The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 84

As the night deepened, the banquet’s fervor gradually intensified. The gardens, with their fully bloomed flowers, were illuminated like daytime by the soft glow of the sacred stones, and people, toasting with champagne amidst the gentle music, were reveling in a long-awaited peace. However, Yulania, quietly seated on one side of the garden within sight, stood out noticeably.

Initially, she too had mingled among the people, conversing and laughing, but as time passed, a strange weariness began to creep into her expression. It was a subtle change, almost imperceptible, but Santia noticed it instantly.

“Are you alright?”

He approached and asked quietly. Yulania took a short breath and smiled faintly.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired. I’ve made you worry unnecessarily.”

At her words, Santia carefully took her wrist and gently guided her.

“Let’s sit down for a moment.”

Yulania smiled at his words and nodded. As she leaned back in a luxurious armchair with plush cushions in a corner of the garden, a maid promptly brought her tea, fragrant with herbs. It was chamomile tea with a touch of sweet honey. Yulania held the cup in her hands, inhaling the aroma and taking a quiet breath. She seemed to feel a little better.

From the front, the music still echoed, and people were dancing in a cheerful atmosphere. Someone hummed a song, and someone else, tipsy, recounted trivial anecdotes. In one corner, voices praising the Makari couple continued incessantly.

Yulania watched the scene without a word. Her legs were slightly numb and her head a little heavy, but she wanted to watch until the very end, at least for this moment. The faces of everyone laughing and alive, this peaceful night. Thinking so, she quietly raised her cup.

As her heart filled with a quiet joy, the sacred stones that adorned the garden began to shine even more brightly. No one knew why, but the light sparkled in accordance with Yulania’s heart, eliciting admiration from all who saw it.

Alban cautiously approached and informed Santia of the time. It was time to signal the end of the banquet.

Santia quietly rose from his seat and walked to the center of the garden. Everyone turned their gaze towards him, and the orchestra gradually stopped the music. Santia bowed briefly and concisely.

“Thank you for joining us tonight. Celebrating the spring we have protected, may the peace of Makari last long.”

It was a simple but powerful greeting. Applause erupted. Yulania watched the scene and quietly clasped her hands. Leaning her heavy body against the sofa, gazing at the shining garden, she closed her eyes very slowly.

Wishing that this night would be remembered for a long, long time.

After finishing the banquet together, Yulania and Santia returned to their bedroom, quietly settling down from the long day. Yulania sat in front of the mirror, took off her hair ornaments, and slowly let her hair down. As the hair that had been up for so long was released strand by strand, she felt a light coolness on her scalp. After carefully removing the makeup that Vanessa and Maya had meticulously applied, her familiar face finally returned in the mirror.

After a warm bath and a light massage, Yulania sat on the bed in her white undergarments. As the fatigue subsided, her body felt languidly relaxed, and she could feel the muscles that had been tense all day gradually loosening.

At that moment, Santia quietly approached. He placed Yulania’s legs on his lap and carefully touched them. His hands moved along the slender lines of her legs, slowly massaging them with a touch that was familiar yet unusually gentle.

“You worked so hard today.”

Yulania responded with a smile to Santia’s low voice.

He massaged her from her knees to her toes, and then back from her feet to her knees, relieving Yulania’s fatigue with his fingertips. He then began to massage her wrists and arms one by one. Yulania closed her eyes, entrusting herself to his touch without a word.

At that moment, all the noise of the world faded away, and only the warmth between the two filled the room.

“It was a success thanks to you defeating the Devil and coming back.”

Yulania said softly, gently wrapping her arms around Santia’s arm. The two of them, already changed into comfortable indoor clothes and sitting at the head of the bed, were slowly melting into the temperature of the quiet night. Although they had returned after a long banquet, now that they had fully relaxed, their eyes were fixed on each other.

“It’s thanks to your efforts.”

Santia replied in a low voice, but with a firm tone. He knew better than anyone what sense of responsibility his wife had taken on for him, and how willingly she had moved her body to protect this land.

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

His question was kind, yet still filled with concern. Yulania smiled faintly. She herself felt the strangest that she would be so worried about by someone.

“I’m still fine so far. Rather, I can feel the baby growing, so it’s so amazing admirable and a little scary.”

She confessed, stroking her belly with her fingertips. The fact that life was growing inside this small, warm space felt like a miracle.

“I’m more scared.”

Santia’s lips carefully touched her forehead. Then, he gently brushed back her bangs and kissed her again.

“Every day, I only think about whether you’re okay, whether the baby is doing well.”

Yulania turned to lie on her side. It was as if she had prepared a movement for him to naturally embrace her. Santia silently pressed his body against her from behind and placed his arm on Yulania’s belly. His hand moved slowly and gently, stroking as if to feel the place where the baby was.

A moment of silence. But what permeated between them was a deep emotion. A careful touch, as if stroking not the body but the heart. Yulania felt it. This man still loved her while being afraid of her. She now seemed to understand a little how much courage it took to accept someone completely.

But today, his touch seemed to linger a little longer and a little more slowly on her belly. His warm, large hand moved to Yulania’s side, her arm, and then back to her neck. His lips also moved naturally. The kisses that followed with quiet breaths on her forehead, temples, and ears continued like a silent confession.

Yulania took a deep breath. She didn’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable by his touch. However, she felt that he was putting more sincerity into it than usual today.

“Haa, Santia.”

There was no sense of restraint in the voice that called his name. A warmth that was changing into a cautious tremor and heat. Santia did not miss that subtle sign.

His hand came down to the back of her hand again. He silently held her hand and whispered lightly.

“If you’re okay, I want to be a little selfish today too.”

Yulania squeezed his hand tighter instead of answering.

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