CH 40

It felt like the devil was whispering in her ear. It was the first time she realized that the rough, low voice of a man could sound this sweet. This wolf didn't have to try hard to hunt. There would have been many preys willing to offer their hearts with a smile to him.

"Take my hand."

Could there be such an ecstatic confession?

"Since your revenge and my mission are no different, we will become the most reliable partners."

These were the words that she had been waiting for.

Although it was her first time holding hands with Carus Lankea, she desperately wanted to hear these words from the first time she had planned to accompany him. She felt that he would need her, so she prayed again and again wishing for him to reach out first.

Carus asked again.

"Yulia Arte, will you do that?"

Without thinking twice, Yulia placed her hand on top of his outstretched hand.

"With pleasure."

When Yulia smiled, Carus smiled along with her. It was a smile that wasn't friendly nor warm. He looked like a wild beast with his teeth driven into the nape of his prey.

Of course, it remains to be seen who is the beast and who is the prey.

Carus said with a dangerous smile on his lips.

"You mustn't die easily. Starting now, I will protect you, and I won't let the hyenas or anyone else make an attempt on your life."

"Yes."

"I will do my best to help you until we defeat the Marquis of Marjoram and all the forces that have joined hands with him. If I make a move myself, a war will break out, so for the time being, I can only help behind the scenes."

This was enough. Actually, it was more than enough. Yulia could have sworn it. If only she could bring down Marjoram, she would do anything for Carus Lankea.

'Finally.'

She has obtained the wolf. The wolf that she had yearned for. The most captivating and most powerful ally in the world.

Carus Lankea.

A feeling of joy rose in her chest. How can she possibly put this feeling into words? It was an emotion more intense than falling in love, or earning a lot of money. Her fingertips trembled with a dizziness that bordered on pleasure.

It was fine even though Carus didn't fully believe her. As long as they were on the same side, Yulia could have done more for him than the Emperor.

She could have given him the gold of the South, the title of hero, anything.

Yulia, who was deep in thought, grabbed Carus' hand tightly. It was a rough and large hand. She pulled Carus' hand closer, and leaned down over it. Then, she put her forehead on the palm of his hand.

I exist for you.

It was an oath with that kind of meaning.

Yulia, who was bowing her head, had no idea what kind of expression Carus was making in that moment.

*****

Early in the morning, after getting ready to return to the palace, Yulia came out in front of the inn.

Maxwell was nowhere to be seen. He had left the inn early in the morning, saying that he had to move quickly in order to carry out the mission Carus had given him. Neither Bavaslov nor the other knights could be seen.

Yulia was on her way out to the main road to catch the carriage by herself. At that moment, the door of the inn opened, and Carus walked out.

He was wearing a cloak of a different color than yesterday. His clothes were also much lighter. As he would have to settle in the Southern Fleet for a while, it was a much more relaxed appearance than before.

"Let's go together."

"What? It's fine. I can go by myself."

Carus didn't listen to Yulia. He strode out onto the main road, and as he waved his hand, a coachman nearby approached him and greeted him loudly.

"Get in! Sir, where are you going?"

"To the square in front of the palace."

"I will take you there safely!", the coachman smiled brightly. It was because Carus gave him gold coins without asking how much the carriage was.

Yulia took Carus' outstretched hand, and climbed into the carriage. He sat across from her, and crossed his arms.

The carriage departed, and the two people, who were silent in the quiet space, cut off from the outside noise, opened their mouths at the same time.

"Really, I..."

"From now on, you..."

And closed their mouths at the same time.

Yulia waited for Carus to speak, and Carus also waited for Yulia to speak first.

After remaining silent for a while, the two looked at each other, and decided to just stay silent.

There was no need for words. The conversation from last night, what they will do from now on, or how they feel right now. It didn't matter anymore.

The carriage rocked regularly. Yulia's gaze turned to the window. She caught the scenery of Ortega passing by.

Carus was a person who did not believe in fate. And it was the same with Yulia. She thought that the two met by chance, not fate, and believed that it was people who had the power to turn coincidence into fate.

Yulia took Carus' hand last night. For the first time after going through life nine times. It felt like the two of them were facing each other properly for the first time since meeting in the blizzard.

Now, their relationship is completely different. The distance, which had been too big to measure, was significantly shorter. Before, the air between them was filled with a sharp tension, but now an unfamiliar awkwardness has settled down.

The wind came through the window, blowing Yulia's long hair.

Carus' gaze moved along her hair. In the shade, it looked heavy like wet soil, but in the sunlight, it was like the wings of a dragonfly.

As he looked at the thin hair that softly brushed her face every time it was blown by the wind, his fingertips felt ticklish.

A strange woman. A woman that gets on his nerves. And now, the woman that he desperately needs.

"We have arrived!", shouted the coachman.

They thought the journey would be quite long, but they had arrived in the blink of an eye. Carus checked the outside once through the window, and held out his hand to stop Yulia from getting out of the carriage. Then, he stepped out of the carriage before her.

"Yulia."

Carus held out his hand. Yulia stared at his face for a while in silence.

"Is there a problem?", he asked.

When Yulia stayed still without getting off the carriage, he furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

"It's nothing."

Yulia lowered her gaze, which had been fixed on Carus' face, to his hand. Then, she carefully reached out her hand and placed it lightly on his fingertips. Carus grabbed Yulia's hand tightly, and pulled her closer to him.

"Have a nice day!"

With a smile on his face, the coachman said goodbye to the two people who got out of the carriage, and moved away.

Yulia couldn't respond to the coachman's greeting as all her nerves were focused on her hand held by Carus. She thought he was just helping her get off the carriage, but he didn't let go.

She tried to pull it back naturally, but to no avail. Carus' long fingers were tightly wrapped around Yulia's hand.

She felt like she had to tell him to let go. Yulia, who was blinking slowly, opened her mouth.

"Sir Carus, my hand..."

"What?", he asked.

He had a quizzical look on his face as if he hadn't heard her. Yulia tried to speak again, but just shook her head saying it was nothing.

"Walk right in front of me. You never know from where a hyena might appear. I will give you my cloak, so put it on. That way, it will take them longer to realize who you are."

"All right."

Carus sent Yulia half a step forward, and walked slightly behind her. If someone came close, he would either pull her hand toward him, or shift her position and block it with his body.

The two walked like that, and reached the front of the palace.

"Thank you."

Yulia thanked him, pouring her sincerity into her words.

Carus took a step back from her without answering.

He slowly let go of her hand. The palm fell first, and the fingers returned to their original place one by one. A cold wind blew through the gaps, making her heart tremble. She got goosebumps, and clenched her fists for no reason.

Yulia turned to the palace, leaving only a word of thanks to him until the end.

'She's holding hands with a man', Lewicia thought blankly.

After receiving a call from Yulia saying that she would stay out overnight, Lewicia had trouble sleeping last night for some reason, woke up much earlier than usual, and led the escort knight to the front of the palace.

That's when he witnessed Yulia holding the hand of a man before entering the palace.

Lewicia stood there, motionless. It wasn't that he was offended or angry. He just felt a little strange. He had a heavy feeling in his chest, and his throat was burning.

"Your Highness the Prince."

When Lewicia stayed still and did not move, the escort knight called out to him with concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Lewicia smiled, and turned around, before walking back the way he had come.

Although the escort knight wondered why he had come this far for nothing, Lewicia didn't give him the reason.

It was the same even after Yulia returned to the Prince's palace. Lewicia was no different from usual when he greeted her. He didn't even ask where she had been, and who she had met the night before.

Yulia said that she had found someone to help Lewicia go undercover, and he nodded to express that he understood. After that, he had a meal with Coco, who woke up in the afternoon, and at night, he was taught successor studies by Yulia.

A day passed just like that. The pale moon hung in the dark night sky.

After class, Lewicia spoke to Yulia as she was organizing the books.

"Yulia."

"Yes?"

"What do you think is the meaning of 'first love'?"