Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 107

“Besides, you won’t be living for centuries anymore, my lord. Staying by your side until then isn’t all that difficult.”

At Lochlan’s words, Braeden gave a slow nod. It was true. A human life wouldn’t even reach a hundred years. To a demon, that amount of time was hardly anything.

“Alright. If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.”

As soon as Braeden gave his permission, the three exchanged glances and smiled. It was as if they had known all along that he would say that.

“Then, we’ll excuse ourselves for now.”

Just as they were about to leave, Braeden called after them.

“Wait. There’s something I need done.”

“Of course. What is it?”

“That accessory made from condensed spirit matter was lost in the last incident. Can you recreate it using regular gemstones?”

Lochlan’s lips curled slightly. Spending money and assigning work to others had always been his area of expertise.

“Understood. I’ll have it prepared as soon as possible.”

Braeden gave a small nod. It was not urgently needed, but it would be good to have it ready quickly.

Right then, a scream rang out from the direction of the inner courtyard.

“Aaah!”

Anita rushed to the window and looked out. With her superior demonic vision, she could clearly see the entrance far in the distance.

“Oh no. Lady Cheryl has arrived.”

At her words, Lochlan stiffened.

“Did she teleport again?”

Albert asked, his face turning pale.

“Of course she did. Why else would the servants be screaming?”

“How long has it been since we wiped their memories last time?”

Albert groaned and ran his hands through his hair.

Not long ago, when Braeden had lost control and misused his teleportation, he had appeared injured in front of the inner castle. Because of the chaos it caused, they had been forced to erase the memories of many castle staff.

Now it was happening again, so soon after. Albert sighed deeply, already tired at the thought of having to clean up the mess all over again.

“Why is Cheryl here?”

Braeden muttered with an annoyed look on his face.

“She must have heard that you became human,” Lochlan replied.

“Send her away.”

Braeden gave the order without hesitation.

“My lord, you are no longer in a position of power. You can’t do that anymore,” Anita said plainly, her face unreadable as always.

“Damn it.”

Braeden pushed his hair back in frustration and let out a long breath.

“Fine. Let her in.”

A short while later, Braeden and Juliana met Cheryl in the main drawing room of the east wing.

Cheryl usually took her role as a human very seriously. She rarely used her demonic powers in public, always cautious of how she appeared to others.

The fact that she had teleported straight to the northern region without caring who saw her meant she had truly acted on impulse. She had been in too much of a hurry to think about consequences.

“Have you completely lost your mind, showing up like this?”

Braeden stared at her and spoke coldly.

“Is it true? Did you really become human?”

Cheryl looked completely unfazed. She ignored his anger and said what she came to say.

“I couldn’t believe it, so I had to see it for myself. And it’s true. You really did. But how?”

Braeden had no intention of answering her. He crossed his arms, leaned back, and crossed one leg over the other. Tapping his foot in silence, he stared at the floor, making it clear that he had no interest in entertaining her questions.

Braeden’s expression and posture were just as arrogant and insufferable as the great demon Belial had once been.

“Hey! You’re human now! You can’t treat me like this anymore. What if I decide to do something to you?”

Cheryl’s eyes sparkled with amusement, as if she had just been handed a golden opportunity. Her tone was almost threatening. She wanted to remind him that the power dynamic had changed. She was still a demon. He was now just a human.

But Braeden only scoffed and looked completely unfazed.

“Don’t forget, this is the Grand Citadel of the North. Yes, I’m human now. But I’m still the one bound to the contracts woven into this place, to the ancient relics and layers of magic surrounding it.”

It was just like how the slave mark on Plaurus had not disappeared. Whether he was demon or human, Braeden Ortis remained the contract holder.

Maybe things would be different elsewhere, but here, within the Grand Citadel, all magic still responded to him.

Cheryl bit her lip in frustration. Why was it that even after becoming human, this man never lost?

“Fine. But what are you going to do when you leave the Citadel? Will you still act so high and mighty in the capital?”

There were plenty of wards and protective enchantments in the townhouse in the capital as well, but Braeden did not bother to mention that. Instead, he simply smiled and said,

“You didn’t forget I still hold the title of Grand Duke, did you? If I wanted to, I could expose the truth about the puppet you’ve disguised as Marquess Clemence. Or I could wipe out the entire Clemence family.”

What a ruthless man. Worse than any demon. Cheryl stared at him, mouth slightly open, cursing him silently in her head.

Juliana, who had been watching the exchange quietly, finally stepped in with an awkward smile.

“Lady Clemence, why don’t you sit and have some tea before it gets cold? The chef just brought out fresh scones, and they’re very good.”

Her calm and gentle voice seemed to melt the tension in an instant.

Cheryl gave Braeden one last sharp look, then smiled politely at Juliana.

“You saw how he just treated me, didn’t you? And you still like him?”

Ever since her identity had been revealed, Cheryl often spoke freely to Juliana when there were no outsiders around.

“Since you’re already here, make yourself comfortable and enjoy your time.”

Juliana placed a teacup in front of her with her own hands.

Is she telling me to stop talking nonsense and drink the tea? Cheryl, who was well versed in the art of polite insults common in high society, quietly clicked her tongue at Juliana’s graceful way of putting her in her place.

How unfair. Cheryl pouted slightly and took a sip of tea. Thankfully, it was delicious.

“Ithan, no. You’ll hurt yourself.”

Lately, Juliana had started sounding like a nag, all because of Braeden and his complete lack of concern for safety.

“Her Highness again…”

“Why does Her Highness seem so much more charming lately?”

The maids had not stopped whispering since the day they saw Juliana covering Braeden with a blanket in the snow. The talk of the castle now was the “bold and dashing Grand Duchess.”

Since Juliana had started nagging more and more out of concern for Braeden’s well-being, the gossip among the staff only grew louder.

Braeden’s brow twitched. He could hear the excited murmuring coming from behind her.

In the past, it had only been men who were drawn to him. Now even the women?

He sighed in disbelief.

“Fine. Let’s go inside.”

He wrapped an arm around Juliana’s shoulders and gently guided her in. As soon as her small figure was hidden behind his large frame, disappointed sighs echoed from the hallway.

Should I replace the entire staff?

Juliana, unaware of the slightly terrifying thought running through his mind, tilted her head at the sudden urgency in his touch.

Once inside the small drawing room connected to their private chamber, Juliana walked over to the door leading to the terrace. She lightly touched a small bird-shaped ornament hanging there.

The wings were delicately crafted, and below them hung a small droplet-shaped charm.

It was a gift from Braeden, made to comfort Juliana when she missed Atlante.

She had hung the ornament by the window, and every time she passed through the room, she would either gently touch it or pause to look at it.

“I’ve been wondering,” Braeden said as he gently wrapped one arm around Juliana’s waist, “why did the Tear of God take the shape of a crow?”

“Because I asked him to,” Juliana replied quietly. “I needed help to take revenge. I thought a bird that could move freely would be the most helpful.”

A faint, bitter smile appeared on her lips. Saying it out loud made her feel as if she had used him, pushing him toward his end. Guilt settled in her heart.

“He told you, didn’t he? That you might see him again someday.”

“I know. It’s just… I feel both thankful and sorry.”

Juliana gave a soft, sorrowful smile as she held the ornament in her hand.

Braeden watched her silently. If it was true that the Creator shed tears that became beings like Atlante, he wondered if another could be born by forcing the divine to grief again. It was a thought that surely deserved punishment, but his expression remained calm.

“He understands how you feel,” Braeden said gently.

Though he was now human, he comforted her with ease. It was not because he had suddenly developed empathy, but because he had always been able to feel things deeply when it came to Juliana.

He was grateful for what Atlante had done, but it did not weigh on him the way it did on her.

“We will see him again one day.”

When he said that, Juliana nodded firmly, holding back her emotions.

Seeing that her expression had softened, Braeden took out a small velvet box.

“What is this?” she asked, surprised as he handed it to her.

“The gift I gave you back then was lost in all the chaos. This one isn’t made with the exact same gem, but I found a stone with nearly the same color and had it remade.”

When she opened the box, she saw the same jewelry set he had given her when they were married.

“Ithan…” she whispered, moved by the gesture. She had not expected him to remember something like that, let alone replace it with such care.

Then Braeden took the ring from the box and slowly lowered himself onto one knee in front of her.

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