Chapter 18
Kallion’s comment was clearly meant to provoke her, but Yuliana’s face turned even colder.
“We only agreed to share a bed on the designated night.”
She had to match the timeline with when Denian would have been conceived. It was better not to create any suspicious situations. That was exactly why she had set the date for their union so carefully.
“So please step away from me, Kallion.”
Her voice was icy cold, and Kallion stepped back with a stiff face.
He couldn’t understand why she was showing so much hostility and yet still insisting on keeping that one night.
“I really don’t get you.”
Saying that, Kallion dropped down onto a single armchair far away from her.
“Don’t worry. I have no plans of touching you either.”
With that, he slowly closed his eyes.
Yuliana narrowed her eyes at him.
Was he really planning to spend the whole night in that small, uncomfortable chair?
She turned her back to him and lay down in bed, deciding not to care. If it got uncomfortable enough, he’d leave on his own.
She didn’t feel sorry or guilty at all.
She couldn’t understand why he even came here in the first place, just to get under her skin. Maybe he had lost his mind hearing Layla got hurt?
Just as she was forcing herself to sleep, she suddenly heard his quiet voice.
“I made a mistake.”
Yuliana turned to look at him, surprised. She couldn’t believe those words came from Kallion.
He looked at her with a blank expression.
“If I had known you’d act so recklessly, I never would’ve let you go.”
He sounded like he was blaming her again, and Yuliana frowned.
“Are you trying to get an apology for your secretary getting hurt?”
Kallion just stared at her without answering.
“From now on, don’t try to do anything on your own. Just stay in the mansion, drink tea, read books. If you really want to be treated like the lady of Valdormer.”
“Honestly, even a pig being raised would be treated better than that.”
Yuliana turned her back to him, not wanting to argue anymore.
Other women would love to live comfortably like a doll—but not her. She just couldn’t sit still like some house cat.
Kallion’s eyes moved to the bandage on her arm, which had loosened while she lay down. Looking at it made his thoughts messy again.
“You could’ve died.”
Yuliana froze at his unexpected words.
He stayed quiet for a while after saying that, as if even he was unsure why he’d said it. Then he added quietly:
“I would never accept the lady of Valdormer dying like that.”
At those words, the tension in Yuliana’s shoulders finally eased.
That sounded just like him.
Selfish and cold-hearted—a man who only cared about Valdormer.
✧ ✧ ✧
When she opened her eyes, it was morning.
She’d been thinking about what Kallion said when she’d drifted off to sleep.
The first thing she did after waking was glance at the armchair where Kallion had sat. It was empty, and she felt quietly relieved.
Had he gone to another room because it was uncomfortable?
Just then, a familiar voice spoke.
“You’re finally awake?”
Startled, she turned her head. Kallion was standing by the window, looking outside.
“You’re still here?”
If he was worried about rumors, he could’ve moved to another room early in the morning.
“You kept groaning all night.”
Did I?
Come to think of it, she had dreamt about Denian… maybe it was a nightmare. He must’ve thought she was in pain.
She looked at her arm. The bandage, which should have loosened overnight, looked neat—as if someone had redone it.
Did… he fix it for me?
She looked at him, puzzled. Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by a familiar voice.
“Madam, may I come in?”
It was Jared.
Before Yuliana could say anything, Kallion answered for her.
“Come in.”
He beat her to it. Yuliana glared at him. It felt like he was announcing to everyone that they had spent the night together.
Kallion didn’t care. He calmly walked over and sat in a nearby chair like he owned the room.
Jared and the orphanage director stepped inside.
“Oh, you’re with the lord.”
“It’s an honor, my lord.”
Here, people referred to the head of a noble family as lord of the territory. Technically, Kallion wasn’t the head yet, but regular townspeople didn’t care about that detail.
Kallion’s gaze turned to Jared.
A man in his late twenties with a kind face. The calluses and well-trained muscles on his hands showed he was a swordsman.
Layla had said this was probably the man Yuliana had been looking for at the orphanage. What was their relationship?
Kallion stared at him, and Jared gave a confused, awkward smile.
“I heard you’ll be leaving today. This isn’t much, but the children and villagers made this gift for you.”
He handed her a basket full of freshly baked bread. They must have been so busy, and yet they made her a farewell gift. Yuliana’s heart warmed.
“Thank you.”
The orphanage director teared up and grabbed her hand.
“Truly, thank you, madam. We will never forget your kindness, even in death.”
The woman began crying, and Yuliana smiled awkwardly.
“It wasn’t just me. Everyone worked hard to save the children. I only did what anyone would.”
That made the director cry even more.
Kallion, watching silently, finally spoke.
“I hear the orphanage burned down. You’ve nowhere to stay now.”
Yuliana tensed, wondering what he was about to say next. But he just looked at the director and Jared with a calm expression.
“My wife seems to care deeply about this orphanage. I’m considering rebuilding it—stronger and safer.”
The director and Jared looked shocked.
“What? It’s already more than enough that you came here. We couldn’t possibly accept such a gift…”
“This way, my wife can leave this place with peace of mind.”
Yuliana looked at him, confused. What was he thinking?
He glanced at her, then turned back to Jared.
“Think of it as a thank-you for helping my wife.”
Again, he kept calling her my wife as if to make a point. Jared tilted his head, not understanding why.
Just then, another knock. Layla entered.
“The land documents you requested, sir.”
Kallion took the papers from her, glanced once at Yuliana, then turned to the director.
“Let’s talk more about the new orphanage.”
Tears welled in the director’s eyes again as she bowed deeply and left the room with Kallion.
Jared also bowed politely and turned to leave, but Yuliana called out.
“Jared.”
He paused and looked back, curious.
“Yes, madam?”
She nodded toward the door where the others had exited—a signal to close it.
Jared, though confused, quietly shut the door.
Thinking she had something important to say, he stepped up to her with a serious expression.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
He looked like a knight waiting for orders. Yuliana met his eyes and said quietly:
“You said you’d help me no matter what happened.”
It was something he had said after she rescued the children from the fire.
Though puzzled, Jared nodded solemnly.
“Of course.”
“Even if it means going against Valdormer… would you still help me?”
His shoulders tensed.
It was an odd question.
To him, the lady of Valdormer was Valdormer itself…
But seeing how serious she looked, Jared erased his hesitation and answered firmly:
“It’s true that Valdormer helped me… but not more than you did. I owe you my life. My loyalty is to you.”
Yuliana stared at him in silence for a moment, then said:
“I’m returning to the main estate with Kallion today.”
“I heard.”
“If, after we leave, Kallion ever approaches you—can you let me know?”
Jared blinked, not understanding at first.
“You mean… you want me to report if Lord Kallion contacts me?”
“That’s right.”
