Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 70

Braeden gently laid Juliana onto the bed after she had cried herself to sleep. He then lay beside her, watching her as she rested.

How could so many tears come from such a small body? He reached out and softly brushed the swollen corners of her eyes, still red from crying.

As he stroked her face, the anger returned.

What on earth had she gone through in that household to make a woman so kind-hearted vow to take revenge?

He wanted to crush those people with his own hands that very moment, but he held himself back. Juliana had not yet given him permission.

“I do not want your hands to be stained because of me. This is my revenge.”

My revenge.
The words she had spoken echoed in his mind, pulling his mood into a deep and heavy silence.

With a long exhale, Braeden closed his eyes, exhaustion finally catching up with him.

He did not know how much time had passed. A sharp wind stirred, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself on the summit of Mount Kankanti, surrounded by snow.

Why am I here?

He sat up, his body half-buried in snow. Although demons do not sleep in the way humans do, they sometimes fall into a deep slumber to recover when they are emotionally or physically drained.

The troubling part was that neither the sleep nor the teleportation had happened by his will.

As a great demon, Braeden’s power was of a completely different order than that of common demons. His power should have obeyed him unconditionally. For it to act on its own meant something was wrong.

He brushed the snow off his clothes and looked around. Towering ice cliffs stretched into the sky, and the stars above sparkled as if they were within arm’s reach.

The wind rose again, lifting the snow and sweeping it into a blizzard. It looked like any other night in the north.

But suddenly, a loud cracking sound rang out. With a roar, a massive sheet of ice split open. The ice wall collapsed like a scene from the end of the world.

If left alone, it would trigger an avalanche that could bury the major northern cities and even the Grand Duke’s castle.

Clicking his tongue, Braeden summoned his demonic power and restored the ice wall to its original form.

Even after returning the mountain to how it had been, his frustration lingered.
Just like when Lucifer had visited, he felt that his powers were slipping out of his control.

“Am I being punished?”

He clenched his fist and let out a dry laugh. Was this punishment from the heavens for trying to use such a fragile woman?

“I had finally stopped wishing for my own end.”

While he had been with Juliana, the desire for his own destruction had slowly disappeared.

But he could not stay by her side in this condition. A great demon who could not control his own powers was nothing less than a walking catastrophe.

“You are more cruel and merciless than any demon,” he muttered to the heavens, knowing there would be no reply.

As if answering his thoughts, a fierce snowstorm howled across the summit of Kankantier.

The next day, Braeden and Juliana returned to the townhouse. They sat facing each other with an array of desserts between them.

Braeden had prepared them in advance, hoping the sweetness might lift Juliana’s spirits.

He glanced at her eyes, still slightly red and puffy. Resting one hand under his chin, he crossed his legs and idly stirred his tea with a teaspoon.

Juliana felt awkward. Last night had been the first time she had cried in front of someone.

Why had she done that? She had no answer, no excuse she could put into words.

And now that Braeden knew she was planning revenge, what was she supposed to do?

She stabbed her fork into a piece of cake and fell into thought.

The silence between them stretched uncomfortably, and eventually Juliana spoke, her voice hesitant.

“I have a plan. You don’t need to get involved. Just watch.”

“Am I allowed to ask what that plan is?”

As she turned her gaze away, her eyes met his. Her shoulders gave a small shiver, and her lashes fluttered briefly.

Her first goal was to sink the entire Barnett family fortune into the sea.

According to what she had discovered, Tristan was not only using resources from the Kervbro Mine but was also funneling the Barnett family’s wealth to prepare for trade with the Western Continent.

The family was expecting to triple their investment. If all of that were to vanish overnight, the shock would be devastating.

They would turn on each other, blaming and tearing each other apart. Juliana planned to strike in that moment of division and finish them off completely.

But how could she explain how she knew the trade would fail?

She would have to reveal that she was living a second life.

He would think she had lost her mind.

Of all people, she did not want Braeden to look at her that way.

Juliana took a deep breath and gave an awkward smile.

“It’s a little hard to explain. But if I need help, I promise I’ll come to you.”

So she wants me to stop asking questions and stay quiet. Braeden smirked and stirred his tea more forcefully.

“Juliana, I mean it. I won’t do anything reckless.”

Her clear green eyes met his, steady and sincere.

Still not satisfied, Juliana gently placed her hand over his.

Braeden raised an eyebrow.
Well now. Playing me like a fiddle. How skilled you’ve become.

With a crooked smile, he suddenly caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

He pressed a firm kiss to the back of her hand, then looked at her with intense eyes.

“I don’t know what kind of revenge you’re planning. But if you ever put yourself in danger or act recklessly, your revenge becomes mine. Do not forget that.”

“Yes, I understand and thank you.”

For Juliana, having someone truly on her side for the first time left her overwhelmed by emotions she could not quite name. A swirl of warmth, gratitude, and disbelief gripped her heart.

Braeden saw the way the tension had softened in her deep green eyes. Unable to resist the pull of the moment, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a sudden kiss.

Her lips tasted sweet, carrying the lingering flavor of strawberries from the cake.

Juliana. Juliana Ortis.

He murmured her name, a mixture of obsession and desire behind every syllable.

That her last name was now his filled him with a joy so sharp it was almost maddening. He could not shake the tidal wave of satisfaction rising within him.

Ignoring the untouched desserts on the table, Braeden kissed her as if her lips were the most exquisite delicacy in the world.

“Eden…” Juliana’s voice was breathless as she pressed her hands against his chest, trying to catch her breath.

Only then did Braeden reluctantly pull away.

He gently brushed a hand along her cheek, gazing into her tear-brightened eyes with a soft smile.

“I should step out for a bit. You should finish your dessert. If I stay here any longer, I doubt you’ll get even one more bite of it.”

His words were a polite way of saying he was restraining himself from carrying her off to the bedroom.

Juliana nodded, pressing a hand to her flushed cheek. She had not even finished half of the strawberry cake. It would be a shame to abandon it for what came next.

As Braeden stepped out of the drawing room, Lochlan approached with a report.

“The packing is nearly finished. Everything should be ready for your departure to the north tomorrow.”

Their two-week stay in the capital was coming to an end. The townhouse was bustling with servants preparing for their return to the northern province.

“Good. Handle that as planned. But…” Braeden’s voice trailed off, uncharacteristically hesitant.

It was so rare for him to pause mid-sentence that Lochlan tilted his head, puzzled.

“Is something wrong, Your Grace?”

“No. Do you have anything else to report?”

Braeden had considered asking about the strange phenomena he had been experiencing lately, but decided against it. If even he, a great demon, did not understand it, what could Lochlan possibly know?

Sensing that something was off, Lochlan nevertheless continued the report without overstepping.

“Her Grace, the Viscountess, used the secret ledger she acquired to bring charges against the Marquess of Everett.”

“When did she manage that?”

Braeden let out a soft sigh, slightly exasperated. His wife had been moving quite strategically, and it was becoming clear that Everett was her first target. He still did not know what grudge she held against that family.

“She did it anonymously, I assume?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

An anonymous charge would be more than enough to push the haughty judges into motion. She was staging her revenge with elegance, keeping it just refined enough to avoid suspicion.

Braeden smirked as he spoke.

“Apply pressure on the judge. I want this resolved quickly.”

“Understood.”

As Braeden turned to leave, he paused and added one more instruction.

“The judge can know it is from Ortis. But make sure Juliana’s name never comes up. You understand?”

“Of course.”

Lochlan, who was well suited to his master’s temperament, gave a knowing smile and bowed.

Only then did Braeden continue down the hall, a satisfied expression on his face.

She insisted on handling her revenge herself, and so she would. He had no intention of interfering.
He was simply going to add a little seasoning to the banquet she had so carefully prepared.

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