The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 83

As the banquet began in earnest, Yuliana lightly took Santia’s arm and slowly began to walk around the banquet hall. Inside the hall, where music and conversation flowed softly, the two’s steps were as if they were the center of the banquet itself. Each time Yuliana moved, the hem of her beautiful dress brushed the floor, and each time she lightly nodded, the nobles politely greeted her. Santia stood beside her, as if protecting her with a consistent expression, and his gaze remained only on Yuliana.

The nobles couldn’t help but comment on the sight of the two.

“The Makari couple is different, as expected.”

“To think that love can feel so strong.”

“Was Lord Santia such an affectionate person?”

Whispered conversations were mixed with surprise, awe, and envy. These reactions would have been burdensome in the past, but Yuliana greeted everyone with a soft smile. When Santia took a step back, she pulled him forward again.

In a brief moment, Yuliana looked up at him and thought to herself.

The old him, the him on the wedding day, the face of him confidently entering as if to shake the entire castle, came to mind.

Even back then, when there was no love or trust, he was solid. But now, an even stronger warmth than before was felt from this man.

Carefully overlapping her fingertips with his, Yuliana swallowed the surge of emotion.

‘I can trust this man. Truly, I can be with him until the end.’

As the night deepened, the banquet’s heat grew more intense. Amidst the lively music and light laughter filling the hall, Yuliana slowly put down her glass and rose. As she moved, Santia, who had been quietly following her, naturally joined her.

Yuliana stood in the center of the hall and clapped her hands twice lightly. The music faded, and all eyes turned to her. Her voice, as she opened her mouth with a bright smile, was quiet but resonated clearly.

“Now, there is a place prepared to make this spring night a little more special. Will everyone follow me?”

Curious eyes followed. Yuliana led the people through the main gate and out along a small staircase. She stood at the very front, and Santia firmly guarded her side. Behind them, a group of nobles carefully followed, moving into the castle’s courtyard where darkness had fallen.

The moment they reached the end of the stairs, the garden revealed itself.

Exclamations burst out all at once. The darkness of the night, which had been draped like a thin curtain, retreated before the garden’s light. The spring flowers that had bloomed in various places were full of life as if they had just begun to bloom, and dozens of holy stones were shining between them. The holy stones were not simply replacing lighting. They were embracing the garden as if they were alive, caressing the growth of the plants.

At the edges, thin yellow light streaks were draped like ribbons, and a subtle mist-like radiance occasionally soared into the sky. The banquet’s invited guests were mesmerized by the beauty for a while, unable to even breathe.

Yuliana slowly turned around in the middle of the garden and looked at the people. The light of the holy stones reflected on the hem of her dress spread out like a rainbow. It was like a painting.

“This place is,”

She said slowly,

“A garden prepared for you, and containing the spring of Makari where we will live.”

Someone whispered.

“It’s the Saintess’s Garden.”

The words soon came out of someone else’s mouth again, spreading like a small wave. First awe, then admiration, and finally reverence.

Santia quietly looked at Yuliana. The yellow light flowing down behind her and the scent of spring flowers made him hold his breath. This garden gained its vitality not simply because of the holy stones.

It was possible because Yuliana’s emotions, her touch, and the heart she breathed into it permeated this place. And everyone was feeling it.

A noblewoman approached and whispered.

“This is not just a garden. Your Highness the Duchess has brought spring back to Makari, to the Tinley Kingdom.”

Yuliana listened to the words and smiled quietly. But deep in her eyes, a faint wave arose. Someone called this garden the Saintess’s Garden. The words could have been a burden, but at this moment, it was different. For the first time, Yuliana was ready to accept the name.

She lightly shook the small holy stone she was holding and turned to Santia. Santia nodded without a word. He also knew. This garden was a miracle created by Yuliana’s hands.

In various parts of the garden, maids carrying wine were busy, and young nobles strolled between the flowers and lights, constantly pouring out admiration. Someone knelt in the middle of the garden and proposed, and someone recalled someone they had sent away long ago with tears in their eyes.

The Saintess’s Garden was a blessing to some, healing to others, and hope to yet others.

The spring night air, filled with warmth, slowly spread over the castle.

Nobles began to gather one by one on the wide lawn in the center of the garden. Before they knew it, the orchestra had finished preparing, and the soft tones of the stringed instruments and the light melody of the flute filled the night air. Fragments of shining holy stones were densely placed on the soft grass, so that even walking on it, a faint light spread underfoot as if following. Stars were in the sky, and a subtle yellow light flowed in the garden.

Glasses filled with champagne were held in people’s hands. Nobles in colorful attire began to sway lightly to the music. The first to start dancing was a young lady named Lucia, who was making her first appearance at the banquet. Her toes slid softly over the grass, and soon others began to move along with the flow.

“Look over there,”

Yuliana said, touching Santia’s arm.

“Lord Mireya is dancing.”

Santia turned his head and narrowed his eyes, and indeed, Mireya was standing in the center. She looked completely different than usual. Always carrying armor and a sword, she was wearing a soft golden dress today, with her long hair half up. The tension and unfamiliarity in her face were strangely beautiful. The young nobleman who was dancing with her was said to be the son of a young noble from Hylon.

“Oh my, she’s so elegant. To dance so leisurely.”

Yuliana said with a smile. Santia watched the scene with his arms crossed, then nodded slightly.

“It’s a little disappointing that I can’t dance with you.”

Yuliana looked at Santia with a startled face.

“You, you know how to dance?”

“Knowing how to do it and being good at it are two different things, but…”

Santia frowned and said.

“I learned the basics. Isn’t that what noble education is all about?”

Yuliana chuckled and nodded.

“That’s really unexpected. I didn’t think you, who has only lived on the battlefield, would say something like that.”

Santia bowed his head towards Yuliana and whispered in a low voice.

“I could have learned anything if you wanted me to.”

Yuliana’s heart fluttered. He sometimes threw out deep words in that way, casually, at unexpected moments. A laugh escaped.

“Then let’s definitely dance together next time. After I give birth, let’s have a grand summer banquet and have our first dance then.”

Santia smiled and nodded.

“I promise. We will definitely take the first song.”

They shared their hearts in that way, in place of being unable to dance now. The music was still flowing, Mireya’s movements gradually became familiar, and before they knew it, she was starting to smile little by little. It was the face of a woman enjoying a social gathering, not the usual solemn Mireya.

Yuliana quietly breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the scene. She felt that everyone she knew was finding their place. Herself, Santia, and Mireya as well. The lives of those gathered under the name of Makari were finally finding their orbit.

The starlight above the sky became clearer. And beneath it, the garden of Makari Castle was still enveloping people in a soft yellow light.

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