The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 34

The next day, a lock was added to Yulania’s study door. And Santia issued sweeping new security directives throughout the castle. Officially, the reason was to strengthen security in preparation for winter, but in reality, it was a warning to Yurban.

Yulania had very mixed feelings about Yurban. He had been designated as the official successor from birth and grew up receiving his royal father’s love and trust. It was the complete opposite of the life of the princess, who had to prove her worth every time.

She envied her younger brother, but at times she also felt sorry for him. Knowing her royal father’s personality and true intentions, she knew that the affection showered upon him was not entirely pure. No matter how rude Yurban was, he was only sixteen. He was still young enough to be forgiven for some rudeness.

And in fact, he had never directly tried to make Yulania’s life difficult or harass her. He was merely being faithful to his father’s orders and trying to find out what his sister was doing. No matter how annoying he was, the fact that he was also under his father’s shadow did not change.

“Haa…”

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became about how to treat Yurban. The people who should be closest to her were the most awkward. Yulania felt as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed sand whenever she thought about her family.

But remaining silent would not improve anything.

Even amidst her complicated emotions, she gradually hardened her resolve. It was late, but it was time to leave the royal family, even now. As Santia said, that was the purpose of the contractual marriage.

As winter deepened in the Duchy of Makari, the tension and fatigue inside the castle grew more and more taut. The blizzard showed no signs of stopping and only intensified, and the royal investigation team and Prince Yurban unexpectedly stayed for a long time.

Yulania tried to ease the atmosphere even a little. She consulted with the head chef to increase the number of warm meals and readjusted the rest periods for the tired knights little by little. She tried to fulfill her responsibilities as the Duchess of Makari and, in doing so, relieve Santia’s burden even a little.

However, the burden on her heart did not easily subside.

An ominous energy, as if something was about to explode, subtly permeated every corner of the castle. Knights reacting sharply to even minor incidents, Yurban frequently wandering the corridors, the investigation team’s gazes as if recording the inside of the castle. Every morning when Yulania opened the window, she felt a vague fear of what would collapse today.

And on the night of the fifteenth day since the royal investigation team arrived, the silent Makari Castle was suddenly covered in alarms. The knights guarding outside the castle hurriedly returned and reported.

“Demons have attacked! And their numbers are far greater than before!”

The castle instantly froze with tension, and the corridors were filled with the sound of knights running busily. Santia donned his armor and immediately took command of the situation. The trained knights of Makari moved quickly and efficiently, with Santia standing tall at the center.

Yulania watched the lights being buried in the swirling snow outside the window and felt a strange sense of foreboding, along with a strangely unfamiliar emotion stirring deep within her. Not just fear or worry, but some unknown sensation seeped into her heart.

As if— as if something was calling her from somewhere.

The sensation was so sudden and vivid. The beating of her heart echoed strangely, and the center of her chest felt as if it had been submerged in cold ice water, then throbbed dully. In an instant, the sensation became so intense that Santia, who had been in front of her eyes, disappeared in a flash of white, and her breathing faltered.

“Gasp.”

At that moment, a loud bell rang out from not far away, along with a shout.

“Demon attack! Front entrance, northeast!”

Yulania jumped up from her seat. She immediately put on her cloak and went out into the hallway. The hallway was already bustling with busy knights, and a familiar black cloak flashed into her view.

“Santia!”

At her call, he stopped and turned around. A sharp tension was etched in his eyes, but a slight wavering flickered across them as he looked at her.

“The demons have approached close to the castle gates. Do not come out.”

“But…”

She wanted to say something, but he resolutely cut her off.

“Please, just stay inside. You must stay inside.”

Yulania took a step forward, but finally stopped.

Santia looked at her briefly, then silently turned his back and disappeared down the stairs. The sound of his scabbard hitting his armor rang out strangely clearly.

Watching his back disappear down the hallway, Yulania couldn’t bring herself to call him again. She could feel an irresistible stubbornness in his resolute turn. She knew that it included his will to protect her, which made her legs even more unable to move.

She slowly returned to her room. When she opened the window, a fierce wind rushed in with the blizzard. Outside, ominous red lights flickered occasionally in the pitch-black darkness, and the shouts and cries of battle echoed chaotically.

It was then.

Yulania unconsciously placed her hand on her chest. The sacred stone she always carried under her collar was emitting a faint light. The sacred stone, which was shining much brighter than usual, soon began to create a strange tremor.

As if the sacred stone was trying to awaken on its own.

As if reacting to the presence of demons, and beating with her heart. The sacred stone reacted to something and created a wave. The faint vibration flowed over her skin and penetrated deep into her heart.

Yulania did not know what it meant. All she knew for sure was that the events taking place somewhere on this land were by no means a coincidence.

Contrary to what she thought, that she would never fall asleep, Yulania curled up on the couch and fell asleep. A thick blanket covered her body, perhaps left by a maid.

She woke up to a commotion. It was still before dawn, and she was surprised to wake up to see knights returning to the castle.

Under the gray sky where the darkness had not yet completely receded, their figures, fighting against fatigue and returning safely, brought a sense of relief to those who saw them. A familiar black figure stood out behind the knights hurrying back.

As soon as Yulania confirmed her husband’s silhouette, she ran outside. She knew in her head that he was safe, but she couldn’t feel at ease until she saw it with her own eyes.

And, when she saw Santia entering, exhausted and with ice forming around his eyes, she quietly inhaled. When she saw Santia, who met her eyes after discovering her, she felt a sense of stability that seemed to melt deep inside her heart.

There were no words, but they could confirm each other’s well-being and safety with just a glance.

Yulania held back her words. Instead, she quietly brushed off the snowflakes that were lightly clinging to the back of his neck with her fingertips. Santia quietly looked at her, then frowned slightly as if he didn’t like her coming outside, and then nodded slightly.

The battle ended safely without major damage. But more important than that was the fact that he had returned.

And Yulania decided not to take that fact for granted anymore.

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