I won

Gregoria laughed in amusement. "Yeah, you can dream about it," she said with a smirk, shaking her head.

But Julian only grinned. "Dreams have a way of becoming real, Grandmother," he teased back.

Without another word, he turned away and moved toward Regina, who was speaking with a few nobles.

She stood gracefully, her gown only amplifying her beauty. Julian stepped up behind her, and before she could react, he pressed his body against hers. 

Regina's breath hitched and her entire body tensed, though she kept her face unreadable. She was used to his boldness in private, but this—this—was something else.

She turned her head slightly, her voice just above a whisper. "Julian, what are you doing?"

His lips leaned in closer to her ear, "Nothing, mother. Just act calm," he murmured.

Regina's fingers clenched at her sides. "Calm?" she whispered, her voice barely audile. "Somebody might see us."