Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 28

As Braeden had said, the imperial law did state that weddings must be held in the bride’s territory.

Because of that, it was common for grooms who lived in other regions to stay at the bride’s home until the wedding.

However, things changed when royalty was involved. Braeden Ortis was a member of the imperial family, and whether he liked it or not, his wedding had to follow royal customs and standards.

And honestly, who in the empire could possibly manage a man like him? The Count and Countess of Barnett would likely suffer a complete breakdown just from sharing a house with him.

It might be amusing to watch, but forcing that situation would require far too much trouble.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Juliana said, gently shaking her head.

Braeden frowned slightly at her answer.

“There is not much time left. You need to have your wedding gown tailored, prepare for the ceremony, and learn about your role as Duchess.”

He listed several reasons that were difficult to argue against.

“How about I stay at the townhouse for about a week?” Juliana offered.

“That is… well, I suppose that works,” Braeden replied, clearly reluctant but accepting the compromise.

With that settled, they continued their meal. They did not exchange many words, but the peaceful evening passed gently, like the soft spring breeze brushing through the garden.

Braeden sent a message to the Barnett estate, informing them that Juliana would be staying at the townhouse for a week to focus on wedding preparations.

The Count and Countess had no choice but to accept. They were not in a position to argue. And since they did not truly care about Juliana’s safety or well-being, everything moved quickly and smoothly.

At Juliana’s request, her maid Rosie and her pet bird, Atlante, were brought to the townhouse as well.

“Miss, I am not dreaming, am I?”

Rosie looked around the room with wide eyes. The high ceiling, the sparkling chandelier, the polished, expensive furniture, the silk curtains, the elegant wallpaper, and the plush carpet. Everything was the finest quality.

Compared to this, Juliana’s room at the Barnett estate felt like a servant’s quarters. It had only the bare minimum and none of the warmth or beauty that should have belonged to a noble lady’s chamber.

“It is perfect,” Juliana said with a small smile.

Rosie touched the bedding and let out a strange sound, shivering with delight. She could not hide her excitement. Even as a maid, she had been given a room here that was better than the one Juliana had been given back at the estate.

“Do you really like it that much?”

“Yes, I love it. I must sound silly, don’t I?”

Rosie replied honestly and let out a sheepish laugh.

He could not remember ever seeing her smile so brightly in their previous life, and that thought brought an unexpected sense of guilt.

“You should get some rest. It will take some effort to adjust to everything starting tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lady. Have a good night.”

As Rosie left the room, Atlante crawled out of his cage with a lazy stretch and clicked his tongue.

“Humans. Why are they all nothing but slaves to wealth and luxury?”

“You are one to talk,” Juliana replied, looking at the mountain of fruit he had eaten. It was the kind of comfort they had never experienced at the Barnett estate.

Atlante had stayed inside his cage all day, busy eating one fruit after another. He flinched slightly but tried to defend himself.

“I eat only what I must to survive.”

“In that case, you should not mind returning to the Barnett estate tomorrow.”

“That is…”

Atlante could not finish his sentence. He opened his beak and glared at her.

“You are a cruel human.”

“You are not going back, but I do need you to do something for me.”

As expected, she was going to make him do something either way. Grumbling quietly, Atlante flew up and landed on her arm, ready to listen more carefully.

Juliana gave him his instructions, then walked over to the window that opened to the terrace. She pushed it open and let the night air in. Atlante, now fully blended into the shadows, flew off into the dark sky.

Juliana stepped closer to the window and looked up at the hazy glow of the moon, her eyes calm and steady.

The rumors were spreading. The ones she had planted when she asked the pawnshop owner to speak about her search for chrysoberyl were slowly making their way through the city.

As she thought back on past events, something returned to her memory. Around this same time, there had been a major incident.

The Empire had signed a trade agreement with the Western Continent after years of hostility. It was the first time trade between the two sides had been legalized, and the sea routes had officially opened.

To mark the occasion, the imperial family led a massive investment project and invited the nobles to contribute. For a time, the empire had been filled with excitement and opportunity.

Since it was the first legal trade with the Western Continent, rumors began to spread that the profits would be more than three times greater than any local trade.

Many nobles poured in their money. Some even borrowed heavily, desperate to take part in what they believed would bring them unimaginable wealth.

Ships loaded with precious metals and goods set sail, carrying the dreams of those investors.

But just before reaching the Western Continent, disaster struck. A violent storm, one the region had never seen before, hit the fleet.

It was the kind of storm that made even seasoned sailors pray out loud. The ships could not withstand the force of nature. They split apart and sank into the sea.

After that incident, those who had lost their investments began demanding accountability day after day. The empire was left dealing with the chaos for quite some time.

In the end, the Emperor himself had to step in and use royal funds to settle the situation.

The Barnett family had not been caught up in the disaster. They had not invested in the first place because they had no capital.

Count Barnett, who disliked risk and preferred small but secure gains, chose to observe first before making any move. As a result, they lost nothing and only became more prideful. But this time, things would be different.

“I know exactly what kind of people you are.”

Juliana whispered the words to herself, her voice steady. She had suffered through too much not to know.

Her eyes, deep and still, reflected no light. In the darkness, they looked like a rich, green lake pulling everything into their depths.

She had been careful not to say a word to the pawnshop owner about trade or investments related to the Western Continent. That was news that would spread on its own through official channels. Instead, she asked him to spread one specific rumor.

“People from the Western Continent love sapphires.”

She felt a little guilty toward Braeden, but there was no way she would let the sapphires from the Kerebro mine he had handed over end up making the Barnett family rich.

“Let’s see, Aileen. If you act just the way I expect, your own greed will destroy you in the end.”

People did not change easily. Juliana did not believe Aileen would be any different from the past.

Following Juliana’s command, Atlante flew through the night and settled on a tree branch, waiting silently.

After a while, Aileen stepped out of the building where she had been drinking and laughing with Tristan and his group. She was heading toward her carriage.

Just then, Atlante made his move. He dropped something at her feet and quickly flew back into the shadows.

“What is this?”

Aileen noticed the worn, slightly stained notebook lying near her shoe. Curious, she picked it up.

She flipped through a few pages without thinking much, but then her eyes widened.

Inside were detailed notes on current business trends in the empire, predictions about the future of the global financial market, and a list of potential investments expected to bring enormous profits.

Whoever lost this notebook had to be someone with deep experience in trade and business. The information was organized with such precision and depth that it was clear how valuable it was.

There was no doubt in Aileen’s mind. The owner would come back looking for it. She glanced around without realizing it.

But there was no way she could return something this valuable. Aileen quickly slipped the notebook into her handbag and left the area before the owner could return.

From the shadows, Atlante watched her tuck the notebook away. Once she was gone, he flew back through the night toward Juliana.

“How did it go?” she asked as he landed.

“You are going to start something, then leave it unfinished?”

His voice was calm but firm. The heat behind his words wrapped around Juliana like a slow-burning flame. She felt it in her cheeks, her ears, all the way down to her fingertips.

“I didn’t mean to,” she said softly, trying to pull her hand back.

Braeden did not let go. His grip was not harsh, but it was steady, grounding.

“Then mean it now,” he said, his voice a little deeper this time.

Juliana’s breath caught in her throat. The space between them suddenly felt too small. She could see the droplets of water still clinging to his hair, the sharp line of his jaw, and the intensity in his crimson eyes. Her heart began to race.

Braeden leaned in just a little closer. The morning light filtering in through the corridor window made his features glow, casting a soft golden hue over his skin.

“If you touch me like that, I might misunderstand,” he said, his tone almost teasing, but there was a real weight beneath the words.

Juliana lowered her gaze, then slowly raised it again to meet his.

“What if I wanted you to?”

She was not sure where the courage to say that came from. Maybe it was the way he looked at her, like she was something fragile but also something he could never let go of.

Braeden did not move for a moment. Then, slowly, he let go of her wrist and stepped back, just slightly.

“Breakfast,” he said with a small smile, as if nothing had just happened between them.

Juliana nodded, her face still warm. Together, they walked toward the dining room, side by side, saying nothing. But everything unspoken lingered in the air between them, heavy with meaning and impossible to ignore.

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