Chapter 7
The young and beautiful Princess Catherine was the most coveted bride in many surrounding countries.
However, Julian sat arrogantly in his chair and blatantly ignored Catherine's greeting.
It was rude behavior, but Zahida didn't mind.
Julian had been raised with the understanding that he didn't need to be mindful of anyone.
Except for the Emperor, he was inarguably the most powerful man in the empire, so it was only natural.
The Johannes Dukedom had once threatened the imperial power with the backing of the temple.
Compared to the previous Dukes, his words and actions were somewhat rough, but politically, Julian was considered mild.
Therefore, Zahida generously understood Julian's arrogant attitude.
Besides, Zahida was more interested in profit than in saving face.
Considering the benefits Julian would bring, she could tolerate his rudeness thousands of times over.
She was well aware of the rumors that he frequented brothels as if it were a daily routine and that he had a penchant for women.
Moreover, he occasionally blurted out that he hated noble ladies.
It was obvious how Princess Catherine would be treated if she married him.
It was a pity for Catherine, but he was still a card she couldn't give up.
Julian abhorred banquets, so Zahida even created a fake rebel group to ensure he would attend,
all to naturally introduce Catherine to him.
She couldn't let things end in Pustule like this.
Zahida smiled slyly, took Catherine's hand, and offered it to Julian.
"How about sharing the first dance with the beautiful Princess?"
Julian stared blankly at Catherine's pure white hand that the Emperor offered.
He looked around for help, but Croa was nowhere to be seen.
'He must have snuck out for a smoke again.'
Julian gritted his teeth and fell into contemplation.
He wanted to shake off her hand and escape this stifling place.
But Emperor Zahida was the only one who could stand against the temple.
Julian disliked the Emperor, but he disliked the temple even more.
The Johannes Duke was obligated to attend the various events held by the temple every year.
Each time, Zahida would create an incident as if she had been waiting for it, preventing Julian from attending the events.
It was something the Emperor did for her own benefit, but it was also true that Julian benefited from it.
'If I marry the Princess, the temple won't be able to easily tell me to take a concubine.'
As Julian's gaze lingered on her, a shy dimple appeared on Catherine's cheek.
Catherine had initially hesitated when the Emperor told her to marry Julian.
The scandals that followed him were extremely filthy.
But now that she was face to face with him like this, she felt like she wanted to follow him even into a fiery pit.
He was that beautiful.
After a brief calculation, Julian reached out his hand to Catherine.
"Then, would you do me the honor of sharing the first dance with me?"
Zahida smiled contentedly, thinking, 'That's right.' They were a truly well-matched pair.
Julian frowned at the strong rose perfume scent emanating from Catherine.
As Catherine's pounding heartbeat reached his ears, his mother's last words suddenly came to mind.
'Julian. Never fall in love.'
Even as she was dying, his mother had cursed young Julian.
'I must have been out of my mind for a moment.'
Catherine was innocent.
Julian couldn't give her love.
He couldn't reveal the secrets of the Dukedom to a member of the imperial family, so Catherine would end up craving her husband's love without knowing why, and eventually go mad.
Julian's face turned coldly.
Soon, the music signaling the first dance began.
* * *
'He seems to be in a bad mood today.'
Rebecca, who was dancing with Zeppelin, glanced at Julian's face as he passed by.
Julian was holding the beautiful Princess's hand, but he looked as if he was being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
Zeppelin, noticing Rebecca's sidelong glance, grabbed her face and turned it towards him.
"You should be looking at me, Rebecca."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I felt a little dizzy for a moment."
"You have to behave well, especially at events like this. Everyone is staring at you. You need to show them that you only have eyes for me."
Zeppelin smiled pleasantly.
The beautiful Devonshire Earl and his wife were a couple that attracted attention wherever they went.
The dress Rebecca happened to wear to an event set the trend for that year.
Even now, the gazes of those greedily scanning Rebecca's attire were intense.
'Disgusting.'
The first dance finally ended.
Rebecca was amazed at her own patience for not spitting on Zeppelin's face while dancing with him.
* * *
"Stay here quietly."
It was back to the corner again.
From the second dance onwards, one could dance with a partner other than their spouse, but that was out of the question for Rebecca.
Zeppelin's Hounds, hidden somewhere in this place, would be watching with their eyes wide open to make sure no man approached Rebecca.
But rather, that was better for her now.
Rebecca deliberately leaned against the largest, most inconspicuous pillar.
Then, she checked on Zeppelin, who was engrossed in conversations with the VIPs.
Rebecca glanced at the man standing as if glued to the pillar behind her.
Duke Julian Johannes.
He was drinking red wine with the most bored expression in the world.
All the women at the party were secretly stealing glances at the Duke, though they didn't openly show it.
Black hair, black eyes, skin like melted milk chocolate.
This massive man, dressed in a black tailcoat, was like a noble black lion.
He was famous for his dirty rumors, but even so, he had a charm that attracted attention with just his face.
Like the other women, Rebecca was also interested in him. However, it was in a slightly different sense.
Rebecca took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"I don't see the cats today."
Julian paused as he was about to bring the wine glass to his lips.
He thought he had avoided the women's advances for the most part. But he didn't expect a woman to chase him all the way here.
Annoyance washed over him.
Julian tried to leave without responding.
Then, Rebecca quickly continued.
"Leo. That cat is the one who shares a soul with you, isn't it? The other cats are just a means to hide where Leo is."
Julian's eyes widened.
All that was known to the public was that the Johannes Dukedom served Leo, the messenger of God. Few knew that their souls were connected.
He turned to see the face of the woman who dared to know the secrets of the Dukedom.
"Please, don't make it obvious that you're talking to me. I'm being watched."
At her words, Julian narrowed his eyes and looked around.
Indeed, a servant carrying finger foods was closely watching this way.
Julian leaned back against the pillar.
"Who are you?"
"Let me get straight to the point. I know how to break the Duke's curse."
"What?"
Julian almost shouted.
He lowered his voice again and asked.
"A curse? How dare you utter such nonsense about a family blessed by the goddess?"
"I know everything. That you die when the cat whose soul is connected to you dies. And that it's a curse that has been passed down for generations. That you're gathering storytellers to break the curse."
"Well, this is the first time I've heard of it."
It was a fact known only to a very few, but it was a story that could have leaked out.
But unless they were out of their minds, no one would be foolish enough to go around saying such things.
Just uttering the words that the Johannes family was cursed could lead to being dragged away for blasphemy.
This unknown woman must have picked up strange words somewhere and was trying to approach him.
Who sent her?
The Emperor? Or was it a prank by Duke Latranis?
"Then how about this. That the Duke, famous for being a perverted lecher, is actually a virgin."
Julian almost spat out his wine. This woman spoke of embarrassing things without changing her tone.
"You're covering it up with all sorts of scandals, but in reality, you possess a purity cleaner than anyone else. It's only natural since you don't want to leave behind an heir in the first place."
Julian could no longer ignore her words.
It was a rumor he had painstakingly created to reject the flood of marriage proposals.
But there were more crazy parents who pushed their daughters on him than he had expected, so it was as good as a failure.
Still, this was a fact that no one knew except for Croa.
Recently, Duke Latranis seemed to suspect the truth of the rumors, but he had not yet revealed the truth to him.
"At this point, you must be curious about who I am. I want to make a deal."
"A deal?"
"That is..."
Rebecca stopped speaking. Zeppelin was walking towards her from afar.
"I'll tell you if you dance with me."
"Ha. So that was the goal after all? To try and snag a spot next to me?"
"You'll find out if you dance with me. Ask me to dance in front of the Emperor. It must be in a place where everyone is watching."
"What if I refuse?"
"Then the Duke will miss the first and last chance to get rid of the curse."
"Fine. Now tell me. What's your name?"
"My name is Rebecca Devonshire. The first wife of the Devonshire Earl."
At the unexpected name, Julian was startled and widened his eyes.
"Rebecca, have you been waiting long? Duke Latranis kept dragging out the conversation."
Zeppelin's voice was heard.
Julian could no longer avoid turning his head.
At the end of Julian's gaze stood Rebecca, wearing a smile.
Her deep blue eyes were staring straight at him with an upright gaze.
As Julian stared intently at Rebecca, Zeppelin frowned.
"How rude. To look at another man's wife like that."
As Zeppelin spoke in a displeased tone, Julian finally averted his gaze from Rebecca.
"Ah, Earl. I didn't notice you because you have such an unremarkable presence."
'You little brat!'
Zeppelin gritted his teeth at him for openly belittling him.
Zeppelin and Julian's first meeting was the worst.
'Get lost! You ugly thing!'
Those were the first words Julian, who had just started forming sentences, had said to Zeppelin.
Zeppelin had never been called ugly in his life.
So, the words of a young child with pure eyes were imprinted on him like a trauma.
Zeppelin still occasionally had dreams of that day. It was a terrible nightmare.
That wasn't the only reason Zeppelin disliked Julian.
Julian was rude to everyone, regardless of gender or age.
However, no one dared to say anything about his etiquette.
Even the Emperor was at a loss in front of him.
Zeppelin hated the arrogant attitude of someone who acted as if he were the king of the world.
Zeppelin loathed Julian at the mere thought of him, as such a person was in a higher position than himself.
