Chapter 338 -: 337 Seducing the Cold Duke?

Once Sylviana finally finished treating the last of Julius’s wounds, the room fell into a quiet silence. The young healer remained kneeling beside the bed for several more minutes, carefully observing every bandaged injury to make sure none of them reopened again. Only after she was satisfied that the bleeding had stopped for the time being did she slowly lower her hands and release a tired sigh. Seeing that her work was finally complete, Rosalina’s tense expression softened. When she spoke this time, there was none of the urgency or anxiety from earlier. Her eyes carried an unusual warmth, and her voice was gentle enough that it almost resembled the tone she unconsciously used whenever she spoke to Julius during his unconscious state. Whether it was like an older sister, a close friend, or even a caring mother, even Rosalina couldn’t quite tell. Whatever it was, it worked. Sylviana gradually stopped stammering after every sentence, and although she remained shy, a small, genuine smile slowly appeared on her face without the usual nervousness clouding it. Once the atmosphere had become comfortable, Rosalina suggested they both take a bath while Julius rested. Sylviana agreed almost immediately. Truthfully, Rosalina herself had been looking forward to it for quite some time. Between tending Julius’s injuries, fleeing from their pursuers, and barely finding time to rest, she hadn’t bathed for two entire days. Her skin felt sticky beneath the layers of sweat, dirt, and dried blood that had accumulated over the journey, while her long black hair had begun tangling despite her best efforts to keep it tidy. She couldn’t remember the last time she had actually felt clean. With Leon reluctantly entrusted to watch over Julius in her absence, the two women left the hollow tree and followed the familiar forest path until the peaceful lake came into view. The crystal-clear water reflected the afternoon sky like polished glass, disturbed only by the occasional ripple drifting across its surface. Cool mountain air carried the fresh scent of damp earth and pine trees, making the secluded lake feel almost unreal after everything they had experienced over the past several days. Rosalina quietly admired the scenery before a small smile unconsciously found its way onto her lips. The very first time she had discovered this place, she had briefly entertained the ridiculous thought of bringing Julius here and bathing together with him despite his unconscious state. The image had amused her for only a moment before reality quickly ruined it. The countless wounds covering his body would have burned terribly if exposed to the cold water, making the idea impossible. She had reluctantly pushed the thought aside back then. Now, however, she stood here with an entirely different companion. Without much hesitation, Rosalina removed her clothes and stepped into the lake. The cool water immediately wrapped around her body, washing away layers of exhaustion she hadn’t even realized she was carrying. She let out a content sigh before sinking until only her shoulders remained above the surface. Nearby, Sylviana hesitated for a few moments, nervously glancing around as though making certain no one else was nearby. Yet her own desire for a bath ultimately won over her embarrassment. Slowly, she removed her robes and carefully entered the lake. The instant the cool water embraced her, the tension she’d been carrying throughout the day visibly melted away. Her shoulders relaxed, and she quietly looked across the peaceful surroundings with an expression of simple relief. Rosalina watched her from the corner of her eye for several moments. Bringing Sylviana here hadn’t been solely because she wanted a bath. That had certainly been one reason, but there were other things she wished to discuss with the young princess away from Leon and Julius. The problem was that she had absolutely no idea how to begin such a conversation. She wasn’t particularly skilled at casual discussions, especially with someone she had only recently met. Fortunately, it seemed Sylviana herself was struggling with something she wanted to ask. The princess nervously fidgeted with her fingers beneath the water before finally gathering enough courage to speak. "L-Lady Rosalina... if you don’t mind... may I ask you something?" Rosalina turned toward her, offering what she believed was a warm smile. Judging by the way Sylviana visibly relaxed, it appeared convincing enough. "Of course," Rosalina replied gently. "Go ahead." Sylviana lowered her gaze once more. She opened her mouth, closed it again, then repeated the process several times while trying to organize her thoughts. It was obvious whatever she wanted to ask felt incredibly important to her, yet finding the right words seemed almost impossible. Rosalina patiently waited without urging her. Finally, after taking a deep breath, Sylviana blurted it out. "C-Can I... get an autograph from Duke Julius?" "...Eh?" Rosalina blinked several times, completely caught off guard. "Duke?" she repeated in confusion. "What duke? Julius isn’t a duke." Her brows furrowed as she tilted her head. "And... what’s with the autograph?" She genuinely couldn’t understand where such a request had come from. Naturally, she knew what the title of duke meant. The empires used ranks such as duke, count, marquis, and viscount to establish their noble hierarchy. The great clans, however, followed an entirely different system. Within the Hayes Clan and the Valentina Clan alike, influence depended solely on one’s bloodline and closeness to the main family rather than inherited noble titles. Julius had never once been called a duke. Sylviana coughed awkwardly, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "A-Ahem... well... it’s a title from a book." She hesitated before quietly adding, "Seducing the Cold Duke." Rosalina stared at her even more blankly than before. "A book?" Her curiosity immediately surfaced. "I’ve never heard of it. Is it... about Julius? Wait... is he actually in it?" The questions came one after another before she could stop herself. If Julius truly appeared in some famous novel, then surely... "...Am I in it too?" Sylviana smiled sheepishly. "It’s one of the best-selling romance novels in our empire," she explained. "I’ll only tell you the beginning. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil the important parts." Rosalina nodded, now genuinely interested. Sylviana gathered her thoughts before beginning her summary. "The story starts with the female protagonist being murdered by the infamous Cold Duke of the North... Duke Julius." Rosalina frowned almost immediately. "The North?" She couldn’t hide her confusion. "The Hayes Clan rules the southern territories of Auranel." Still, she remained silent afterward, deciding to hear the rest before asking more questions. Sylviana continued. "Before dying, the protagonist swears that if fate ever gives her another chance, she’ll take revenge against the Cold Duke. Miraculously, her wish comes true. She reincarnates... into the body of the fiancée of the duke’s son..."