The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 78

78.

Night was deepening.

Yuliana sat at the head of the bed, watching Santiago. His slumped back, as if he had collapsed roughly, looked exhausted. Tense shoulders, hands covered in dried mud, and clothes that looked like he hadn’t even had a chance to wash. He didn’t say a word, but his condition spoke volumes.

She quietly spoke to him.

“Don’t just stay like that, come here.”

Santiago didn’t move for a moment, as if he didn’t even have the strength to hear those few words. But eventually, he slowly raised his head and looked at her. His eyes were full of fatigue, but when he saw Yuliana’s face, his shoulders seemed to relax a little.

“Lie down. You’ll be more tired if you stay hunched over like that.”

He hesitated for a while, then finally got up. Every movement of his body felt heavy and sluggish. She slightly lifted the blanket, making room for him to lie down comfortably.

“How many days have you been without sleep?”

At her question, Santiago flopped onto the bed as if throwing himself down, and replied in a low voice.

“I don’t know.”

It was unclear whether he really didn’t know or had given up counting. However, the fatigue contained in that one word was so clear. Yuliana silently reached out and placed her palm on his forehead.

Slowly, she moved her fingertips along his eyelids, stroking them down.

“Now you rest too. I’ll be here.”

Santiago didn’t say anything. However, as if losing strength at that quiet word, he turned his head towards her and nestled into her arms.

His large frame leaned into Yuliana’s arms. Her embrace wasn’t small, but it was clearly not enough to encompass his entire body. However, Santiago seemed comforted even by that inadequacy, breathing out very slowly as he entrusted himself to her.

After a long while, he said in almost a mumble.

“The King, about him.”

Yuliana quietly stroked his head and murmured.

“Let’s talk about it later. Tomorrow.”

“Should we?”

He didn’t continue speaking. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her very tightly, as if clinging to her.

Yuliana simply looked at him and repeatedly stroked his hair. Her fingers slowly passed through his hair, over his forehead and temples, and flowed behind his ear.

His breathing gradually deepened and became regular. Wheezing sounds were heard. She paused her hand for a moment and looked down at him.

“Santiago?”

She called out quietly, but he didn’t answer.

“Santiago.”

She called again, but it was the same. He was already fast asleep. Yuliana smiled quietly. She gently moved her arm, trying to escape from his tightly wrapped arms.

“Ugh.”

His hand absolutely wouldn’t let go. It was as if he would never wake up again if he let go of her, an instinctive movement.

She gave up and quietly wrapped her arms around his head again.

Only I can see this side of him.

Yuliana thought so, silently embracing him and smiling quietly. This one and only time, this moment, this weight was slowly warming her heart.

The night was deep, and they finally fell asleep, breathing steadily like people who had truly regained their stability. His hand resting on the blanket, her arm embracing that hand. It was a small and quiet family’s night.

Santiago slept for a long time, as if dead.

Yuliana quietly sat beside his bed. Outside the window, the morning sun was slowly peeking over the gardens of Makari Castle, but the room was still filled with silence and Santiago’s even breathing. Santiago was fast asleep, not moving at all. Only his quiet breathing and the slow rise and fall of his chest showed that he was alive. It was the first time Yuliana had seen Santiago sleep so deeply that he wouldn’t wake up even if she called him.

As morning passed and he showed no signs of waking up, Yuliana eventually worriedly called Joel and asked him to check.

“It’s not a fainting spell. He’s just overworked, Princess. His body was too exhausted to bear it any longer.”

At Joel’s words, Yuliana breathed a sigh of relief. Relief was the first emotion she felt, but soon something aching rose from deep within her chest. She knew all too well how much he had remained tense for her sake. She had watched how much he had crumbled in every moment when her life was in danger, and how much emotion he had suppressed to get back up.

Yuliana carefully stroked the back of his hand. A slow but clear pulse was felt at his fingertips, which were warm. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her just from the fact that he was alive.

Until she left for the capital alone this time, Santiago had never left her side. Even though he spoke harshly, he always protected her.

Now, separated from her for the first time, his body, which had been enduring solely on willpower, had collapsed in an instant as soon as he confirmed that Yuliana was safe.

Holding his hand, Yuliana lowered her head and whispered softly.

“I’m sorry and thank you.”

Conveying her heartfelt feelings briefly, she lightly kissed the back of Santiago’s hand. Then Santiago’s fingers moved very slightly. She brought her face closer, wondering if he had woken up, but his eyelids were still tightly closed.

But his grip was definitely tightening. When she tried to let go of his hand, his grip became stronger, and when she tried to pull away, he stubbornly held on as if even from beyond consciousness he didn’t want to let go of her.

“Really, you’re amazing. Even in your sleep.”

Yuliana smiled softly. Santiago’s usual personality seemed to be revealed in that subtle movement.

Santiago slept like that for an entire night, and then for hours into the day.

The time spent doing nothing but being by his side was so precious and desperate for Yuliana as well. As if a quiet time of recovery was enveloping the two of them, the room was silent but warm.

And finally, as the sun set again and twilight fell, Santiago slowly opened his eyes. Yuliana’s face filled his slowly revealing dark eyes.

“You’re awake?”

“Yuliana.”

His voice was low and husky, like someone who had just woken up from a long dream. Yuliana nodded, holding his hand tightly.

“I’m here.”

Emotion slowly spread across Santiago’s eyes. His face, which had been full of fatigue, gradually began to regain its vitality.

“I missed you so much.”

Yuliana chuckled at the joke he uttered as soon as he woke up.

He took a relieved breath and closed his eyes again. And bringing their still clasped hands to his forehead, they shared each other’s warmth.

Yuliana also faced him directly as he rose, sharing quiet breaths. Just being alive, just being by each other’s side, made this moment perfect.

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