Julian... was short of words.
What could he say? He didn't know what the Emperor wanted from him, because that rumor he was referring to was already so absurd.
His pulse began to quicken. If he made a mistake in his statement and made the Emperor displeased, wouldn't that be the end of him?
Or... Or was the Emperor actually looking for an excuse to end him, after realizing his brother was somewhat close to another man, even though it wasn't true?
Julian believed he wasn't that close to the Duke.
And he believed no amount of explanation would clear that, given the Duke had taken him to the palace, where he had no business being.
He wasn't even a nanny or a caregiver. He... Was just... A tutor.
Even he knew how ridiculous that would sound... But it was the truth.
