Chapter 42 (2/2)

It was a bit too early for dinner.

“Ah~ I should definitely arrange a meal once a month. You don’t see Julie these days at all, right? We’ll go ahead of you to prepare. Make sure you bring my sister with you.”

There was a certain ‘doubt’ in Zeit’s gaze and voice.

His physique was like a bear, but his eyes were like a fox.

*****

6 PM.

Unable to resist Zeit’s persistence, Julie prepared to go out of the mansion for dinner.

‘Starting today, I’ll be coming here monthly to observe your progress.’

Those were her brother’s words.

She sighed while she put on her armor and cape, then looked at herself in the mirror.

“…”

Her fatigue was evident in her face.

Due to the Veron case investigation overlapping with the heavy workload brought forth by the emperor’s death, she didn’t even have an hour to rest these days.

Two weeks had gone by, with her schedule being that chaotic.

She didn’t want to do background checks, resort to a thieves guild, or even commission an adventurer’s guild. Hence, she shouldered the burden alone.

Knock knock—

A servant spoke with a knock.

“My Lord! It’s time!”

Julie went outside.

She was just going to ride a horse, but a shiny car was already approaching from the other side of the mansion.

Squinting at it, she already knew who it was.

Deculein.

One of its doors opened when it stopped in front of her. “Get in.”

“By any chance, did Lord Zeit tell you—“

“He’s suspicious of our relationship.”

“…”

“Get in.”

Julie nodded hesitatingly and got into the car after saying goodbye to her servants. They left immediately.

As the two of them wallowed in awkward silence, she wondered if the one month she had promised had already passed.

Looking out the window, Deculein broke the ice.

“… Are you still investigating the case?”

“…” She didn’t answer. He looked at her as he continued.

“It’s better if you don’t. You’re hurting yourself—“

“It’s alright.”

She firmly cut him off, expressing her clear rejection of his notion. Deculein didn’t press on.

It was silent.

His luxury car moved along the neatly paved road quietly. It was calm and comfortable.

“You’re quite frustrating, Julie.” He spoke again as if a memory crossed his mind.

“…”

She didn’t answer no matter how long he waited. He turned his head and looked at her.

“…”

Julie had her eyes closed.

With her waist upright and both hands modestly resting on top of her knees, she fell asleep, unable to overcome her fatigue.

Deculein smirked and, noticing her disheveled hair was about to go into her mouth, reached out to her to move it.

He then pinched her cheek lightly out of impulse. It was soft.

She rocked to and fro as they made their way to the venue. Although it was a little late, he pulled out a book from his briefcase.

Not a word of it registered in his mind, but he turned the pages nonetheless. Not long after, he spoke to his driver.

“I heard it’ll take about a quarter of a day to get there.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”

Thanks to his driver’s quick wits, the car circled the same road repeatedly, even after an hour had already passed since the agreed time for their appointment, which was 7 PM.

He alternated between reading his book and looking at Julie. After a while, he looked at his watch.

9 PM.

Time’s pace today was surprisingly fast, almost as if it was missing a few of its fragments.

“… Mmmh.”

It was already 10 PM when Julie woke up from her sleep. Looking around with her eyes still droopy, she was soon startled by the view outside the car window, causing her to jump up like a spring.

“…!”

“Oh, you’re up.”

“It’s dark…”

“It’s already late.”

Deculein explained the situation as she clung to the window. He pulled out his pocket watch, and the car stopped at the same time.

His driver then went out as if there was something wrong with his vehicle.

“It’s 10:30. Our dinner appointment had probably ended a long time ago, making that event the first promise I’ve ever broken.”

“Why… didn’t you wake me up…?”

“It’s better to be absent together than to attend an awkward dinner anyway. This will also erase their suspicions far more effectively.”

“…”

Julie blushed as she realized what he meant.

He kept looking at her, his eyes engulfed by sincerity.

“Julie.”

“… Yes?”

“Now that I think about it, our contract is long overdue.”

Her eyes widened like a deer staring into headlights.

“It’s probably not going to last more than a year with Zeit’s suspicion. You should become the Guardian Knight within that time frame. You’ll be 30 next year, so you’d be the youngest to reach that position in the empire’s history.”

Deculein reached out and tidied Julie’s hair, which became messy while she was sleeping.

She didn’t reject his advances. More than his touch, the emotions in his voice were much stronger.

“If you can’t become the Guardian Knight within that time, we might have to get married after all.”

“…”

“So, don’t get stuck in one place.”

She met his eyes without saying a word, taking her time to think about her words.

Soon enough, she asked the question she was dubious about.

“Why… Why are you showing me how you feel?”

“…”

“There are more beautiful women out there than me. There are ladies out there who not only know how to use swords but are also beautiful, non-suffocating, and flexible, unlike me.”

He looked out the window, causing moonlight to fill his blue eyes.

“… Julie.” His voice sounded serene and uplifting. “I absolutely loathe nonsensical concepts like fate, destiny, and horoscopes.”

“…”

“However, there are times when I feel like something that I can’t resist definitely exists.” Deculein stared at the moon in the sky.

“That’s who you are to me.”

Julie understood what he meant. But at the same time, she was doubtful. The old Deculein would never say those words.

“… Is that so?”

What changed him this much?

Deculein spoke again.

“That’s why it would be beneficial for both of us to stay as far away from each other as possible. That way, I wouldn’t return to my former self.”

He leaned over.

Thinking he was about to do something, her startled body stiffened and instinctively assumed a counterattack position.

Clack—

Deculein opened the door.

“Get a good night’s rest. I was absent from the meal, which means Zeit is probably still looking for me.”

“…”

She stared at him in silence.

“Get off.”

“… Okay. Take care.” She nodded and got off the car.

A fresh wind blew past her. She didn’t know how much she had slept, but the world had become darker and her heart calmer.

She was dropped near their mansion.

“Ah, are you finished?”

The driver went back in the car, and they departed soon after.

Julie looked at Deculein through the rearview mirror for a moment before going home.

“Ah, my lord, you’re here.”

The servants in the living room greeted her. She replied with a faint smile.

“I’m quite hungry. Can you prepare dinner?”

“Ah, yes! Of course!”

The servants moved busily. It was the first time in almost two weeks that she had asked for a meal at the mansion, so they did everything they could to cook the best meal for her.

Julie ate delicious food and slept well that night. After so long, she finally managed to lay down on her bed without thinking about work.

His words kept popping up in her mind, though.

‘However, there are times when I feel like something that I can’t resist definitely exists…’

She thought she wouldn’t have nightmares that night.

*****

“Should we keep going a little further?” Roy asked.

I shook my head. “Let’s head home.”

“Got it.”

I sighed with a smirk, then giggled.

I thought I should stay away from Julie from now on. The more time would pass, the more I would love every aspect of her.

Of course, staying away from her would prove difficult. That was why she had to become a Guardian Knight. That way, she would keep her distance from me herself.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Good work.”

I got off the mansion.

On the path in the garden, on top of some shrub. A hawk was looking at me.