Chapter 21

The Marquis, who was staring threateningly at Julia, opened his mouth in a hideous tone.

"You're… you're really out of your mind, aren't you?"

It was the first time Julia had tried to defy him in such a way. The Marquis's eyes angrily distorted. The more he thought about it, the more he was disgusted.

"You dare to make such threats against me without knowing the benefits I have given you.”

Julia stared at her father with unfocused eyes.

It all didn't matter anymore. Whether her father was going to beat her to death or kick her out of the family.

She couldn’t think of anything, her head was as empty as a blanket.

"Julia, listen carefully to what I say."

The Marquis, who managed to contain the anger that was building up to the top of his head, calmly opened his mouth.

"It's not like you don’t have a chance to make up for it. You can have an heir before the Grand Duke declares a divorce. Then you can keep him in your grasp. …."

"I don't want to."

Julia muttered quietly, and the Marquis immediately frowned.

Unable to contain his rising anger, the Marquis lifted his sturdy hand once more, but someone knocked on the door at that moment.

“Excuse me.”

Bennett, who came in with refreshments, sensed an unusual atmosphere and paused for a moment.

“Um, I've brought tea…"

Frowning, Bennett glanced at Julia, who remained motionless.

Meanwhile, the Marquis, who had finally managed to hold back his anger, sat down as if nothing had happened and said to Bennett.

"Leave the tea."

"Oh, yes…"

Bennett placed the tea on the table and carefully observed Julia, who was standing still.

When the Marquis noticed Bennett's look, he opened his mouth in a caring tone.

"Julia, father is wrong. Don't just stand there, sit down. There are people under you, so you have to set an example."

There was no trace of the fiery anger he had shown earlier.

Seeing the Marquis's attitude, which seemed to be simply placating his sulking daughter, Bennett tilted his head and walked out of the parlor.

As soon as Bennett left, his expression tightened again, and he looked at Julia's swollen, red cheek and said, 

"You have to take care of the matter no matter what. Stop being rebellious.”

"…"

"Tsk, how can you face the Duke with a face like that?”

The Marquis glared at Julia for a moment and continued speaking.

"‘No matter how much the Grand Duke says he's like a wooden stone, in the end he's just a man. If you make up your mind and jump at him, he won't be able to refuse."

"…"

"So, do whatever you have to do, you must have a child with him.”

Julia looked at the Marquis with a subdued gaze. His father's eyes, filled with greed as always, were the same color as her own.

It was so humiliating that she couldn't bear the fact now.

"This is your last chance. It won't happen again. Don't think that I can't do anything about a girl like you.”

Julia didn't even blink at the Marquis' continued threats.

Her dimly locked face showed no signs of life.

***

“Oh my god, what is this…?”

Melissa was astonished when she saw Julia's swollen cheek.

After some time, her face, with its broken capillaries, became so red and hot that it hurt just to look at it.

Julia just passed by Melissa without any reaction and sat on the bed.

"Your Grace… are you alright?"

Julia nodded lightly. Melissa, who was watching her with concern, went outside to bring her a cold cloth.

Left alone, Julia stared into the air.

After sitting for a while without moving slightly, she suddenly stood up and approached the drawer. There was a pendant in it and Julia quickly took it out.

It was the pendant that Matheus had given her. Light shone on the blue jewel, which was filled with his holy power. When she put it to her heart, she could feel the power of the pendant resonating with the power of her heart. It calmed her mind gently.

“Are you happy now?”

Suddenly Matheus' voice came to mind, asking me if she was happy.

Julia went back in her memory. Has there ever been a time when she was happy, even just once? She was pensive and dropped her gaze helplessly. She had never been happy in the past, and she wasn’t happy now.

She didn't even know what to do to make her situation better.

Closing her heavy eyelids, Julia put the pendant back in. She walked to the bed without strength and laid her tired body down, and her eyes closed by themselves.

At that moment, Melissa, who had gone to get the cloth, knocked on the door and went inside.

But Julia was so exhausted that she didn't even notice.

Melissa rushed to her side, and gently placed the cool cloth on Julia’s swollen cheek. But Julia couldn't feel any sensation.

She could only stare and think.

Even if she couldn't be happy, she already knew how to avoid this misery.

****

During his visit to the border, Fernan deployed more private troops to strengthen the defenses.

As a result of his investigation, it became clear that the numerous demons that had invaded the border were the work of the Kingdom of Renev, one of the defeated nations in the last Imperial War.

There were no major problems in defeating the demons themselves, but the evacuation of the permanent residents living near the border was complicated.

They set up temporary shelters for the people, and then spent several days just raiding the areas.

It was early in the morning when Fernan returned to the castle after four days.

Fernan, who had stopped his horse and was heading for the rear gate of the castle, paused for a moment.

He saw someone walking slowly around the garden, which was covered with a thin layer of snow.

Gazing at the figure with squinted eyes, Fernan approached without hesitation.

The figure was hidden from a dark view, but he could recognize her at a glance.

That woman walking alone was Julia.

She was wearing a thin slip dress and a shawl, even though the dawn breeze was cold. Fernan called her gently.

"Julia."

It was the first time he had called her name aloud. While she was still feeling unfamiliar with this fact, Julia slowly turned around.

"Why are you out here….?"

Fernan’s face hardened for a moment as he spoke. It was because he saw the white gauze covering one of Julia's cheeks.

His brows contracted, and Fernan reached out to her face without hesitation.

“Are you hurt?”

He asked quietly as he lightly swept her cheek.

"Why, why did you get injured?"

Julia looked sullenly at his serious face, then changed the subject.

"You’re late."

Fernan wasn't usually one to pass on the lore of being late for any reason separately.

This time, as usual, he left without saying a word to her.

Therefore, Julia did not know why he had not come back to the castle for four days, and she just waited endlessly for him to return.

Because there was something she wanted to say to him.

"Please tell me. What has happened?"

Fernan asked in a somber tone. He wanted to remove this gauze now and check the wound, but he had to listen to her first.

But Julia just stood still without replying.

"Why aren't you talking? Don't tell me again…."

Fernan stopped speaking. Because Julia gently took his large hand in hers.

Julia removed his hand from her cheek and let go without hesitation. Fernan stared down at his hand.

His teeth were chattering somehow.

"Tell me who did this?"

"Your Highness.”

“Is it a servant? Or…"

You said you'd end this marriage one day."

Fernan’s face crumbled slowly. He didn't know why Julia suddenly brought it up in this situation. Her calm voice followed as he carefully examined Julia's expression.

"Let's end it now."

"What?"

Fernan’s eyes wavered slightly. Julia said, looking into his eyes.

"We're getting divorce." 

For the four days that Fernan was out, she agonized countless times.

A husband who hated her. A father who forced her to have children with such a husband.

So, to end this misery, she had to end this marriage.

Her love for him was still the same. However, she couldn't endure this hell with her heart alone. 

Love alone can overcome all trials and tribulations, and that is the story of a fairy tale hero.

Such a beautiful fairy tale where the story proceeds on the premise that the two protagonists love each other deeply. 

But Julia was in a situation where she couldn't even qualify as a protagonist.

Her love was always one-sided. She was even more unhappy because she loved Fernan. Surprisingly, that fact hardened her heart.