Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 26

Mammon had gone mad.

Or maybe she had simply grown far too bold.

Braeden’s eyes turned cold as ice when he saw Cheryl laughing so hard her hair ornament shook. Once she realized he was watching her, she stopped laughing.

“And what if I am? Do you really think I’ll listen to you just because you try to threaten me?”

She met his gaze, her eyes sharp and full of defiance.

If she had been human, people would have called her crazy. But she was a high demon. Mammon acting like Mammon wasn’t anything surprising. It was almost expected.

“Lochlan.”

At Braeden’s quiet call, Lochlan stepped forward and handed him a box.

“What’s this?”

Cheryl asked with feigned innocence, but the hunger and curiosity in her eyes were obvious.

When she opened the box, inside was a hand mirror encrusted with various gems. It was a relic from an ancient kingdom long since destroyed.

She quickly caught herself, trying to suppress the smile that tugged at her lips.

“Well, I guess you do have good taste after all.”

Cheryl took the box and motioned to her servant, who stepped in and took it from her hands.

The idea of giving her a hand mirror had come from Lochlan. Braeden hated the very thought of preparing a gift for Mammon, so Lochlan had quietly taken care of it all to avoid bothering him.

“My aide handled it. You really think I’d waste time picking something like that?”

Braeden spoke with an arrogant tone, and Cheryl pouted slightly. He could craft a jewel made of pure soul essence for his fiancée, but couldn’t spare even a little thought for her?

The difference was irritating, but since she had just secured a rare ancient artifact, she decided to let it slide. Just this once.

Knowing the deal had been made, Lochlan gave a polite nod and stepped back.

“Make sure the Empress doesn’t get the chance to harm her.”

“And if things don’t go the way you planned?”

“I’ll take the gift back.”

Cheryl flinched slightly at the chill in Braeden’s voice.

“And I won’t stop there. I’ll make sure you suffer for it.”

“What? Why would you punish me?”

Her voice rose in protest, but when she noticed Juliana nearby, she quickly lowered it again.

“It won’t just be punishment,” Braeden said. “It will be a disaster.”

He said he would destroy the world without so much as a change in his expression.

Wow. He’s completely insane.

Cheryl shook her head slowly, stunned.

She had too much to lose in the human world. It wasn’t because she cared for people or held affection for them. It was because of the vast treasure she had collected over the years. She couldn’t just walk away from all that.

“I’ll do everything I can. So that mirror is mine now.”

Just try taking it back, her sharp glare seemed to say.

Braeden thought her attitude was absurd, but since he needed her help right now, he said nothing.

After finishing their deal, they returned to Juliana with calm, pleasant faces. Despite the threats and selfish bargaining that had just taken place, none of it showed on the surface.

“Shall we go now?”

Cheryl asked cheerfully, linking arms with Juliana.

“Yes, let’s.”

Juliana looked at Braeden, and he gave a small nod as if to tell her she’d be fine.

She returned his gaze, then walked alongside Cheryl toward the Empress’s palace.

“My, your skin is beautiful. Would you mind sharing how you take care of it?”

Cheryl gently squeezed Juliana’s arm while they walked.

From behind, Braeden watched them, his eyebrow twitching slightly.

Cheryl smiled to herself. She had touched Juliana on purpose, just to get a reaction out of him.

Since when did Belial become so easy to read?

Seeing the constant changes in his expression was oddly satisfying. It felt like a weight she’d been carrying had finally started to lift.

“Welcome, both of you.”

The Empress greeted them with a smile that looked perfectly crafted but not quite genuine.

It was polite on the surface, but something about it felt off, like a smile worn for show.

‘The Empress desires me. That’s why she’ll see you as a threat.’

Juliana recalled what Braeden had said earlier, while they were on their way in the carriage.

She was smart enough not to ask how a married woman could desire another man.

In this world, morals and common sense had long since crumbled. Asking questions like How can she think that way? no longer meant anything.

“I greet Your Majesty, Empress of the Empire. Thank you for inviting me today.”

Juliana bowed with perfect grace.

Pamela watched her movements carefully, as if trying to find fault, but her expression softened as she replied with a smile.

“We’ll be family soon. I thought it would be good for us to get to know each other in advance.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”

Juliana answered politely and sat down. After greeting the Empress, Cheryl took the seat across from her and silently clicked her tongue.

I probably won’t even need to help her.

Juliana was flawless. No matter how closely you looked, there wasn’t a single thing to criticize. Cheryl found herself genuinely impressed.

Just then, the palace maids brought in tea and light refreshments.

As they sipped their tea, a few pleasant and harmless topics were exchanged.

“I’ve heard that the engagement gift from the Duke of Ortis has been the talk of the social circles lately,” Empress Pamela said, her gaze landing on the ring worn on Juliana’s left ring finger.

Juliana had kept it on because Braeden had asked her to always wear at least one of the gifts he gave her.

“Is that so? I hadn’t noticed. I didn’t realize it had drawn so much attention,” Juliana replied with a polite smile, though she already knew the rumors had been spread by Countess Barnett.

The Countess had dramatically exaggerated everything, even including pieces Juliana hadn’t worn at the engagement ceremony, all to stir curiosity and excitement.

“I’ve heard people say it’s a diamond of the finest quality, something no one has ever seen before,” Empress Pamela added. She took a graceful sip of her tea and then set her cup down gently. With a small motion of her hand, she gestured toward Juliana.

“If you don’t mind, may I have a closer look?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Juliana stood and walked over, then extended her hand. Empress Pamela placed Juliana’s hand on top of her own and began to examine the ring closely.

The diamond sparkled brilliantly, drawing the eye immediately with its charm and clarity.

But Empress Pamela’s eyes did not remain on the ring for long.

Her gaze slowly moved past Juliana’s pale, slender fingers, up her delicate arms, across her shoulders, and to the elegant line of her collarbone and the gentle curve of her chest. It felt more like an inspection than admiration. She seemed to be measuring just how much satisfaction a body like Juliana’s could offer a man.

She imagined Braeden holding Juliana in his arms.

There was no denying it. Juliana had the beauty and body that men would find impossible to resist. That thought alone stirred a quiet irritation within the Empress.

Without meaning to, Empress Pamela tightened her grip. Her long, manicured nail pressed slightly into Juliana’s skin.

Oh no. If she gets hurt, this entire world might fall apart.

Cheryl flinched and quickly spoke up, trying to defuse the tension.

“If there’s a chance, may I see the ring too? I’ve always had a special fondness for gemstones. I can’t help myself when it comes to jewelry I’ve never seen before.”

Cheryl let out a soft laugh and covered her mouth gracefully with her hand, playing the part of the noblewoman perfectly.

Cheryl’s slightly exaggerated laughter echoed through the quiet drawing room of the Empress’s palace. It may have sounded a bit out of place, but it was enough to draw Empress Pamela’s attention away.

She glanced at Juliana, who hadn’t flinched even when Pamela’s nail had pressed into her skin. Her expression remained calm and composed, and Pamela couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly.

She’s no ordinary woman, she thought. Looks meek on the outside, but clearly not someone to be underestimated.

“Do as you like,” Empress Pamela said, releasing Juliana’s hand as if she were granting her a favor.

Cheryl wasted no time. Like a hyena snatching prey, she quickly took Juliana’s hand and began to speak.

“Oh my, I don’t think I’ve seen a gem like this before. I remember once seeing a diamond that only comes from the Breswella Mountains, but this one is definitely different…”

Cheryl launched into an animated, rambling explanation about how she had once acquired a rare gem, and how it compared to the one Juliana wore.

Her flashy way with words didn’t leave room for anyone else to speak.

Cheryl Clemence’s obsession with jewels was a well-known topic in high society. No one would find it odd that she showed so much interest, and it didn’t seem like she was defending Juliana either. It just didn’t come across that way.

Most people wouldn’t suspect there was any real connection between them. Still, the longer Cheryl talked, the more tedious it became.

Listening to her, Empress Pamela began to feel drained. She started wondering why she had even bothered to invite the Marchioness of Clemence along in the first place. Regret settled in quickly.

“That’s quite enough. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be able to spare much more time. If there’s another opportunity, I’ll invite you again.”

Finally, Empress Pamela cut Cheryl off mid-sentence. Next time, she planned to invite only Juliana and leave Cheryl out entirely.

“Your Majesty, I’ve prepared a small gift to thank you for your invitation today. May I offer it to you now?”

Juliana asked politely.

A gift? What could she possibly have prepared? Empress Pamela nearly scoffed but simply motioned with her hand.

“Well, if you went to the trouble, I suppose I can’t ignore the gesture.”

One of the maids stepped forward with the item Juliana had given her earlier.

“It’s nothing grand, just a tea blend that’s good for insomnia. I thought it might be useful, considering how much Your Majesty must deal with the affairs of the royal family. Drinking it before bed might help you rest more easily.”

Empress Pamela’s expression shifted slightly.

She had been suffering from nervous tension for a long time. As an Empress unloved by the Emperor, she had lived with constant stress, even in moments when she wasn’t fully aware of it.

And of course, that stress had led to chronic insomnia.

Juliana understood this feeling all too well. In her previous life, she had endured something similar.

Felix had obsessively monitored her every move, refusing to let her even glance at another man, all while constantly cheating on her. It was no surprise she had developed severe anxiety.

When her health began to suffer, Juliana made the decision to reclaim her rest. She started blending different herbs to create a tea that would help her sleep.

After much trial and error, she finally succeeded in creating one that truly worked.

“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it,” Empress Pamela said stiffly.

Juliana and Cheryl offered polite farewells before leaving the palace.

As they stepped out into the outer grounds, Braeden was already waiting for them. His face was full of questions he clearly wanted to ask.

Cheryl saw his expression and suddenly felt exhausted.

“Don’t speak to me. I’m completely burned out,” she said, waving her hand.

She had talked so much her throat felt dry and cracked. Honestly, Juliana would have done fine on her own. All that worrying had been pointless.

Before Braeden could say a word, Cheryl shut him down completely, then gave Juliana a graceful nod.

“Lady Barnett, I’ll see you next time.”

Braeden let out a breath of disbelief at the drastic shift in her tone, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

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