Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 64

“Doesn’t that sound like someone bragging about their honeymoon?”

Felix stared at Juliana, who spoke without changing her expression even slightly. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

When he couldn’t answer right away and only blinked in confusion, Lochlan smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

It was expected that an aide would resemble their superior, but seeing Lochlan carry the exact same cold aura as Archduke Ortis made Felix frown without realizing it.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be on my way. Then, farewell.”

As Juliana looked ready to leave immediately, Felix panicked. He had spent a great deal of time thinking about her.

He had tried to convince himself to stop, telling himself she was another man’s wife now, but his interest refused to fade.

Just like earlier, when he rushed toward her the moment he saw her.

It was something he couldn’t control.

Not wanting to let her leave like this, Felix quickly came up with something to say.

“Would Your Highness happen to be interested in trade with the Western Continent?”

“Why? Is Viscount Everett getting involved?”

Juliana didn’t reveal much about her own intentions and instead turned the question back to Felix.

“Of course. Our House of Everett is pursuing it more aggressively than any other noble house.”

At the time, trade with the Western Continent was a major topic among the nobility.

The prestige of each house was being measured by how much they were willing to invest.

Hearing Felix’s answer, Juliana was inwardly surprised. In her previous life, the House of Everett had shown no interest in trade with the West.

It seemed the fact that the current Marquis of Everett was still alive had shifted the family’s business direction.

In the past, after the marquis died, Felix had focused solely on securing full control over the house and didn’t invest in trade at all.

“That works out well.”

Juliana was pleased with how things had changed compared to the past. She hoped Felix would become greedy and invest even more.

Only then would the House of Everett suffer a serious financial blow.

“I wish you luck. Perhaps I should speak to the Archduke about getting involved in the Western trade myself.”

“If you are interested, I would be happy to share what I know.”

Felix looked like he wanted to arrange a private meeting. At times like this, it was better to leave things open than to reject him outright.

“Thank you. I’ll give it some thought.”

With a graceful smile, one she had perfected through years of hardship, Juliana turned away. Felix didn’t try to stop her.

Her answer had been vague, neither a refusal nor a promise, and that kind of ambiguity left room for interpretation. Even if Felix tried to hold on to her, she could slip away without difficulty.

Juliana quietly made her way back toward the imperial audience chamber, avoiding Felix. Just then, Braeden was walking toward her, having just finished speaking with the emperor.

“I apologize for leaving you alone.”

He extended his arm right away. Even though it had been for official reasons, he still apologized, which made Juliana feel a little awkward.

“It’s fine. I had a nice walk in the palace gardens because of it.”

“Is there anything else you would like to do in the palace?”

“No. Let’s go back now. I think I’m feeling a little tired from all the walking.”

Juliana shook her head. She didn’t want Felix and Braeden to run into each other.

“Alright. Then let’s return right away.”

The two of them rode together in a carriage back to the townhouse.

Perhaps because of the memories she had made there, the townhouse now felt warm and familiar, almost like her childhood home.

“Welcome back, Your Highness.”
“You look absolutely radiant, my lady.”

The maids cheerfully greeted Juliana, chatting excitedly.

“It’s good to see you all. I suppose that since we haven’t met in a while, it feels even nicer.”

Her simple words made the maids giggle with joy. Braeden looked at the scene with a faint expression of disbelief.

This was nothing like the townhouse of the past, where the servants used to walk so quietly that even their footsteps were silent, out of fear that the Archduke disliked noise.

As long as she didn’t start dragging in a bunch of men again, he figured this was tolerable.

No one realized how generously he was choosing to accept the scene in front of him, despite his slightly twisted feelings.

That night, before going to bed, Juliana visited Atlante.

When he saw the letter in her hand, he mumbled with a sulky look on his face.

“If I had caught on a little faster, I wouldn’t have turned into a crow.”

He sighed dramatically, mourning his fall from being a divine creature to a mere messenger bird.

“Anyone listening would think I make you work all day long.”

Juliana let out a faint breath, as if stunned by the absurdity.

Maybe it was the same for both people and animals. Once they sit, they want to lie down. Once they lie down, they want to sleep.

Hearing Atlante say something like that, despite spending most of his time lazing around, made her laugh instead of feel guilty.

“I’m just saying,” he muttered.

Still, it seemed he had some conscience left. Atlante gave a small cough and asked whom the letter should be delivered to.

“Give it to Martin, the butler of the Everett estate.”

Juliana then told him where Martin’s room was and described his appearance. Since she was planning to stay in the capital for about two weeks, she needed to move quickly if she wanted to carry out everything she had planned.

Atlante thought for a moment after hearing her instructions, then asked,

“I’ve been wondering for a while now. What exactly are you trying to do? Is it revenge?”

Atlante had seen the world Juliana grew up in. He had felt it too, and he could understand why she carried such a deep desire for revenge.

But even so, there were parts of her behavior he couldn’t fully grasp.

“Yes. I’m going to return pain far greater than what I received.”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were heavy with emotion. A storm of feelings swirled inside them.

Atlante felt a chill run through his feathers.

A saint seeking revenge. Not just matching the pain, but returning something even worse.

That alone was hard to accept, but the real confusion came from her choice of targets.

He could understand why she would resent the Barnetts. But her hatred for the Everetts made no sense to him.

Oh heavens, what exactly have you dragged me into?

Atlante wasn’t sure if he should keep asking or if it was better to stop here. It would take courage to look directly into the darkness she kept hidden inside.

“What kind of grudge do you have against the House of Everett?”

Juliana smiled bitterly. She knew exactly how strange it must seem.

She also knew that, from the outside, it looked like there wasn’t enough reason for her to hate Felix.

Would Atlante believe her if she told him she had died and come back to life?

But even Juliana didn’t understand why she was alive again.

If she couldn’t explain it to herself, how could she expect someone else to understand?

“There are things you don’t know. But you’re not going to stop helping me just because I didn’t tell you, right?”

“No, I’ll still help you. I just thought maybe I should know what’s really going on…”

Juliana’s eyes sank even deeper, turning as dark as a still lake under moonlight.

Atlante felt his throat tighten.

“If I ever lose control of myself and become a monster because of this revenge, I want you to leave me.”

She didn’t want him to be dragged down by some misguided pity for things even she didn’t fully understand.

Maybe he sensed what she meant, because Atlante didn’t question her anymore. He gently changed the subject instead.

“Still, you’re a Floreseco. Can you really let yourself turn into something like that?”

Juliana understood his awkward comment was meant as comfort.

“Thank you for saying that. But you know, we can never predict what people are capable of.”

Revenge was like a double-edged coin. It could be sweet, but it was still poison meant to destroy.

Sometimes she wasn’t sure anymore. Was revenge everything to her, or only a part?

She felt like she could throw everything away and dive into the fire like a moth chasing light.

But life with Braeden kept blurring her purpose.

Every time she felt the urge to stop and settle into comfort, she reminded herself that this was only a two-year contract.

That was why she acted in secret. She didn’t want Braeden involved in her revenge.

Maybe asking for his help would make everything faster and easier, but she didn’t want to pull him into something so ugly just for her own gain.

“Don’t worry. I still know exactly what I need to do.”

Juliana spoke with a quiet but bitter determination. She hadn’t crossed the line yet.

Atlante opened his beak slightly as if to say something, then sighed instead.

“Alright. I’ll go deliver it now.”

He took the letter in his beak and flew off into the night.

Juliana watched his figure disappear into the darkness as the candlelight on her face flickered gently, mixing light and shadow across her expression.

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