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Chapter 43
“What are you doing?!”
The maid, who had rushed in at the urgent chime from Julian’s bedroom, was startled to see Lai on top of Julian and raised her voice.
“Quiet.”
“Do you say that while in that position? Get away from the Princess immediately!”
“I want to, but she just won’t let go of my hands.”
The maid turned her gaze to Julian beneath Lai. But something was wrong with her.
She had lost focus and was trembling. Normally sensitive enough to notice the slightest sound, she hadn’t even realized the maid had entered.
Although she often felt unwell, this was entirely different.
“P-Princess?! What’s happening to you?”
“It seems you can’t hear anything right now, so quickly bring a doctor.”
The maid hesitated, not wanting to leave Lai on top of Julian. She was caught, unable to act.
“Then let go of the Princess’s hand! I’ll step aside if that’s the problem!”
Lai shouted loudly. Startled by the thunderous voice, the maid immediately realized the severity of the situation and quickly approached them. She placed her hands over Julian’s, still gripping Lai’s shoulders, trying to ease the pressure.
“Ugh… How does the Princess have this much strength?”
It was immense power that could never come from her usually delicate body. The maid had to use all her strength just to loosen her grip.
“Ugh! Almost there.”
The maid gritted her teeth and finally managed to extend even Julian’s pinky finger. Lai pulled back her shoulder and freed herself.
Julian, with barely any focus left, glared at the retreating Lai. Soon, she completely lost focus and closed her eyes.
“Keep an eye on the Princess’s condition. I’ll fetch a doctor immediately.”
“Yes.”
Lai hurried out of the bedroom.
Outside, other maids had already gathered. Their eyes clearly asked, How dare someone touch the Princess?
Despite trying not to cause misunderstanding, her actions had only fueled it.
“What are you all staring at! You see the Princess like this and just stand there? Go fetch the doctor quickly!”
Lai raised his voice, undaunted by their stares, and ordered them.
“I-I’ll get the doctor!”
The maids, intimidated by his presence, trembled and rushed into action. Some ran to fetch the doctor, while others went into the bedroom to massage Julian’s arms and legs.
Lai stayed in the corridor, calming himself before returning after the doctor arrived.
His mind was a mess. Julian’s suddenly changed behavior, the unfamiliar voice in his head, and the unrelated events were all jumbled together.
He leaned against the corridor wall and held his forehead.
“What’s going on?”
But he didn’t have a moment to rest before Claude appeared, forcing him to stand properly again.
“Your Highness, the Prince.”
Turning, he saw Claude and Chase, still in ceremonial attire, likely working late into the night.
“What’s going on here? Why all the commotion?”
The maids were bustling about, wiping Julian’s cold sweat with wet cloths. It was strange that Claude, the master of the palace, hadn’t noticed sooner.
“The Princess suddenly collapsed again.”
“What?”
Claude looked inside the bedroom in surprise.
“The doctor has been called and will be here soon.”
“They’re coming now, Your Highness.”
Chase, seeing the doctor approaching, reported from behind Lai.
“Chase, you stay with the doctor and monitor the situation.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Chase entered Julian’s bedroom with the doctor.
“Lai, follow me.”
Claude walked ahead without waiting for Lai’s reply. Tired and wanting to go back, Lai sighed internally but had no choice but to follow.
Walking down the corridor, Claude turned right.
Lai, knowing the west palace as well as Claude, realized they were heading into a rarely used section. He wondered why, but followed without hesitation.
Thud.
Claude pressed Lai against the wall and placed a hand beside his face, preventing any easy escape.
“What is this?”
“Lai Castro. Answer me truthfully.”
Lai squinted slightly at Claude’s sudden action.
“Why were you standing in front of Julian’s bedroom? Your guard duty should be over.”
Claude, suspicious despite the late hour, knew the answer might reveal something.
Even if there was lingering tension between them, Claude’s tone was probing, not casual.
Lai clenched his teeth and calmly explained.
“The Princess called for me.”
“Why?”
How should he explain? That she asked him to stay until she fell asleep? Or that he entered the room to obey a brief order at this late hour? Any explanation could be misunderstood. He had only one option: confront it directly.
“Lai Castro, answer me.”
Claude urged him in a low voice.
“At first, the Princess ordered me to come to her bedroom. She said to enter, not just stand outside, but I refused.”
“And then?”
“She asked me to stay for just ten minutes. So I had no choice but to go in.”
Lai had no talent for lying; he knew a false story would only make things worse.
“So you entered the Princess’s bedroom?”
“Yes. But she began acting as if she were someone else and then collapsed.”
“Someone else? Explain.”
Claude’s eyes sharpened, focused on understanding the situation.
“She suddenly said she wanted my heart while asking me to stay for ten minutes. I apologized, saying I could not accept her feelings, and she placed her hand near my chest.”
“What?”
“And then she called my name, but it sounded like someone else entirely.”
For a while, Lai had also felt Julian unfamiliar, and now he described it exactly.
Claude finally stepped back and crossed his arms.
“Different? In what way?”
“She called my name, but her voice seemed split, like multiple people speaking at once.”
“Anything else?”
“She coughed heavily while calling my name and collapsed. I quickly laid her on the bed, but she held onto me.”
Claude’s eyes moved to Lai’s shoulder.
“But her grip was incredible. It didn’t seem like the Princess’s strength.”
Julian had been frail and sent for recovery, yet her strength was immense. Claude tilted his head.
“You couldn’t shake her off?”
“I couldn’t dare. I asked the maid for help, but it was only after she used all her strength with both hands that the Princess’s grip finally released.”
The more Lai explained, the less believable Julian’s sudden strength seemed. But Lai was incapable of making up absurd stories, which only heightened Claude’s suspicion.
“Anything else?”
“Then I left the bedroom immediately.”
Lai noticed Claude’s demeanor was strange. Initially, he thought Claude was suspicious because of worry over his only sister, but now it was clear: Claude was certain of something.
Claude, lost in thought with his hand near his mouth, finally glanced sharply at Lai.
“I can’t believe everything you just said.”
“Yes.”
“When Julian wakes, I will ask the maid who was with her what happened with you.”
“Understood.”
“Then we’ll know if you’re telling the truth. If not, your punishment will be even harsher.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Your Highness Claude? Where are you?”
Chase’s voice called Claude, who moved first.
“Go on now.”
Left alone, Lai washed his face with both hands.
“What exactly is happening?”
Claude’s attitude toward Julian had changed. Julian had confessed her feelings to Lai. When he rejected her, she had acted as if she were someone else. Even though nothing further had happened, her actions clearly seemed harmful.
Usually calm, he had been completely thrown today.
He subtly placed his hand over the area near Julian’s chest where she had reached, checking quietly.
“…Iva.”
Whispering her name caused his heart to race automatically. His heartbeat mirrored the same as when he thought of her before.
“Fortunately, she’s fine.”
Although her condition seemed stable, side effects remained.
“I want to see her.”
He wanted her so badly, but not being able to made him long for her even more. Closing his eyes and imagining Iva’s face, he found himself smiling despite everything.
“…I want to meet her.”
Gradually, the confusion in his mind began to clear.
