Chapter 1: CH 1

How long has it been since everything started going downhill?…Was it when she found out that her fiancé and close friend cheated on her? Or was it when she spent a night with a stranger?

“Ughh..”

A low moan rang out, breaking the silence.

Juliana, who was lost in thought, snapped out of it when the small sound reached her ear. Golden eyes shone clearly in the dark room.

“Louis…”

“Uhhn…”

A feeble voice that seemed like it would disappear at any moment sounded precarious.

Sensing something off, Juliana got up from her bed.

She hastily pulled back the curtains, her eyes falling on the man with blue hair. He was lying on the bed, chest rising slowly as he breathed.

Perhaps because it was dark, his hair almost looked black.

His dark hair caught her eye for a bit, but she got distracted the next moment.

‘Oh my god!’

This was because Louis was sweating intensely.

Juliana hurriedly removed the blanket lying over Louise’s neck and placed her hand on his forehead. Fortunately, he didn’t have a fever.

“Mmmnn…”

And at that moment- Louis, who had sensed her presence, turned slightly and opened his eyes.

“Julie…”

Louis’s languid, half-closed eyes faced her. His face froze as the proximity between their faces grew more.

“…Why is Julie in my bed…”

Louis rubbed his eyes, his words slurring in surprise and confusion. His eyes, which were rounder than usual, looked dumbfounded. His confused blinking was very cute, but now was not the time to be lost in thought.

He had opened his eyes only because she was touching his forehead. Yet, Juliana’s heart pounded as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

“Oh, are you awake?” Juliana questioned belatedly, with an awkward smile.

“Louis, did you have any nightmares?”

“Oh, no, I’m fin…fine.”

His thin voice cracked midway. In puzzlement, Juliana gazed at the man. Louis’ face hardened, a struggling look making its way up.

Sweaty hair was stuck on his forehead. His posture was extremely stiff, and his eyes were more or less startled. He was trembling while holding the lapels of his shirt tightly.

“Are you sick? You were groaning earlier.”

“You’re sweating so much, and you say you’re fine?”

Juliana’s expression turned serious.

“Not really,” Louis, who usually spoke in a drawl, was quick to reply, which made her feel suspicious. Juliana’s suspicions grew even deeper on noticing his shaky fingers and his attitude, as if he was hiding something.

“More than that… First of all, what do you want me to do with this cold sweat?”

The sweat on his forehead bothered her.

“This won’t do. Roll up your clothes.”

“Now, get up.” Juliana nudged him with a determined look. Louis stood up in a daze.

“What’s this?”

When his shirt was rolled up, a huge scar on his back was revealed. Juliana’s eyes grew wide.

“Louis, what’s this?!”

“…it’s just an old scar.” Louis pursed his lips.

The deep scar looked very painful at a glance.

It was as if he had gotten it on a battlefield.

Juliana bit her lower lip and her gaze wandered around the scar.

Huh, what’s this?

This looked like a recent wound. How did it happen?

Juliana stared at his back with her eyes almost popping out. Unlike her who couldn’t get out of the room, Louis’s movements were relatively free. The only time he left the room…was when he got called by him.

Juliana paused at the flitting thought.

“Louis, did he leave this, by any chance?” Instead of answering, Louis closed his eyes. His silence could only be taken as a yes, and Juliana’s eyelashes fluttered. “Why…why didn’t you tell me?”

Juliana bit her lower lip again, reliving the memory that had resurfaced.

For about three weeks, he hadn’t come for Juliana.

At first, Juliana tried to get out of here, but each time she did so, she failed and eventually gave up running away at some point.

She couldn’t believe he was doing this to Louis in the background!

“Louis…”

Juliana stroked Luanne’s back, trying to contain her rising anger.

He had the heart to say nothing about him. So Juliana had no idea until now that he was picking on Louis.

“It’s just ugly and disgusting…”

Louis curled his body into a ball and murmured helplessly. Juliana felt sorry for Louis, who was struggling alone and dealing with him.

She didn’t even know until now…

“Are you okay?”

“It-it’s fine.”

“Tell me if you get hurt again. At least, I’ll put some ointment on it.”

Juliana was open to the fact that there wasn’t much she could do to help.

‘Yes, Julie,’ Louis wiggled his fingers, answering sincerely. As he moved his fingers, the magic bracelet on his wrist rattled.

“Does it hurt here?”

“Yes, there…”

When Juliana pressed on his back a little, Louis’ waist arched.

“Oh, I’m sorry! It hurts a lot, right?”

Louis and Juliana’s eyes met head-on as she tested around. Juliana drew backwards, feeling embarrassed. Louis pushed his back close to her. Juliana’s palms splayed against his wide back.

“Hold on a bit, Louis.”

How painful is it? Juliana swore at him inwardly and patted Louis on the back with a pitiful look.

“How can I get rid of this magic bracelet?” She couldn’t use magic because of the magic bracelet on her wrist.

“It’s okay, Julie.”

Louis slowly turned around and made eye contact.

His blue eyes that didn’t have a single ripple in it, reminded her of a calm sea.

Juliana was rather saddened by the sight of the man who consoled her without showing any signs of hardship.

She really wanted to protect this good-natured man.

Knock, knock.

Then someone knocked on the door.

The sudden knock startled Juliana, who looked at the door.

It was past midnight. Who was it?

Creak, the man who opened the door was an old man with gray hair.

‘There have been many occasions when butlers have come to meet us, but never this late…’

Juliana’s expression became even more serious in the tense atmosphere. The only one who stared at her with a serene look on her face.

The butler walked up to Louis and whispered something.

The butler must be doing this under his command. Juliana could easily understand that he was looking for Louis.

Juliana’s forehead creased.

She didn’t think twice.

“Where are you taking Louis?”

Juliana appeared in front of Louis and hid his body behind her.

“Don’t worry, Julie.”

Louise lowered the arm held protectively in front of him and gazed at Juliana’s glimmering gold eyes without much agitation.

“I’m not the one Juliana should be worried about.”

“What? Louis, wait a minute.”

“I’ll be right back.”

With the corners of his mouth bent beautifully, Louise followed the butler in a blink of an eye.

Juliana stared blankly at the already closed door.

She didn’t think it’s bad, but why was she so anxious? Could it be… was her hunch right?

Juliana called out Louis’ name quietly.

Its been too long to wait any longer. It had already been three days since Louis, who followed the butler, did not return. Juliana clenched her fist and strode down the hall with a cold look.

While left alone, she focused on removing the magic bracelet from her wrist.

And she finally made it today.

Juliana rubbed her free wrist, but she couldn’t rejoice.

She walked fast, thinking that he might be picking on Louis.

Ping! The ringing magic detector made Juliana halt in the middle of the room.

There was blood everywhere.

Juliana quickly covered her nose with the smell of fishy blood.

At that moment, the curtain fluttered because someone came in. Sensing someone’s presence, Juliana readied herself to strike first.

Behind the purple curtain, stood a man with his back to her. He had a sword in one hand.

“Where’s Louis?”

Juliana spoke to the man in a wary voice. She couldn’t be careless, not after seeing the amount of blood that colored the floor. Someone had bled out here.

The man turned his head slowly. His black hair fluttered in the mirror, revealing his face.

“He’s… he’s…”

Juliana’s heart lurched. Her body froze, unmoving.

“Oh, I got you.”

The stinging coldness that touched her skin and the man’s raspy voice sounded as real as ever.

Black hair and black eyes.

The man she encountered had a crazy look in his eyes.

Juliana’s breathing was lost in the chills that penetrated her whole body.

A man with blood splattered on his cheeks, white clothes painted with blood…

Hiccups rose up her throat. Juliana hurriedly covered her mouth.

She was going to make a great appearance and save Louie Ann.

But…What’s going on here?

Her head turned blank in encountering a situation she had never thought about.

“You-you, who are you?”

Juliana bit her tongue to keep her hiccups in check. She tried to straighten her back, but her legs were like jelly. Her heart pounded as if it were about to explode.

“What can we do?”

Speaking in a calm, nonchalant tone, the man’s eyes turned into crescents.

He dragged the sword on the floor while approaching her. The parts that he passed by were covered with blood, a red trail left behind.

“As long as you’re in this mansion, no one can come out alive.”

Unlike his monotonous voice, the man’s eyes were strangely heated.

The man’s sword poked the fallen assassin on the floor.

Was he talking to the assassin?

Or talking to her?

Juliana couldn’t stop looking at his eyes, which seemed to be moving all over her body.

“Tell me, Julie.”

Juliana held her breath because of the familiar body scent of the man near her. A lazy smile spread across his face.

His face…He had Louis’ face, but different eyes and hair color, with an unfamiliar, chilling smile.

“Do you still want to get out of here?”

Slowly bowing his head, the man’s forehead rested against Juliana’s.

Black, onyx-like eyes. Those dark eyes were not even close to the calm sea she knew.

Her mouth dried up under his intense eyes, which wanted to burn everything with their smoldering gaze. Juliana can’t bear to take her eyes off him.

The empire’s lunatic.

She had brought herself here.

To the lunatic’s den.