Chapter 49: A Walk In the Forbidden Garden

That night, as Julian watched the garden from the balcony, wishing he could somehow sneak in, he got a knock on his door.

And it was a very familiar knock.

He didn’t even get to turn around to know who just opened his door after a single knock and walked in.

"You aren’t asleep," the Duke’s voice rumbled as he walked in.

It was at this point that Julian turned, his expression neutral. Duke Alaric wasn’t wearing his heavy mantle or anything of note. He was back to being scantily dressed, wearing a loose robe that very well exposed his chest.

He looked less like a ’War God’ and more like the man who had shared a bottle of wine just a few nights prior, but did not look any less imposing.

"I find it difficult to rest in new places, remember, Your Grace?" Julian replied.

The Duke stepped further into the room, his gaze fixed firmly on the lines on the wall rather than on Julian. He still couldn’t bring himself to look him in the eye when they were in a private space.

"What can I do for you, your Grace?" Julian asked because last he had checked, the Duke had avoided being anywhere near him, especially in private spaces.

"My brother... he has a habit of being intrusive. I should apologize for his questioning. He has a twisted sense of humor." The Duke said, and Julian stared at him with a plain look on his face.

Was he worried? He wondered.

He thought the Duke had not cared for the questioning when he just stood there and watched as the Emperor demanded a non-existent answer from him.

He thought... If the Duke had been the one to say the lines that kept repeating themselves in his head, the Emperor would have taken it more seriously.

After all, the Duke’s words weighed more than the criminal in charge.

"You do not need to apologize on the Emperor’s behalf, Your Grace," Julian said calmly. He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly. "However... there is ’something’ you should probably apologize for yourself."

Duke Alaric’s eyes darted away instantly, knowing fully well what his fault was. The silence in the room became thick with the memory of the Duke’s avoidance—the skipped meals, the flinching away from Julian’s touch in the study, and the cold and silent observation he carried out in the throne room, when he should’ve been the one to clarify that the rumors were not true.

He knew exactly what Julian was referring to.

"I do not mean that you need to explain your personal actions to me, Your Grace," Julian continued with a soft sigh after noting down the Duke’s reaction. "But as the Grand Duke, you should consider your code of conduct. To treat a member of your household with such sudden... coldness... it creates unnecessary tension..." He darted his eyes to the Duke. "And misunderstandings."

The Duke’s jaw tightened. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to explain that he wasn’t being cold because of hate, but because he was terrified of the way his heart suddenly hammered when Julian was near. But he would rather take the truth of that embarrassing night to his grave than admit he had been watching the tutor from the shadows just to understand his own feelings.

So, instead of an apology...

"What is it you want, Astrea?" The Duke asked suddenly, his voice rough. "Since I have clearly offended you with my ’conduct,’ tell me what you desire. Gold? A title? A different position in the Capital?"

Julian blinked. He did not see this coming, but the golden opportunity he had been looking for had just dropped into his lap, wrapped in the Duke’s guilt.

"I don’t want gold or titles, Your Grace," Julian said, turning to look over the balcony. "But... I’ve heard the Forbidden Garden is unlike anything in the world. I was wondering if it was possible to take a walk there tonight. To see the plants."

The Duke paused, then let out a short, dry laugh. He shook his head in genuine disbelief.

"A walk? People usually use opportunities like this to ask for power, for land, for the heads of their enemies... and you want to look at... flowers?" Alaric looked at Julian, his expression softening with a hint of the same confusion he’d felt back in the North. "You truly are a strange man. First, it was climbing a frozen, dead tree for a withered apple, and now this. Do you simply love nature that much?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Julian didn’t correct him. Instead, he let a genuine, bright smile break across his face—the first real smile he’d shown since arriving at the Palace. The first real smile he’d shown... When he wasn’t looking at the Young Lord.

It wasn’t just a smile for the Duke; it was the smile of a man who made his heart thump indescribably...

But to Julian, that was simply a happy smile as he realized he didn’t have to risk his life in a midnight heist.

The Duke caught his breath, mesmerized by the expression. He interpreted Julian’s joy as pure, innocent excitement for a garden stroll. He was so simple. But little did he know that behind those eyes, Julian was mentally checking his inventory for a harvesting knife.

"Fine," the Duke said, standing tall and gesturing toward the door. "If a walk is what it takes to settle your grievances, then we shall walk. No guard will stop you if you are with me."

Julian felt relieved. He had pondered over and over, as well as cursing that Duke for having him meet the Emperor, but now... That grievance seemed settled as the thought of getting the ingredients filled him with raw excitement.

They descended the private staircase that led directly from the Jade Wing into the heart of the Forbidden Garden.

The air was different here—it was cool, damp, and vibrating with magical energy. Blue-silver Moon-Ferns lined the path like glowing lanterns, and the Liquid Starlight collected in stone basins, shimmering like melted diamonds under the moon.

"It’s impressive, isn’t it?" Alaric asked, walking a half-step behind Julian. He was watching the way the blue light reflected in Julian’s dark raven hair, his avoidance finally melting into a quiet, protective presence.

"It’s more than impressive," Julian whispered. He knelt by a patch of the ferns, his fingers hovering over the glowing fronds. "It’s... exactly what I needed."

Of course, the Duke did not take that literally and thought Julian, a lover of nature and a partaker of magic, had simply been drawn to the magnificent garden that was a combination of both magic and nature.

"Take your time," the Duke said, crossing his arms and leaning against a nearby marble pillar. "I’ll keep watch, so no one will disturb us here."

Julian nodded, his heart racing. The Duke thought this was a romantic or peaceful gesture. In reality, Alaric was acting as the perfect lookout for a theft that was about to take place.

Well, it’s not exactly stealing if a member of the royal family permits it... Right?