Merchant Noble is out (2/3 chapters for today)
Bodyguard Yulia’s Daily Life
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Yulia, the bodyguard of Arc, was busy every day. Especially after Arc enters the royal capital to install Casablanca as queen, she has to protect Ark and Marie every day in an unfamiliar place.
Every day, Yulia wakes up early to check Arc and Marie’s schedules. Based on those schedules, she thought about how and where to secure their safety. Then, she coordinated with the Casablanca Seven, who handle the palace’s security, checks dangerous locations, and carries out the protection. Though every day was a hectic one, Yulia had no problem with it because of the physical strength she gained during her time as a gladiator.
Today, Yulia was ordered to guard Marie and stood ten steps away from her throughout the banquet. Since the Casablanca Seven were in charge of the venue’s security, there was no need for Yulia to be overly tense, but she couldn’t help it. It was a bad habit of hers to not know how to relax.
Tonight’s banquet was a private event, only for the regional leaders of the Casablanca faction, so it ended without any noticeable trouble.
“Thank you for your hard work today. Now, I will excuse myself.” (Yulia)
“Hey, Yulia. Could we talk for a moment?” (Marie)
After escorting the slightly tipsy Marie to her room, Yulia was about to leave, but Marie grabbed Yulia’s arm to stop her.
“Sit down.” (Marie)
“No, I’ll stay standing.” (Yulia)
When Marie urged Yulia to sit in a chair, Yulia shook her head. It would be disrespectful to speak to the princess at the same eye level. She couldn’t sit with her. However, Marie puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction at Yulia’s refusal.
“Yulia. I want to talk to you, not as a bodyguard, but as a friend.” (Marie)
Yulia’s heart skipped a beat. The word “friend” sounded unfamiliar.
Friend? Me, a friend to Princess Marie?
Yulia snapped back to reality and quickly took a step back.
“Such a thing… If I, a gladiator slave, were to be Marie-sama’s friend, it would be… I would bring shame to Marie-sama.” (Yulia)
Marie showed a bit of anger at Yulia’s strong refusal to accept the idea of being friends.
“You shouldn’t belittle yourself so much. You’re not a criminal slave, nor a war slave, right? Then, there’s nothing wrong with you being from a slave background. You protect me, so I want to be friends with you.” (Marie)
“M-Marie-sama, that’s too kind of you…” (Yulia)
Yulia held her breath and could only manage to say a simple thank you. It was the first time someone had affirmed her background as a gladiator slave. Her master, Arc, had never despised or denied her, but he had never openly praised her existence either.
“I’ve always been comfortable under Arc-sama, even without him saying anything. But I never imagined I would meet someone who affirms me, not for my abilities, but for my very existence.” (Yulia)
“Is that so? You’re really wonderful.” (Marie)
Marie, who was known for her compassion to everyone regardless of their status, had surprised Yulia. She didn’t expect Marie to be so kind. Yulia noticed that Marie’s usually calm face had tears running down her cheeks.
“Now, Yulia. Sit down.” (Marie)
“Yes.” (Yulia)
Marie gently wiped Yulia’s tears and had her sit beside the bed.
“As a friend, I want to ask you something. Answer me honestly.” (Marie)
“Of course.” (Yulia)
Then, holding Yulia’s hand tightly, Marie asked, as if steeling herself:
“How many times have you slept with Arc-sama?” (Marie)
“…Huh?” (Yulia)
“How many times have you slept with Arc-sama?” (Marie)
“….Huh? …Slept…with…Huh?” (Yulia)
“Since it was before my marriage, I have no right to be angry. So tell me honestly. How many times did you do it with Arc-sama?” (Marie)
“…” (Yulia)
Before Yulia realized it, her tears had stopped. She understood what Marie was saying. However, the meaning of the question was unclear. Her mind was refusing to comprehend it, and she was in utter confusion. She had to figure out the intent behind the question.
“Why do you think Arc-sama and I have such a relationship, Marie-sama?” (Yulia)
“Casablanca-sama said. Those two are suspicious.” (Marie)
Casablanca-sama, noooooo.
Yulia screamed inwardly.
Indeed, when meeting with Casablanca, due to the sensitivity and importance of the discussions, Arc always brought Yulia with him. But to suspect their relationship like this was truly a vile misunderstanding.
I have to clear this up for Marie-sama’s sake.
“No… We have never done such a thing.” (Yulia)
Yulia said firmly, but Marie nodded without seeming convinced.
“Yulia. Please. I want to hear the truth.” (Marie)
“No. I swear, we have never done such a thing.” (Yulia)
Still, Marie wasn’t convinced.
“You just looked away.” (Marie)
“I’m just not used to being stared at so intensely.” (Yulia)
“Really, you haven’t done anything? Really? Really?” (Marie)
“Yes. Really. Truly.” (Yulia)
Marie, who had been staring at Yulia so intensely that it felt like she might burn a hole in her face, suddenly lowered her gaze.
Did she believe me?
“Yulia. As a wife, I can’t help but be curious about my husband’s past relationships. That’s all. I don’t want to accuse or feel jealous, I just want to know.” (Marie)
This is bad. The conversation is back to this.
If things keep going like this, won’t it never end until I admit my relationship with Arc? No matter how much I deny it, she won’t believe me. In Marie’s mind, the relationship between Yulia and Arc is already confirmed, and now she’s just trying to get me to confess.
Yulia gave up.
“Understood. I will be honest.” (Yulia)
“Mm.” (Marie)
Yulia took a deep breath.
“I have never been touched by Arc-sama.” (Yulia)
“…Yulia. Be honest.” (Marie)
“Yes, I will be honest. I spent more time with Arc-sama in Mikanda than anyone else. From morning till night, I was always behind him. Naturally, there were times when such an atmosphere developed. We were alone before bed, or walking together in the empty grasslands. If Arc-sama had wanted to, we could have become that kind of couple. It happened many times. Yes! Nothing happened! Arc-sama never once pushed me down. He may not have seen me as a woman at all.” (Yulia)
Yulia’s words came out like a machine gun, not leaving her any room to observe Marie’s reaction. She continued, breathing heavily.
“After thinking about it for a while, I came to a conclusion: ‘Ah, Arc-sama must be gay.’ That’s why he treated me kindly but never made a move, keeping our relationship close yet distant. I was satisfied with this answer. We had built a trust beyond gender. I believed that.” (Yulia)
It was a disqualified bodyguard’s act of continuing to vent her frustrations about her master under the pretense of being “honest with Marie”.
“But then Arc-sama easily got married. My theory shattered instantly, and I was back to being ‘the woman who was always by his side but never touched’.” (Yulia)
After finishing her rant, only the sound of Yulia’s heavy breathing could be heard in the silent room.
After a while, Marie opened her mouth.
“I think of you and Arc-sama as siblings who shared struggles. After all, it’s strange that someone with such a great body like yours, Yulia, wouldn’t be touched by him.” (Marie)
As Marie said this, she gently touched Yulia’s body. Indeed, Yulia’s muscular, toned physique would certainly captivate any man.
“But if Arc-sama didn’t make a move on someone with a body like yours, then it’s safe to say he never made a move on any woman.” (Marie)
It seemed that Marie finally believed her after Yulia’s self-sacrificing confession. Her face, unable to hide her happiness, showed that she was now convinced.
“Thank you, Yulia. Thanks to you, I feel so relieved. It was weighing on my mind, and now I can let it go. It’s getting late tonight, so why don’t we have a tea party tomorrow? I received some delicious sweets from my sister that are only available in the royal capital.” (Marie)
“Yes. I’m happy to have been of help. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” (Yulia)
In contrast to Marie, who looked happy, Yulia had a blank look on her face and stood up as if her mind was elsewhere. She staggered over to the door, weakly opened it and bowed his head.
“Excuse me.” (Yulia)
“Mm. Good night.” (Marie)
And so, Yulia left the room, overwhelmed not only by the fatigue of her duties but by something heavier that had begun to weigh on her.
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