When she heard that no one was there, Julietta's arms leaped out of the blanket covering her head. "Please give me my clothes." She couldn't go to the bathroom with nothing on.

"Wouldn't it be uncomfortable to dress up like that without was.h.i.+ng?"

At Maribel's words, Julietta's arms hesitated and slipped into the quilt.

"Go quickly to the bathroom. What's embarra.s.sing to me? Don't forget that I was the one who bathed and raised you for a while as a child. And when someone is my age, there is nothing amazing about a man-and-wife night."

Julietta stood up, pouting, wrapping the sheets that she had been rolling in all night around herself. When Maribel saw her, she burst out laughing.

"You'd faint if I offered you a bath. I have to clean the sheets, so please wash up in a hurry and come out. I can't leave it to the maids, so I need to do it myself."

Julietta paused. She felt sorry for Maribel.

Maribel smiled at Julietta's reaction and added, "The investigation team left for Tilia early in the morning."

When she remembered that at Maribel's words, Julietta quickly disappeared into the bathroom. She had to hurry because she had a lot to do.

"Oh, my G.o.d, what is this? Has His Highness been so wild with you?"

Maribel spoke up as she was helping Julietta change her clothes after was.h.i.+ng her face. She was embarra.s.sed with the red marks all over Julietta.

Julietta's lips were also swollen, and she looked at her reflection in the mirror as if she were ashamed. Maribel put a wig on her with the look, led her to the chair next to the terrace and had her sit down.

"I don't have to ask you how great you were yesterday. I could see how good he felt when I saw the face of His Highness. But it's too early. You shouldn't have allowed it until you were married."

Julietta should have avoided pregnancy, but in the unlikely event, Maribel worried.

"I said he shouldn't do it until I get married."

"But?"

"At first, I said no, no… but it soon became yes..."

"…"

Maribel looked at Julietta with a stern eye, at the words that she finally allowed because she liked it. In a way, it was fortunate that Julietta now seemed to like the Prince.

"He never spent the morning with a woman at the Harrods mansion. It's a good sign that he hasn't left your side until this time."

Julietta snorted at Maribel's words. "Good sign? Why do I need that? Don't even compare me with another woman of His Highness. I'm not the kind of woman who thirsts for his love and attention."

Maribel smiled as she looked at Julietta, who looked as if her pride was hurt. "Then what kind of woman are you?"

"I am the only one. I am in an equal relations.h.i.+p with him. I don't think I'm lacking to him, and he won't blame me for the past. There will be love, respect, and faith between us, and if there is a betrayal in between, there will be only separation."

"Are you saying that if he lets another woman in, you're going to give up the seat of the Empress?"

"It is no big deal."

Maribel burst into laughter after seeing Julietta snort as if it was nothing. "Yes, that's not a big deal. If you're in a safe position, you can quit being the Empress. By then I shall have settled down in the imperial court as a Countess. You've put me there, and I'd be greedy if I wanted more from you."

Julietta pouted, holding back what she wanted to say: that Maribel was the one being greedy, taking advantage of her.

"Anyway, even if you're a divorced Empress, I'm sure you won't worry about your future because you are still Princess Kiellini. Yes, that's how you have to live. Don't hang your head to anyone."

Prince Killian would never get away from Julietta. It couldn't happen that he would leave such a lovely child. There would be no other woman beside him except for Julietta as long as she was there. If any woman tried to entice His Highness, she would have to pay a commensurate price. If they wouldn't want to die, they should not be a moth throwing themselves into the fire.

Maribel curled her eyes and kissed Julietta on the forehead. Julietta opened her eyes wide at the sudden action. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry you're not my daughter." Maribel stroked Julietta's head affectionately and muttered, "But it doesn't matter."

'Or what? I could be with you like this.'

"Come on, you must eat well, because you must have consumed so much energy yesterday. There was a meal for me as a guest, but you can eat it. The meal of a maid won't be enough."

Maribel raised Julietta, ignoring her sullen look, and took her outside.

-----------------

During the night of Julietta and Killian's sweet encounter, Sir Caden went with his fellow knights to a village near the Tilia Territory and drank sadly about the Duke's death. He hurried back to the annex with a serious look on his face when he had the opportunity and met with the watchman.

"We are in trouble."

"What's the matter?"

"It was said that a man who was inquiring about the princess returned to the capital and entered the Anais mansion."

"The Anais mansion?"

"Yes, sir. His Highness told the watcher that if there's anyone like that, he should track him and find out who dispatched him."

Adam's face became serious and Valerian asked, "Would it have been ordered by the Marquis of Anais?"