The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 56

Yuliana recovered healthily as if nothing had happened. The injury to her leg remained, but it was a wound that would heal quickly with a few days of care.

“I’ve never felt so refreshed in my life.”

More than that, she felt as if her heart was floating on a cloud. She wanted to help everyone in the world, and she felt like she could forgive anyone for anything.

“Just rest for a few days.”

However, Santia was anxious, watching Yuliana limp around.

The gates of Makari Castle slowly opened, and Yuliana, held in Santi’s arms, carefully emerged. The knights and servants lined up along the driveway froze at the sight. As if they had forgotten to breathe, everyone watched Santi’s expression.

Their tension was palpable. Since the expedition, everyone had felt Santi’s anger, knowingly or unknowingly. Especially after the Urban incident, fear spread that the Duke would no longer be lenient with anyone.

But the icy tension dissipated in vain.

“I’m back,”

Yuliana said with a bright smile. Her bright voice began to thaw the frozen air. The servants quickly bowed deeply, and the knights relaxed their rigid postures slightly. No one said it directly, but everyone looked relieved. From that day on, a strange warmth began to spread through Makari Castle.

And Santi’s overprotection began in earnest. He didn’t leave Yuliana’s side for a moment. Wherever she went, whatever she did, he followed silently.

If Yuliana headed to the study, he followed, and if she tried to go to the window, he grabbed her cloak. Sometimes he matched her pace silently, and sometimes he lightly touched her shoulder very naturally.

Yuliana was awkward at first. But soon she got used to it. And, she enjoyed it a little.

“Oh, right. Santi.”

Yuliana turned around and called. Her eyes sparkled.

“Yes?”

Santia replied briefly, looking at her.

“Thank you. Really, thank you.”

She said with a smile. Santia blinked.

“Suddenly?”

“You told me to tell you. I mean it.”

Yuliana smiled without hesitation. At that moment, Santia couldn’t hide his flustered expression. Seeing him like that, Yuliana smiled even more. Something warm bloomed in her heart on its own.

The two walked out of the hallway side by side. As they passed the second-floor hallway and reached the stairs, Santia picked her up without a word.

“Ah.”

Yuliana made a flustered noise, and Santia replied nonchalantly.

“It’s dangerous.”

“I can walk down.”

“Let’s do this until your leg heals.”

He was strangely firm, to the point where she couldn’t stop him. As he went down the stairs, some of the servants were surprised and bowed their heads deeply. But soon everyone went back to work with indifferent faces. As if it had always been meant to be.

‘The Duke and Duchess have always had a strong love.’

‘I guess the Duke has become less shy.’

Only such rumors circulated quietly in the castle. Santia still grumbled, but when Yuliana smiled, he couldn’t help but make a soft expression. Whenever Yuliana talked about how Santia had become kinder, the servants looked incredulous, but there was a gentle side that only she could see.

When he walked, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder as if to support her, and when the wind blew, he put his hand on her forehead as if to check her temperature. Minor touches became frequent, and his warmth became a natural part of her daily life.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m okay.”

“Still.”

He lightly stroked her hair with his fingertips. Yuliana chuckled. She was clearly aware that she was smiling more, and she was satisfied with herself. The feeling of her mood soaring and the corners of her mouth naturally lifting was so unfamiliar and pleasant. And it was mostly when Santia was by her side that she felt that way.

‘An unavoidable person.’

That’s what she thought. And she felt that Santia was kind.

Makari Castle became brighter. It was because the royal investigation team had left, and even the annoying royal people had disappeared. There was no more unnecessary surveillance, and there was no need to be mindful of others. Yuliana enjoyed the newly sprouted peace to her heart’s content.

And Yuliana began to infuse power into the sacred stones, just like she had done in the Land of Demons. Those that had only been stored until now began to emit a faint light one by one as they passed through Yuliana’s hands. At first, it was small and faint, but as time passed, the light became more stable and clear.

Haron, who was assisting in the process, watched the scene with a dazed look.

“This is amazing, Princess.”

He murmured in an awestruck voice. Santia watched quietly from behind with his arms crossed. His eyes were filled with pride and a little worry.

“The newly born Devil, I mean.”

Santia said carefully to Yuliana in the middle of the night.

“I don’t think they’re planning to attack right away yet.”

“Why?”

Yuliana asked.

“Their will was conveyed.”

Santia replied briefly.

“They are waiting for the time.”

Yuliana was silent for a moment.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, it’s hard to completely trust those demons, but the will conveyed by my senses can’t be a lie. They wouldn’t even know how to lie.”

Santia replied confidently.

“And winter is almost over.”

His voice softened a little.

“We can take a breather, at least for a while.”

Winter was really passing. The sky over Makari Territory no longer brought fierce winds like blades. Snow fell rarely, and soft sprouts began to emerge from the ground. Yuliana smiled as she watched the green sprouts bloom.

While walking around the castle, Yuliana stopped and silently looked at the distant mountains. Santia approached.

“Aren’t you cold?”

He still asked. Yuliana shook her head.

“No.”

She replied with a small smile. Santia quietly looked at her, then carefully took her hand. And the two stood there silently for a while. In the spring breeze that had just begun to bloom.

The refreshing air, the warm sunlight, and the warmth of the two quietly mixed. And Yuliana slowly, very slowly, became certain.

That she could finally feel alive.

She felt like she knew what she had been deprived of until now.

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