Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 35

The large-built knight raised his lance high.

Then he charged forward with incredible speed.
It was almost unbelievable how someone of that size could move with such agility.

Braeden had been glaring at Cheryl, but by the time he turned to face his opponent, the knight was already too close. There was no way to dodge.

A thunderous crash rang out.

The two knights had collided head-on.
The spectators stretched their necks, trying to see the outcome.
The referee did the same.

He did not expect the match to be over in just one strike, so he checked both competitors as a matter of procedure.

The larger knight’s body tilted slightly to the side.
As his horse galloped forward, his leaning body slipped off and hit the ground with a heavy thud.

He did not appear to be seriously injured, but he had lost consciousness.

“Victory goes to His Grace, Archduke Braeden Ortis!”

Cheers erupted from the stands.
In the midst of all that noise, Braeden quietly muttered a curse under his breath.

“Damn it. I messed up the control.”

He had been so focused on watching Mammon that he failed to adjust his strength properly.
As a result, his opponent had been overwhelmed by Braeden’s sheer pressure and had fainted.

Braeden looked toward Juliana with an awkward expression.

She blinked quickly, unsure whether she should be happy or concerned.

Beside her, Cheryl let out a short laugh and shook her head, as if saying, “What kind of archdemon can’t even control his own strength?”

Braeden clenched his teeth in frustration.

That damn Mammon.

Grinding his jaw, Braeden exited the arena.

He immediately snapped at Lochlan, who had appeared to help with the next match preparations.

“I told you to stay by Juliana’s side.”

“As you can see, that was not possible.”

“Why not? All you had to do was stay close and keep quiet.”

Lochlan began rattling off words in a rush.

“How could I just stand there quietly? She was looking at me like I was a perfectly ripe piece of prey. Licking her lips. You only say that because you’ve never felt something that terrifying. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it was for me?”

Braeden fell silent.

It was the first time Lochlan had ever talked back to him like that.
He let out a breath he had been holding.

In the end, it was all Mammon’s fault.

If it hadn’t been for the match, Braeden would have gone straight over and brought Juliana away himself.

“No matter what, you didn’t actually leave her alone with Mammon, did you?”

“I assigned five shadow knights to guard her.”

Lochlan answered immediately, not even pausing for breath. He clearly did not want to be ordered to go back. It was obvious just how much he disliked Cheryl.

“All right. Understood.”

Braeden checked over his lance.

At this point, he had made up his mind. He would end his next match as quickly as possible and go straight to see Juliana.

While Juliana was still talking with Cheryl, someone quietly approached them.

“Lady Barnett. Please come with me.”

Juliana paused when she realized the woman was a maid from the Empress’s palace.
Cheryl also recognized the maid and smiled lightly.

“Empress Pamela must be feeling quite lonely today. In that case, you should go and keep her company.”

Cheryl stepped forward as if she planned to go with her, but the maid cut her off sharply.

“Only Lady Barnett has been summoned.”

The firm tone made it impossible to argue. Cheryl glanced at Juliana with concern.

“Do not worry. I will be back soon.”

Juliana reassured her with a soft voice, then added clearly so the maid could hear,

“If my fiancé comes looking for me, please let him know I am speaking with Empress Pamela.”

Both Cheryl and the maid understood what she meant immediately.

Juliana was making it clear that if something happened to her, the responsibility would point directly to the Empress.

“Ahem. Please follow me.”

The maid looked uncomfortable as she turned and led Juliana away.

Juliana was guided into a private section within the tournament grounds, reserved for members of the royal family.

Inside, Empress Pamela was seated on a luxurious sofa, leaned back in a relaxed but elegant posture.
She looked up as Juliana approached with graceful steps.

“It is an honor to see Your Majesty, the glory of the Empire.”

“We meet again, Miss Barnett. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Juliana took her place on the sofa across from Empress Pamela.
A maid came forward and placed tea and refreshments on the table between them.

“Last time, I was too busy to speak with you at length.”

Empress Pamela’s amber-colored eyes stayed fixed on Juliana’s face.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am honored you invited me again.”

Despite the Empress’s penetrating gaze, Juliana remained calm and returned a gentle smile.

“Please, drink before the tea gets cold.”

Empress Pamela spoke with a soft but insistent tone, as if there were more behind the offer.

It was suspicious.
So suspicious that Juliana briefly wondered if there was poison in the tea.

“The scent is lovely.”

She lifted the teacup, inhaled the aroma, and without hesitation, took a small sip.

Empress Pamela narrowed her eyes and watched her closely. Then she clicked her tongue.

“What if I really had poisoned it?”

Juliana placed the cup back down and smiled politely.

“If Your Majesty had truly intended to poison me, you would have made sure no one knew I came here.
You would not take the risk of being the obvious suspect.
So I believed there was no danger.”

“You are bold.”

Empress Pamela laughed quietly at Juliana’s confident response.
And Juliana was right.

The Empress had been curious. She had wanted to see if Juliana would show fear or caution. That was why she had created an unsettling atmosphere.

She had not expected Juliana to see through it so clearly.

Juliana was not someone ordinary.

Ever since drinking the tea Juliana had sent her for insomnia, Empress Pamela had started to take an interest in her.
Now that interest was growing.

“About that tea you gave me before. I want you to introduce me to the person who made it.”

Empress Pamela had finally slept well after drinking the tea Juliana gifted her.
She had gone through a long, cautious process to confirm there was no poison, but in the end, she had been so deeply rested that it left her confused.
It had been years since she experienced that kind of sleep.

So, Empress Pamela came to a conclusion.

This tea was not something made by someone who simply understood its effects and blended ingredients accordingly.
The person who created it must have suffered from nervous exhaustion themselves.
Without that personal experience, it would have been impossible to make something like this.

“May I ask why Your Majesty wishes to meet the person who made it?”

At Juliana’s question, a faint and slightly irritated smile appeared on Empress Pamela’s lips.

She was never sure how to judge this young woman who never responded obediently.
Was she bold, or simply foolish?

“Why? Are you afraid I might try to persuade them or kill them?”

Empress Pamela’s tone was sarcastic, but Juliana replied with a calm smile.

“Not at all. I was just curious. Because I am the one who made it.”

Empress Pamela, who had been lifting her teacup, froze.
She slowly lowered the cup back onto the table.

“You made it?”

“Yes. I did.”

Juliana’s expression was sincere.
There was no hint of a lie. And if she were caught lying, the consequences would be serious.
Empress Pamela doubted that Juliana Barnett would be foolish enough to take that kind of risk.

Confusion stirred in the Empress’s eyes.

“Then that means you too have suffered from a nervous condition?”

Her voice trembled slightly with emotion.

But Juliana responded as gently and quietly as someone standing alone by a peaceful lake at sunrise.

“Your Majesty, everyone carries some kind of burden they cannot easily speak of. The weight of that burden depends on how the person accepts it.
I could never compare my pain to the heaviness of life that Your Majesty bears, but I have had many sleepless nights of my own.”

The strength in Juliana’s words, spoken with calm maturity beyond her years, deepened Empress Pamela’s confusion.

For so long, she had been trapped in the royal palace, always watching her steps around Emperor David.
Some days, she was proud of her position as the most powerful woman in the Empire.
Other days, her life felt worse than that of a nameless commoner.
Over time, her personality had grown sharp and anxious.

“So, are you saying you are all right now?”

“I would not say I am completely healed. But I have improved enough to fall asleep without needing the tea.”

Questions immediately rose in Empress Pamela’s mind.
How did she manage that?
What method had she used to recover?
But she could not bring herself to ask. Her pride would not allow it, and she bit her lower lip instead.

Juliana, as if reading her thoughts, spoke again.

“For a very long time, I tried to win over the hearts of people who disliked me.
But no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I did, I eventually realized I could not change them.”

Her words slowly sank into Empress Pamela’s heart.

She too had spent years trying to earn the favor of Emperor David and the royal family.

“So, I decided something.
If I cannot change the hearts of those who hate me, then I will stop trying.
Instead, I will focus on those who care for me.
If someone shows me kindness, I will return it.
Surprisingly, once I started doing that, the emptiness in my heart began to fill.”

In all her life, Empress Pamela had never heard anyone speak like this.

She looked at Juliana with wide eyes.

Those intelligent, sincere green eyes seemed to draw her in, like a deep and quiet lake with no bottom.

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