Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 33

Great wealth and honor…

At that moment, the face that came to Juliana’s mind was Aileen’s.
It was Aileen who had pushed Tristan into action.

Realizing that everything was unfolding exactly as she wanted, Juliana asked calmly, pretending not to know anything.

“What is it about?”

When Juliana showed interest, Tristan, full of excitement, responded proudly.

“I’ll give you one tip, just because of our past together. If you ever get a chance to receive something from the Grand Duke, ask for sapphires. No matter what. Their price is going to soar very soon.”

People from the Western Continent love sapphires.

It seemed the rumor Juliana had spread had reached Tristan exactly as intended.

“I see. I’ll remember that.”

As she nodded politely, Tristan smiled, clearly satisfied with himself.

Juliana watched him walk away, laughing loudly as if he had already struck it rich. Her eyes were cold and sharp.

If you are going to be greedy, you could at least be smart about it.

Had he forgotten that he only got the sapphire mine through her marriage? Being greedy was bad enough, but being foolish on top of that left no hope.

Still, thanks to that, everything Juliana had set in motion was proceeding without any issues. There was no reason to complain.

“Let’s go to my room.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Juliana gracefully walked up the stairs with Rosie by her side.

Felix, out of habit, was seated in one corner of the social club, playing cards with his usual group.

Even though it was daytime, the air inside was dark and heavy with thick cigar smoke.

“Have you found a knight for the jousting tournament?”

“I have. I’ve been preparing since last year.”

Tony Lyons, the viscount who had lost face after being eliminated in the second round of last year’s tournament, was bragging that he had spent a fortune hiring the captain of a mercenary group.

In the Kamina Empire, the jousting tournament was a competition where knights representing noble houses fought in a tournament-style match to prove their skills.

Some families sent their heads of house to compete directly, while others, especially those with less martial strength, sent a representative in their place.

In the past, it was considered a noble tradition for the family head or heir to personally compete in jousting tournaments. But over time, as more nobles became cautious, the event gradually shifted into one where hired knights or mercenaries took the field instead.

It was understandable. Jousting was a dangerous sport. A single mistake could lead to being thrown from a horse or even killed by a lance during the match.

After several noble families lost their heirs to accidents or to accidents disguised as schemes, people naturally began to avoid direct participation.

That was why those who still chose to compete in person, whether a family head or heir, were praised even more for their bravery.

“Are you entering the tournament yourself?” someone asked Felix.

Though he had never won, Felix had built a strong reputation by competing multiple times with honor.

“I don’t know. Maybe,” he replied.

He put out his half-burned cigar with a calm expression and brushed his hair back with one hand.

Someone who had noticed the vague tension in his face asked with a grin, “What’s going on? Our ever-prepared Viscount Everett hasn’t decided yet about the tournament?”

Lately, Felix’s thoughts had been clouded. He had been struggling to focus and had pushed work aside. He gave a faint, bitter smile.

Suddenly, he realized how pathetic he looked. Like a young man lost in his first love.

Juliana Barnett, whom he thought was firmly in his grasp, had slipped away like sand through his fingers.

There was no way to get her back. And accepting that was harder than he had expected.

When Felix said nothing, the others picked up on the mood and quickly changed the subject.

“I heard Grand Duke Ortis is entering again this year.”

“There were rumors he might sit this one out since his wedding is coming up, but I heard he’s still going ahead with it.”

“That must mean he’s confident in his skills. Still, what if something happens? What would his fiancée do if there were an accident?”

Grand Duke Ortis, accident, bride-to-be. These words slipped into Felix’s mind and stirred up a dark and dangerous thought.

He pictured the Grand Duke suffering a fatal accident during the tournament, Juliana weeping in sorrow, and himself standing beside her, offering comfort.

The chance of something actually happening to the Grand Duke was small. He was known across the empire as one of the most powerful warriors.

But small did not mean impossible. Accidents, after all, were unexpected tragedies.

Lost in thought, Felix let the cards in his hand fall onto the table.

“What’s this? Are you giving up?” one of the men asked with a crooked smile. He seemed happy that Felix might finally be dropping out.

“No. It’s a straight flush.”

“What? When did that happen?”

The other nobles leaned in to see Felix’s hand. One by one, they groaned and tossed their own cards onto the table.

No one had a better hand than that.

Couldn’t you go easy on us just once? Winning five rounds in a row? And he didn’t even seem interested in playing.

“Split the winnings however you want. Go have a drink or something,” Felix said as he stood up, his expression unreadable.

“Really? Well, we won’t complain about that.”

As the mood among the group shifted instantly, Felix looked at them with a cold gaze and walked out of the club with steady steps.

People called out polite farewells behind him, but Felix did not respond. Something had just taken full hold of his attention.

Only three days remained before the jousting tournament. He was running out of time.

The day of the jousting tournament had arrived.

On the first day, it was customary to hold an opening ceremony, and the Emperor always gave a speech. Because of this tradition, a great number of nobles had gathered.

The tournament grounds were quite large. They included three separate arenas for the matches, stands for spectators, and private lounges for noble guests.

Around the perimeter of the arena, flags bearing the emblem of the Kamina Empire and the crests of prominent noble families were lined up in an impressive display.

The weather was bright and clear. The nobles, dressed in vibrant and elegant attire, created a colorful scene that made the gathering look like a massive spring garden in full bloom.

Juliana arrived at the tournament grounds with the Count and Countess Barnett.

“Did His Grace the Grand Duke really say he would accept your handkerchief?”

Countess Barnett asked while fanning herself gently. She already knew the answer, but her raised voice made it clear she wanted others nearby to hear it too.

“Yes, Mother,” Juliana replied obediently, hiding her wry smile.

“If you’re going to give it to him, make sure it’s somewhere people can see it.”

Juliana’s eyes turned cold as she recalled what the Count had firmly told her the night before.

“Now then, where is Grand Duke Ortis?” the countess murmured as she stretched her neck and scanned the wide arena.

Another part of the jousting event’s appeal was watching the beautifully adorned horses and armor. Each participating noble family decorated their knight and horse in colors and symbols that represented their house.

To display wealth and power, many spared no expense, using expensive fabrics and even gemstones. Before the tournament began, the arena buzzed with competitive displays of luxury.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the air as a sleek black horse approached.

Its shiny coat and flowing black mane were striking. The horse’s face was covered with a mask decorated with red and white feathers, creating a bold and unique impression. The saddle and blanket matched the decoration with detailed patterns and silk fringes.

Riding the horse was Grand Duke Ortis, who immediately drew the attention of everyone around him.

He wore full armor but had not put on his helmet. When Countess Barnett met his eyes, her shoulders jerked as if startled.

The Grand Duke’s looks and presence were undeniable, but there was also something dark and intimidating about him. With his black steed and red trimmings, he looked like a grim messenger from the underworld.

“There you are.”

Braeden walked up to Juliana and Countess Barnett with a warm smile.

His expression was kind, yet Countess Barnett went pale as if she had been challenged to a duel.

“I wish you the best of luck. May victory be yours,” she said quickly, then gave Juliana a look that clearly meant she would leave now and expected her to deliver the handkerchief herself.

The countess clearly wanted to use Braeden’s presence to show off among the other noblewomen, even if she found him difficult to face directly.

Juliana understood her intentions right away and gave her a quick nod. She was more than happy to let her go.

Braeden paid no attention to the countess as she left. Whether she stayed or not meant nothing to him.

When Juliana tilted her head slightly to look up at him, Braeden jumped down from his horse in one smooth motion.

“Why does it feel like I haven’t seen you in so long?”

It had only been three days since Juliana left the Grand Duke’s townhouse and returned to the Barnett estate. It wasn’t long at all, but she felt the same way and smiled softly.

A warm spring breeze seemed to swirl around them as if the world had slowed down for just the two of them.

“I brought the handkerchief, just like I promised. But…”

Juliana hesitated. The uncertainty in her voice was unusual for her, and Braeden looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“I’m afraid it doesn’t match your outfit at all. What should we do?”

When Braeden saw the handkerchief, she pulled out, he burst into laughter.

It was a lovely pink handkerchief, soft like a spring day, embroidered with yellow hyacinths that symbolized courage and victory.

Juliana imagined Braeden riding into the tournament with that handkerchief tied to his lance.

The image was strange. It looked as if someone had tried to decorate a grim reaper from the underworld with flowers.

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