Chapter 79
When Rebecca remained silent, Karim spoke up.
“Julian, is your fiancée unable to speak? And what’s with that stifling mask she’s wearing? Is she hiding her identity from me, too?”
As Karim strode boldly toward Rebecca, Julian stepped in front of him.
From behind the black mask that covered his eyes, Julian’s dark irises folded in faint amusement.
“Karim, I’m sorry. As I said earlier, there are some circumstances. I’ll explain everything soon, so stop getting angry.”
Just then, the bell announcing the start of the dance rang out.
Julian looked at the fuming Karim and said,
“It seems the first dance is about to begin. You’d better find your own partner. Excuse me.”
With a polite nod, Julian took Rebecca’s hand and led her to the center of the ballroom, where the dance was about to start.
Karim’s face twisted in irritation as he downed the wine in his hand in one gulp.
“Feels familiar, doesn’t it?”
Julian asked as he spun Rebecca around by the waist.
Indeed, just like the victory ball where they had shared their first dance, she could feel dozens of eyes fixed on them in awe.
“It does. I was too out of it back then to realize you were such a good dancer.”
Rebecca smiled at Julian’s graceful movements as he effortlessly led her.
“Well, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
“I’ve seen you fail at something before, actually.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Marksmanship. You didn’t hit a single target, remember?”
“That was… due to certain circumstances…”
Julian frowned slightly, lost in thought.
“Wait—how do you even know that?”
“Do you really think there’s anything I don’t know?”
“W-what?”
As the first song ended, Rebecca lifted her skirt slightly and bowed her head. Then, as if to flee, she tried to leave—but Julian grabbed her arm and pulled her back into his arms.
He held her tightly, as if unwilling to ever let her go. Their bodies pressed together, and their quickened breaths mingled in the small space between them.
With golden eyes trembling faintly, Julian murmured,
“Tell me the truth, Rebecca. You didn’t plant a spy in my estate because you don’t trust me… did you?”
Rebecca froze. She realized—too late—that she had slipped up.
Julian’s face twisted in anguish. He looked down at her as if he would shatter completely if she said yes.
Rebecca’s heart trembled. His desperate longing for her trust stirred something deep inside her.
“Answer me, Rebecca.”
Rebecca gazed into his burning eyes before replying quietly,
“Leo told me.”
“…Leo?”
“Yes. The day I visited your estate. After dinner, during our walk—I disappeared for a bit, remember? Leo took me to the shooting range. One of the servants there explained what happened.”
“I see… so that’s how it was…”
Julian exhaled a sigh of relief, a faint smile returning to his lips.
Rebecca felt a pang of guilt for the small lie—but this wasn’t the time to tell him the truth. She needed more time.
She stared at Julian’s gentle smile.
What did she mean to him, really? She thought she might know the answer, but she didn’t want to admit it.
Still, she couldn’t stand seeing those beautiful eyes clouded with doubt.
In a calm voice, Rebecca said,
“Julian. There’s no one in this world I trust more than you.”
Julian’s eyes widened.
“I trust you more than my own parents. So please… stop thinking I’d ever doubt you.”
It was the truth. He was her savior—and now, her companion on a perilous path.
She needed him, and because of that, she trusted him completely.
Julian looked at her, speechless, while she met his gaze with unflinching sincerity.
Every light in the ballroom seemed to fall upon Rebecca alone. She looked impossibly radiant.
“Well, well. It seems the rumor that Duke Johannes has a fiancée wasn’t a lie after all. Judging by how close you two are, the relationship must be quite warm.”
Julian and Rebecca slowly turned toward the sharp voice that cut through the air.
Emperor Zahidra stood there, his expression grim.
And behind him, the elaborately dressed Princess Catherine trembled in fury, nearly crushing the mask in her hand.
Oh no. This is bad.
It was no secret that Zahidra had chosen Julian as Catherine’s future husband.
Yet Julian had announced his engagement without so much as a word to the Emperor.
Even if Zahidra had been generous with him before, he would never forgive someone for so publicly humiliating his daughter.
Julian sighed softly and released Rebecca from his arms.
“I pay my respects to His Imperial Majesty.”
Julian bowed, and Rebecca followed suit, holding her skirt as she curtsied.
“So this is the remarkable woman who managed to capture my esteemed duke’s heart.”
Zahidra’s lips twisted upward, his voice brimming with restrained anger.
He was determined to see what sort of woman dared reject his daughter.
Julian forced a faint, awkward smile.
He hadn’t expected Zahidra to attend the ball so early.
The Empress had fallen ill, and according to reliable information, Zahidra was supposed to arrive late.
His plan had been to attend briefly, share the first dance, and leave before the Emperor appeared.
Once tonight’s “operation” was complete, Zahidra would likely forget all about the engagement and continue supporting him politically.
But if Zahidra saw Rebecca, his curiosity would surely derail everything.
That was why Julian had chosen not to inform him in advance.
“Can the Duke not hear me?” Zahidra’s voice boomed. “Must I order her mask removed before I get an answer?”
As Julian tried to think of a way out, Rebecca spoke up.
Her voice was lower than usual.
“As expected, one cannot outwit Your Majesty’s keen insight.”
Rebecca straightened her back.
Julian’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her.
She placed a hand on his shoulder and met his gaze.
Trust me.
That’s what her eyes seemed to say, and Julian wordlessly stepped back.
Rebecca clasped her hands and turned toward Zahidra.
“The Duke and I made a wager,” she said calmly. “The bet was whether anyone could unmask me before the end of the ball. But it seems I’ve already lost—since if Your Majesty commands it, I have no choice but to remove it.”
Julian stared at her, completely bewildered.
Was she really planning to reveal her identity here? That would ruin everything.
After a brief pause, Rebecca added,
“However…”
“However?”
“I propose to reveal myself only to Your Majesty. It was my mistake not to specify that the wager excluded the Emperor, but surely it would be unfair otherwise. After all, who in this empire could refuse a command from its sovereign?”
“You mean you’ll show me alone?”
“Yes. That way, the wager between the Duke and I can continue. The prize is quite valuable, you see—I can’t give up so easily. What do you say, Your Majesty? Will you grant me a private audience? What do you think, my lord—would it be acceptable to alter the rules a little?”
At her question, Julian nodded as if enchanted.
Zahidra scrutinized her sharply, but the mask concealed too much for him to read her expression.
Finding himself intrigued, the Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully.
His bodyguard, alarmed, immediately protested.
“Your Majesty! You mustn’t! It’s far too dangerous to meet privately with someone whose identity is unknown.”
At that, Julian’s face darkened.
“Unknown? Watch your words. The lady standing before you is my fiancée.”
“But still—”
Zahidra burst out laughing.
“It’s fine. I like her audacity. Well, well—looks like I’ve ruined the mood of this fine ball. Everyone, pay us no mind and enjoy yourselves!”
At the Emperor’s command, the musicians immediately resumed playing lively music, and the servants began serving trays of delicacies once more.
Zahidra turned to Rebecca, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“I grant your request for a private audience.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. The balcony over there seems suitably quiet.”
Rebecca pointed toward the upper-level balcony of the ballroom.
She knew the Devonshire estate well—well enough to choose the one spot least likely to be overheard.
Zahidra agreed readily and accompanied her.
As she passed Julian, Rebecca glanced back at him.
Her eyes said, Don’t worry.
Julian hesitated, wanting to follow—but her gaze stopped him.
He looked anxious, but if Rebecca said to trust her, he would.
Rebecca stepped onto the balcony and drew the curtains.
Two imperial guards were stationed at the entrance, in case any “hunting dogs” decided to eavesdrop.
Zahidra leaned casually against the railing and looked at her.
He was not what one would call handsome—but his commanding stature and sharp features gave him a certain magnetism.
In his youth, he must have been known for his fierce gaze.
Now, age had tempered it into something wiser, yet still keen—a face both intimidating and strangely kind.
“So,” he said. “What sort of identity could be so important that you’d summon me?”
Instead of answering, Rebecca slowly removed her mask.
Even in the dim light, her face seemed to shine.
Zahidra straightened, surprise and amusement lighting his face.
“Rebecca! Well, well—I’ve been wondering what became of you. I suspected as much when I saw you, but I didn’t expect it to truly be you.”
Rebecca replaced her mask.
“So you had your suspicions.”
“I never imagined you’d reappear as Julian’s fiancée, but you were never the type to accept a quiet divorce and disappear.”
“Then I suppose you already know what I intend to do next.”
Zahidra’s eyes narrowed.
“Revenge, then?”
“If I’d known Your Majesty was this perceptive, I might have come to you for help long ago.”
“You’ve grown quite insolent. Has Julian’s arrogance rubbed off on you?”
His tone was reprimanding, but there was unmistakable curiosity glimmering in the Emperor’s eyes.
