A pair of pale, long–fingered hands intercepted the list before I could.
“Since Lord Kaelen is so sincere about marrying my sister,” Julian said, his voice smooth as silk, “I will of course review this list carefully.” He gave Kaelen a look that was not quite a smile, his eyes dark and bottom
less.
“As it happens, I am also planning a wedding soon. This will be a useful reference.”
【Elara, danger!)
【Your man is about to go full yandere! You’re going to get a beating tonight, but what kind of ‘beating‘ is anyone’s guess.】
My heart pounded with dread all day. That night, I extinguished the lamps early and went to bed.
But I was awoken by one of Julian’s servants. “Lady Elara.”
“The Chancellor requests your presence. He wishes to instruct you on your piano technique.”
I rubbed my eyes. Suddenly, I remembered: tonight was the fifteenth.
Julian was never normal on the fifteenth.
My heart gave a heavy thud. With a miserable look on my face, I asked, “Kaelen is the one who angered him. Why is he coming for me?”
“Can I… not go?”
The servant seemed to have anticipated my question. “The Chancellor said that Lady Elara cannot be ungra- teful. He has sacrificed so much to cure you of the poison.”
“Fine, fine! I’ll go!”
17
11/17
17.38
Chapter 2
The room was dark, the scent of sandalwood thick and heavy in the air.
I thought back to when I was fifteen. I had accidentally burst into Julian’s room. He had just emerged from his bath, water droplets trailing from his jaw, down his throat, over his collarbones.
I had been so nervous, so scared. The way he looked at me–so focused, so deep, it was almost terrifying,
like a predator eyeing its prey.
Julian had closed his eyes, his lashes trembling as he suppressed whatever was raging inside him. He had
snapped at me, his voice harsh and cold. “Who allowed you in here? Get out. Now.”
I had scrambled to leave, tripping over my own hem and falling right into his arms.
The scent of sandalwood was overwhelming. His skin was scorching hot.
I had instinctively reached up and pressed my hand to his forehead. “Cousin, are you sick? Should I call for a
doctor?”
But that didn’t feel right. Every month, on this day, Julian would disappear, hiding himself away.
“Who… told you… to touch me…” His hot breath seared my palm, his voice a ragged, trembling whisper. He
had tried to push me away.
But somehow, his push had turned into an embrace. He had held me loosely, a gesture of pure, desperate
restraint.
“I… I’m in a lot of pain right now.”
…Just hold me for a little while.”
I had held him all night. His feverish body had chased away the chill, and I had slept soundly. The next morn- ng, he was once again the aloof, untouchable Julian. He had immediately sent me away, ordering me to
never come near him again.
had been so hurt by his rejection. And I had obeyed, carefully keeping my distance.
Later, when Julian’s power soared and he became the most influential man in the kingdom, I would greet him along with everyone else, my voice a hollow echo as I called him “Cousin.”
He never seemed to hear me…
t wasn’t until I saw the comments that I understood. Every time I had called his name, the fingers hidden in his sleeves had trembled uncontrollably.
