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8.
In truth, I had never intended to sell the estate on Balaria Coast either.
But he possessed two of the paintings I had been desperately ‌‌‌seeking.
With just those two pieces, my collection would be complete.
I had ‌‌no choice but to surrender the estate to Julian.
'How amusing—he has an eye for fine art. But Rebecca will never belong to him.'
Zeppelin deliberately wrapped his arm around Rebecca's waist.
Julian's gaze pierced through Zeppelin's slender hand as it held Rebecca firmly in place.
A ‌‌‌‌faint crease ‌‌appeared between Julian's brows.
"My wife and I shall take our leave now."
Zeppelin hastily pulled Rebecca toward the center of the Ballroom, his triumph barely concealed beneath the ‌‌‌‌surface.
Rebecca is mine. Someone like you could never dare to covet her.
With that thought, Rebecca seemed even more endearing to me than ever before.
I drew ‌‌her close against my side and showered her shoulder and forehead with kisses.
Rebecca was barely suppressing her nausea, yet to the onlookers, we appeared an affectionate couple.
The crowd erupted in gossip at the sight of the Count and Countess of ‌‌‌Devon.
"My, how tenderly the Count treats his wife."
"What good does it do? She's practically confined to the house."
"Well, of course. She's the most beautiful woman ‌‌‌in the empire. I'd lock her away too and keep her from seeing anyone."
"I beg ‌‌‌‌‌to differ. I think the ‌‌‌‌second wife is ‌‌‌the true beauty. What was her name? Alicia? I caught a glimpse ‌of her once, and she was absolutely radiant."
"The Count is certainly blessed. Speaking of which, ‌‌‌the second wife didn't attend, did she? I would have liked to see her face."
"How could she show her face here? She's of common birth, ‌‌‌and though we call her a wife, she's really nothing more than a concubine..."
The chattering crowd fell silent as they noticed ‌‌Julian approaching the Count and Countess with measured strides.
Julian's lips twisted slightly as he confirmed that all eyes—especially the Emperor's—were upon him.
Though Zeppelin was tall, Julian stood a full head taller.
Zeppelin looked up at him with displeasure.
"Is there something more you wish to say?"
"No, I have nothing further to discuss with the Count. My business lies with her."
Julian bent at the waist to meet Rebecca's eyes, then slowly extended his hand.
"Rebecca, ‌‌‌‌‌would you honor me with a dance?"
He deliberately omitted the Devon name and called her by her given name alone, his tone deliberately intimate.
He paid no mind whatsoever to Zeppelin, who stood beside her with clenched fists.
The Ballroom fell silent as if doused with cold water.
Everyone stared back and forth between Julian and Rebecca with gaping mouths.
Rebecca ‌‌met Julian's gaze as he extended his hand, and her breath caught for a moment.
In my previous life, I had no real connection with him. Even when our paths crossed, I only observed him from a distance.
Those dark eyes, like gazing into an ‌abyss, examined her with curious intensity.
In stark contrast to ‌‌‌‌the brilliance that flowed through his gaze, the deep shadows beneath his eyes revealed the profound ennui and desperation that plagued him.
Rebecca's eyes traced the perilously sharp line of his jaw.
Her heart pounded violently, and she could not calm it no matter how hard she tried.
I began to understand why so many young ladies followed him despite the sordid rumors that clung to his name.
He was dangerous. A mere glance ‌‌‌into those eyes was enough to make my mind go blank.
I realized I could easily be drawn in if I wasn't careful.
"Refuse him, Rebecca. He's not worth your time."
But the firm grip of Zeppelin's hand on my shoulder quickly brought me ‌‌‌back to my senses.
This was an ‌‌opportunity that would never come again. I had to seize the Duke's hand now.
Rebecca carefully turned her gaze toward Emperor Zahidra without letting Zeppelin notice.
She cast him a pitiful look for a moment, then lowered her head. ‌‌‌
Upon catching sight of her blue eyes glistening with tears, Zahidra ‌‌‌flinched momentarily.
Zeppelin was affectionate, yet at the same time obsessively possessive of his wife.
Though he had been deliberately ignoring it as someone ‌‌‌‌else's family matter, the involvement of Duke of Johannes changed everything.
Zahidra's mind raced through rapid calculations.
Zeppelin was pro-Emperor. If Julian showed interest in his wife, it could become a significant weakness.
Besides, rescuing a beauty from distress was always a pleasant endeavor.
Zahidra laughed heartily.
"Count of Devonshire! It doesn't look good to keep your wife so close to your side."
"But, Your Majesty! This man was being disrespectful...."
"I don't see how. Haven't you already danced the first dance with her? It seems your wife has never danced ‌with another man even once. Surely one dance wouldn't hurt. Grant him permission."
The spectators who had been watching this spectacle with interest began to whisper among themselves.
Unfavorable rumors had been circulating about Rebecca, who had not yet fully established herself in society.
Zeppelin swallowed hard.
It would be improper to refuse when the Emperor himself had spoken so plainly.
Zeppelin regarded Julian, who was smiling with ease, with eyes burning with murderous intent.
"Very well. But only one dance."
"No, you see, I asked permission not from the Count, but from the lady here."
Rebecca pretended to look ‌‌to Zeppelin for approval. When he reluctantly nodded, she slowly took Julian's ‌‌‌hand.
In contrast to Zeppelin's soft touch, his ‌‌hand was large and rough. Yet it was warm.
"It is my honor, my lady."
Julian brought her hand to his lips. ‌‌He treated Rebecca as though she were an unmarried young lady.
Zeppelin glared at the two ‌‌of them with the intensity of one ready to set the Imperial Palace ablaze.
The second dance began.
Though others danced as well, they all kept their eyes on Julian and Rebecca, their steps falling into disarray.
"So, tell me now. What is this deal you speak of?"
I tried not to focus on his hand encircling my waist.
This was my first time making contact with a man ‌‌‌‌other than Zeppelin in such a manner. My neck had gone rigid with tension.
"What I meant to say was...."
I looked up at Julian without thinking ‌‌‌and nearly gasped when I saw his eyes.
His eyes had transformed into a brilliant golden hue.
Julian regarded me as one might observe fascinating prey, urging me to continue.
I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, steeling myself by recalling the hardships I had endured in the past.
Soon my frantic heartbeat gradually subsided.
Rebecca opened her eyes and parted her lips.
"I ‌‌will seek a divorce."
"What...?"
"So ‌please marry me instead." ‌‌
* * *
Rebecca's voluminous gown swayed and gathered in rhythm with the dulcet melody.
Each time ‌‌‌the lace brushed against the fabric, the densely sewn beads sparkled with such brilliance they drew gasps of admiration.
Despite his massive frame, Julian's movements were graceful. He guided Rebecca with practiced ease.
Countless eyes throughout the ballroom fixed upon Rebecca and Julian as they swept across the floor.
When Rebecca danced with Zeppelin, their similar features made them ‌‌appear as siblings.
But here, the dark man who seemed to have risen from the depths of hell and the fair woman who appeared to have descended from heaven were a ‌‌‌‌sight too captivating to tear one's gaze away from.
Not only the Emperor, but everyone gathered in the ballroom followed their dance with rapt attention.
Had it not been for Zeppelin's fury, ‌‌‌one might have wished they would dance together all day—such was the enchanting spectacle.
Contrary to the measured rhythm of his footsteps, Julian's eyes gleamed with peculiar excitement and curiosity.
Rebecca did ‌not shy from his persistent gaze; instead, she boldly raised the corners of her eyes.
"I understand this is hardly a romantic proposal, but it should not be an unfavorable arrangement for the Duke."
"Why is that?"
"Soon the Temple will begin pressuring you to take a bride."
"And where did you hear such a thing."
"The source matters little to our contract now. I will become your bride. Should you marry me, the concerns troubling the Duke will never ‌‌‌come to pass. ‌‌I swear to you that during our marriage, I shall not ‌‌‌lay a finger upon you. Naturally, there will be no desperate pleas for affection, nor any heir born. In short, we would become husband and wife in name alone."
'Does she truly believe that simply because I wish to touch her now, I would be able to?'
Julian gazed down at Rebecca's slender waist—barely a handful—and let out ‌‌a ‌‌‌hollow laugh.
"Is that all you desire?"
Rebecca hesitated before shaking her head.
The dance reached its crescendo. Julian lifted Rebecca high into the air.
She was far lighter than he had anticipated.
Surprised at how effortlessly he had hoisted her, Julian's eyes widened.
Gasps of wonder erupted from those around them.
Rebecca's golden hair cascaded down upon him—as though a golden waterfall were engulfing him.
Julian's eyes opened wide.
Suspended in the air, Rebecca whispered to him with burning ‌‌eyes.
"Give me the power ‌‌‌to bring down House of Devon. Then I shall save you."
Rebecca descended to the ground once more, grasped his hand, and began to spin.
Julian narrowed his eyes, studying her expression.
Her unwavering gaze suggested she was not lying.
"How am I to believe that."
"You must believe it. You are desperate, are you not? Do you not wish to save your younger sister from the curse?"
Still holding his hand, Rebecca extended her body outward, creating distance between them—the span of both their arms.
She even knew of Lily's existence?
Julian stared at Rebecca in bewilderment.
Her gaze remained as unwavering as before, fixed steadily upon him.
'Salvation,' he thought.
He drew her ‌‌‌arm closer, pulling her back into his embrace. Rebecca yielded willingly to him. ‌‌‌‌
Julian gripped her waist firmly. Her slender waist bent gracefully toward him.
The dance would end ‌soon. And with it, their private conversation would be over.
Julian grew anxious.
He wanted to speak with her just a little longer.
"I won't ask for an answer right now. When you've made your decision, send Leo to the Devonshire Earldom. My room is on the second floor, east wing. I'll place yellow flowers by the window."
Julian gazed at Rebecca with astonished eyes. ‌‌
Rebecca straightened her waist once more. Then a subtle smile played at the corners of her ‌‌‌‌lips.
That piercing, beautiful smile ‌‌‌made Julian falter.
"I know you can communicate with Leo, God's messenger. I await your answer."
"Rebecca!"
The moment the music ended, Zeppelin rushed toward her frantically. He seized her wrist.
His patience was nearly exhausted. Zeppelin no longer cared ‌‌‌‌about propriety.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
Rebecca offered a curt farewell and departed.
Julian stood motionless, staring at the space where Rebecca had been.
The runaway Countess had returned.
E-book publication.

January 12, 2022
Author.

Long Night Sky
Publisher.

Desert Fox
Published by.

Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission received.

naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog.

blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
Twitter.

@wjt_fennecfox

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