Chapter 28

“…Ah..”

Surprised by her unexpected action, Julia’s eyes widened.

She took a step back and tried to pull her hand away, but Fernan grabbed her hand again.

He clasped her hand and looked down at Julia. Then, silently, they started walking again. Julia looked at him as he walked a little ahead of her, and dropped her gaze with their linked hands. Even in the cold air, his hand was warm all by itself.

As she felt the warmth from him, Julia suddenly remembered what he said to her.

‘Didn't you tell me that you liked me?'

"Then don't ask me why and just stay by my side.’

Perhaps this man had been taken for granted.

She had always been a blind and passive wife to him. She was a foolish woman who loved him desperately, no matter how much it hurts.

She must have been such a woman to him.

Maybe this marriage didn't become necessary for him, but he was stubborn after she told him she wanted to divorce.

That was probably why he tried to lock her up in an obsessive way that she had never seen before.

Julia's face became determined. If that was the case, she could pretend to love him blindly like she used to.

It wouldn't be difficult to act like that, since the thought of him still shone faintly in a corner of her mind.

‘Even at this point…’

Julia's lips tightened in self-mockery, and she approached him with her expression tightly held.

As they walked side by side, Fernan looked at Julia again.

In that state, Julia grasped his hand tightly.

Fernan’s eyes shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Julia looked up at him like that and lifted her lips faintly.

As if she wished this time would last forever, like that.

***

Since then, Julia remained faithful and never left Fernan’s side.

As before, she spoke to him meaninglessly and made an effort to spend time with him.

Still, Fernan still seemed unwilling to remove the knights around her.

The knights were ostensibly there to protect her, and she had no reason to ask him to remove them.

As a result, she couldn't help but feel impatient.

After a few vague days of this, Julia suddenly received an invitation from the Imperial Palace. The event was to gather the noblewomen together as the due date of the Crown Princess was approaching. Since Julia was also a member of the imperial family, it became inevitable that she would have to go to the capital.

‘I don't want to go.’

Julia let out a small sigh as she was tended by the maids.

If she goes to the capital, she’ll have to meet someone she doesn’t want to see.

Marchioness Elody. Because she had never fallen into such a position.

However, since she had told Fernan that she would not divorce him, she had to fulfill her duty as the Grand Duchess first. And so, as she finished her preparations and descended the central staircase, the knights who were assigned to escort her bowed their heads.

The number of knights increased by two. She was going to the capital, so Fernan increased the surveillance.

Julia stepped out of the doorway with a faint sigh.

As she got into the carriage, the knights followed, escorting her around the carriage as it was natural.

Sitting alone in such a huge carriage, Julia suddenly remembered the past.

The memory of going to the capital with Fernan. He was that heartless man who only paid attention to his papers without ever looking at her.

She remembered peeking at him secretly every chance she could.

Julia closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the window to get rid of her thoughts.

Meanwhile, the rattling carriage ran constantly.

It took half a day to arrive at the Imperial Palace, which, as usual, boasted a gorgeous and magnificent landscape.

"Welcome Grand Duchess. Let me show you where you will be staying.”

Julia entered the villa according to the guidance of her servant.

The schedule was quite long this time and she had to stay alone in the capital for four days.

She made her way to her assigned bedroom and after putting on her banquet dress, she headed to the reception room just in time.

The first person to greet Julia was, unfortunately, the Marchioness.

"Julia, it's been a long time!"

The Marchioness rushed over with her arms wide open and hugged her daughter.

In the eyes of others, Julia was the lovely daughter of the Marchioness, who was a gentle mother as always.

Julia greeted her with a somber face.

"It's been a long time, Mother."

But her voice was as stiff as it had always been.

It was because the fear of the Marchioness that she had accumulated since she was a child still lingered in her mind like a scar.

“Now, all the ladies are here. Let’s go to our seats.”

The Marchioness, holding Julia's hand gently, headed for their reserved seats.

The Crown Princess, the main character of this place, had not yet come.

Julia's reserved seat was the one closest to the upper seat. As she say down, the noble ladies who were already seated glanced at her.

Some of them were familiar faces, but unlike before, the way they looked at Julia was somewhat subtle.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you, Grand Duchess. How have you been?”

"Yes, have you been well?"

Even as they exchanged passing greetings, they were silently exchanging glances with each other.

Julia noticed a mixture of curiosity and mockery in the way they stared at her. Just as she felt her heart sink looking at them, an attendant informed her that the Crown Princess had arrived.

"Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess is entering."

All the ladies rose from their seats to greet her. Veronica nodded benevolently and took her seat at the top.

Veronica was distinctly fuller than she had been when they met at the Founding Festival.

Thus the small banquet began with tea time.

When the atmosphere was ripe with ritualistic conversation, Julia had a short conversation with Veronica.

"I'm sorry you had to travel so far to be here. But I’m so glad that you’re here.”

"I'm grateful.”

Veronica, who was somewhat hesitant, quietly opened her mouth when Julia showed her a small smile.

"Did you know that there’s a rumor in the capital, by any chance?"

"A rumor?"

Julia tilted her head with her eyes wide open. Realizing that she knew nothing about it, Veronica quickly shook her head.

"I shouldn't have brought it up. It’s a small rumor, so don't worry about it. Now, the priests of the Temple of Ilion will be arriving at the Imperial Palace soon. Priest Matheus will come too."

Julia was still concerned about the rumor, but she answered as Veronica changed the subject.

“I see. I’ll visit him at Mass."

"Let's do that. We'll go together later.”

Veronica smiled and continued her conversation.

Meanwhile, the eyes of the ladies seated at the other tables were fixed on Julia.

It was in the afternoon when the small party ended. It was only after dinner that Julia could get out of the banquet hall.

Just as she was about to head back to her designated room with a servant, someone gently grabbed her wrist. It was the Marchioness.

"Julia, in which palace are you staying?"

Before Julia could answer, the Marchioness quickly continued.

"It's a pity we have to part ways like this. Let’s talk some more. Come on, show the way.”

Julia sighed silently as she looked at the Marchioness standing by her side as if it was natural.

So as they walked together to Julia’s place, the stares around them disappeared. It was then that the Marchioness finally took off her compassionate mask.

"Do you know what rumors have been circulating in the capital?”

As soon as they arrived at the assigned residence, the Marchioness asked in a harsh voice.

It sounded like the rumor Veronica mentioned earlier.

"…Is it about me?"

Julia tried to guess what kind of rumor it might be, but nothing came to mind.

She was not a frequent visitor to the capital, nor did she have a close relationship with the ladies.

"You don’t know?”

"…"

“I knew that the Grand Duke was not very pleased with you, but I did not know that he got a private mansion. From what I've heard, he's even thinking about divorcing you.”

The Marchioness glared at Julia, pouting and clicking her tongue.

It was only then that Julia realized what the rumor was and how it started.

It was probably because of Cornelia, the Duke of Blair's daughter Julia had run into at Fernan’s private residence a few months ago.