Chapter 31: CH 31

“…..Ha.”

Juliana let out an airy sound from her mouth.

Was that all he had to say to a person dripping wet?

Juliana was astonished by Louis’ attitude, who just observed rather than helped.

As if it represented her frustration, laughter kept coming out of her mouth.

“……”

She didn’t know how he could say that this drowning mouse-like appearance was beautiful. This ridiculous nonsense must be a mischievous joke…

‘You should at least match it with the situation.’

Juliana looked at him with a frown and turned her head. Louis spoke rubbish. As expected, he truly was a madman.

Juliana was not in the mood to respond to his pranks now. She felt uneasy about her wet dress  that clung to her body and wanted to wash quickly. Dripping water, she pulled her long blonde hair to one side and squeezed the water out.

“Julie……”

Louis called her name and spoke again. Juliana lifted her head at the man’s voice. Louis had a confused expression and placed a hand on the left side of his chest.

“Julie, my heart hurts.”

“Huh?”

So embarrassing.

Juliana’s reaction to his unexpected remark was a bit slow. She was the one who almost drowned, so why would his chest hurt?

“Ugh!”

“Julie…my heart.”

With that thought in mind, Louis suddenly began to take his top off.

“What are you doing!”

‘He really is! This perv!’

Juliana’s face turned bright red. Juliana was disgusted and stepped away from him. She was so embarrassed to see a man taking his clothes off.

“But my heart…”

Louis furrowed his eyebrows as if in pain. He approached her, fiddling with his left chest.

“Hiic!”

Great muscles on top of a lean body….

Juliana glared at him with a red face.

Ttuk, she was at her limit now. Earlier, when she was drowning in the water, he didn’t move an inch, but now he was joking around and talking to her. Juliana felt awful. Her heart that had contradicting emotions was racing.

‘You didn’t even save me!’

Her hurt feelings and resentment towards him slowly rose. Her self-esteem was bruised whenever he just stared at her. The first time was when she fell from a window, she was disappointed at the man who didn’t even attempt to hold her.

And now that the same thing happened to her again, Juliana felt sad that he was the only one who was unscathed.

‘I’ve had enough.’

She had enough of him looking down on her. Juliana’s golden eyes flashed fiercely.

“Х К Б р ш н о.”

Juliana muttered her spell full of burning desire. Her blonde hair as well as the leaves around her fluttered.

Pah-!

A gushing water spray swept towards Louis and then disappeared. After the tornado-like splashes of water disappeared, only a wet man like her was left. He had the appearance of a drowned mouse just like Juliana.

“…So mean, Julie.”

Louis gracefully brushed his dripping hair. His forehead was revealed as he pulled back his dark hair.

Louis glanced at his wet body indifferently, then looked back at her.

“Julie got me wet.”

The voice that spoke sounded pitiful even though the corners of his lips could be seen pulling up. Louis stuck his red tongue out and licked his lips, all while he stared at her calmly.

“…..”

Juliana couldn’t concentrate on his words. She slowly blinked her mind as she couldn’t comprehend it. Indeed, she used her magic full of her desire but, how did her magic that failed just a little while ago work against Louis?

“Truly so beautiful.”

Juliana came to her senses before her thoughts could run deep. As Louis looked at her hair, he mumbled again.

“Beautiful.”

Juliana felt a strange feeling she couldn’t describe. When she saw those eyes, she felt that he was serious and was not joking around. She had no choice but to avoid his gaze.

***

Louis stared intently at her blonde hair, recalling the moment earlier.

He couldn’t close his eyes because he didn’t want to miss a single moment.

The man’s dark pupils captured the woman’s beautiful blonde hair. It was really beautiful.

He appeared just as the sun was rising.

Even when he faced the mysterious sight of the red light falling on the golden color, he had no idea. But when the woman turned around, he was stunned.

Then he heard a splash.

He saw a woman fall into the lake.

He was so stunned that he couldn’t even think of helping.

Splash Splash.

The woman who swam out of the lake was like a goddess of water. Her red-tinted blonde hair shone brilliantly.

Louis was confused. He had emotions that he had never felt before. Even if an inanimate object spoke to him, he wouldn’t have been this surprised. That was how extremely confused Louis was feeling.

“Julie, my heart hurts.”

His heart, who used to beat at a constant rhythm, was now beating differently than before. It was different from when he put his hand on his heart as he played with the woman. His heart was beating fast, and hard.

“Julie…my heart.”

His head was filled with thoughts that he had to show this to the woman. Louis quickly removed his shirt.

He took off his clothes, ripping off the buttons that didn’t easily come off. What would the woman say? Would she smile and tell him it was the same as before??

…I have to show it to you.

The woman furrowed her eyebrows and widened the distance between them. Her raised eyebrows looked cute.

All of a sudden, a water spray appeared out of thin air and drenched his body.

***

Juliana immediately ran away after the water hit Louis.

Although he did seem to be in pain as he moaned while grabbing his chest. Still, she ran away without looking back.

“You must be really crazy.”

Juliana dazedly recalled his red lips and trembling eyelids then slapped herself on the cheek.

“Get it together, Juliana!”

She calmed her mind. It was still morning, so the weather was cool. Belatedly, her wet body shivered. She was trembling

“Achoo.”

“Are you okay, Julie?”

“Ah, you surprised me!”

‘When did he come after me?’

Louis poked his face through the hedge.

His hair was wet with water. There were also leaves on him from god knows where.

“Juliana, I’m sorry.”

Juliana’s eyes widened at Louis’ apology.

As if he knew that he had done something wrong, her heart melted slightly when she saw him repenting.

But he still had a long way to go. She still hated him so much. Juliana said with an expressionless face.

“Grand Duke. Are you really sorry?”

“Yes, Julie. I was wrong…”

Juliana burst into laughter when she saw Louis’ hesitation.

She burst out laughing even though she knew it was not the time to laugh. Two drowned mice were facing each other. There seemed to be no way to defeat the man who lowered his eyebrows as if he was trying hard to make her believe that he was sad.

She couldn’t even curse that face, but instead…

“If you know, crawl.”

At Juliana’s command, the lunatic dropped flatly to the floor. The madman groaned but still obeyed her words and looked up at her.

It was a pretty funny sight for a madman.

“…..”

His buttocks, seen from the back, stood out prominently… His hips were firmly raised, revealing its firmness that could not be hidden.

“Pft. Puhahaha.”

Juliana burst into laughter, which she had been holding back.

Oh, I’m in trouble.

She really messed with the lunatic.

“Julie.”

Louis opened his lips pitifully rather than responding to her reaction.

“What would have happened if I hadn’t come?”

“…..”

“You almost got stuck here and would have never found the way.”

He glanced at Juliana and gently grabbed her hand. Juliana quietly watched what he was doing. The man led Juliana in the opposite direction.

“It’s useless trying to leave.”

Juliana let out a sigh and clicked her tongue unknowingly.

She followed him up a slightly uphill path which led to the wide fence walls. Louis guided her on the right path and walked without a compass.

“Grrrr.”

The fox, who had just led her to the shore a while ago, jumped on his shoulder. The fox was really beautiful up close.

“Is this the Grand Duke’s pet?”

Juliana couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“…It’s supposed to be Julie’s.”

What?

“Julie, I brought it for you.”

“…..”

“But Julie wasn’t there.”

Louis said, hesitating. When she heard those words, it seemed that her twisted heart was strangely unraveling.

Juliana carefully held the fox he had handed her and brushed its soft fur. The fox wiggled in her arms for a moment, and then it purred quietly.

“Do you like it, Julie?”

“…Yes, I like it.”

Juliana looked up at him with a faint smile.

“Achoo!”

At that moment, a sneeze came out and broke the soft atmosphere. She had a slightly runny nose.

“Gasp!”

Juliana wiped her nose with her sleeve. She glanced at Louis and hoped that he didn’t see it. He was smiling coolly. Juliana’s face turned red as if it was painted.

“Come, let’s go home.”

Louis pulled out a blanket, which again she didn’t know where it came from, and put it on Juliana’s back.

‘I feel like I’ve seen this blanket somewhere?’

Juliana widened her eyes.

Oh, it was the blanket she saw back then.

“Grand Duke, is this…”

Juliana carefully referred to what happened in the past.

“Shhh, Julie.”

Louis then smiled then turned his head to the side.

‘Crazy guy. Please say it’s not…!’