Chapter 34
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“Fortunately, your bronchial tubes were only slightly damaged by the smoke, so there shouldn’t be any problem with leaving for Baldomer as early as tomorrow.”
The physician who said this looked at Juliana as though he truly found it remarkable.
“Heaven truly must have been watching over you. To think you’re this well after being in the middle of those flames. Even a messenger of God wouldn’t have come out unscathed after being caught in a fire like that.”
Kallion, who had been leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed as he listened to the physician’s praise, grew somber.
Layla had given him a similar report.
She had emerged completely unharmed from flames that an ordinary person could never have survived.
Had heaven truly just been watching over her?
Unlike Kallion’s complicated thoughts, Juliana answered the physician with an unconcerned expression.
“Thank you for treating me.”
“Oh, goodness, don’t mention it. I only feel ashamed that you had to receive such meager treatment from me, Madam Baldomer.”
As he spoke, the physician glanced at Juliana’s bandaged arm.
“I treated it as best I could in a hurry, but you should have the burn on your arm treated properly once you return to the estate. We can’t have someone as noble as you left with a scar.”
“I will.”
Juliana herself didn’t seem bothered in the least, but Kallion’s brow furrowed as he stared at her bandaged arm.
Does she even have any awareness that she’s the lady of Baldomer? And yet she goes around demanding to be treated as one.
Noticing Kallion glaring fiercely at her, Juliana sighed and spoke.
“It seems my husband has something to say to me. Would you mind giving us a moment?”
Only then did the physician realize Kallion was standing behind him, and he jumped to his feet.
“Oh, goodness, where is my mind! Then I’ll take my leave!”
Once the physician left, Juliana looked at Kallion coldly. The difference in her demeanor compared to how she had treated the people from the orphanage or the physician was unmistakable.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Do I need to have something to say to be here? Everyone else seems to come and go as they please.”
“If you don’t have anything to say, would you leave? I’d like to get plenty of rest before we depart.”
At her response, which was not merely cold but downright harsh, Kallion frowned before slowly opening his mouth.
“I plan to sleep here too.”
“There should be other rooms.”
“Do we really need to advertise to everyone here that the Baldomer couple sleeps separately?”
“……”
There was nothing good about rumors spreading that she and Kallion kept separate rooms. Especially for her, when she needed to establish her place in Baldomer.
Seeing the conflicted expression on her face, Kallion looked displeased. Then, as though deliberately making a show of it, he walked over to the bed where she sat and leaned in close.
“Weren’t you the one constantly asking me to sleep with you?”
He was close enough that she could feel his breath against the tip of her nose. Juliana frowned at the distance between them.
“Why? Does a place like this put you out of the mood?”
At Kallion’s obvious provocation, Juliana’s expression turned even colder.
“We are only to sleep together on the agreed-upon nights.”
She had to match the timing as closely as possible to when Denion had been conceived. It was better not to create any unnecessary variables. That was why she had deliberately chosen those dates for them to sleep together.
“So get away from me, Kallion.”
At the chill dripping from her voice, Kallion stepped back with a stiff expression.
He couldn’t understand why she insisted on their designated nights together even while displaying this much hostility toward him.
“I truly cannot understand you.”
With those words, Kallion dropped heavily onto the single armchair some distance away.
“I don’t have the slightest intention of doing anything either, so don’t worry.”
With that, he slowly closed his eyes. Juliana’s brow narrowed as she watched him.
Does he intend to spend the entire night on that cramped chair?
Then, as though deciding it was none of her concern, she turned her back on him and lay down on the bed. If he was uncomfortable, he could leave on his own.
She didn’t feel even the slightest bit sorry for him.
She couldn’t understand why he had come all the way here in the first place just to get on her nerves. Did he lose his mind after hearing that Layla had been injured?
She was trying to close her eyes with that thought when his low voice reached her.
“I made a mistake.”
Juliana turned toward him in confusion at words she could hardly believe had come from Kallion’s mouth.
Kallion was staring silently at her with an expressionless face.
“If I’d known you were this reckless, I wouldn’t have let you go.”
Juliana frowned at his reproachful tone.
“What. Do you want to hear me apologize for getting your secretary hurt?”
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