Chapter 42

Chapter 42

In the end, Evan Hilchen kept his promise to give Juliana a blue rose. 

Juliana, who survived a terrible fall from her horse after her defeat, was surprised one morning to find a sparkling blue rose at her bedside. 

It was a rose with the beauty of wildflowers and the noble elegance of a poem. Juliana already had a rose garden where blue roses bloom in all four seasons, but she had never seen such a beautiful rose before.

She took a deep breath of rose scent as if she were in a dream. 

“What the hell…”

Whack!

Then, the sound of someone turning over the basin rang out near the door. Thanks to this, the beautiful checkered carpet had been stained.

Anyway, the carpet had always been cumbersome to wash. And Anna, who still made a great deal out of it, strode over the basin she had overturned.

“Duchess!”

“An, Anna?” 

Juliana, who had been struggling to move, leaned back on her pillow and looked to the side in surprise.

With a face wet from tears and a runny nose, Anna said, sniffing, ‘Oh, oh, oh, oh—.’ She wasn’t sobbing. No, she was almost wailing.

“What, what’s wrong?” 

“Duchess. I’m an idiot, a fool, a sea cucumber, and a sea anemone.”

“…stop confessing. Why the hell are you running like that?”

Anna, who covered her face with her hands, managed to peel her hands off of her face and raise her head.

Juliana laughed at her cuteness. But soon, her stomach tightened and she had to bend over. 

“Ugh!” 

“The Duchess! I’ll call a doctor!”

Juliana refused, trying hard to smile. 

“No, it’s alright. It’s because I laughed a lot, thanks to you. Now, can you tell me why you were wailing?”

“Blah, blah. Duchess, it’s been a month since you’ve been sick…”

“Yes, yes. A month…what? A month?!” 

Juliana was surprised for the second time and raised her head.

Anna wiped her tears with her apron as she looked at the pale face of the Duchess who was in shock. 

Anna, who was still a teenager, wiped her tears like an adult who had gone through all kinds of hardships. She then cleared her throat before relieving her runny nose.

When Juliana saw it, she finally calmed down and said, “What, what are you talking about? I think I just fell asleep after seeing Evan last night…”

“You were seriously injured and also used up a lot of mana. You couldn’t wake up after that.”

“Me?!” 

“Yes. The Duchy was turned upside down. The Duchess’ suitors, who had been quiet until then, also went berserk. These ‘things’ even dared to come near the Duchy’s front gate.”

“What?!”

“Oh. Don’t worry. The Duke took care of them. You should have seen the Duchess’ state before…oh, no, I mean the Duchess did not do anything wrong.”

“No, I did.”

Juliana quickly agreed to put the subject aside. 

She then asked in a hurry, “My, I was so sick? But, I don’t remember anything.”

“You kept saying strange words because of the fever. The doctors said that you were originally weak, but concluded that it was mainly due to extreme fatigue. I thought you’d get better soon after you woke up on the first day, but…it’s all my fault. I…by hiding everything about the Duchess’ plans…”

Juliana quickly brought up the subject of the horse to soothe Anna. 

“Oh, no. I was desperate for your help when I tried to bring the Empress’s horse. You know, the magic formula for horse teleportation works well when it’s quiet,” Juliana said so and winked at her. Anna blushed as if she recalled the days when she acted like an agent. 

Yeah, it was fun.

The Duchess went through a lot of trouble to protect the Duke, and to do so, she had to secretly send letters to the Empress’s distant hometown and even teleported her horse from there.

During the four-day jousting tournament, the Duke did not return home under the pretext of serving the Knights of the Imperial Palace, so her work became a little easier. It would have been enough if no one distracted the Duchess’s concentration, who had been memorizing the magic formulas in the library. 

However, there were so many servants in the Duke’s mansion. If one of those many workers saw the Duchess performing magic and did something to break her concentration, it would have all been for naught.

So Anna simply made a fuss so that no one could enter the library.

She broke down all kinds of furniture to draw the attention of the strict head maid and the butler to herself, and even sent servants wandering around the library on errands far away, saying that these were the Duchess’ orders.

All of these were not the Duchess’ instructions, but things that she came up with. 

At that time, she felt happy to join the Duchess. Because someone as special and beautiful as her was calling a mere maid her ‘limbs’. 

Of course, she felt very embarrassed to be the Duchess’s limbs at first, but now, it was different. Rather than a normal relationship between the limbs and the master, for the Duchess… 

Anna’s eyes were quickly filled with tears. 

“I shouldn’t have done that. I should have stopped the Duchess. If I had known this would happen, I would have never done it.” 

“…eh, eh. You, don’t be too sad. Yeah. I’m surprised I’ve been sick for a month or so, but…look at this! I can stand up now!” 

Juliana rose from her seat while talking gibberish. 

No, she believed she could get up. But as soon as she took a step out of bed, her knees lost its strength, causing her to fall forward.

“Ugh!” 

Fortunately, Anna ran quickly to help her.

“Duchess!” 

It was at that moment. 

The half-open door swung back and Evan entered through it. 

“Juliana!” 

Juliana refused to accept Anna’s outstretched hand and forced herself to stand as she turned her head to Evan’s voice.

She wondered if it’s because of all the hardships in her heart. He was in the room, his face sharper. Julianna grinned at the sudden surge of relief.

“Evan. You haven’t been hurt since then, have you?”

“…don’t be silly.” 

Evan condensed her words for the first time.

Evan, who was forced to lift his lips and smile as if relieved at the grumpy words, walked towards her quickly.

Juliana pouted her lips at his reaction.

“No. It’s funny that I protected you and I got hit more. I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

Evan strode towards Juliana before lifting and hugging her, who was barely standing as if hanging weakly from the bedpost, at once without warning.

“Argh!”

Juliana, held in his arms, screamed. Evan pretended not to hear her urgent scream as he grinned.

“I’ll put you in bed.”

“No, I’m heavy,” Juliana said, squirming her legs. 

“What are you talking about? That’s a stupid thing to say too.”

Evan clicked his tongue slightly.

However, Juliana tightened her hold at the hem on her chest, fearing that she might have a cold sweat or a stale smell on her body.

She had been sick for a month, so she couldn’t even wash properly. She didn’t want to hug her husband with this kind of shamelessness.

“Hey, let go of me!”

“As you wish.”

Evan grinned as he rolled up her blanket and helped her wrap herself in it like a caterpillar. He stroked Juliana’s still burning cheek.

“I’m glad you woke up. If you were in a condition where you couldn’t wake up…”

“If so, what would you do?”

“Well. Hmm…I guess I would have to kill the unlucky emperor,” Evan said with a smile while leaning against the bedside. But the words that left his mouth were outrageous.

Hey, this guy’s saying some scary things!

Juliana covered her ears.

“I, I didn’t hear it!”

“After that, I would have killed myself, because I made you sick.”

Despite Juliana’s reaction, Evan continued saying scary things.

She felt really scared because everything he said was sincere. Juliana shouted, “Why are people so extreme!”

“If that’s what happened to you, I mean. Of course, I don’t usually give such scary examples. Don’t you think so too?” Evan laughed sadly, wondering what she’s talking about. 

Juliana closed her eyes. Thank God I’m alive… I almost became the villain who will remain forever in the imperial records… It really helped ease her anxiety.

Evan, who had been smiling for some time, stared at Anna standing there helplessly.

The atmosphere changed completely. Evan, watching the basin that Anna spilled, said coldly, “Did you say your name was Anna?”

“…yes, yes!”

Anna nodded urgently at the sudden call.

Juliana, who had closed her eyes in confusion, opened her eyes in an unusual atmosphere.

What’s wrong with this man? You’re being scary. Um, I mean…I know he’s a scary person, but…

“Now that my wife has opened her eyes just as you wished, pack up and go out.”

“Yes, yes…Your Grace.”

Anna whimpered as it was time to bow and trudge out.

“Wait, wait, hold on!”

Something seemed strange, so Juliana tried to get out of her bed by kicking the blanket off.

Of course, though her mind was determined, her body wouldn’t listen to her. Soon, exhaustion came over her after struggling to free herself from the blanket.

It was far from dignified, but Juliana couldn’t help but shout loudly as she had been trapped in a blanket, like a caterpillar. 

“Where is Anna going? Anna? Where are you going?!”

“Going home,” Evan said casually, gently tucking Juliana’s hair behind her ear before whispering, “Go to sleep, Juliana. The doctor will visit you again. Wouldn’t you like to hear how much the quack doctors have hurt my feelings in the meantime?”

“Well, I’d like to hear that…Ah, no! That’s not it! Anna was just obeying my orders. If you want to vent your anger, do it to me!” 

“Me?”

Evan’s mouth was about to open and say, ‘That’s the third stupid thing you said,’ but decided against it. If he had said it three times, his wife would not forgive him. No matter how weak she was. 

Evan, trying to divert her attention in a friendly way, used a different method. He began to speak profoundly, asking her not to worry about such a trivial matter.

“She’s just a child I hired this year. She’s not suitable enough to assist you, the Duchess.”

“Anna did a lot of things to help me. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yeah. She helped you with your work, and in time, she even helped you do something dangerous. I’m not going to keep a maid in the mansion who doesn’t know her place.”

“Oh, come on. Why are you so stubborn? You, being gentle to me, is all just an act, right?! Right?”

“…you thought I’d stay still on this, huh?”

“She’s just my limbs! You stay out of this!”

“She’s not even alive if that’s the way she is,” Evan growled.

Juliana stared straight into his eyes with no intention of losing. She put so much effort into it that her eyes glistened.

She still couldn’t get a hand out of the blanket like a caterpillar, but Juliana shouted quite sharply, “Aha! That’s how you threaten people? I can’t believe you’re threatening that little girl! Even the Empire’s hero can’t help it.”

“…you almost died.”

The affectionate expression that remained like a residue on Evan’s face disappeared. The cold-eyed man said bluntly, “Who I want as your limbs is a person that can stop you before you do something like this, not someone as impulsive as you.”

“Can’t I at least do something to help you?”

“…Juliana, I have repeatedly told you to pursue something more valuable than my safety.”

“You’re ruining the first courtesy I’ve ever shown in my married life.”

Juliana was filled with anger as she poked him. She then said to Anna, “Anna! Go to the kitchen and get some hot water. I can’t help it, I’m thirsty.”

Anna felt restless, unable to come out or come in, and just dawdled in front of the door. 

“Juliana, she’s been fired,” Evan warned coldly.

Juliana’s response was even colder. She didn’t look cold at all, because of her fever, so her tone was the best that she could do.

“It seems you’re not aware, but it’s the Duchess’ job to fire and hire the servants.”

“Have you ever done it in two years?”

“…I’ll do it now.”

“Hmm.”

Evan got lost in thought. The bright blue eyes sank darkly. At this time, Juliana urged again, “Anna! What are you doing?!”

“…yes, yes! Duchess!”

Anna rushed out to the kitchen. Only the sound of Anna’s footsteps resonated in the empty hallway as she ran towards the kitchen on the first floor.

Now, that should be enough to stop him. 

Juliana thought triumphantly. However, as Evan’s silence dragged on a little longer, she became somewhat anxious.

It was too quiet.

Evan looked closely at Juliana, who had curled up in a blanket, like a prey easily caught by a smart hunter. Feeling his gaze, she coughed uncomfortably and said, “What, what is it?”

“…just.”

“Hmph! You just realized you’re wrong, right? Now, apologize.”

“What?”

“…don’t you want to apologize to me?”

“Why should I apologize for staring at you because you’re pretty?”

“Pfft!” 

I got you! 

Juliana deeply reflected on her complacency. Even though she had laid sick in bed for a month and couldn’t wash herself properly, she still couldn’t avoid the male lead’s flattering.

“…you, don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”

“You’re pretty. Pretty enough that you should only belong to me. I can’t let such a pretty thing be out there.”

“Keck.”

And once again, Juliana’s heart was flurried.

People have told her compliments before, but she always thought that those were a given. Because she was indeed pretty.

But what her husband said…well, this kind of compliment sounded too shameless.

Is it because he’s Evan Hilchen? For some reason, he seemed like a man who would tell lies without salivating his mouth.

“You’re lying…” Juliana barely said, her puffy lips trembling.

Evan shrugged as if saying, ‘Believe it or not, but it’s true.‘ 

He comfortably settled on the bed and pushed her sticky bangs off her forehead. It’s not sweat, is it? Juliana prayed.

He then put his hand on her pale forehead. As if under the weight of the heat from his hands, she stopped resisting.

However, Evan Hilchen soon lowered his hand and kissed her forehead.

“…!”

Juliana got startled, eyes widening. She was about to retort, her face flushed like a burning sweet potato.

“It’s good to do this to people who are sick.”

“…who?” 

Juliana couldn’t believe it, so she could only spit it out in her heart. What kind of great man said that…

She felt terribly ashamed of this situation, and realized at the same time. 

…it’s all wrong now. I’m caught up in Evan Hilchen’s fluttering…

It has been only two months. No, has it been three months now? 

Her shaken heart has crumbled to pieces. Evan didn’t even realize this, but he settled right where it used to be.

I lost…

As Juliana admitted defeat in her heart, Evan tilted his head and whispered to his wife who was crying.

“I had always been told that you should properly kiss your wife. A kiss on a forehead is meant for little kids.”

“…don’t lie.”

Juliana pouted her lips. Evan looked at her protruding lips that made her look like a duck and smiled before answering.

“That’s right. It’s a lie.”

“I’ll tell you when you wake up. The story of quack doctors who harassed me when you were sick. You like it when I suffer. Isn’t that right?” He said in a sweet and soothing voice, to Juliana, who was really on the verge of falling asleep.

“Well…I…I’m really looking forward to it,” Juliana said while yawning, feeling sleepy and tired.

It felt better than she thought; to curl up in a soft blanket. Basking in comfort, Juliana fell asleep again unknowingly.

* * * 

Translator –

Editor – Rinkunai