Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 103

Juliana sat reading the report Atlante had delivered, detailing the tragedy of the Barnett family. Since removing her name from their family registry, she had left the Barnett’s alone.

It had been a reluctant decision, mostly because of everything that was happening with Braeden. But even so, it had still been a chance for the Barnett family.

They had been given a real opportunity. With the wealth she left behind, they could have rebuilt their lives. They could have reflected on their wrongdoings and tried to make amends.

But they had done neither. In the end, they let the chance slip away and destroyed themselves.

“You reap what you sow,” Juliana muttered, clicking her tongue.

She didn’t feel joy over their downfall, but she didn’t feel sorrow either. It was simply the consequence of their own actions. They had paid the price for the sins they committed.

After her husband and son died from the poison she had hidden, Aileen lost her mind. The Countess of Barnett collapsed and never got back up. The family was bankrupt once again.

There would be no second chance. Their lives had become a living nightmare.

Juliana set down the report and stepped outside. She had an appointment with Empress Pamela at the academy.

When her carriage arrived at the academy, she was greeted by the sight of a bright green courtyard full of healthy plants. Students sat on benches in the well-kept gardens, reading books or discussing lessons together.

After the trade ship to the Western Continent sank, the empire fell into temporary disarray. Pamela had used that moment to quickly gain approval to open the academy. It had been over six months since then, and the school now seemed stable and well established.

As Juliana walked along the corridor connecting the main buildings, she spotted Pamela approaching from the opposite direction.

“I greet Your Majesty, the glory of the Empire.”

Juliana bowed gently.

“Glory? After disappearing and only now deciding to show yourself? What happened?”

Pamela asked directly, wasting no time.

Juliana had already expected this reaction. After Emperor David questioned her and heard the general story, she knew this day would come. She smiled awkwardly.

“The academy’s courtyard is beautiful.”

Pamela let out a long sigh at the clear attempt to change the subject.

“It should be. It was designed by experts with great care.”

She looked out at the courtyard with affection in her eyes. Just then, a young student came running up to them.

“Your Majesty, I just wanted to say thank you. I’m an orphan, and because of you, I had the chance to study here. I promise I’ll work hard and grow into someone this empire can be proud of.”

The girl, her hair braided into two neat plaits, held out a handmade bouquet and a small decorated gift, speaking shyly.

Pamela had made it possible for orphans to attend the academy too. The opportunity wasn’t handed out freely, though. Any student who passed the entrance exam would have their tuition fully covered.

Recognizing the girl, Pamela smiled warmly and accepted the gift.

“Thank you. But remember, while becoming someone valuable to the empire is important, your happiness matters too. I hope you never forget that.”

“Oh…”

The student seemed caught off guard by the words, pausing for a moment in thought. Then she smiled brightly and nodded.

“I’ll remember that. Thank you so much.”

She bowed deeply, then turned and left. Pamela watched her with a gentle smile that was genuinely comforting to see.

“You look well,” Juliana said softly.

“Thanks to you,” Pamela replied with a small shrug.

Her attitude felt much freer than before. She no longer seemed trapped by the rigid formality that once defined her role.

Her gestures were almost casual, far from the image of a traditional empress. Juliana smiled faintly at the change.

The two women began walking side by side down the corridor again. After a while, Pamela looked closely at Juliana’s profile and spoke.

“Do you need my help with something?”

“What kind of help do you mean?”

“I want a divorce, but the Grand Duke won’t let me go. That’s why I’m asking.”

At the unexpected word divorce, Juliana’s eyes widened. Divorce? How could someone say something like that so casually?

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m fine,” she said politely.

Pamela seemed unconvinced. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she thought Juliana was refusing out of courtesy rather than honesty.

“My offer is sincere. If you ever change your mind, you can come to me anytime.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Juliana replied calmly, hoping to steer the conversation away. She felt sure that if she answered seriously, Pamela would stop pressing the issue.

She couldn’t help but imagine what Braeden’s face would look like if he heard that the Empress had offered to help her get a divorce. The thought was so vivid that an awkward smile lingered on her lips for quite a while.

Plaurus had been forbidden from walking around in his true form because of his terrifying appearance.

His master’s command was absolute, like an unbreakable law, so he had no choice but to fly around in the form of a small flame.

When Braeden had lost control and gone to Kankantier, Plaurus had been left behind with Atlante. Maybe that was why he thought of Atlante as someone in a similar situation.

Of course, Atlante strongly disagreed.

“You don’t seem like an ordinary bird, no matter how I look at you.”

Plaurus could not understand the words Atlante spoke in his crow form. Only those who had seen Atlante’s true form, the Tear of God, could communicate with him.

Even so, Plaurus could sense sarcasm in the way Atlante cawed. It was the same sharp, mocking tone he often felt toward others himself.

But unlike Atlante, Plaurus could never speak that way to his master. The person he most wanted to mock was Braeden, and that was absolutely forbidden.

Perhaps that was why he felt drawn to Atlante, who seemed so much freer in comparison.

Atlante flapped one wing in annoyance, but Plaurus ignored the signal completely and settled into the room like it was his own.

Atlante stomped his feet in frustration just as Juliana returned from the palace.

“You two seem to be getting along these days,” she said.

That comment only made Atlante even more agitated.

“I’m a saint, and I married a demon.”

<…>

Atlante froze and fell completely silent. He couldn’t argue with that.

“You were once bound to a saint, weren’t you? No wonder you and I understand each other.”

Plaurus, who had been watching them closely, spoke in a smug tone.

<Please, get him out of here.>

Atlante looked up at Juliana with pleading eyes. She let out a long sigh, feeling a headache coming on.

One was a cursed flame, bound to a demon lord. The other was a divine being trapped in the form of a crow.

As she looked between the two of them, Juliana realized they had one surprising thing in common.

“They both look so… unimpressive.”

If she ever said that out loud, both of them would probably explode. She bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door with urgency.

“Your Grace, may I come in?”

It was Lochlan’s voice. Juliana responded at once.

“Come in.”

Lochlan opened the door and entered with a bow. His expression looked troubled, and Juliana immediately felt something was wrong. She quickly asked,

“Is something the matter?”

“His Grace is currently not in the Grand Duke’s estate.”

“Then… where is he?”

“It appears he is on the summit of Kankantier.”

“Does that mean he’s lost control of his power again?”

“Yes, most likely…”

A heavy silence settled between them. Juliana bit her lip in distress before speaking urgently.

“I’ll go to Kankantier at once. Prepare everything right away.”

“Yes, understood.”

With a pale face, Lochlan bowed again and left the room.

Atlante, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, asked,

Juliana’s eyes turned glassy, and she frowned as if she might cry.

“I love him. Isn’t it only natural not to give up on the person you love?”

<…>

Atlante fell silent, his expression thoughtful and troubled. While he remained deep in thought, Plaurus mumbled to himself,

“Strange. Master is clearly kind-hearted (completely hopeless) and upright in character (a total disaster), and yet he’s loved. What a bizarre world we live in.”

Atlante, still lost in thought, twitched in irritation at the interruption. If he had understood the deeper meaning behind those sarcastic words, he might have brushed it off. But to him, it just sounded like unnecessary praise for Braeden, someone he already disliked. That was enough to get on his nerves.

Juliana was soon called away by Anita to change into travel clothes. She followed her out of the room and returned to her chambers, leaving Atlante and Plaurus alone with no one to mediate.

Atlante considered the terrifying thought. Meanwhile, unaware of the danger he was in, Plaurus tried his best to impress him by glowing in the prettiest flame he could create.

A soft, pale pink flame shimmered and danced right in front of Atlante.

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