Chapter 4: CH 4

Silence filled the air. There was no talk between them.

“Haa. Shall we start by introducing ourselves first?”

There was a long pause before Juliana opened her mouth again. The man nodded in response.

They shook hands, staring at each other,

“I’m Juliana.”

She was a celebrity in high society.

Numerous portraits of her painted by famous artists had also been put on the exhibition. Information about her had also been published several times by weekly magazines.

Because of her status as a promising wizard and the only daughter of a duke, she had no choice but to be in the limelight wherever she went.

She couldn’t find the mask she used last night. The man who saw her face would inevitably know that Juliana was the daughter of Hariens’ Duchy, even if she did not disclose it.

“I’m Louis.”

The man also briefly introduced himself.

Juliana calmly looked at Louis. He had quite unusual blue hair. Louis’ huge arm was stretching above the blanket, holding her hand. She didn’t know him, even though she had information about most of the aristocrats in the capital.

Since he didn’t reveal his family, was he a commoner? Considering he participated in the masquerade ball, she was sure he wasn’t a nobleman.

“Are you a noble?”

“I’m not noble enough for the Lady to know.”

He answered Juliana’s question while bowing his head humbly. Juliana recalled the man in the situation not long ago.

She really liked the way he appeared calm. His gentleness and manners made her forget about his strange appearance when he wriggled with a blanket, which obviously wasn’t a noble behaviour.

“Good.”

Juliana bobbed her head.

She thought that he must have been a lower-class nobleman. Juliana didn’t know well about the aristocrats in the province even though she was an active aristocrat in the centre of the capital.

Rather, it would be more awkward if he disclosed his family and she didn’t know who they were. Juliana didn’t want to be stubborn about unnecessary things in the current situation.

“By the way…”

She took a glimpse at his state. Juliana asked with a puzzled look to Louis, who was still wrapped with a blanket,“Are you still trapped in the blanket?”

She was sure that she had unbound all the binds of the blankets… Somehow the man was still lying on the floor with the blanket wrapped around him. She didn’t think it was going to be comfortable like that.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Oh, really?”

Then, why was he doing that? His improper attitude of lying on the floor in this grave situation was bothering her.

Juliana frowned slightly.

“That……”

Louis avoided her gaze while swallowing his words.

“My clothes…”

What was wrong with his clothes…?

Juliana gazed at Louis who lowered his eyes as if he was ashamed. He was looking somewhere else. She followed to the end of his gaze, and she saw a piece of clothing lying in the distance.

“Don’t, don’t tell me…”

Juliana’s face stiffened.

“I’m embarrassed to be seen by the Lady in such a condition.”

He said coolly.

Juliana’s jaw dropped.

She turned her head while covering her mouth hurriedly.

‘T-this is crazy.’

“Put it on quickly……!”

Her head felt giddy. She couldn’t believe he wasn’t wearing anything under the blanket.

No matter how thick the blanket, it was just as thick as…… Her head went blank whenever something that she couldn’t handle happened.

“Yes, my lady.”

Louis, who answered quickly, rolled his body over. Sighing, Juliana laughed inside her heart.

‘This person, he’s a nobleman, right?’

Louis wriggled to the place where his clothes were left off. Juliana quickly closed her eyes tightly as he heaved himself.

Badump.

She turned her head completely from him.

‘That was dangerous, I almost……’

Juliana’s heart skipped a beat when she almost witnessed this moment.

Click, she heard the sound of him securing his pants. How many minutes had passed? The rustling sound that came to her ears then stopped. Juliana still held her breath with her eyes closed.

“I am extremely embarrassed. You can see me now.”

“Excuse me?! Wha, what?” Juliana asked back, bewildered.

“You can look at my face now.”

At Louis’ words, Juliana lowered her hand awkwardly and opened her eyes.

What were you thinking, Juliana…!

Juliana reproached herself and fanned her flushed face to hide her embarrassment.

“……..”

Juliana gave a glance at Louis. He was dressed in a prim suit and even donned a tailcoat.

He definitely looked better in that attire. Tall and handsome while standing.

She could imagine his strong and muscular body, which were too obvious. Louis had light dimples on the sides of his mouth.

“Huuu, let’s get out of this room first.”

Juliana stood at the door with a grim face. Various ways and methods have occurred to her mind, but she would try the practical method first. Juliana turned the doorknob carefully.

Click, the doorknob turned easily.

“Oh, this is open…?”

Juliana opened the door delightfully.

But she knew it was too good to be true. So what if the doorknob turned around? The door actually didn’t budge an inch as if it was glued.

Juliana once again pulled the door using force.

‘Uh, what? It, it didn’t budge…. I’m going to fall on the floor-’

She missed her step while pulling strongly. Juliana, whose feet slipped, gawked as her body fell backwards. Her head slowly turned around. She could see the ceiling as her head lifted up.

Taak~!

At that moment, Louis stood behind to support her body. Juliana’s pupils dilated. Louis’ sharp jawline and the bridge of his nose were visible in front of her.

His gentle blue eyes and gaze with his head lowered down. Juliana couldn’t come back to her senses with the feeling of his toned body on her back.

Louis’ Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked like he forgot to breathe. Juliana was the first to avoid eye contact after staring for a while.

“I’m fine now.”

A shaky voice came out of her mouth.

“Alright.”

Juliana’s hand trembled slightly at the low voice in her ears. She jumped away from his arms while acting like nothing happened.

Her heart pounded with surprise. Juliana grabbed the doorknob, ignoring her fluttering heart. This time, she leaned on the wall while holding the doorknob.

“It’s dangerous.”

Louis pulled Juliana, who was opening the door. Juliana wrinkled her nose. She wasn’t a powerless woman but the door didn’t open at all. Juliana lowered her foot to the floor again.

“I need you by my side to help with this.”

“Yes.”

Louis wrapped his arms around Juliana’s waist after responding with a pleasant voice. Juliana flinched in surprise.

“Wait a minute……”

She was asking him to hold the door knob together beside her… She thought that perhaps Louis misunderstood and grabbed her waist.

“Oh, excuse me.”

He pulled out his hand so lightly. Juliana rubbed the place where his hand had touched with a strange feeling.

“Is it fine fine now?”

Louis held the black gloves in one of his hand after taking it out from his west vest.

“Unfortunately, this is what it looks like… I don’t think my other hand will be able to use it.”

Louis showed Juliana the magic orb while it was clattering.

He set out a silent stance that the other hand which was filled with the magic orb couldn’t be covered by the gloves.

‘I didn’t mean to ask you to wear gloves……’

Juliana couldn’t help but roll her eyes. His expression was so serious that she had no choice but to nod her head on impulse.

“Then, let me help you now.”

Louis’ large palm wrapped around Juliana’s belly when he had been granted permission. Hump, she held her breath while unconsciously squeezed in her abdominal muscles even though she didn’t have fat.

This is not the right time for this anyway.

This is the skinship that was compelled to happen.

Juliana shook off the thoughts and pulled the door back and forth. Louis also pulled the door together while hugging her waist from behind.

“Haah…”

Juliana kicked it harshly. The door didn’t even budge.

Juliana bit her lower lip, exhausted. She could get out of here in no time if she was able to use magic…… Really, she was stuck in this room…!

Ugh, great!

This was not the time to be discouraged. Juliana, who suddenly pushed herself up, rolled up the sleeves of her forearms with determined eyes. She tried to look for a way to get out of here. A good idea came to her mind.

“Get me the blankets.”

Juliana opened the window with a satisfied smile.

She looked down to the ground to see people passing by, looking smaller than ants, perhaps because the mansion was tall. Juliana, who intended to tie the blankets and escape through the window, was surprised by the high number of floors.

“What are you doing?”

Louis’ voice was heard from behind.

“I’m trying to figure the way out. I’m going to see if I can get out of here by going down safely.”

She answered while looking outside.

The height was so tremendous that it would be likely for her to die instantly if she ever fell from here. Even though it was dangerous for ordinary people, Juliana was a trained wizard. She could jump no matter how high the floor of the building was.

Of course, she would have to endure a broken arm or leg, but…

Was there a mansion this big? Juliana looked down at the ground and contemplated.

“Ah, I don’t have an interest in collecting corpses…”

“What? What did you just say?”

Juliana, whose mind was lost somewhere else, turned her head belatedly and looked at Louis.