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Chapter 09
That Bad Habit, I Told You About
Emmet stiffened and turned around, but at that moment—
“Emmet,” the Duke called out sharply.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“We’re leaving. Prepare immediately.”
“Understood! I’ll make the preparations at once!”
Emmet didn’t even dare look back and ran off at full speed.
After the large, loyal knight disappeared, silence returned.
Julian looked down at Daphne with half-lidded eyes.
“We’ll continue this discussion later.”
A large hand reached toward her.
Every movement of his carried refined elegance. Yet when it came to fear, there was no one more graceful and terrifying than this man.
Daphne hesitated, then slowly extended her hand.
“Good girl,” he murmured.
His slightly crooked lips carried a soft voice.
As their hands met, warmth spread unexpectedly through his palm.
He guided her forward. Her injured leg weakened, making her stagger slightly.
“…Thank you,” she said.
“Sorry,” she added immediately out of habit.
Julian closed his mouth briefly, then looked away at the empty surroundings.
“I’ll assume it was my fault for forgetting you were a patient,” he said flatly.
Julian’s attitude toward patients was surprisingly polite.
At least, that was how Daphne felt.
Normally, they would have been distant at best.
However, Julian walked so fast that she had to almost run to keep up. Still, he maintained a certain level of decorum.
I need to bring up the North soon…
That was the real problem. His face was too much like a wall.
Rumors said he disliked women. That made it even harder to speak.
Honestly, she wanted to ask for help right now, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Maybe it would be faster to talk to that knight instead.
That large, mountain-like man Emmet… yet somehow, the composed man felt scarier.
Her thoughts spiraled as they walked.
Then she noticed a building glowing with light.
She stopped abruptly.
Julian also halted and looked at her.
“Something wrong?”
“No… nothing.”
But her expression remained uneasy.
“That’s the Hanover family corridor,” Julian said.
“…Yes.”
Without realizing it, they had taken a different path.
The corridor housing portraits of the family heads was lit just as it had been in her childhood.
Daphne bit her lip.
“You have a bad habit,” Julian said suddenly.
Then—
Warmth touched her lips.
She startled and stepped back.
His hand had brushed away from her lower lip.
“Do you want to go in?” he asked.
Daphne looked down.
No one had ever asked her that before.
[“Daphne, that’s not your place.”]
[“If you had any sense, you’d stay away.”]
Every time she thought of the corridor, guilt tightened around her chest.
Her heart pounded.
Julian watched her silently.
“If you don’t want to go, then don’t,” he said.
“…I don’t know,” she whispered.
Silence followed.
“Then go check it yourself,” he said.
“If you don’t know, you have to see it with your own eyes.”
His voice was calm, almost indifferent—but strangely reassuring.
“Even if you regret it afterward, it’s still better than not knowing.”
Then his finger moved again.
“You have a bad habit,” he repeated.
Daphne blinked, confused.
A faint laugh escaped him and disappeared.
Their footsteps echoed through the corridor.
As they approached the entrance, Aron, the butler of the Hanover family, appeared.
“Y-Your Highness! Lady Daphne! What brings you here?”
He looked flustered.
“I didn’t expect you to come here,” Aron said.
“Is this a place I shouldn’t be?” Daphne asked flatly.
“N-not at all! It is an honor!”
Aron quickly bowed.
He hesitated, then continued.
“I saw you being treated earlier… are you feeling better?”
“I’m not,” Daphne replied bluntly.
“…I’m sorry,” Aron said immediately.
At that moment, Julian stepped forward.
“Let’s go.”
“I will guide you myself!” Aron said quickly.
Julian ignored him and walked ahead.
Daphne followed.
As they entered the corridor, she felt her breath tighten.
It was the same as she remembered.
The star-like lamps still glowed, making the corridor look dreamlike.
“This is considered the most beautiful corridor in the empire,” Aron said nervously.
Julian gave a slight nod but said nothing.
Daphne walked slightly behind him.
Then she saw it—
The black cloth covering a portrait ahead.
Her heartbeat quickened.
“Your Highness, let’s go back,” she said quickly.
But Julian didn’t respond.
“Your Highness,” she called again.
Still no answer.
