Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 45

Braeden let out a small, incredulous laugh.
What on earth could she have done to make the Empress glare at him like that?

It was the first time the Empress had ever looked at him that way.
She had always gazed at him with heavy, sorrowful eyes, filled with longing.

Braeden, who could sense the darker sides of human desire all too easily, had always found the Empress deeply unsettling.
Her presence made his skin crawl.

But now, something had changed.
Whatever Juliana had done, it had clearly affected the Empress.
People rarely changed so completely. That was why Braeden found Juliana incredibly fascinating.

“Is that why I can’t take my eyes off her?”

At some point, without even realizing it, he had begun following her with his eyes.
A woman who could shake even a Grand Demon was not someone ordinary.

He sighed as he watched Juliana approach.
Seeing her now, the idea of a wedding banquet felt irritating.
Why was everyone so eager to keep the bride and groom tied down with formalities when they had more important things to do?

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Braeden quietly made a plan.
He would dance with her a few times and then disappear from the banquet with her.

But just before she reached him, someone stepped into her path.
It was Felix Everett.
Braeden’s eyes grew sharp and cold.

“Lady Barnett. Or rather, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess now,” Felix said with a polite bow, his expression hard to read.

It would have been rude to ignore someone offering a respectful greeting.
Even though Juliana did not welcome the encounter, she returned the gesture without showing her displeasure.

“Viscount Everett.”

At a wedding banquet, it was only natural to exchange congratulations.
But Felix said nothing of the sort.
Instead, he seemed taken aback by the change in Juliana’s tone.

She was speaking to him much more formally now, and that shift hit him harder than he expected.

When he continued to say nothing, Juliana finally asked,
“Is something wrong?”

“Ah…”

He stood frozen, staring at her face as if in a daze.
Only now did it truly sink in that her status had risen beyond his reach.
She was no longer someone he could manipulate with ease.

“Congratulations on your marriage,” he said awkwardly, stumbling over the words he had meant to avoid.

Originally, he had planned to charm her subtly.
He had thought that now that she was married, it would be easier to meet her in secret.
He had imagined telling her he was always ready to answer her call, hoping to shake her confidence and pull her in.

But now that Juliana treated him with calm indifference, his mind went completely blank.

“Thank you. If you have nothing more to say, may I go? My husband has been waiting for me,” she said, her tone light but firm.

“What? Yes, of course. Please go ahead.”

Realizing he had been blocking her path, Felix quickly stepped aside.
Juliana gave a small nod and walked past him without hesitation.

Without meaning to, Felix followed her with his eyes as she walked away.
It infuriated him that she now belonged to another man.

The more he thought about not having her, the more he wanted her.
The desire was enough to drive him mad.

Only when he felt Braeden’s eyes on him did he finally tear his gaze away from her and turn around.
His eyes were now filled with burning resentment.

“Did you think I would just give up?”

There had never been a time in his life when he did not get what he wanted.
His pride would not allow him to walk away like this.
He would make sure she fell, no matter what it took.

With that thought, Felix joined the group that welcomed him with smiles.

Meanwhile, Juliana finally reached Braeden and spoke with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Did I keep you waiting long?”

“Honestly, do humans have no sense? It’s our wedding night, and they keep pulling the bride away.”
Braeden’s tone was laced with sarcasm. Juliana noticed something strange in the way he spoke but didn’t say anything.

“Here, eat this first.”
Braeden casually picked up a piece of finger food from the table and brought it to Juliana’s lips.

Surprised, she accepted it without thinking and looked around with wide eyes.

“I figured you haven’t eaten anything since morning.”

He was right. On days like this, it was common to skip meals. Juliana had been so busy and tense all day, she didn’t even realize she hadn’t eaten a single thing.

This wasn’t just any banquet either. It was a wedding reception. She had been too nervous to feel hungry.
Braeden being the one to notice made him seem unusually thoughtful.

“I suppose that’s true.”
She barely managed to swallow before answering. Braeden picked up another piece of food and frowned.

“Is this really the best food they could serve?”

He grumbled in clear dissatisfaction and offered her one more bite.

After making sure she had eaten it, he spoke again.

“There’s no need for us to stay here any longer. Let’s dance once, then leave quietly.”

No one expected the bride and groom to remain at the banquet for long. The celebration would continue just fine without them.

Some men didn’t like it when their wives skipped social events. They wanted them to stay out late and mingle, proving their worth in high society.

Juliana remembered the night she had married Felix. She had been forced to stay at the banquet until after midnight. Only then was she allowed to enter the bridal chamber.

She had expected tonight to be the same, so she was surprised when Braeden suggested leaving early.

She looked out the window and noticed the sun hadn’t even fully set.

“Why? Did you have something left to do, or were you hoping to enjoy the party longer?”

“No, not at all.”

Of course not. Juliana quickly shook her head.

“That’s a relief. I was worried you might be a party lover.”

Braeden’s playful tone made Juliana laugh quietly. He offered his arm, and she took it.

Together, they walked across the ballroom toward the dance floor.

The room was called the Hall of Light because of its magnificent chandeliers. It was known throughout the palace for having the most beautiful lighting.

The grand chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling sparkled with elegant, golden light.

Underneath those lights, they danced a slow waltz. Many people were watching, but Juliana didn’t feel uncomfortable.

In fact, dancing with Braeden was enjoyable. It had been fun when they danced together like a joke in the Barnett family’s glass conservatory. It was just as fun now, here in the palace.

Braeden seemed completely unaffected by the people watching. That sense of freedom rubbed off on Juliana too.

The waltz ended sooner than she expected. The guests clearly wanted them to dance again.

“We’ve done enough. No one can complain now. Let’s go.”

Without a second thought, Braeden led Juliana out of the ballroom.

He walked quickly down the palace hallway. Juliana had to take quick steps to keep up. The way he moved made her feel like they were running away, and she started laughing.

“This feels like we’re escaping.”

When Braeden saw her laugh so freely, he looked at her with a serious expression and gave a small nod.

“I’m worried someone might try to stop us.”

To be more honest, he was worried he might lose his temper if someone did. If he used his powers out of frustration and sent someone flying to a place like the Kan Kanti mountains, that would cause trouble.

Juliana didn’t know that. She simply assumed Braeden really disliked being bothered by people.

Everyone in the empire knew it was rare for the Duke of Ortis to attend public events.

Their bridal suite had been prepared in a separate wing of the palace.
The main bedroom was on the second floor in the center. On either side were private rooms, sitting areas, and bathrooms for each of them.

“Tell them to prepare dinner. Let’s change into something comfortable and meet after.”

“Yes, I’ll see you soon.”

The waiting maids, along with Rosie, became flustered with excitement when they saw Juliana return earlier than expected.

After bathing, Juliana let her hair down and changed into a soft indoor gown.
Just as she finished, a maid came to tell her that dinner was ready.

“I never thought I’d be sitting down for dinner on my wedding night.”

She whispered the thought to herself while looking at the sunset casting a red glow through the window.

Ever since she chose Braeden Ortis, her life had started moving in the exact opposite direction of her past.

Guided by a maid, she entered the dining room on the first floor. Braeden was already there and stood as she walked in.

The table prepared for them was decorated with romantic candles and fresh flowers.
All the dishes were already served, and no servants were in sight, allowing them to enjoy their meal in peace.

Braeden pulled out her chair and helped her sit, then took his seat across from her.
The aroma of the food suddenly made her realize just how hungry she was.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect to have a proper dinner tonight.”

Juliana meant it sincerely, but Braeden tilted his head slightly, not fully agreeing with her words.

“Thank you sounds too formal. Making sure you eat well is something I do for my own sake too.”

“What do you mean?”

Juliana looked at him with wide eyes. Braeden gave a quiet laugh.

“The night is going to be long. You need to eat well.”

Juliana instantly understood what he meant, and her face turned a deep shade of red.

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