would be taken away.

“That’s why I want to go. If I stay with you at the orphanage, I can give my brother advice on what kind of help is most needed.”

Julian did not reveal the full truth to Beatrice, who seemed moved by his words.

It was true that his brother was interested in relief activities, and that he worried about orphanages and poorhouses outside the capital. But everything else was a lie.

When his brother suggested he spend the break at their southern estate, Julian had sent a reply saying he would visit Beatrice’s orphanage instead. He’d done so even before getting Beatrice’s permission.

Julian looked out the window. This year, time seemed to pass especially quickly. One semester—half a year had gone by, and much had changed for him. Changes he could never have imagined.

If this was what it meant to have someone in his heart, then everything he’d done with other women before was just a cheap game.

For fear of being misunderstood by Beatrice, Julian kept his distance from other female students. He didn’t dare approach Beatrice, who wasn’t even interested in him, afraid she might dislike him. It was a lifestyle completely contrary to his usual rule of never stopping women who came to him or chasing after those who left.

But it didn’t matter. Worried she might discover his dirty, hidden thoughts, he pretended to be just a good friend, acting as pure and innocent as Beatrice herself.

But time was no longer on his side. He’d lingered indecisively around her until the semester ended.

He’d agonized over it—should he just confess everything? But Julian wasn’t a fool. Making a confession that was doomed to fail was no different from s*icide.

[Julian, actually, I’m from an orphanage.]

It was the story Beatrice had told when asked why she wanted to become a Priestess. Speaking about the poor conditions at the orphanage, Beatrice had smiled softly. She said that if she became a high-ranking Priestess, she could support the orphanage in her own name. That was the biggest reason she wanted to become a Priest.

Love for God.  

Love for her orphanage family.

Beatrice had so much love. For Julian, those feelings were special and precious, but among all the love Beatrice held, her affection for Julian Sancio was far down the list. He could already picture it—Beatrice, faced with his confession, awkwardly avoiding his gaze.

So, what could he do? He had to do whatever he could to make her feelings for him grow, even if it was just a faint interest.

In the end, it was the same today. He was the only one who regretted their parting. Julian looked at Beatrice, who was already absorbed in organizing her notes from the Magical Potion Manufacturing class, with a bit of resentment in his eyes.

Unlike Julian, who spent sleepless nights worrying about what to do since he wouldn’t be able to see her once vacation started, Beatrice seemed completely unconcerned about leaving this place.

Even during class, she hadn’t noticed his gaze at all, and when he greeted her, she had been startled. Her question about why he was there had sounded as if she didn’t want to see him, stabbing Julian’s heart.

Beatrice would probably be the same when she entered the Temple. It would be as if nothing had happened between them, as if none of it meant anything. She would simply fly away, like a fluttering butterfly, enchanting everyone with her smile.

There were times Julian thought about giving up. But he simply couldn’t let go of Beatrice. For the first time in his life—yes, if this was love, then for the first time ever, he had fallen in love. He couldn’t imagine ever meeting someone like her again.

Before Beatrice left for somewhere he couldn’t reach, Julian had to do something, even if it was a clumsy, embarrassing act.

There were only three weeks left.

After that, Beatrice would leave for the Temple to become a Priestess.

He hoped he could win Beatrice’s heart before then.

Julian closed his eyes and offered a shameless prayer, one he doubted God would ever listen to. When he opened his eyes, their gazes met. It was only a moment, but it felt as if time slowed, as if it would last forever.

“…Ah.”

This feeling wasn’t just Julian’s. The moment their eyes met, Beatrice, as if enchanted, snapped back to her senses. Flustered, she quickly covered her face with her notebook.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Ah, it’s just… I was wondering if you’d fallen asleep.”

She couldn’t admit that she’d been captivated by Julian’s beautiful, almost reverent appearance. Her hurried voice trembled like a goat, and anyone listening would surely think it was just an excuse. By the end, Beatrice’s voice had grown as small as a whisper.

Beatrice widened her eyes, trying to shift the topic of conversation. At that moment, something caught her eye.

Her mouth parted slightly in shock. Julian’s gaze naturally followed Beatrice’s reaction, her lips moving silently in surprise.

Soon, Julian’s expression mirrored Beatrice’s.

Both of their eyes landed just above the carriage door.

The interior wall of the carriage, more luxurious than anyone could imagine, was covered with ivory silk embroidered to perfection, contrasting with the lavish gold-plated door.

<A room you cannot leave unless you kiss the rag.>

The letters shone so brightly that it was impossible to mistake them for a hallucination.

“…What is this…”

A troubled voice escaped Julian’s lips. He quickly looked out the window. The carriage was still racing along at high speed.

“This situation makes no sense.”

Julian’s face grew serious, his expression darkening, and Beatrice became tense as well.

“Wh-why, Julian? It’s not that difficult, really.”

She had been surprised when she first read the words, but—just a kiss? Compared to everything that had happened between them, this felt like nothing more than a childish game.

But Julian’s face did not relax.

Beatrice, puzzled by Julian’s reaction, soon realized why he was acting that way.

“We’ll be arriving at the village soon, Young Master. I’ll stop the carriage at a suitable inn.”

At the coachman’s words, Beatrice’s face turned pale.