Chapter 31

When Fernan returned to his office, the knight who was waiting at the door gave a silent bow.

While he was inside and seated, the knight immediately reported on the surveillance so far.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess did not make any special movements, except for the four-day banquet schedule."

Even in the palace, the knights secretly followed Julia’s every movement.

Fernan, who unfolded the documents he was viewing again, nodded as if to say continue.

“It doesn't seem to be something to worry about again, but she accompanied a priest twice on her walks.”

"A priest?”

Fernan covered the document and stared at the knight. Nodding, the knight continued.

"Yes, they were the priests who came for the Crown Princess's birth mass. One was a young priest and the other was an older priest. The terrain was difficult to get close to, so I couldn't eavesdrop on their conversation."

Fernan nodded casually and made a chin gesture to tell the knight to leave. So far, there was nothing special about the report.

The knight, with a modest silent bow, quickly left the office.

After the knight disappeared, Fernan’s gaze once again cast his eyes on his papers, reviewing the delayed report for some time.

After a while, he raised his head just after he had examined all the documents. His eyes closed slowly. Fernan leaned back and pondered for a moment.

“I'll stay by your side, Your Highness.”

"I won't think about divorce again.”

As he remembered what Julia had said to him the other day, a subtle expression appeared on his face. 

Her words shook him for a moment, but he didn't think that was what she really meant. Because she might be determined to escape the situation and try to deceive him. Fernan lightly brushed his face with his large hand.

Not yet. He still wasn't sure that she was completely by his side. So he had no choice but to keep an eye on her from an invisible place until he was sure. Fernan closed his heavy eyelids slowly.

He hadn't slept well for days, and his eyes were blurry.

****

Julia finally woke up the next morning.

She heard that Fernan had carried her in  from the carriage last night, but she did not show any reaction.

After letting Melissa out for a while and being left alone, Julia brought out a pendant that she had kept in a drawer.

She then placed the pendant on top of the bead she had hidden in her chest. It was to confirm Cedric's message.

Just as Cedric had said, as the two holy objects met each other, the light gradually began to spread from the bead.

There was a cracking sound and the bead cracked into pieces. At the same time, small pieces of glass scattered in the air.

A small piece of paper remained in the remaining place.

Julia opened the note nervously.

[Monastery in the Ladel district, near the western part of the Grand Duchy's central square.]

The letter said that after his stay at the Imperial Palace, Cedric would be staying at that monastery for a long time.

So she could see him whenever she went there.

It was added that if she succeeded getting out of the Duke’s castle, then Cedric would accompany her directly from then on.

[I will gladly wait for you no matter how long it takes, so please don't be in a hurry.]

Julia revealed her warm eyes. It was as if she was at the Imperial Palace, and she could hear the gentle, young voice.

After folding the letter neatly for safekeeping, Julia organized her future plans for a while.

She still had knights attached to her as her bodyguards.

Far from running away, even if she leaves the castle in the name of going out, they will surely follow her.

‘…What should I do?’

She had been trying her best so far, but Fernan still didn't seem to trust her.

She had no idea what more should do here.

Cedric said he would come to the Ladel monastery in a week.

Julia stared into the air with a stiff face. All she could do now was to give Fernan trust.

She had to create a situation where he wouldn't suspect her even without the knights.

Julia stroked the pendant on the table.

But if that didn't work, she was willing to risk her reason this time.

It was early in the evening when the snow began to fall heavily on the estate.

Julia, who had finished her meal and was walking up the stairs, was distracted for a while by the snow falling outside the window.

Eventually, she heard the sound of someone's footsteps.

"Your Grace, how have you been?”

Julia turned her head and saw a white-haired man. It was the Grand Duke's long-time doctor, Lockman.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

Julia asked with a nod, and Lockman replied politely.

"I was summoned by His Highness to his chambers.”

Julia opened her eyes wide. No wonder he didn’t show up in the dining room earlier.

‘Is he sick?’

"I'll be leaving now. Please take care.”

When she was no longer talking, Lockman said goodbye politely and then disappeared.

Julia walked up the stairs and was about to enter the hallway where her bedroom was located, then she stopped. 

Somewhat hesitantly, she unexpectedly changed direction to where Fernan’s bedroom was. Julia stood still in front of his bedroom, which she had arrived at with an incomprehensible feeling.

‘What am I doing now?’

She mumbled and turned her body again, shaking her head. It was none of her business whether he was sick or not.

Just as she calmly walked away like that, I heard a sound like something breaking from inside.

Startled to a halt, Julia turned around.

"Your Highness?”

She hurried to the door and called for Fernan, but there was no answer from inside.

Hesitantly, Julia slowly opened the door. Cautiously stepping inside, she was greeted by a dimly lit room.

Because of her suddenly darkened vision, she couldn't distinguish things well.

Julia groped her way closer to the bed. Then she touched something under the small table next to the bed.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a broken water cup. This was probably the source of the noise she had heard earlier.

Turning her gaze again, Julia looked at Fernan, who was lying on the bed. He was lying on his side with his eyes closed.

“Your Highness, are you all right?"

She did not hear a reply from him. Julia hesitated and reached out. His hair, which had not been long since he washed up, was slightly wet. She touched his forehead, but there didn't seem to be any fever.

But looking at his closed eyes, there was a hint of fatigue on his face.

"…… What should I do?”

Just as she was wondering if she should call his doctor again, just in case, Fernan tossed and turned in his sleep.

Julia lowered her head slightly to check his breathing. Hearing the sound of breathing evenly, he was probably sleeping deeply.

seemed he 

Julia nodded and checked his breathing. Looking at his easily flowing sleep, it seemed that he had slept soundly.

Then Julia looked at the shards of glass scattered on the floor and thought it needed to be cleaned up. 

Julia, who was about to call a maid, stopped abruptly. Then she turned again and looked at Fernan.

He was lying wearing only a gown and looked a little disheveled, unlike usual. At the same time, he looked somewhat helpless.

After looking at him for a while, Julia touched his eyebrows. The hand that had been gently pressing his brows naturally descended to his cheek and quickly fell off.

Julia sighed soundlessly.

Then, at that moment, a large hand pulled her towards him.

"Ah!"

Julia froze for a moment as she was held against his chest.

She looked up carefully at his face, wondering if perhaps he had woken up, but he still had his eyes closed. Julia made a small struggle to get up. But the firm arm that wrapped around her waist did not falter.

"Your Highness?”

She called him carefully, but there was no slightest movement in his closed eyelids.

Something similar happened last time. Could this be this man's sleeping habit? Julia tried to move her body again with a troubled face. As expected, she couldn’t get up easily.

“Ha….”

With a small sigh, Julia eventually relaxed her body.

When she naturally leaned her head against his chest, she could feel his heartbeat through their attached bodies. For some reason, it seemed to be shaking erratically.

Looking up at him intently, she quickly opened her mouth in a quiet voice.

"Your Highness."

He still did not reply. Julia caught her breath and opened her mouth again.

"Fernan…."

The first time she said the name out loud, it sounded very unfamiliar.

It suddenly brought back many memories. From the first day she met him as a child to the day of their wedding.

He would never know what that first meeting meant to Julia, which would not fade with age.

Or how happy she was to see that warm man in her memory again. The moment she walked down the marriage road with him, she was happy.

So, although this man's cruelty was more painful than anything else, she could not easily forget, even if it was stupid. 

Her feelings for him were a treasure that she cherished since childhood.

So she had to leave this man even more.

She wanted to completely get rid of these feelings that were nailing her down, and just live comfortably, even if it was just for a day. It was a futile hope, but dreaming of such a life made the present bearable.

Closing her eyes, Julia said over and over again that everything would be fine.