Then he added, his tone casual yet probing, "What brings you here?"

She took a slow, measured breath, carefully selecting her words before speaking.

"I wanted to speak with you privately," she said, her voice lowered just enough to ensure it would not carry beyond the closed door.

"Hmmm..." Julian hummed thoughtfully at her statement, leaning back in his chair with a faint, almost playful glint dancing in his eyes. "Well, go on. We are already in a private room. Or perhaps you want something even more... private?"

Louisa could not help but raise a brow at that rather cheesy remark. The words felt strangely out of place coming from him... almost too casual for the weight of the conversation they were about to have. Still, this was not the time to indulge her irritation. She knew that much. She could not afford to let something so trivial ruin everything she had come here for.

"You haven’t forgotten about our deal, have you?" she asked, her tone steady despite the faint tightness creeping into her throat.

Julian smiled.

"No... I don’t have any reason to," he replied smoothly.

Louisa exhaled inwardly in relief, though she kept her expression composed. The tension in her shoulders eased, if only slightly. At the very least, that part of their arrangement still stood firm. She had already committed herself to him... backing out now would only lead to consequences far worse than she could imagine.

"And can... can I ask you for one more... umm... thing?"

Her voice dropped to little more than a whisper, barely audible.

Julian chuckled softly at that. Her pride was visibly clashing with her current position of submission, and in some strange way, he found it rather cute.

"To be honest, that depends entirely on what you are about to ask," he said, his tone light but carrying a subtle undercurrent of expectation. "But yes, I will do my best."

Gathering what remained of her courage, she spoke again, her voice still quiet but noticeably firmer than before.

"Can you promise to protect my family if something were to happen to us?"

Her words were vague, almost cryptic, yet they carried an undeniable weight. It was clear she was in trouble - whether she openly admitted it or not.

Julian’s expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened ever so slightly with interest.

"Is this something related to Liam... and perhaps his obsession with Mother?"

Louisa’s eyes widened at his words. For a brief moment, her composure cracked... but this time, she managed to recover quickly. She had witnessed Kraven’s cunning before, so him knowing of this matter was not entirely surprising. Still, hearing it spoken so plainly made her stomach twist uncomfortably.

"So you already know about it," she said quietly, her tone laced with resignation as her shoulders slumped just a fraction.

Julian nodded.

"Well, I had my suspicions. But his behavior in the grand hall confirmed it. And frankly, he is not even trying very hard to conceal it."

Louisa let out a slow, weary sigh. She was mentally exhausted from all of this. When she had returned to the duchy, it was in hopes of completely taking over the Astran family through careful maneuvering and her husband’s ambition. But now... now the tables had turned completely.

Kraven’s sudden rise, Olivia’s breakthrough, and Liam’s increasing instability had thrown all of her carefully laid plans into disarray.

"Since you are already aware, I see no reason to keep hiding it," she said, her voice softer now, almost resigned to the situation.

"I myself was not aware of this at first. It came as a shock to me as well. I had dismissed his remarks as nothing more than provocations... a way to test my loyalty or provoke a reaction. But today... the way he looked at her after her breakthrough... it was different. There was something far more unsettling in his gaze."

She paused briefly, steadying herself.

"I have accepted it now, even if I despise it. Liam has... feelings for Olivia... obsessive, dangerous ones. And if he ever loses control, it could destroy everything—our position, our plans, even the fragile balance within the duchy itself."

She drew in a slow breath before continuing.

"I do not want to beg, Kraven. But I am asking you... if something happens—if Liam does something reckless, can you protect me? Protect my family?" Her voice softened, but her resolve remained clear. "I have already given you what you asked for, and I will continue to do so. But I need your word that you will stand with me if things go wrong."

Julian watched her in silence for a long moment, allowing her words to linger in the air between them. He could see the fatigue in her eyes, the subtle tremor of pride battling against vulnerability. She was a woman accustomed to control—someone who moved others like pieces on a board. And yet now, she stood before him, exposing her fears with little left to shield herself.

Leaning forward slightly in his chair, he finally spoke.

"I can promise that," he said at last. "As long as you remain useful to me and honor our original agreement, I will protect you and your family." His gaze hardened just a fraction. "But understand this, Aunty... I will not tolerate betrayal. The moment you try to use me and turn against me, that protection ends."

Louisa nodded slowly. For the first time since entering the room, genuine relief surfaced across her features... and this time, she made no effort to hide it.

Julian observed her carefully, noting every subtle shift in her expression.

"But in return, I want you to do something for me as well," he added.

Louisa tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing with mild confusion.

"Something?" she echoed, her tone cautious yet receptive.

Julian nodded.

"Yes. Tell me—what do you know about the kingdoms of our world?" he asked, his voice casual, almost as if the question carried no deeper meaning.

The sudden shift in topic caught Louisa off guard. She could not help but feel a flicker of suspicion.

Why is he asking about the kingdoms now? she wondered, her thoughts racing. Is this another test? If so... then I will play along.