Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 50

Startled, Juliana scrambled to pull her robe back on.

“What are you doing?”

Braeden raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed by her reaction. He reached out and stopped her hands before she could close the robe.

“Is there any point in hiding now?”

He spoke in a low voice as he glanced over her figure.

“I have already seen everything.”

His words made Juliana’s cheeks flush bright red.

“I thought you wouldn’t come tonight. I assumed you would be busy,” she said awkwardly, trying to explain herself.

“You thought I wouldn’t come? And yet you dressed like this?”

Braeden’s hand still held hers, keeping her robe from covering the sheer chemise beneath.

Juliana froze as she realized what he meant by “dressed like this.” Her face turned even redder.

“This isn’t my style,” she protested, her voice unsteady.

Her skin had already flushed to the base of her neck. Her words had little effect on him.

Braeden gazed down at her, then gently slipped the robe from her shoulders. The silk garment slid down and pooled at her feet.

Under his intense gaze, Juliana closed her eyes, unable to meet his eyes.

He gave a quiet laugh, then pulled her close by the waist.

“If it’s not your style, then maybe it’s mine,” he whispered against her skin.

His breath was warm against her cheek, and Juliana shivered.

She opened her eyes and saw his face right in front of hers. Their eyes locked.

His deep red gaze burned with heat and desire. It felt dangerous and overwhelming.

She felt a sudden urge to surrender to him completely, like a moth drawn to fire.

“Even if it’s not your preference, it still works for me. No matter what you wear, I’ll like it.”

Braeden spoke softly and brushed his finger across her lips. A strange sense of weightlessness swept through her body.

As her breath hitched, Braeden smiled, pleased with her reaction. He cradled her face with one hand, then kissed her deeply.

The warmth of his lips quickly turned hot. His hand moved to the back of her neck while the other held her tightly at the waist, keeping her from pulling away.

A rush of heat spread through her, deep and intense.

Juliana was overwhelmed by the pleasure that followed.

Her hands hovered uncertainly in the air before she finally wrapped her arms around his neck.

Braeden let out a low, pleased sound, like a growl.

He lifted her easily. Even as he carried her to the bed, his lips never stopped brushing her skin, kissing her neck and shoulders.

When he laid her down, her mind was already clouded. The pleasure was too much.

“Braeden,” she whispered his name without even realizing it.

She did not know what she was saying anymore. Her voice sounded like a quiet plea.

It must have been instinct. Her mind reached for his name as if it could ground her in something real.

Braeden slowed slightly. The fire in his eyes had not faded, but something about his mood shifted.

“Calling me ‘Your Grace’ sounds too stiff for a married couple, don’t you think?”

He whispered the words near her ear and gently nibbled at her earlobe.

“Ahn… wait…”

Juliana could not understand why he was suddenly talking about titles. She could hardly think straight.

“Don’t most couples use nicknames for each other?”

He asked the question, but clearly was not waiting for an answer. His attention was still focused on her.

“Yuli. How about that?”

Juliana shook her head.

That nickname had been used by the Barnetts and Felix. She did not want to hear it from Braeden.

She didn’t want him to call her the same thing those people had.

“Please, not that one. I don’t like it.”

Braeden remembered now. He had heard others call her that. Hearing her reject it made him feel oddly pleased.

“Then how about Rian?”

At the sound of that name, Juliana opened her eyes.

Tears that had been welling up finally rolled down her cheeks.

She looked up at him, her green eyes wide, and slowly nodded.

“Am I the first to call you that?” Braeden asked softly.

Juliana nodded diligently once again. Braeden curved his lips upward like a satisfied beast.

“Rian, you may call me Eden.”

Ah, I’m allowing you to use this nickname for the first time. Braeden added the words as if the thought had just come to him.

Of course, what he truly meant was that no one had ever been allowed to call him that before. But he lacked the patience to explain it in so many words.

Braeden lowered his head and bit her lips, silencing the conversation. In its place, breathless sighs filled the bedroom.

After Juliana left for the North, Count Barnett felt an unexplainable unease.

Even though the Kaerbro Mine now belonged to him and his family had formed a connection with the Imperial House through marriage, a strange discomfort lingered.

“Surely, she’s not thinking of betraying us?”

“Betray us? What reason would she have? She came from a lowborn collateral line, and we raised her to be a Grand Duchess. She should be thinking about how to repay that debt for the rest of her life.”

Countess Allison Barnett frowned, clearly displeased.

“Exactly. If it hadn’t been for us, a girl like her would never have caught the Grand Duke’s attention.”

Both of them firmly believed that Juliana owed them a debt she could never repay.

Which meant Juliana had a duty to devote herself to them from now on, far beyond what she had already gained.

“Have you made sure everyone is keeping their mouths shut?”

Count Barnett had taken strict measures to ensure Juliana’s origins remained a secret.

If word got out that she was adopted, her reputation would be destroyed, and that would inevitably reflect poorly on them as well.

If the sharp-tempered Grand Duke Ortis were to find out and demand the return of everything given under the pretense of marriage, it would all be for nothing.

“Of course. Just imagining her origins becoming public is terrifying.”

Countess Barnett grimaced in disgust.

She had endured many years with Juliana and had no intention of letting that secret escape. She had trained herself to see Juliana as her own daughter through sheer will.

She could not let those years go to waste.

Countess Barnett had every servant who knew the truth sign a confidentiality oath. The moment Juliana’s origins were revealed, not only would the one who spoke die, but their entire family would face the same fate.

At that moment, the butler knocked on the drawing room door and announced that Tristan wished to speak with them.

“Tristan? Let him in.”

Count Barnett allowed his son to enter, though his expression was one of surprise.

At this hour, Tristan was usually attending social gatherings and was rarely seen at home.

“I came because I have something to discuss. Mother, I see you’re here as well.”

Tristan greeted them with a tone more serious than usual. Count Barnett, who had always thought of his son as an unfit heir, looked at him with curiosity.

“Well then, if it’s a matter you wish to discuss privately with your father, I’ll excuse myself.”

Even Countess Barnett seemed intrigued by her son’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“There’s no need, Mother. You can stay.”

Tristan stopped her from rising, then spoke carefully and with purpose.

“You may have already heard, but trade with the Western Continent will soon begin. Rumor has it that the Imperial family is pushing for the first round of exchanges to succeed.”

“And how would you know that?”

Count Barnett looked puzzled. This information had only started spreading quietly among the higher-ranking nobles and was far from common knowledge.

He himself had learned about it only recently. To hear Tristan mention it was unexpected.

“How I know isn’t important. What matters is how we prepare for it.”

Countess Barnett still found her son’s tone unfamiliar, but she was moved nonetheless. She kept her feelings to herself so as not to interrupt the serious discussion between father and son.

“So, you’re saying we should prepare for trade with the Western Continent?”

“Yes, exactly. Now that the Kaerbro Mine belongs to our house, there’s no reason not to participate.”

Tristan’s answer to Count Barnett’s question was confident and well thought out.

The Barnett family had once been one of the most prominent noble houses, but had long since begun to decline. Their fame had faded, and they no longer possessed wealth worth boasting about.

That was why Count Barnett had bought a girl from a barely recognized collateral line. It was a cheap investment to fund a marriage deal.

Now, Tristan pointed out that with Juliana becoming Grand Duchess, the family’s status had changed.

“Yes, that’s true.”

Count Barnett stroked his chin slowly in agreement. Tristan’s eyes lit up as he asked the next question.

“Do you know what item is in the highest demand on the Western Continent?”

“What is it?”

“Sapphires.”

“Oh my,” Countess Barnett gasped in delight. A look of shared calculation passed between them.

They didn’t need to say much. Their thoughts were perfectly aligned.

Tristan looked at his parents and said firmly,

“I’d like to take charge of this project myself.”

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