Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 32

Once the dress selection was finished, it was almost time for dinner.

Juliana, who had planned to dine with Braeden, walked with him to the dining room.

After seeing how much had been spent on her clothing, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
Still, she didn’t know how to bring it up.
She already knew that if she mentioned it, Braeden would simply say it was what she deserved as the future duchess.

Braeden noticed the way she sighed quietly and parted her lips, as if trying to speak, and gave a short laugh.

“Will there ever be a day when you can be shameless?”

He said it as though it were half a joke, pulling out a chair for her.

Juliana widened her eyes, surprised. She already felt she was being shameless enough.
Her round eyes, filled with a quiet sense of guilt, looked oddly endearing.

After helping her into her seat, Braeden sat down across from her and met her gaze.

“I just wonder how long you’re going to keep feeling uncomfortable about all this.”

Juliana blushed slightly. It felt like he had read her mind.

“I’ll try to adjust soon. And…”

Her eyes, which had been lowered in embarrassment, slowly lifted.
She looked directly at him, her deep green eyes calm and sincere.

“Thank you.”

It was the kind of thank you that felt genuine, as if she believed eye contact was the proper way to express heartfelt emotions.

Had anyone ever thanked him this honestly before?

Braeden felt as if her gaze had overwhelmed him, and he gave a soft, almost helpless smile.

If only you were a little more selfish.
If only you could use me without feeling guilty, the way I intend to use you.

He brushed the thought away and gestured toward the food.

“If you mean it, then eat well.”

“What?”

How did that become the conclusion?

Juliana tilted her head slightly, confused.
The way her brows curved gently in surprise made her expression even more graceful.

Braeden found it amusing and let out a warm laugh.

The week they had agreed on had already passed.

Tomorrow, Juliana would return to the miserable Barnett estate.

If she were truly shameless, she might have begged not to go back.
But Juliana was not that kind of person, and Braeden knew she never would.

The servants brought out the meal, filling the table with warm dishes.

Juliana picked up her spoon and began with the creamy potato soup made with milk.

For a brief moment, her eyes lit up in delight at the taste, but the expression quickly disappeared.

Juliana ate with graceful movements, following perfect manners. There was nothing to criticize in the way she dined.
She could probably eat food that was bland or even terrible with the same elegant poise.

Braeden, who had been watching her expressions closely, could tell whether she enjoyed the food or not.
It was clear that she was impressed by the skill of the townhouse chef.

“You don’t seem to have much of an appetite. Are you feeling unwell?”

He had been wondering if keeping her well-fed might help delay her return, but Juliana’s question brought him back to the moment.

“Not at all. I’m eating just fine.”

Braeden moved his fork a few more times, and half the food on his plate quickly disappeared.
Juliana blinked in surprise.

“You really don’t need to worry about me,” Braeden said, giving a small shrug.

Worrying about a grand demon who did not need human food to survive was pointless.
If anything, it made more sense to worry about her, with her delicate wrists that looked like they might snap with the slightest force.

Braeden smiled and gently pushed the perfectly roasted goose in her direction.

After dinner, they took a walk through the garden.
Soft magical lights glowed here and there in the fading evening, giving the space a peaceful and enchanting atmosphere.

Juliana suddenly realized that the week she had spent here had gone by in the blink of an eye.

“Time really does pass quickly,” she said.

Braeden let out a quiet laugh. He had been thinking the exact same thing.
Time that had once felt endless and stagnant now seemed to fly whenever he was with her.

“Unless you’re secretly using magic, I don’t know how time could move so fast.”

Juliana laughed softly at his words.

“I didn’t know you could joke like that.”

She probably thought he was only trying to make her smile.
She had no idea that he had meant every word.

Braeden clicked his tongue quietly and glanced at her side profile.
Under the moonlight, her pale hair gleamed softly, and the smooth line of her neck stood out clearly in the darkness.
She looked like the exact opposite of him, who blended into the shadows as if he were part of them.

As if it were second nature, Braeden held out his arm to escort her.

Juliana gave him a gentle smile and placed her hand on his arm.
Her pale fingers settled lightly over his sleeve without any hesitation. In the darkness, they stood out even more.

They walked in silence for a while, then looked up at the sky.
Countless stars stretched across the heavens above them.

“It’s beautiful,” Juliana said.

Braeden watched her green eyes glimmer and suddenly found himself wondering what she would do if he laid a galaxy at her feet.

As a grand demon who could bend space at will, he had the power to do that.
But no demon would ever go so far just to impress a human.

In truth, no creature from any race would even consider such a thought.

“Is it the sparkling light that you like?” Braeden asked, studying her expression.

“It’s beautiful because it sparkles, but that’s not all of it. The night sky has a special charm that’s different from the day.
It feels quiet, like there’s a kind of peaceful magic in the stillness.
It’s not only because of the stars.
I think I like how everything is so silent that I can feel my own presence more clearly.
What about you, Braeden?”

Juliana looked at Braeden as she asked the question.

He had never thought about it before. All he had ever known was darkness.
Darkness, and more darkness. Pitch black, and then even darker than that.
There was nothing that gave off light.
Even stars, in the end, did not shine on their own.

To his eyes, the true form of the world looked like a massive, endless shadow.
And in the middle of all that, the only thing that truly shone was Juliana.

Her hair glowed softly in the dark.
Her clear face, her bright eyes, and her lips that seemed to carry the sweetness of ripe fruit stood out in sharp contrast.

If the feeling he had when all he could sense was her and everything else faded into silence could be called beauty, then he agreed completely.

“I feel the same,” he said.

When he nodded, Juliana smiled gently. It was a quiet, radiant smile that reminded him of starlight.

The next morning, Juliana returned to the Barnett estate after a week away.
She went to greet the countess as soon as she arrived.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to greet her later. The countess got back late from a party and is still sleeping,” the strict head maid said curtly.

This was the same maid who used to act like Juliana didn’t even exist.
But ever since her engagement to Braeden had been confirmed, the maid had at least started treating her like someone who mattered.

“Alright. Please let her know when she wakes up.”

Juliana passed the maid and walked into the house.

Rosie followed close behind, carrying Juliana’s luggage and the birdcage with Atlante inside.
As she climbed the stairs, she found herself face to face with someone coming down from the other side.

“Oh, young master Tristan,” Rosie said quickly, stepping to the side and bowing her head.

Tristan had taken up as much space as he could, coming down with slow, deliberate steps.
He stopped right in front of Juliana, one hand shoved in his pocket and his posture slightly leaning, full of attitude.

“Back from the Grand Duke’s townhouse, are you?”

He looked like he was itching for a fight. His tone was sharp, and his face showed nothing but disapproval.

“There were a lot of wedding details to go over,” Juliana answered calmly.

“Is that what you call it? Not just busy rolling around in bed?”

Juliana frowned at his crude words.

“What are you trying to say?”

Tristan noticed something had changed in the way she spoke.

She used to call him brother. Now, she didn’t even bother with a title.
It was clear she had no intention of speaking to him as family anymore.

“So now that you’re the future duchess, I guess it doesn’t matter what happens to this family.”

Tristan was not someone who spoke without a reason.
If he was suddenly showing up and saying things like this, there had to be a purpose behind it.
Juliana decided she would find out what it was.

“The count and countess always told me we should repay kindness when we receive it,” she said.

“Kindness? Give me a break. Just act like we’re strangers. This family doesn’t need you. We’ll be just fine without your help.”

There was a confident edge to his voice, as if he had some great secret or plan.

Juliana narrowed her eyes. She thought she was beginning to understand.

“You sound like someone who’s about to achieve something big.”

Tristan let out a smug laugh.

“That’s exactly right. I’m going to gain wealth and status beyond anything you could imagine.
So don’t get in my way. Keep your head down and focus on keeping the Grand Duke happy.
Try not to bring shame to the family when people find out where you really came from.”

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