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Chapter 41
“Please, come in.”
“What?”
Rai frowned and stepped back slightly as he followed the maid. The place she led him to was none other than Julian’s bedroom.
“Leading me to the princess’s bedroom at this hour… weren’t you waiting for me somewhere else?”
“Yes, she is in her bedroom.”
“I cannot enter a bedroom recklessly.”
Rai spoke firmly, not wanting to create any situation that could be misunderstood.
“But Princess…”
“Enough. Tell her I’ll leave for today.”
Without wasting any more time, Rai turned around.
“Who gave you permission to leave?”
At that moment, the bedroom door opened, and Julian’s voice came from inside. Unable to leave quietly, Rai exhaled a long sigh in his heart.
“Rai, tell me—what are you looking at?”
Under Julian’s commanding tone, Rai had no choice but to turn halfway toward her, hastily covering his eyes with his hand.
“Princess, please put on your coat.”
Julian stepped out of the bedroom wearing only her underdress.
“It’s almost time to sleep, so that’s all.”
“Then I will step back so you can rest comfortably.”
“No, stay by my side until I fall asleep.”
“I am your guard, Princess, not someone who serves you at night. Please, let it be for today…”
Just as Rai seemed ready to turn away, Julian took his hand covering his eyes and pulled it down.
But Rai kept his eyes tightly shut.
“Rai. Look at me.”
“I can’t.”
“It’s an order.”
“…Hah.”
With a deep sigh, Rai opened his eyes. Forced to look at Julian, he quickly turned his head away, unable to meet her gaze.
“Release me.”
“Stay with me only until I fall asleep.”
“No.”
“Just ten minutes, only ten minutes. I had a nightmare last night, so I’m scared.”
“Others could misunderstand.”
“If I stay quiet, no one will notice. You know that hardly anyone comes to Claude’s residence.”
She mentioned Claude’s situation so naturally. Rai knew the fact but had never openly acknowledged it. It was part of the respect owed to royalty. But Julian mentioned it openly—not only in front of him but even in front of the maid.
For the first time, Rai felt something strange about Julian.
“If you stand like this too long, it will only cause more misunderstanding.”
As she said, making a fuss now would be counterproductive. Rai had no choice but to squeeze his eyes shut and then open them again, still not looking at Julian as he replied:
“Ten minutes only.”
“Okay! Just ten minutes!”
Julian immediately grabbed Rai’s hand and pulled him into the bedroom.
Click.
The door closed, leaving only the two of them inside. Rai still didn’t look at Julian once.
“Now that I’ve come in, please let go.”
“Can’t I hold you?”
She held his hand with both of hers, teasing him cutely.
“I feel like you’ll leave if I let go.”
“I will keep my word. I will leave after ten minutes, so please let go.”
Rai spoke stiffly, like a night watchman, and though Julian was disappointed, she was content just being alone with him.
“Alright. Then I’ll stay by your side too.”
“Please lie down and sleep.”
“I want to stay together.”
“I have been by your side all along today.”
“Still, I want to be with you longer. I don’t want to be apart from you at all—”
She stretched the last word to emphasize her disappointment. Julian’s childish behavior made Rai’s chest feel tight.
“Hah, then at least put on some clothes. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Rai, do I bother you?”
“Pardon?”
He asked, confused, not understanding the meaning at all.
“Don’t you feel disturbed because I look like a woman?”
Until now, Rai had noticed that conversations with Julian didn’t always go smoothly—her focus always seemed slightly off. But it hadn’t affected his work, so he had overlooked it.
But this statement now made Rai, who risked his life to protect royalty, feel utterly undermined. She saw his devotion as just a personal affection toward her. His anger began to rise slightly.
“I cannot have feelings for you recklessly, Princess.”
“If I weren’t royalty, and you weren’t the commander…”
“No.”
Rai cut her off firmly.
“Even if you weren’t royalty, I would not have feelings for you.”
This time, Rai looked Julian straight in the eyes, making it clear that he did not see her as a woman. His gaze held no personal affection whatsoever.
Julian bit her lower lip slightly at that expression.
Her bare shoulders showed in the underdress, her pale skin exposed. Her blue eyes and silver hair sparkled in the moonlight, enchanting—but to Rai, she was like a stone.
“Why? What’s wrong with me? I’ll change. I’ll try.”
“No need.”
“No, I want to.”
“Why go that far?”
Her words made Julian frown.
Does she really not understand? After all these hints, she still doesn’t get it? Julian looked up at Rai in disbelief. His eyes resolutely showed that he didn’t understand.
“Ah! You thought it was like before and didn’t speak, my mistake.”
“Huh?”
Confused, Rai tilted his head. Julian smiled mysteriously at him and then embraced him.
“Princess, what are you doing!”
Rai could not touch Julian recklessly, nor push her away, so he raised both hands in surrender.
“I love you, Rai.”
“…Pardon?”
“I truly love you, Rai. That’s why I wanted to stay with you. I want us to be married and promise eternity together.”
Faced with her bold confession, Rai’s eyes darted rapidly. So that was why she had been clinging to him all along. Now everything made sense.
He had thought her loneliness stemmed from her long stays in recovery as a child, missing her older brother. Seeing her reminded him of her brother, which made it hard to refuse her requests. But now, it wasn’t just that—her feelings were different, and he had no idea.
“First, please let go.”
“No, answer me first.”
Julian hugged him tighter, and Rai raised his hands higher.
“I already have someone I like.”
Another reason he hadn’t realized Julian’s feelings was because of Eva.
His heart for her had grown uncontrollably, leaving no room for anyone else. He couldn’t even look at others, let alone consider anyone else. So he had no idea of Julian’s feelings.
“There is someone I like so much that I cannot entertain feelings for another. I’m sorry, but I cannot accept your heart, Princess.”
Julian stiffened in his embrace.
“Even if you command me, Princess, my heart will not change.”
Rai expected her to ask immediately who it was, but Julian remained silent, burying her face in his chest.
After a long time clinging tightly, Julian whispered faintly:
“Why is it always me who can’t? Why does it always go back to her? Now even someone else, and still why…?”
Mumbling with her face buried, it sounded like incoherent murmurs to Rai.
“Princess, it’s almost ten minutes. Please let go.”
Seeing that she still intended to cling to him, Rai reluctantly placed his hand on her shoulder and pushed gently.
Julian immediately lifted her head and placed her hand near his chest. Even the slight touch made Rai’s body jolt slightly.
“Rai Castro.”
Julian’s clear voice split into three tones. A deep darkness slowly spread in her blue eyes.
“I will erase your memories… guh!”
Her voice dropped so low it felt like she was a different person, and for a moment, it seemed her silver hair darkened. Then, Julian coughed violently and collapsed.
“Cough! Cough!!”
“P-Princess?! Are you alright?”
It wasn’t just a minor choking fit; she pressed her mouth as if about to vomit blood, trembling all over.
Seeing her condition, Rai immediately scooped her up and carefully laid her on the bed. Then he struck the bell attached to the headboard firmly.
Ding ding!
Outside the bedroom, in the hallway, the bell rang, and hurried footsteps approached. Rai tried to step out as well.
“Ugh.”
Julian grabbed his shoulder with trembling hands. Her grip was so strong that Rai almost toppled over her. Using his quick reflexes, he steadied himself by placing his hand beside her waist.
“Princess? What’s wrong? You need to release me so I can call a doctor.”
“I c-can’t… guh!”
“You’re in pain right now!”
“I absolutely c-can’t let go! To her, absolutely not…”
Julian’s trembling face held no innocent smile. Only hatred, fueled by desperation, filled her expression.
“Ugh.”
Her gaze made Rai clutch his own chest.
It was a face he had met before, shouting with a fierce expression.
‘You should take responsibility! You’ll leave me like this?! I won’t let you! Rai Castro!’
The voice from her heart now was completely different from before.
Before, it had been a desperate, pleading voice, mixed with sobs. Now, it was full of resentment and rage.
“Ugh, please let go.”
Her sharp voice echoed inside Rai’s chest, making him dizzy. He quickly tried to rise and calm the situation.
“Princess, why did you call me… oh!”
But before he could continue, Julian’s maid rushed into the bedroom.
She froze at the sight of Julian lying on the bed with Rai leaning over her, covering her in his embrace, and immediately clapped a hand over her mouth.
“What are you doing?!”
The maid’s loud shout echoed through the hallway outside the bedroom.
