Chapter 68
As Ernst turned around, he had to admit—it was ridiculous. That damn fool kept making messes, yet Ernst was the one left to clean them up.
If he’d known it would come to this, he might have broken Heinz’s neck back then instead of just his wrist.
Grinding his teeth, Ernst saw Kainri rushing over, looking pale. He must have just heard about what went down in the main hall, and he was already fretting over why Ernst had intervened.
Good point. Usually, Ernst wouldn’t bother with other people’s affairs. So why had he stepped in this time? Watching a mad dog bite someone would unsettle anyone, but that same mad dog could just as easily turn and bite anyone else.
Something about it felt off, but Ernst wasn’t about to say that to Kainri. Instead, he threw out something half-hearted, hoping to avoid further nagging.
“What could he even do to me if he wanted to?”
“What?”
“Let him try taking my head. Then who’s going to be their next target?”
“You’re seriously calling that a reason?”
Ernst called it a reason, but he knew it didn’t really make sense. Mad dogs don’t consider their surroundings or circumstances. The moment a lunatic was agitated, who knows if they’ll pick up an axe or a sword?
So, as Kainri said, it was probably best not to get involved just yet. Ernst was still only a Duke, he’d just returned from the battlefield, hadn’t even consolidated his own forces yet, and had no hold over internal power struggles. This was a time to lay low.
“Your Grace, I think Olga would be more suited for assisting you with your wardrobe…”
But, Julie, Ernst thought. Just think. When he saw that woman screaming, someone who bore no resemblance to Julie at all—she came to his mind.
Why? Honestly… just because. Ever since he’d met her, he’d changed in ways he couldn’t explain.
If that madman Heinz had targeted her instead, and if no one had been there to protect her, if she’d been torn apart like that woman…
Just imagining it made Ernst want to lose his mind. He couldn’t bear to stand by and watch.
Even though he knew he couldn’t jump in every time, for every person… still, by helping someone now, maybe someday, if she were ever in danger, someone would be there to protect her too.
Ever since he’d met her, he wasted his time imagining endless scenarios that hadn’t happened—pointless things, yet things he did anyway.
Her, loving him. Her, in his arms, smiling at him. Her, carrying his child, spending the rest of her life with him.
Julie, Julie. My beloved Julie.
* * *
“Ernst, wake up. Why are you sleeping here like this?”
He blinked his eyes open, and there she was, like something out of a dream.
What was this? Had he fallen asleep? It felt like he’d only closed his eyes for a few minutes, but when he looked up, there she was, holding Lilian’s hand as she placed it on his cheek.
“I ran into Sir Dane on the way, and he mentioned he’d gone out on an errand.”
“Oh, I had something for him to do.”
“Don’t overwork him. He looked completely apologetic.”
Dane Lofs. Skilled with the sword, an exceptional shot, trained in hand-to-hand combat by Luina herself. One of the top five fighters in the empire, now employed as a housekeeper, much to Julie’s shock.
His primary duties? Cleaning, laundry, and watching over Julie.
Of all the tasks he could assign, Julie was flabbergasted as to why Ernst chose those for the knight.
‘Why? Because you’re what matters most,’ he thought.
Dane had come to repay his debt of Ernst saving his mother, so of course, Ernst would have him repay it to her. The only reason he offered a helping hand to the Baroness was because of Julie.
In the past, now, and in the future, Julie would never know that.
She sighed as she held Lilian, likely having heard some bad news from the village.
“They say a human hunt took place in Köln.”
They’d spent time there when Lilian was still in her womb. The people’s lives revolved around hunting, and they’d shared many memories there. Hearing of a tragedy in that place must weigh heavily on her.
Holding Lilian, her little mouth nibbling on her ribbon, Julie murmured sadly.
“It’s only going to get harder to endure…”
Her quiet words reached his ears, and he couldn’t help but look at her. Flustered by his stare, she quickly removed the drool-soaked ribbon from Lilian’s mouth and waved her hand.
“No, I just… I feel bad for the people because the Crown Prince is still so young.”
If they feel pity, wouldn’t most people be inclined to revolt?
Rumors were spreading that the rebels, who had scattered, were beginning to regroup, and yet here she was, linking it to the young crown prince. She implied the tyranny would only worsen, but why?
Julie was full of mysteries. She was in a position that should be far removed from politics, yet she had an uncanny ability to understand the situation faster than anyone else. Once, Ernst had asked Luina about it, wondering if she had been sharing any insights with Julie.
“No, I haven’t told her anything.”
But then, how did Julie know all of this? How could she foresee things?
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