Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 38

“Ah… yes, of course.”

Juliana sat up stiffly, unsure how to handle her awkward expression. Whether Braeden noticed or not, he gave her a faint smile and asked,

“Will you stay by my side?”

“Of course.”

Braeden did not hide the joy on his face after hearing her answer.

Seeing how happy he looked made Juliana feel strangely unsettled, like her palms were tingling. It was an unfamiliar and confusing feeling, and she clasped her hands together without realizing it.

“Then go change into something comfortable. I will rest here for a while.”

He pulled a service cord, and soon soft footsteps approached. A maid entered and bowed her head politely.

“Help the lady change into more comfortable clothes. Ask her if she needs anything and make sure she is taken care of.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The maid bowed again, and Juliana quietly said she would return before leaving with her.

Since she had been staying at the townhouse not long ago, several of her dresses were still there. Juliana returned to the room she had previously used and changed her clothes.

As she removed the elegant dress she had worn to impress the many nobles attending the tournament, she immediately felt more at ease.

“Shall I prepare a bath for you?”

“No, thank you. But could you deliver a letter for me?”

Juliana sat at the desk and quickly wrote a short note. It was addressed to Count Barnett’s estate.

She simply explained that she would remain at the townhouse to care for the Duke of Ortis and asked for Rosy to be sent to assist her.

“What would you like to do about dinner?”

The maid asked as she took the letter.

Her calm and respectful tone made Juliana smile faintly. It was a level of consideration she had never known in Count Barnett’s household.

“Please prepare something I can eat with His Grace. Something easy for a patient to digest.”

After giving that instruction, Juliana made her way back to Braeden’s room.

Perhaps she had been granted permission, because the attendant standing at the door opened it for her right away.

Juliana gave a small nod of thanks before stepping inside.

The sun was setting, and the entire room was bathed in a warm red glow.

Not wanting to disturb Braeden’s rest, Juliana moved silently to the side of his bed.

His eyes were closed, and fresh gauze was wrapped around his face and neck. She sat quietly in a chair beside him and looked at his face.

As she watched him sleep, the terrifying moment he had been injured came rushing back. That powerless, sinking feeling settled in her chest all over again.

She let out a quiet sigh.

Braeden’s eyelids slowly lifted.

His eyes sparkled like rare crimson jewels, and the moment they met hers, it felt as if he could see straight through her.

“You could have taken your time and rested longer.”

His calm voice seemed to echo through her chest, hitting something deep and tender.

“How could I rest with a patient here? I already told them I would be eating with you.”

“Good.”

He smiled.

That smile had a strange way of silencing the mess of thoughts in her head. As if there was nothing to worry about anymore.

Juliana stared at him for a moment, like someone who had given up resisting. Then, without warning, she spoke.

“I don’t think I can watch you compete anymore.”

It was an honest confession.

She didn’t care how noble or honorable jousting was, or how long it had been an imperial tradition. None of that mattered.

No amount of tradition could change the fact that it was a dangerous sport where someone might lose their life.

“That sounds like you are worried about me. Am I right?”

Braeden was still smiling. His calm, self-assured expression pulled her in without effort. And yet, it irritated her.

She felt a surge of frustration. That face of his, so relaxed even after being injured, was infuriating.

She had worried and suffered, but here he was, looking completely at ease. It made her feel strangely wronged, and the bitterness rose up inside her.

“Who knows,” she replied with a quiet huff.

Juliana gave a vague answer and turned her gaze away. Braeden’s laugh grew louder.

His low, rich voice echoed through the room in a warm and pleasant tone.

“You look better than I expected when you make that face. But what if I do something reckless again just to see it?”

At that, Juliana turned sharply and stared at him. Her eyes were filled with clear disapproval, as if silently asking if he had lost his mind.

Braeden seemed even more amused and let out another quiet laugh.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and the maids entered, pushing in trays for the evening meal.

They froze for a moment when they saw Braeden smiling. After a slight pause, they resumed moving, but their eyes trembled with nervousness. Anyone watching would have felt sorry for them.

Juliana sighed slowly, thinking that lately she was sighing far too often.

“You may leave now. I will take care of His Grace myself.”

“Yes, thank you, my lady.”

One of the younger maids bowed deeply. Seeing her, Juliana allowed a faint smile to appear on her lips.

It must have been frightening to serve a duke who rarely showed his emotions, especially now that he was smiling.

Whether he noticed or not, Braeden kept his eyes on Juliana.

He watched with quiet satisfaction as she gently blew on the soup to cool it.

“My hands are fine, but will you still feed me?”

“If you wish.”

Juliana noticed the slight twitch at the corner of his lips and let out a soft, amused breath. There was no winning against him.

Feeling almost like a mother bird, Juliana began feeding him spoonful’s of soup. He accepted each bite without hesitation, then spoke casually.

“I plan to stay sick until the wedding.”

“What?”

Juliana’s eyes widened. She wondered if she had heard him correctly. Not that he might get sick, but that he planned to. It sounded completely intentional.

“Since I am already injured, I may as well use it to avoid anything annoying.”

Juliana did not know how to respond. While she hesitated, Braeden took the bread from her hands without asking.

“So, you mean you plan to skip all the banquets scheduled after the tournament?”

“Exactly. They are all a waste of time. I barely have enough time to prepare for the wedding as it is.”

Juliana hesitated, wondering if that was really acceptable. As she thought about it, Braeden tore off a small piece of bread and held it to her lips.

She took the bite instinctively and chewed slowly.

“Since I will be very sick, I hope you can handle the replies to the invitations. Let them know I cannot attend.”

“That part is not difficult, but…”

Juliana had taken a few bites of the bread before realizing something was strange. Her eyes widened.

She met Braeden’s gaze and saw the playful glint in his deep red eyes. Her face flushed bright red.

“Why are you feeding me?”

“Because I want to. And you need to eat more than I do.”

Juliana was at a loss for words. Her lips moved, but no response came out.

Braeden slipped another piece of bread between them and grinned like a mischievous child.

Unable to refuse, Juliana chewed quietly and gave him a long side glance.

Just as they were finishing their meal, a servant came in and informed them that Rosy had arrived from the Barnett estate.

“My father probably sent a letter too.”

“I am sure he wants to know if the wedding will be delayed because of my injury.”

Braeden spoke as if he knew exactly what Count Barnett was thinking. Juliana nodded, knowing he was right.

“I will send him a reply.”

“Good. Tell him the injury is serious, but the duke has no plans to postpone the wedding. There is no need to hurry. Take your time.”

Juliana smiled quietly at Braeden’s playful tone and stepped out of the room.

Once she was gone, the maids entered and began clearing the dishes.

As they wheeled out the trays, Lochlan stepped into the room and raised one eyebrow when he saw Braeden.

With gauze taped to his face and neck, Braeden looked like a sick man as he leaned against the headboard. It was almost convincing.

The idea that the great demon Belial was pretending to be an invalid felt like a sign of the world’s end, but Lochlan wisely kept that thought to himself.

“Just lying here all day is surprisingly exhausting,” Braeden muttered.

He stood up and stretched. As he turned his head and twisted his wrists, sharp cracking sounds echoed from his joints.

In the process, one side of the gauze on his face came loose.

Lochlan stepped forward to reapply it, but as he got closer, he suddenly let out a startled cry.

“My lord! The wound is completely healed!”

What was he supposed to do with this? It had not even been a full day. Even if Braeden claimed he just healed quickly, this was far too fast.

“Oh, already?”

Braeden let out a small laugh, remembering when he must have lost focus.

It must have been when Juliana, completely unaware of herself, opened her lips to accept the bread he offered. The sight had been so cute that he had momentarily dropped control of his power. Apparently, that moment was enough to let the wound heal on its own.

“Just tape it back on. If we do not take it off, no one will notice.”

Braeden spoke as if it were nothing.

Lochlan, overwhelmed by frustration, sighed loudly.

He found himself seriously tempted to scratch the skin and recreate the wound himself. As that dangerous thought passed through his mind, Braeden happened to meet his eyes.

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