Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 46

After that, her heart kept pounding so fast that she could hardly remember how she managed to finish dinner.

Back in her room, preparing for the wedding night, Juliana pressed both hands to her flushed cheeks, trying to cool them down.

Why am I like this? It’s not even the first time.

She had expected to stay calm.
This wasn’t her first marriage, so she thought it would be fine.
She knew what happened on the wedding night and believed there would be no reason to be nervous.
But now she felt foolish for thinking that.

“Your Grace, you look beautiful.”
“Truly. I’ve never seen a bride so stunning.”

Rosie and the duke’s maids surrounded Juliana, chatting excitedly.

Rosie had helped her bathe, and afterward, the duchy’s maids showed off their skills, helping her get dressed and styled.

“Thank you.”
Juliana smiled awkwardly as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her hair had been curled in soft waves, with a braid swept across the front and a jeweled pin tucked in neatly. She looked like a goddess from a sacred painting.

She wore a delicate nightgown, the front gently cut low, made of a sheer, flowing fabric. It was impossible to look away.

Even to the eyes of other women, she looked breathtaking. The maids, including Rosie, had to make an effort not to gape openly, barely keeping their expressions under control.

At that moment, a knock came from the door connected to the bedroom, followed by Braeden’s voice.

“Are you ready?”

Traditionally, the groom was supposed to wait in his own room until the bride came to the bridal chamber.
Once the bride finished preparing and entered the room, a maid would go inform the groom to join her. That was the usual custom.

But hearing Braeden’s voice on the other side of the door meant he had ignored tradition and come on his own.

The maids quickly exchanged surprised looks, then bowed their heads to Juliana.

“We’ll take our leave now.”

“Yes, thank you for everything.”

Without even sparing a glance at the maids rushing out of the room, Juliana stepped forward and carefully opened the door to the bedroom.
Standing right there was Braeden, and their eyes met.

That brief moment felt stretched, as if time had slowed.

Braeden smiled and opened the door wider.

“You look beautiful, my lady.”

His eyes moved slowly across her flushed cheeks and the nape of her neck, which was more exposed than usual.

If it had been anyone else staring at her so openly, she would have felt uncomfortable, maybe even disgusted.
But she didn’t feel that way now.

Instead, her heart started beating even faster than before.

“This style suits you very well.”

Braeden gently lifted a strand of her curled hair and ran his fingers over it. He seemed curious about how they had managed to make it look like that.

“Ah, one of the maids is especially skilled at it…”

Juliana was about to explain, but when Braeden gently kissed the ends of her hair, her mind went completely blank. Her words disappeared mid-sentence.

At the same time, Braeden quietly closed the door.

Over his shoulder, she could see the bridal chamber. Because of the carefully arranged candles and soft lamps, the entire room looked like it was bathed in a warm sunset glow.

On the table in front of the sofa, wine and small appetizers were neatly arranged. Most eye-catching of all was the luxurious four-poster bed draped in sheer, floating canopy fabric. It gave the room an elegant yet intimate atmosphere.

“Would you like a drink?”

Before she even realized what was happening, she was already sitting on the sofa, led there by his hand.

He poured her a glass of deep red wine and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

Juliana normally did not drink, but tonight, she felt like she might need it. So she didn’t refuse.

The sweet and slightly bitter taste of the wine slid down her throat, and a slow warmth began to spread through her body.

Tonight, Braeden’s eyes looked more vivid than ever. His red irises sparkled like gemstones, shining like a brilliant sun. They were beautiful, yet dangerous.

Braeden reached out and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips, hiding the irritation behind his smile.

He was already a little annoyed. He had noticed the presence of spies lingering near the bridal suite.

Pretending to be a loving brother, the emperor was quite the hypocrite.

Emperor David had opened both the temple and the royal palace for his brother’s wedding and spared no expense or effort to show his support. He even arranged for their private chamber in a separate wing of the palace. People would naturally assume that he deeply cared for Braeden and trusted him completely.

But if that were really the case, there would not be rats sneaking around outside their door.

Braeden saw through David’s true intention. The emperor wanted to test whether this marriage was genuine. Despite his outward friendliness, he was deeply suspicious.

He did not truly believe the marriage was based on love. He suspected Braeden was using it for some greater scheme.

Braeden’s fingers moved from her cheek to her lips. As he softly touched her lower lip, Juliana’s eyelashes fluttered.

His throat shifted slightly. Even though he was a demon who did not need water or food to survive, he felt as if his throat had gone dry.

Her lips looked soft and full, like biting into them would bring out a rush of sweet juice. The sight alone stirred an unfamiliar thirst in him.

It was not the first time he had felt this way. He had experienced this craving again and again since he first met her.

It was strange and unsettling. Normally, he would hate anything that slipped beyond his control. But instead of disgust, all he felt was growing urgency.

If he had not lived for thousands of years and learned patience, he would not have been able to wait until tonight.

It would be better if she never knew any of this.

Braeden was not someone who usually tolerated things that annoyed him. But just this once, he let it go.

If she realized that the emperor’s men were eavesdropping nearby and refused him tonight, it would complicate everything.

He was already displeased with David for planting spies, but he decided not to confront it. The emperor had no heir. If David suddenly disappeared, Braeden would be next in line for the throne. And becoming emperor was the last thing Braeden ever wanted.

“Brae… den…”
Juliana softly called his name, her voice barely louder than a whisper, as she gently held his wrist.

The sound of her voice, sweet and small, made something burn deep in his gut. The delicate thread of reason he had been holding onto snapped completely.

Braeden slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her closer, capturing her lips in one swift motion. Her lips were soft and warm, setting his entire body alight.

Before he lost control entirely, Braeden cast a magical barrier around the room. It would block both sound and unwanted intrusions.

Even if someone outside strained their ears, they would not hear a single sound from within. Not even the drop of a pin.

Let the emperor and his spies be as nervous as they wanted. Braeden had no interest in anything but her right now.

As he deepened the kiss, Braeden lifted Juliana into his arms. Their lips stayed together as he carried her toward the bed.

Only when her back touched the soft mattress did she begin to return to herself.

The kiss had been unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was overwhelming.

She used to wonder why noblewomen would secretly call their lovers into their rooms at night. She had never understood it.

For her, physical intimacy had always felt like an obligation, never something to enjoy.

But now, she thought she might understand. Her whole body felt hot, and a tingling, electric pleasure swirled through her core.

Braeden’s eyes, filled with heat, made her feel wanted in a way she had never known.

His lips left hers and moved to the curve of her neck.

Her skin was too soft, too sensitive. The pulse beneath the surface beat rapidly, as if it were calling to a predator. It stirred something primal in him.

When he pulled down her loose nightgown, the fabric slipped away with little resistance. Her bare skin was revealed, and a quiet groan escaped his throat.

“You truly are… beautiful.”

In that moment, he felt a strange urge to praise the god who had created the human body.

Juliana, her neck flushed all the way up to her ears, fumbled with the blanket, trying to cover herself.

“Is that really necessary? I’ve already seen everything,” Braeden said with a quiet smile.

Juliana quickly nodded.

Braeden didn’t understand her reaction, but he allowed her to pull the blanket over her body. Then he began to unbutton his shirt.

Juliana peeked out from beneath the blanket, only her head showing. As Braeden removed his shirt and revealed his firm, muscular torso, she froze in place and stared without meaning to.

“This is going to drive me mad,” Braeden muttered under his breath. The heat in her gaze made his skin prickle.

“My lady seems to like what she sees.”

Juliana suddenly realized she had been staring and quickly looked away, startled and embarrassed.
She had known he was strong and tall, but she had never imagined his body would be so powerfully built.

Felix had trained his body too, but he could never compare to Braeden.

“You can touch if you want. That would make it fair,” Braeden said teasingly.

“No, that’s alright,” Juliana replied in a panic, shaking her head.

As soon as her hand loosened its grip on the blanket, Braeden moved swiftly.

The blanket slipped away, and before she could react, his large body hovered over her.

There was no time to speak. Their breaths mingled, fast and warm.

“I mean, the marks take a long time to fade… so maybe we should stop at a certain point…”

She had meant to say they didn’t need to wait forever, but Braeden leaned in and captured her lips before she could finish. His warm breath filled her senses and melted her hesitation.

“Mmm…”

A quiet, shaky sound escaped her lips. Hearing it made Braeden feel another wave of thirst burn through his throat.

To ease that hunger, he kissed her deeply. His lips pulled at hers, tasting her as if trying to drink her in.

“Braeden…”
Juliana gasped softly, pressing her palms against his chest.

“Still… maybe not tonight…”
Her voice was unsure but honest.

Braeden understood what she meant. He had not planned to go all the way tonight.

But looking into her eyes, hazy with warmth and emotion, he realized just how thin his self-control really was.

“I know. I may not look it, but I do have a conscience.”

At least a little. Enough to stop himself.

Juliana laughed gently when she saw his disappointed expression.

When she smiled at him, Braeden let out a deep sigh. Seeing her laugh only made his feelings more tangled.

The week-long wedding celebrations had finally come to an end.

Juliana and Braeden had attended several events during the week, but most of their time was spent wrapping up affairs and preparing to return to the North.

The day of their departure finally arrived.

The royal portal was located in a separate building within the palace and was managed under strict security. A large group had gathered to send them off.

“Yuli, please take care of yourself. Write to us often, alright?”
Countess Barnett spoke while dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. It was the first time she had ever used such an affectionate nickname, and Juliana’s expression tensed slightly before softening again.

“If you need anything at all, let us know. We will find a way to get it to you, no matter what it takes,”
Count Barnett added with a steady voice, sounding like a true father.

Juliana watched the two of them and, for a brief moment, thought they might have been better off as theater actors.

“I’m not a child anymore, so you don’t have to worry. I will send a letter soon,”
she said with a soft smile. It came naturally, as she truly felt relieved to be leaving them behind.

With many people gathered to see them off, Juliana stepped onto the portal platform.

Alongside her were Rosie, Atlante, and several members of the ducal household. In total, about twenty people would be traveling to the North.

Support Even the Devil Regrets it