CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86 WEDDING (5)_1

Glades Horne chuckled softly, his eyes so tender they seemed to overflow with affection.

His arm around her tightened suddenly, pulling her closer. His voice grew huskier. "It’s already dark outside. Night has fallen. It’s our wedding night. Don’t you think we should do something?"

Julia blinked her eyes, still hazy from the wine. Her mind was a bit muddled, but she retained a sliver of rationality. Do something? She probably recalled something Glades had said, because her face instantly turned as red as it could possibly be.

"Glades... um..." Julia stammered.

Strong yet gentle, long fingers reached out, lightly lifting her chin. Glades’s handsome face, so striking it could make one lose their composure, drew nearer. His usually inscrutable eagle-like eyes held no mystery now, no other impurities—only pure tenderness and desire.

His nose brushed gently against Julia’s, a touch as light as a dragonfly skimming water. Glades touched her only once before letting his hand fall from her chin. He stood up while Julia was still trying to understand what had happened, then bent down and swept her into his arms.

Seeing her shy expression, Glades released a deep, contented chuckle.

In the bathroom, he drew a bath for her, telling her to wash up while he stepped out to get her some clean clothes.

He was so good to her; she was truly at a loss for words.

KNOCK KNOCK. Glades’s knock came from outside. A large hand turned the doorknob and reached in, holding a robe. His deep voice carried through the door. "Julia, here’s your robe. It’s getting late; don’t take too long."

Julia quickly reached out for the robe and placed it beside the bathtub. She then sped up, no longer dawdling.

Having no other choice, she put on the robe and walked barefoot out of the bathroom. When she saw Glades smiling at her, she raised her hand and playfully punched his shoulder.

Glades bent down and swept her into his arms again.

"You haven’t showered yet!" Julia protested softly.

His room was exceptionally large, with an inner chamber, and the bathroom was similarly designed with an outer and inner section. He had carried Julia into the smaller, inner bathroom earlier, while he himself had already bathed in the larger, outer one.

"..."

Julia was left speechless.

「Tibet.」

Ruby Bluen couldn’t sleep.

Even though it was one o’clock in the morning, deep into the night, she was still wide awake.

Today... oh, no, it’s already past midnight. A new day has begun, so it should be called yesterday now. Yesterday was supposed to be my wedding day with Glades Horne. I ran away. The wedding was probably canceled. But on such a significant day, I can’t help but think and worry. I wonder what kind of situation has developed between our two families because I ran away. Guilt... it’s always been buried deep inside me. Yet, from the moment I ran, there was no turning back. The storm had already begun, and looking back wouldn’t calm the waves. To my family, to Glades Horne, for all the potential consequences... I can only silently repeat ’I’m sorry’ a thousand times in my heart.

After tossing and turning, she decided to get up and go for a walk.

She quietly got out of bed, dressed neatly, and carefully made her way out of the room. Everyone else was resting. Only the guards on duty remained at their posts by the door, braving the deepening chill of the night.

Leaving Marcel Horne’s quarters, she first glanced towards a large collective dormitory nearby. Since her arrival, Marcel had temporarily moved out of his personal quarters to stay with the soldiers, giving her his private space.

The door to that dormitory was shut tight. He must be fast asleep by now, too.