Chapter 13

"I'm sure you're very busy, but fortunately you had time to attend the banquet."

Fernan’s brows narrowed faintly, but he quickly smiled.

"Of course. How could I not participate in such a glorious occasion?"

“Good. I was worried since you didn't participate in the parade.”

Fernan, who looked at the Crown Prince quietly, soon gave a blatant smile.

It was funny to see the Crown Prince so uncomfortable now because he had refused to escort the emperor in the parade.

The Crown Prince, noticing Fernan’s smile, raised his eyebrows and immediately turned his attention to Julia.

"Ah, the Grand Duchess is here as well, I see."

The Crown Prince once again displayed his good natured smile.

"I was told by Veronica that the Grand Duchess was not in good health. I heard you were blessed by a priest, are you okay now?"

Julia nodded with a smile on her face.

"Yes, thanks to your concern, Your Majesty, I’m fine now."

While Julia was having a more formal conversation with the Crown Prince, Fernan’s secretly gazed at her ankle.

Then he looked at her slender wrist, and soon looked away as if nothing had happened.

“Ah, it looks like the dance will be starting soon.”

The orchestra, which had been playing fancy tunes, soon began to play a light waltz.

The Crown Prince asked for said goodbye and disappeared to the side of the Crown Princess.

Soon the banquet hall was divided into two groups: those who went out on stage to dance and those who sat quietly at tables to listen to the music.

Julia glanced at Fernan. He was not interested in dancing, and was accepting a glass of wine from his attendant.

While Julia was struggling to think of something to say to him, several socialites approached Fernan.

"…"

Julia gently touched the glass on the table, keeping her mouth tightly closed as she watched Fernan respond to the people with a casual explain.

After dealing with the constant stream of nobles, Fernan entered the terrace. There was less barking and his head finally felt a little more comfortable. After a few moments of being exposed to the cold breeze while holding onto the railing, he suddenly turned his head at the sound of the door opening.

A woman in a dark green dress appeared. It was Julia, who came to see him.

“Your Highness, are you alright?"

Julia approached him with a worried look on her face. Fernan did not reply but looked forward.

There were many eyes watching him in the banquet hall, but now, out here, things were different. He didn't want to pretend to be close to her.

"I got a nice tea for a hangover from the chamberlain."

Julia held out the cup in her hand. She watched him continue to drink the wine and wondered if he had a hangover.

When Fernan didn't pick up the glass, Julia bowed her head a little sullen.

“You don't have to drink it… but I'll leave it here just in case."

Setting the teacup down on the parapet, Julia hesitated for a moment, not turning away immediately.

The faint expression of her desire to be with him showed itself. Fernan blinked his eyes slowly, as if suppressing something, and quickly turned his gaze toward her.

"Is it your hobby to be intrusive?"

His somber voice dropped to the terrace. Julia's eyes fluttered with a panicked look.

At the sight of her, Fernan found it hard to bear this emotion that was somehow welling up in him. But he ignored it.

It would be better if he didn't have to deal with it, but at this moment, this woman was bothering him badly.

He felt dizzy again when Julia appeared in his mind that he had been trying to empty.

“I'm just worried about Your Highness ….."

Julia opened her mouth hesitantly, and Fernan scoffed lightly.

"I don't see why you should be worried about me.”

"…"

Julia raised her clear eyes and looked at him pitifully. He unknowingly gritted his teeth. Her eyes were always the problem.

The more he acted badly, the more she would get hurt, but those eyes, always shining, scratched his nerves.

She had just that look in her eyes when she haunted him again with the words ‘I love you’. Julia’s face went blank at his sharp words.

"Why don't you worry more about your future than mine? Do you think this marriage will last forever?"

Her lips trembled as she dropped her gaze with a hurt look on her face, as she was greatly shocked by his words. Her eyes reddened slightly as she laid them down. For some reason, Fernan felt his heart tingle at the sight of her.

He knew his words were harsh. There was no need for him to go to such lengths. But Fernan looked even colder, as if he was trying to hide his upset heart tightly. Meanwhile, a quiet voice came from Julia, who had her mouth clenched shut. 

"…I'm sorry. I won't bother you any more."

Julia turned around without even looking at him. The way she was walking with her eyes down was unstable as if she would collapse at any moment.

Fernan, who flinched unknowingly, tapped his forehead as Julia completely disappeared.

"… d*mn it."

The commotion that he thought would end when she disappeared was still racking his brain.

He couldn't get her out of his mind as she looked down with teary eyes.

He didn't even think about the throbbing heart that continued to pound.

He gripped the railing tightly and sighed heavily. It was not good to act so emotionally.

He had never been one to show his emotions.

After so many years of war, and so many deaths, he was getting better at hiding his true feelings.

It was not difficult for him to hide his true intentions and smiled in front of the Emperor and Crown Prince, or the nobles who were vigilantly trying to attack him.

But at some point it became difficult.

When did it start? …….

Fernan was in distress when someone suddenly showed signs of being there.

"Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop on purpose."

The woman who had been hiding behind a pillar emerged with an embarrassed smile on her face.

Fernan looked at the woman for a moment, and then averted his gaze again, uninterested.

He knew someone was in there since he first came out the terrace. It wasn't worth paying attention to, so he just ignored it.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The woman smiled brightly and approached him. Fernan's brows furrowed.

"Do you know me?"

“Um… I guess you don’t remember me.”

Fernan took a quick look at the woman's appearance. He had never met her before, and even if he did, he wouldn’t want to remember her.

"Oh, you may not remember because you were young. Well, we haven't met very often."

"So what is it you want to tell me?"

Fernan asked back without sincerity, and the slightly faltering woman soon smiled brightly.

"I’m Cornelia of the House of Blair. Do you not remember? Before His Highness went off to war, there was talk of an engagement.”

It was only when he heard the name of the family that Fernan remembered. The Blair was one of the families that had once made a match with him.

Originally, the engagement ceremony would have been held after his coming-of-age ceremony, but since he had to leave for war suddenly by order of the emperor, the marriage was naturally canceled. It was just that. The woman, however, had a sentimental look in her eyes, as if it was some kind of fate.

“I'm really glad to see you after all these years. In fact, I've been thinking about Your Highness from time to time lately."

There was no reply, but Cornelia continued to speak earnestly.

"By the way, you must hate your wife very much."

Fernan passed Cornelia by without answering her probing question.

He didn't know why he had to engage in this conversation. It was all a waste of time.

At that moment, Cornelia stopped him imminently.

"My father wants to help His Highness.”

Stopping, Fernan looked back at her, his eyes narrowed.

“From what I heard, it sounds like you and the Grand Duchess will be divorced someday.”

Cornelia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her serpentine eyes glinting. A greedy look. It was a gaze he was very familiar with. 

“What do you think? After your divorce, you should make a connection with my family."

It was only then that Fernan finally frowned indifferently and gave a small sneer, as if he had heard a dog barking.

"Are you out of your mind?”

"Huh…?"

"Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm missing something."

Cornelia's eyes wavered. She seemed to doubt what she heard.

Fernan stared at her for a moment, as if he was looking at something worthless, then he left the terrace.

It must be a big deal for the woman to sell out even her father for saying something like that.

There had been many women who had approached him like that. All of them did not care whether he was married or not.

They seemed to take it for granted, since it was a common occurrence among the nobility of the capital.

However, Fernan was the one who despised such people terribly.

It was not because he was moral or faithful. It was just that such people instinctively made him want to vomit.

As he stepped out into the banquet hall again, the sound of boisterous music playing scratched his nerves. At the same time, he could see Julia leaving the banquet hall in the far distance.

"Ha…."

Fernan was dumbfounded for a while by the fact that she was the first person he saw out of all these people.