Chapter 3

"What more do I have to do to satisfy His Majesty…. Do you know the way Marquis?”

The Marquis replied in a gentle tone at Fernan’s sarcastic question.

"Yes, I do. If you have a child with my daughter as soon as possible and produce an heir, His Majesty may recognize the Grand Duke's loyalty.”

Fernand's handsome forehead wrinkled.

That meant that he had to produce an heir and put down his title as soon as possible.

Once he retired himself, he would take the opportunity to dismantle the Grand Duke's private army and try to make his successor do as he wished.

The Marquis took the opportunity of Fernan’s bad mood to begin to wrap things up nicely.

"After giving birth to the heir, the Grand Duke can take a distant rest with my daughter. Wouldn’t it be nice to no longer be tormented by His Majesty?”

"…"

"Think about it. I'm not asking you to make a stranger your successor. Is it so unfair to hand down the title to the Grand Duke's biological child?"

Fernan raised his deep somber eyes and glared at the Marquis. The Marquis' face, full of greed and ambition, was more sickening than filth.

Fernan, who had been silent for a while with his brows furrowed, spoke slowly.

"If His Majesty's intentions are true, I can't disobey him, can I?"

‘I finally got through to him.’

It was when the Marquis was about to say something more, Fernan spoke in an arsenic-laced tone.

"I'm sure he won’t mind any child as long as it came from my blood.”

The Marquis was startled out of his wits by these words. He raised his trembling hand and pointed at Fernan.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you're gonna have an illegitimate child?”

It was very entertaining to see the Marquis shouting angrily and sluggishly. Fernan leaned back against the sofa and smiled.

"No matter how I try, I don’t think I can have children with the Marquis’s daughter. Every time I look at her, I see the image of her father, and my body won’t cooperate. So, what can I do?”

"You…!”

The Marquis’s anger soared and he felt like he was about to collapse.

The Marquis grabbed the back of his neck and clung to it as if he was about to fall. Fernan watched the scene satisfactorily for a moment, then got up from his seat. 

"It seems that you have finished everything you wanted to say, so I’ll go now.”

Leaving the shivering Marquis behind, Fernan stepped out of the office.

"Ugh, that cheeky…!"

After being left alone, he slammed on the table roughly. He knew Fernan was difficult, but he didn’t expect he would go this far.

He was right, the emperor would be satisfied with anything as long as Fernan dropped his title as soon as possible. It didn't matter if the heir was his wife's child or not.

If Fernan had indeed an illegitimate child, it would be a disaster for him (the Marquis). All the hopes he had for this marriage would be in vain.

The Marquis gritted his teeth, unable to control his anger for a moment.

It seemed that he would have to find some other ways that would ensure that Fernan would be tamed.

*** 

"Grand Duchess.”

The chamberlain bowed deeply and opened the door. Julia entered the dining room with a feeling of nervousness in her heart.

An uncharacteristically quiet atmosphere greeted her. Fernan did not look at her as she entered, but fixed his gaze on the document in his hand.

"Good evening, Your Highness."

Julia greeted him in a low voice, but as usual, Fernan didn't reply.

Maybe her voice was too low to be heard. Comforting herself like that, Julia sat quietly in her seat.

Soon hot soup, fresh salad and well-done lamb steaks were placed on the table in turn.

“Grand Duchess, would you like me to pour you a glass of wine?"

"I’m fine.”

Shaking her head with a small smile, Julia immediately began to eat. Only the occasional clatter of dishes filled the dining room.

It was Fernan who first broke the awkward silence. 

"I will be going to the capital to see His Majesty soon."

Julia, who was about to eat her salad, looked at Fernan with her fork in the void. He continued to talk without taking his eyes off the document.

"You come too."

Julia blinked in disbelief for a moment.

“Oh, can I come with you?"

"Yes."

Her heart pounded. It was the first time Fernan had suggested doing something first.

"Yes, yes…I will.”

Fernan didn't continue the conversation as if that was his only purpose. Julia couldn’t believe she was going to the capital with him and have an audience with the Emperor. Julia was so excited that she didn’t notice Fernan’s mood was more subdued than usual.

Still, Julia couldn't help the twitch on her lips.

Now she felt like she was really married to him, and her heart began to flutter.

The carriage carrying the Grand Duke and his wife left early in the morning, just as the sun began to rise.

Julia, who was so nervous last night that she didn’t sleep at all, intended to get some sleep in the carriage.

However, when she saw Fernan sitting in front of her, a certain sleepiness seemed to vanish.

"…"

He was still examining the document as they traveled in the carriage. It was a little disappointing to see his eyes covered by his downcast eyelids.

Fernan has beautiful golden eyes that seem to melt in the sunlight. It was a warm color that eased the sharpness of his eyes.

In contrast, his dark ebony-black hair gave off a somewhat cold feeling.

Today, his hair was neatly swept to reveal a clean forehead, but thanks to it, his sculpted face was clearly visible.

It seemed that she could look at just his face all day and never get tired of it.

"Why don't you stop looking and go to sleep if you have nothing better to do?”

Fernan murmured in a low voice, not taking his eyes off the document. Julia was startled and replied quickly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think…"

Fernan stared at her reddened cheeks, holding her gaze, and wrinkled his brow.

Whenever they were face to face, Julia showed such an innocent expression again.

He had no idea if she was shy or pretending to be. She was unpleasant in a different way from the Marquis.

If it hadn't been for the emperor's message, he wouldn't have gone to the capital with her in the first place.

The Emperor's letter that the Marquis brought him said, 

[I will be gathering the members of the imperial family for a dinner banquet in the near future, and you must attend. Please be sure to come with Julia.]

Normally, he would not attend, but it was clear that if he refused the emperor's order any longer, he would try to pressure him again, expressing his deep sorrow.

The whole thing was annoying and troublesome. Even that woman who was still flirting with him.

Fernan, who had once again glued his gaze on the document, completely blocked her vision with it.

It was already dark when they arrived at the Imperial Palace.

While the attendants carried their luggage inside, the two were led to their assigned places. As soon as Julia stepped out of the carriage, she felt a sudden surge of fatigue.

As much as she wanted to jump into bed, her first priority was to meet and greet His Majesty the Emperor.

"I'm here to see you, Your Majesty. How have you been?”

"All right, come on in. I'm sure you've had a lot of trouble coming a long way."

The Emperor's warm reception continued. After exchanging a few formal reassurances with Fernan, the emperor quickly cast a glance at Julia.

"I haven't seen you since the wedding. I'm glad to see you looking healthy.”

Julia replied politely, hiding the tension that was surging through her.

"Yes, thanks to Your Majesty's concern, I've been fine."

"I'm glad to hear that. Grand Duke is such a blunt man that I had an uncommon fear that the Grand Duchess would be neglected.”

The emperor was joking, and Julia took the place of an answer by softly facing him.

The emperor was quite a friendly and impressionable person, but he was someone with whom she somehow felt uncomfortable.

It was somehow similar to how she felt when she saw her father.

"Now, don't just stand there, sit down."

The dining table prepared inside the banquet hall was spacious enough for fifteen people to sit comfortably.

Seated at the table were the Empress, the Crown Prince and his wife, and several princes and princesses.

Julia listened to the emperor's words as she tried to adjust to the unfamiliar atmosphere.

"My heart feels so full to see you all here after such a long time."

"Yes, Your Majesty. It's thanks to the newcomer to the imperial family."

The Empress looked at Julia with a compassionate smile. With her red hair elegantly cropped, the Empress was a gentle woman.

Yes, the Empress is right…It’s very fortunate that the Grand Duke has such a virtuous wife.”

That Emperor smiled and continued.

“Marquis Elody raised her well. She grew up with a loyal father, and she must also be loyal to the imperial family. I believe that the Grand Duchess will bring great blessings to the imperial family."

The emperor's words drew everyone's attention to Julia. She felt the pressure for a moment, but then calmed down and spoke.

"I will do my best to meet Your Majesty's expectations."

"Thank you."

Julia thought that the emperor seemed to overly flatter her. She should be grateful for the compliment, but somehow she felt more awkward.

She gulped a sigh, then glanced at Fernan, who sat across from her. His expression was oddly twisted.

Just as she was about to question his appearance, he opened his mouth.

"I didn't know Your Majesty was so fond of my wife.”