Chapter 426 --426
Chapter 426: Chapter-426
"It wasn’t an alteration, Elara; it was a maintenance request," Julian replied, his ice-blue eyes fixed on her face with an analytical, cool amusement. "I am living in that wing, after all. If my quarters turn into a sauna, it reduces my sleep quality, which ultimately reduces my efficiency as a ’legal asset’ during the upcoming solstice ceremony. I am just protecting your investment."From the shadows of the doorway, Mahir’s ears pinned back instantly. He had followed Elara to the conservatory as part of his routine escort duty, and seeing the silver-haired prince standing so casually in her vicinity made his tail lash once against the doorframe.
Julian didn’t even flinch at the sound. He kept his gaze locked on Elara, his posture completely relaxed, showing that he had fully accepted the rules of her game—but he was still going to play it on his own terms.
Elara watched him for a beat, analyzing his heart rate and his steady breathing. He wasn’t trying to breach Clause Twelve, and he wasn’t demanding her bed. He was simply existing in her space, entirely unbothered by her coldness.
"Your logic regarding sleep quality is acceptable," Elara stated flatly, picking her quill back up. "The steam valves will be monitored. Do not touch the equipment yourself."
"Understood, Master," Julian said smoothly, using her title with a lazy, almost teasing cadence before turning back to look at the plants. He had no intention of leaving immediately, but he wasn’t going to crowd her either. He was just there, a perfectly calm, nonchalant addition to her quiet afternoon.
Elara looked up from her ledger, her quill pausing mid-air. She raised a single eyebrow, her face still mostly blank, but her tone sharper than usual. "Master? What the heck?"
Julian froze for a split second, surprised by her reaction, and then he burst into a genuine, clear laugh. He covered his mouth with his hand to stifle the sound, his ice-blue eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Well, that’s what your so-called knights call you, I have heard," he said, his voice laced with an easy, amused chuckle. He lowered his hand, leaning his weight back against the stone pillar. "And besides, I didn’t know that the royal family here could even use words like *heck*."
Elara looked at him, completely calm and unbothered by his teasing. "Well, I am not using swear words, but it is just that your word choice is something that could cause a misunderstanding."