Chapter 909: Will You Leave With Me?

Rowena looked over at her shoulder and was disappointed to see Julian walk away without even a single word.

However, she realized that after the confession that Julian did - paired with her overjoyed self - and the new event that she brought up to him, the situation didn't seem appropriate.  She might have overdone it with the hug and the smile... and that made her upset with herself.

Unfortunately, he was already gone.

"Rowena?" Prince Liam tried to get her attention again. "About the dance?"

"You don't have to worry about it at all," Rowena told the prince with a careful smile. "I'm well-versed in numerous dances."

"Oh then if you wish, we could have a quick practice—"

"I'm sorry, but I really need to chase after Julian right now," Rowena said and turned away. "I won't embarrass you on the dance floor, and I appreciate everything that you've done for us so far but I have to talk with my friend."

"You might give him the wrong idea if you keep chasing after him." Prince Liam grasped her wrist and looked at her seriously. "Don't you think this is a much better way to establish what kind of relationship with Julian? There's something between the two of you."

Rowena tugged her wrist away from Prince Liam and smiled thinly. "Thank you for the advice, Your Highness. However, I'd like to deal with this by myself."

Without another word, Rowena chased down after Julian.

She found him alone in the corridor, he hadn't actually left that much and was instead focused on a family portrait instead. It was King Julius, Queen Serena, and Prince Liam all together.

"Julian!"

He froze and immediately tried to leave again without a word.

"Hold up right there, Julian!" Rowena rushed over and blocked his path. "Don't leave without even saying a thing to me."

"Hello, goodbye." Julian tried to cross over to the right and found himself blocked again.

"Is that all you're really going to say, Julian?" Rowena frowned. "I didn't expect you to ignore me after... earlier."

"Well, weren't you supposed to be with the crown prince and having a romantic ballroom party with him or something?" Julian muttered underneath his breath.

"Hey, one thousand princes don't mean a thing over you." Rowena frowned at him. "How can you forget that so fast?"

"Probably because I'm not as smart as you." Julian smiled at her. "I will never be good enough for someone like you—"

"Get a grip, Julian." Rowena grabbed his shoulders. "I left and offended the crown prince of Verona to chase down after you and it's not to hear you grumble like a child."

"Ro

wena..."

"I know, it seems like I rejected you—and maybe I did. But that doesn't mean I don't care about you, so please just tell me what's wrong and we'll get through this together. I'm here for you, Julian."

Rowena saw him take a deep breath.

"...I appreciate everything you're doing for me. You've even used the fact that you're a princess to our benefit."

"There's not much benefit here that I assure you," Rowena said.

"Whatever the case, you want what's good for me, right?" Julian asked.

"Yes... but it's not like I can give you what you want from me—"

"I'm not asking for you to love me like the way I love you," Julian said. "I'm fine, I'm content and more than happy to just be with you—and I'm just afraid of losing you."

"Julian..."

"It's ridiculous and petty." Julian scratched his head. "You're free to love whoever you want and if you want to stay in Verona then I can't stop you."

"How do you even know that I want to be in Verona?" Rowena frowned. "I only want to be here because of you. Your past is here, Julian and you deserve to know your past."

"Well, I don't care about it, Rowena," Julian said. "I don't care about my old family, my past, or anything because all that I know is that I want to be with you—nothing else matters."

Rowena's words were stuck in her throat and she didn't know how to respond to him. "How can you say that without even blinking?"

"Because it's what I really feel," Julian said with a weak smile. "If you want to be here in Verona, I don't want to stop you. Maybe the palace will treat you well, I'm sure that crown prince seems to like you but if you're doing it for me?"

"I am doing it for you, Julian," Rowena said. "I want to help."

"Then let's stop it here."

"What?"

"I actually went to a black market here in Verona, well it doesn't matter that much—but let's leave, Rowena," Julian said. "I'm already happy so you don't have to worry about me or feel pressured with my feelings for you."

Rowena stared at him and then quietly said. "What if I don't want to come with you? What if I'm still worried about how you feel about me?"

Julian's expression became painful, but he nodded slowly. "If that's the case, then I won't force you. Although I want to be happy with you by my side, I won't ask you to come with me. Just tell it to me now."

Rowena sighed softly and then grabbed Julian's hand. "How can I think of leaving you? You're my best friend, Julian, and even though I don't think I can return your feelings—I love you in my own way."

Julian looked a

t her in surprise. "So you're coming with me?"

"Of course, idiot." Rowena smiled at him. "We're partners in crime aren't we?"

"Yes, yes we are." Julian smiled back. "There's not much of a performance with just me."

"I'm glad that's settled," Rowena sighed in relief. "But we can't leave right away, okay?"

"How come?" Julian asked.

"We need to at least leave on good terms with Verona," Rowena explained. "Let's attend the banquet tonight and then we'll leave tomorrow."

"Okay, sounds like a plan." Julian grinned. "I'm not excited about the seafood, but let's do that."