Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 24

When Braeden saw Juliana brushing her cheek, he walked over to her quickly.

“Are you cold? You don’t have a fever, do you?”

His large hand reached out and touched her forehead.

Up close, he carried a scent that reminded her of the wind. His wet clothes clung to his body, clearly outlining his muscular frame. Juliana didn’t know where to look. The longer she avoided his eyes, the warmer her face became.

“I think you might have a slight fever,” Braeden said with a small sigh.

Just then, the staff came to inform them that the hot water was ready.

“You should get cleaned up soon.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Juliana replied. She couldn’t meet his eyes and quickly followed the attendants to the bathroom.

It was strange. She had seen other men without their shirts before, but something about Braeden made her feel nervous in a different way.

She had never noticed it when he was fully dressed, but now she saw how well built he was. His wet black hair looked darker and shinier, and his red eyes gave off a subtle, dangerous charm.

She had never thought of him like this before, but now that she had seen him like this, he seemed incredibly attractive.

I need to stop thinking about this.

Juliana shook her head slightly to clear her mind.

“I’ll help you undress, my lady,” one of the hotel attendants offered as she stepped forward.

“Thank you, but I can manage on my own. Please leave me.”

Juliana turned down the offer firmly. She had no other choice. If the mark of Floreseco on her back was seen, she would not be able to explain it.

“But it may be difficult to do it alone…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. You may go now.”

Her voice left no room for argument. The attendants exchanged a glance, then bowed their heads and quietly left the room.

Once she was alone, Juliana finally relaxed her shoulders and let out a long sigh.

Her wet clothes were sticking to her skin, making them difficult to remove. She had expected this, but undressing alone turned out to be more trouble than she thought. Rosie had carefully chosen a dress with many decorative pieces, thinking it was perfect for the occasion, but that only made it harder to take off.

As Juliana let out another breath, there was a knock at the door.

She heard Braeden’s voice from the other side.

“I thought you might need some help.”

He had probably seen the attendants leaving and figured out what was going on. Even so, it was not easy for Juliana to ask him for help.

“I’m al…right,” Juliana managed to say, forcing the words out.

Things were far from alright, but it was the only answer she could give.

“I don’t hear any water running. That means you haven’t even gotten undressed yet, am I wrong?”

Why did he have to ask such sharp questions at times like this?

Juliana swallowed hard and stayed quiet for a while before finally responding.

“Then… please help me. Just a little.”

The door creaked open, and a cool draft entered as Braeden stepped inside.

Juliana turned around awkwardly, still wearing her dress with only the shoulders pushed down.

“You haven’t washed yet either, Your Grace. If you catch a cold…”

Who was really worrying about whom?

Braeden let out a small laugh as his eyes dropped to the undone dress still clinging to her.

“You probably don’t realize it, but when you say something like that right now, it sounds like you’re asking me to bathe with you.”

“What?”

Juliana flinched, startled.

Of course she didn’t realize. She had no idea what kind of thoughts her words might stir in someone else’s mind.

Braeden stared at a single drop of water resting on her bare shoulder.

I’m just helping my fiancée. She’s in a difficult situation. That’s all.

He repeated those words to himself several times as he slowly began untying the dress at her back.

His hands moved with care, but as he worked, his mind drifted.

He remembered the first time they met. She had boldly asked him to help her undress then, too.

But things had changed since that day. Now, he was her fiancé, and soon they would be married.

As he untied the last ribbon, a droplet of water slid from her hair down along her back.

His gaze followed it instinctively, and suddenly his throat felt dry. He swallowed.

A quiet breath escaped from his lips without him realizing it. Whether it was the sound or the warm air brushing her skin, Juliana’s shoulders pulled in slightly.

Goosebumps rose on her skin, and Braeden had to summon every ounce of patience he had not to lower his lips to that spot.

Even the air between them felt charged, as if sensitive to the tension. No one spoke. Aside from the sound of rain outside the window, the bathroom was completely silent.

Warm steam rose gently, adding to the delicate and intimate atmosphere.

After finishing with the ties, Braeden began removing the pins from her hair.

“Doesn’t your neck hurt, carrying around these many pins on such a small head?”

Juliana blinked, surprised. It was something she had never thought about.

“You don’t have to go through all that trouble when you’re with me. You’re beautiful no matter what you do.”

Compared to that memory, getting caught in the rain today was nothing at all.

Still, Braeden looked as though he had something to say but chose to stay silent. Instead, he quietly picked up his utensils and began to eat.

The warm silence between them felt strangely comforting. The tension that had built up earlier slowly faded, replaced by a calm that settled into the gentle clinking of silverware and the sound of the rain falling outside.

Juliana found herself watching Braeden as he ate. His profile, usually sharp and commanding, looked softer in the firelight. She remembered the way he had helped her earlier, how careful he had been with her dress, how he had avoided looking at her too directly despite the situation.

No matter how much she told herself to be careful, no matter how much she reminded herself of her past and the lessons she had learned, her heart kept leaning toward him without permission.

She placed her spoon down quietly.

Braeden noticed her movement and looked up, meeting her eyes. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then he spoke, his voice quiet but steady.

“You really are strong. Stronger than I imagined.”

Juliana blinked at the unexpected words.

“I’ve seen many noblewomen who crumbled under far less than what you’ve endured. But you always stand tall. Even when it must be difficult.”

Juliana gave a small, bittersweet smile.

“Thank you. But I don’t think I’m as strong as you say. I’ve just gotten used to pretending I am.”

Braeden looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself. Instead, he simply nodded and refilled her tea.

The conversation drifted into smaller topics after that. They spoke of upcoming events, the wedding plans, and the seasonal festival that would take place in the capital next week. Time passed gently between them, and by the time the rain finally began to let up, the tension from earlier had faded completely.

Juliana stood and walked to the window, watching the soft trails of water running down the glass.

Behind her, Braeden watched her in silence.

There were still many things she had not said.

And there were still things he had yet to ask.

But for now, the peace between them was enough.

Thinking of the worst possible outcome and convincing herself that she was fine had long been Juliana’s survival instinct.

“Being sick is not a flaw.”

At the sound of his voice, Juliana paused mid-bite and lifted her head. When her eyes met Braeden’s red gaze, her breath caught for a moment.

“Being sick means, you deserve care and attention. It does not mean you are weak.”

Did he somehow see right through her? Juliana managed to calm her trembling lashes and responded quietly.

“Of course. I know that. I truly do feel fine, so that is why I said so.”

Braeden narrowed his eyes slightly, as if not entirely convinced. Still, he did not press her further and allowed her to continue eating.

Juliana felt a small wave of relief wash over her. She ate with a bit more energy than usual. After the meal, the servants cleared the table and quietly left the room.

Just as Juliana turned to check the rain through the terrace window, Braeden reached out and held her gently by the waist.

His hand came to rest on her forehead. She had thought he believed her when she said she was fine, but clearly, he had not.

“Hmm. It feels like you might have a fever, or maybe not.”

She was not sure if it was just her imagination, but her body did feel warmer. Watching him tilt his head in thought, Juliana muttered in a flustered tone.

“It is not because I am sick. It is because you are standing so close.”

Her voice was soft as she turned her face away slightly. The blush that spread across her cheeks made her look even more charming.

“Oh? So, it is my fault then?”

Braeden let out a faint laugh and gently tilted her chin upward. Whatever patience he had gathered vanished in that instant like dust on the wind.

“In that case, I suppose we do not need to call a physician after all.”

He whispered those words with quiet satisfaction and, without any more hesitation, kissed her deeply.

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