Julius & Juliana

CHAPTER 9

When she saw the message, she was heartbroken and felt disappointed but she didn't yet believe what Paul had said. She decided to confront Julius before the day of her next performance so that they could settle the matter before she could proceed to her show so as to avoid disappointing everyone on that day owing to the issue bothering her. She phoned him to let him know that there was something she really wanted to discuss with him and that it was very important they meet before the day of her next performance.

On the day of their meeting, Julius rode his horse to the place as usual, smiling and feeling excited at the thought of seeing the love of his life once again although he was still yet to admit his love for her even though she was showing him so much of her love for him. He was getting ready to officially reveal his true identity to her now that he has seen she was in love with him despite his poor status. He didn't know that his best friend had betrayed him. Juliana also set out to the place not minding if she was being monitored or followed by any of her father's guards. She was in an opposite mood to that of Julius and was accompanied by her usual two male guards in her car but secretly followed by the guards whom her father had instructed to follow and monitor her movements, so as to ensure that she wasn't going to see Julius. She was angry that Julius have kept her from knowing the truth about his presumed rescue incident.

When she arrived the place, she met Julius and sat down to discuss with him inside the hall while her guards waited outside the hall. The monitoring guards had seen that she came to visit Julius and they left to inform her father about this.

Julius saw that she was not in a cheerful mood and he asked her what the problem was. She stared at him in a strange way for some time then she began "as handsome as you are, are you so shy to walk up to a girl you admire and talk to her rather than faking a rescue mission?" "What are you talking about?" Asked Julius. He had brought a diagram of Juliana which he had drawn and painted from one of her albums with her picture on it. "Stop pretending I hate lies so tell me the truth. You paidd some guys to attack me during my last show so that you could pretend to come to my rescue and paint your nose and lips with animal blood, so that I can believe your efforts were real just because you admire me and wanted to win my heart in love isn't it?" Juliana continued rather harshly. Julius was gobsmacked and dumbfounded at the same time. He was shocked to know that Juliana had discovered the truth about his rescue incident and he was afraid of loosing her affection for him. However, he admitted that it was true but wondered how on earth she found out the truth. "From the moment I set my eyes on you preforming on stage, I became crazy about you. I was completely mesmerized by your astonishing beauty. I knew I had no chance of gaining your attention as a peasant so I thought of an idea to make you fall in love with me for who I am and not for what I am. I decided to pay some guys who actually aren't thugs to act like thugs and attack you and your guards , while I act as a super hero in fighting for you. I paid them with all the money I had because they demanded a huge sum and because I was determined to gain your affection and attention, I had to give them all I've got from my little piece of artwork, not minding if I would starve to death afterwards because gaining your love and attention was all I cared about. It was a dream come true for me to find myself in your arms and even if you punish me or stop loving me now, I will forever be glad that I was privileged to have even touched the skin of the most beautiful princess I've ever seen in my life" Julius concluded. He was looking downwards in expectation of a harsh response to his words from Juliana. She smiled and chuckled at his words, finding them romantic and her mood changed. "Why would you think that you have no chance of gaining my attention as a peasant? Do you think I'm after wealthy guys? My father is the richest man in this country and governors and prime ministers are down to his command. I don't need a rich and proud guy, I need a humble, honest, kindhearted, gentle, intelligent, funny and hardworking guy. Even if I was from a poor home like you, I would still have this mindset."

At this juncture, Julius was smiling at the fact that Juliana has confirmed to him that she wasn't after money but good personality which he wanted to know from her. Juliana continued "I hate lies and deceit. If you admire someone, you should approach him or her and tell him or her about it. It isn't a crime. I would have preferred that you approach me and try telling me about it and even if I reject you due to your poor status, you would know you tried and keep trying so that I may consider you regarding your efforts. Sometimes desperation can be dangerous" she concluded. She turned and was about to leave him in anger but he knelt down and apologized to her. "Losing your love is one thing I will forever hate myself for. If you leave me, life will be worthless to me. There will be no joy in my life. Please try to understand that the love I have for you, I can't have it for anyone else and if you leave me, you will also leave a huge vacuole in my heart that no one else can fill" he concluded. Juliana helped him to his feet, smiled at him and asked "Do you really love me that much?" "Heaven knows I do and bears witness to that." Then for the very first time since they knew each other, she kissed him. Having been reassured that she still loved him, he went and brought the diagram of her which he had drawn on cardboard and showed it to her. She marveled at his talent and hugged him in appreciation then she took the cardboard from him and stood to go. "When I was leaving, I assured my father that I won't be staying long at my friend's place. If he finds out that it was you I came to see, your life could be in danger. He is a very dangerous and cruel man and can kill someone for a little offense" she said as she turned to leave. Julius escorted her a little and during their walk, she told him of how numerous guys have approached her before they met. Rich and poor but she had rejected them not because they weren't handsome but because unlike him, they didn't know how to talk to a girl romantically and they lacked the qualities she admire in men, for some of them were too proud to continue trying while others were rude after she said no to them. She explained that she had easily fallen in love with Julius after his fake rescue mission and even now that she's realized it was all fake, she still can't help but continue loving him because he had displayed one of the qualities she admire when he knelt down to apologize, which is a sign of humility and willingness to be sorry when he's wrong. She further explained that apart from that, he seems to be very romantic and a complete gentleman. They went on their separate ways after she told him the next time they will meet, which was the same day she was having a show at a different venue.

Julius got home and thought about how on earth Juliana found out the truth about his fake rescue drama. He couldn't suspect his best friend Paul to have betrayed him. But when he found it hard to think otherwise, he was left with no other option but to suspect him. He phoned him and demanded to see him immediately. When Paul came, he asked him if he had in any way leaked the secret behind his planned rescue of the princess and Paul denied it vividly. But when he kept asking him the same question, Paul got annoyed and was forced to confess that he was the one who let the cat out of the bag to Juliana. Julius was mad with anger and from that day onwards, they stopped being friends.