Chapter 32

Fernan, who fell asleep after taking some sleeping pills, woke up when Julia touched his eyebrows.

All the while, he couldn't open his eyes for some reason, even when Julia’s soft hand roamed his face. The sun was rising at dawn, and Julia was asleep, leaning against his chest. 

He had thought about it before, but Julia seemed to fall asleep as soon as she leaned her head against him. Fernan suddenly patted the back of her head. Her soft hair frayed in his large hand.

Looking down at her, who was completely leaning against him, gave him a sense of satisfaction as if something was being filled at this moment.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, but it wasn't bad.

"Fernan…”

The gentle voice that called his name kept ringing in his ears.

With only that soft voice, he felt like all the boundaries were breaking down.

The fact was funny, Fernan thought to himself, and then he stared at the ceiling. The time Julia had spent trying so hard to escape again became a little empty.

Fernan closed his eyes slowly, his lips lifting slightly without him even knowing it. At least for that night, they both slept peacefully.

***

The seemingly peaceful days continued for some time.

It was during this time that Fernan removed all the knights around Julia. They were following her around everywhere she went, and it annoyed her.

Of course, the knights weren’t removed from the start. They were secretly watching Julia in plain sight.

This short-lived peace was broken by the arrival of his aide at the Grand Duke's castle.

An urgent telegram was delivered from the border.

"Your Highness!"

Lloyd, who had rushed into the office, reported breathlessly.

“The demons have appeared on the border.”

Fernan, who was reviewing the documents, immediately left his seat upon hearing Lloyd's words.

The demons that had caused the border guards so much trouble over the past few months had reappeared.

To add to the headache, even the enemy soldiers have joined in.

“How large is the scale?"

Lloyd's serious voice followed as Fernan took his steps.

"It is difficult to ascertain the size of the force. It seems that the knights are not moving easily because they cannot accurately grasp the base."

Fernan clicked his tongue lightly. It was troublesome for the demons to appear as a swarm, but if even the enemy army joined in, the situation would become much more complicated.

Apparently, the remnants of the enemy army, the Renev Kingdom, had moved on a larger scale than expected.

“Perhaps there was someone in the enemy army who could control demons.”

Fernan mounted his horse without delay. He pulled on the reins and the horse started to run at a fast speed.

And at that moment, Fernan looked around the castle.

Eventually, after a while, Fernan stopped speaking and changed direction again.

"Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

This caused Lloyd, who had stopped, to look up at him curiously, and after Fernan nodded as if to tell him to go ahead, he headed back to the castle.

After dismounting from his horse, Fernan quickly entered the lobby.

Julia, who was just descending the stairs, spotted him and tilted her head.

"Your Highness?"

Stopping in front of Julia, Fernan hesitated, which was unlike him. Eventually, he spoke with nervous voice.

"I'm going to be away for a while. It might take a long time.”

Since Fernan had never once given an explanation for his absence, Julia looked at him with a little surprise.

"What's going on?"

"Something happened on the border. It’s urgent.”

Julia blinked without saying anything, but soon answered with a worried look on her face.

"Have a safe trip."

Even at the honest reply, Fernan stood still, as if he was stuck.

He had a busy day ahead of him, but when he saw her, it was hard to keep his feet moving.

If he left the castle today, he wasn't sure when he would be back.

He would try his best to handle it as soon as possible, but the date and time could change depending on the size of the enemy army.

He couldn't be sure that Julia would stay put in the castle while he was gone.

Of course, several knights would be secretly guarding her, he couldn’t relax easily. Then Julia smiled softly and spoke at his silence.

"I’ll be waiting."

In the clear eyes that looked at him, his appearance was captured.

Was it true? Fernan wish it was true. There was no way that the transparent eyes that looked at him were not sincere.

He suddenly remembered her from last night. The way she called his name in her quiet, gentle voice. Fernan, who was standing still in a dazed mood, stared at her face. 

"…Okay.”

There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn't have time or room to get it all out.

Fernan then turned away with a heavy step. And he gradually let go of the anxiety that had been weighing on him the whole time.

He decided to believe her. Julia’s clear eyes and quiet voice were all sincere.

But that was his mistake.

***

Fernan has left for an expedition.

Kingdom Renev, one of the defeated countries in the last Imperial War. Their remnants collaborated with other nations and invaded their borders.

As Fernan left with his knights to the border, the castle became somewhat deserted.

After he left, Julia, who had not come out of her bedroom for half a day, emerged in the afternoon. Passing through the hallway, she headed for a large door with delicately crafted patterns. This was a bedroom designed for the use of the Grand Duke and his wife together.

Opening the door and stepping inside, Julia stared around the bedroom.

It was a gorgeous and dignified bedroom. However, the interior, which had never been used, had a quiet and cold atmosphere.

Julia looked at the bed blankly and retraced her steps.

As she crossed the bedroom, she stopped in front of the door that led to the next room. It was where the wedding gifts and other bridal items were kept.

Fernan and Julia were the only ones who had keys to this door, so no one could enter without permission.

When the door opened, the inside was revealed.

Julia approached one of the display cabinets and opened a dusty jewelry box.

Inside, there were two rings. They were their wedding rings.

Julia took out her ring and put it on her ring finger.

The ring didn't fit her hand perfectly, but it wasn't so loose that it would fall out.

“Your Grace, you are here.”

When she came out again with the ring on, Melissa was standing outside.

Julia looked at Melissa with a complicated expression.

She gave Melissa a few days off, as she had told the head maid the other day.

It was because she was worried about the trouble Melisa would be in if she ran away.

"This is the first time I've taken such a long vacation. It's nice to have this kind of privilege to work for the Grand Duchess.”

Melissa giggled. Julia tried to lift her lips slightly.

Thinking that today was the last day with Melissa, even though she tried to endure it, her heart hurt.

"Have a nice trip, Melissa."

Julia squeezed Melissa's hand and didn't let go for a while, feeling complicated.

Melissa tilted her head and patted the back of her hand gently.

"I'll be back. Your Grace needs to eat properly and go for walks. Don’t stay in your room too much."

"Yes, I will.”

With that, she walked Melissa out of the castle and watched the carriage move away until the end.

The warmth that remained in her hands made her feel empty.

With her numb chest finally in order, Julia returned to her bedroom and began to pack.

She didn’t pack much, just some spare clothes.

She decided to leave all the other items behind. Everything else in the castle belonged to Fernan.

Finally, Julia gently touched the ring on her finger.

But she was going to take this ring with her.

It wasn't because of her unrequited love for Fernan. Rather, Julia wanted to get rid of everything, even the very small ones, before she left.

That was why she was going to sell the ring that symbolized her marriage with Fernan.

After all, this ring was a kind of consolation prize for her.

It was now or never.

She didn’t know why, but Fernan had removed all the knights around her for the past few days.

So the only chance to escape was now, when Fernan was not around.

Julia approached the window and stared at the sky as it slowly began to darken. She was going to leave tomorrow morning.