The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 60

A spring breeze swept through Makari Castle.

It started with something truly trivial. In every corridor that Yulania frequented, a new carpet, noticeably softer than before, had been laid. The sensation of being gently enveloped with each step was distinctly different. Not only was it soft, but the color had also been entirely changed to a gentle green, ostensibly to manage her mood. It took barely a few days for the castle, once filled with dreary gray, to be tinged with the colors of spring.

Handrails were also installed on the stairways and at intervals along the corridors. The handrails were carefully finished, wrapped in soft silk to ensure the surface wasn’t cold.

At first, the servants simply followed instructions without much thought, but as the direction became clearer, it became a hot topic within the castle.

“Oh my, oh my. I never knew the Duke was such a thoughtful person!”

Marilyn, who was clearing the dining hall, exclaimed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. She couldn’t believe that Santia, who usually seemed so aloof, would be so attentive to his wife. The maids who were with Marilyn in the dining hall nodded in agreement.

Even as Marilyn gossiped with the maids, Santia was giving Alban another set of instructions.

“Check the windows to make sure no drafts are coming into the castle.”

His voice was quiet but firm. Alban blinked and asked again.

“Are you worried she might fall over from the wind?”

Santia turned to look at Alban. Instead of answering, he let out a short sigh-like breath. Then, he said nonchalantly, “Is there a problem?”

At that tone, Alban bowed deeply. The corners of his eyes drooped, but Santia didn’t notice.

“Of course not. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Then, he began to make notes, looking around the castle again. Handrails alone weren’t enough. The thresholds needed to be lowered, and the unevenness of the floors needed to be eliminated. Santia’s gaze was sharp. He took in every detail, from the nail marks protruding from the walls to the sharp edges of the window frames.

“Take care of this too. It looks dangerous,” Santia said, tapping the wall with one hand.

Alban frantically scribbled in his notebook as he replied, “Yes!”

It was a short conversation, but Alban could sense his master’s newly blossomed sincerity. He was trying to remodel the entire castle because he was afraid that Yulania might get hurt even slightly or feel uncomfortable while walking. He thought this quiet way of showing consideration was very much like Santia.

The late evening spring breeze gently brushed against her clothes. In the courtyard of Makari Castle, trees with newly sprouted buds were swaying lightly in the wind. Yulania was walking with a soft smile. She enjoyed coming out to the garden every day and discovering new sprouts.

Santia silently matched her pace beside her, constantly watching to make sure she didn’t fall, wasn’t cold from the wind, and was safe.

Yulania, realizing that all the changes in the castle were for her sake, felt a strange tickling in her heart. Every time she grabbed a soft handrail, she felt something pop in the center of her heart.

As she looked at Santia, filled with gratitude welling up inside her, he suddenly said, “How did a gift like you come to me?”

Both of them stopped walking at the same time, and Yulania’s eyes flickered for a moment. Surprise and overwhelming emotion passed through her at the same time. But soon, Yulania tilted her head back and said with a slightly playful look, “I don’t like that word.”

Santia started walking again, muttering under his breath, “You’re mistaken. Gifts are good.”

Those short, firm words, carried on the wind, warmly permeated Yulania’s ears. Yulania quietly looked at Santia. The still unfamiliar spring sunlight softly enveloped them both. She took a slow breath and asked the question she had really wanted to ask.

“You like me so why don’t you say it?”

It was a question asked lightly, but the silence that momentarily fell between them was not light. Santia lowered his head slightly, took a moment to calm himself, and then answered in a low voice, “I don’t know.”

Yulania blinked slightly and asked again, “Huh?”

Santia seemed at a loss, placing his fingertips on the back of Yulania’s hand. And then he said very slowly, “I don’t know how to express it.”

At those words, Yulania hesitated for a moment whether to laugh or cry. She asked carefully, “Is there something special about it?”

Santia nodded without hesitation, with a very firm conviction.

“Of course.”

It was a short answer, but it contained a multitude of emotions.

Of course, she was special, of course, she was precious, of course, he cherished her more than anyone else. All those words were condensed into a single phrase. But even without saying it, Yulania could tell.

The warm gaze that always turned to her, the meticulousness contained in each of his seemingly rough gestures, and the affectionate tone hidden behind his familiar grumbling. And every moment, she could feel his every action to protect and embrace her more clearly than words. His most sincere heart was always directed towards her.

Yulania chuckled, looking at her still clumsy husband. And she lightly pulled his arm, naturally leaning against his chest.

As her warmth approached, Santia carefully wrapped one arm around her. It was an awkward affection, but it was an incomparably solid and trustworthy embrace.

Yulania suddenly realized. She didn’t need him to say he loved her every day, she didn’t need him to try to prove his love every moment. Santia’s love was always there, quiet and warm like the spring sunshine.

After that day, Makari Castle changed softly, but surely. Santia would subtly hold Yulania’s arm while she walked, and when stairs appeared, he would lift her up without hesitation. More carefully, as if holding the most precious thing. At first, the servants were frozen in surprise and couldn’t move, but now they were used to it.

‘The Duke and Duchess have always had such a good relationship.’

‘The Duke has become noticeably softer these days.’

Everyone whispered, but no one said anything bad. When the wind blew strongly, Santia would gently cover Yulania’s face with his palm to check her temperature. If he saw even a small pebble on the road, he would shield her with his body. He held her hand, offered her his embrace, and when she smiled, he unconsciously raised the corners of his lips.

Yulania smiled a little more each day. Her laughter filled the castle, making the knights, the maids, and everyone else feel comfortable. After the uncomfortable energy of the royal family disappeared, Makari Castle became a truly warm space, just like home.

And Yulania began to actively explore the sacred stones. She began to infuse her own power into the other sacred stones, just as she had done in the land of demons. After consulting with Santia, they decided to further strengthen the castle’s defense system before the blizzards completely subsided.

Whenever Yulania touched them, the sacred stones contained a subtle light. It was a much warmer and clearer radiance than before, a mixture of yellow and white light. It was a color that seemed to contain life.

Santia said quietly, “The new Devil doesn’t seem to be thinking of moving yet.”

Yulania nodded and asked, “Why? Why is he waiting?”

“Maybe he’s waiting for me to come to him.”

Santia gave that answer with a firm expression. No matter what kind of promise he had made, a demon was still a demon. He should never be completely trusted.

That’s why he had to fortify the castle to avoid even the slightest gap. He intended to make thorough preparations so that no threat would approach Yulania while he was gone.

Before he knew it, winter had completely receded, and the sky began to pour out warm light instead of snow. Green sprouts were peeking out everywhere in the territory, and melted snow gathered in the mountains to form small streams.

Yulania slowly stroked the sacred stone placed on her palm.

A small but definite miracle resided within this stone.

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