#16. The Lark in the Cage (3)

Inside a carriage racing down the city's neatly maintained main avenue.

Seated in its comfortable, perfectly steady seat, Julian stared blankly at the scenery flowing past outside the window.

His handsome face, which had brought many women in the streets he passed to tears, was now etched with the worries of the past few days, fatigue written all over it.

Just last night, Julian had spent a sleepless night over the documents the emperor had handed him during their drinking session.

Despite the alcohol warming his body and the soft bed beneath him, he had been unable to fall asleep. Unlike his decadent, alluring face, Julian had spent the night alone, tossing and turning and groaning on his enormous bed until dawn.

At the sight of his friend like that.

And at the sight of his lord, whom he served, looking so exhausted.

Christian, who usually made the carriage noisy with pointless chatter on the way to work, was simply watching Julian out of the corner of his eye today without saying a word.

Ernst looked no different from usual, but his hazel eyes were busily watching his lord instead of the documents he normally read.

The stifling atmosphere in the carriage continued like that until it was finally broken by a single remark from the gaunt man...