Chapter 66

Lloyd, who was paying close attention to Fernan's calm expression, continued with a sigh.

“…  Yes, even if you say you will refuse national marriage. Do you intend to keep the position of Grand Duchess empty?  You must also consider the successor issue, Your Highness.”

Of course, Fernan was still young and strong. However, considering his status as a Grand Duke, it was not the time to be complacent.  Fernan loosened the collar of his shirt without answering.  

Heir.  He hadn't even thought about it.

When an unavoidable situation came, it was not bad to bring one of the two from the outlying side.  In the first place, he didn't put much importance on succession.  Lloyd, who was rather impatient as he looked at the peaceful Fernan, spoke again.

"At least let the capital know the Grand Duchess is alive…"

"Stop."

At Lloyd's endlessly lengthening words, as always, a cold order was issued.

At that moment, Lloyd shut his mouth, but the sadness he couldn't swallow was reflected on his face.

‘Is this how it is …..Is he really thinking about just hanging around by Grand Duchess’ side without any promises?’

It wouldn’t be a surprise considering the attitude he's shown so far…

Lloyd let out a long, silent sigh with a face half worried and half resigned.

***

At the same time, the Emperor’s anger shook the Imperial Palace.

“So, you still haven’t found the Grand Duke’s residence?”

“… I’m sorry, Your Majesty. He’s such a thorough person…”

The Emperor clicked his tongue at the knight, who couldn’t find where Fernan was living for months.

Unusually, the emperor, who took off his benevolent face, had a face full of anxiety.  He had to plant a spy to check Fernan's castle, because he couldn't figure out where Fernan was staying.

Currently, the Empire was in a state of exchange with the Geranian Kingdom about national marriage.

And the national marriage opponent they wanted the most was Fernan.

From the Emperor's point of view, there was nothing more embarrassing than Fernan’s joining hands with them.

Still, Fernan’s prestige was going to break through the sky, but it was self-evident that if he made a connection with another country, a huge blow would come to the imperial forces.

“Find him. Is the Grand Duke not in contact with Geranian kingdom, or are there any other clues from his army? You must go through every detail.”

“Yes, Your Majesty."

The knight commander bowed politely and then turned around.

The emperor with his fiery anger ordered the servant to bring water.

Since Fernan visited the Imperial Palace a few months ago, the Emperor has been feeling more anxious than before.

No, to be precise, the first period when the emperor's unrest started was after Fernan came back alive from the war.

If he (emperor) had known that Fernan would come back and develop his own power from the war which he (emperor) sent him to die, he (emperor) would have dried up the seeds before that.

“Tsk!”

While the emperor wrinkled his brows in annoyance, the servant knocked on the office door.

“Your Majesty, Marquis Elody asks for an audience.”

The Emperor looked at the door, narrowing his eyes. Marquis Elody.  It was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time.

It was because it had been half a year since he threw the Marquis away.

He was displeased with the rudeness that came even when he had not been summoned, but the emperor beckoned to let him in first.

"Your Majesty! How have you been?"

When the door opened, the Marquis jumped in and greeted him with courtesy.

The emperor, who frowned slightly, soon made a gentle voice.

“Yes, Marquis Elody.  Long time no see.  How did you come here without communication?”

“Haha, as a loyal subject of Your Majesty, isn’t it natural for me to visit you often?”

The Marquis had a very casual attitude for a subject that had been abandoned and neglected.  The emperor nodded, wondering if his attitude wasn't too bad.

The Marquis glanced at the Emperor's complexion and hurriedly spoke his words.

“Actually, I heard that Your Majesty is monitoring the movements of the Grand Duke these days.”

The Marquis, who had been drunk for a while due to the shock of being abandoned by the emperor, only recently came to his senses and began to look for new opportunities.

Since he was an expert in collecting information, the emperor's actions were also quickly noticed.

"Your Majesty, please entrust me with this task. The Grand Duke was once my son-in-law. I had already been in and out of his house many times, so I'm used to it now."

“Are you talking about yourself?”

The emperor looked at the marquis as if he was not at all certain.  Now, to talk about his son-in-law, it was because more than a year had passed since the Grand Duchess disappeared.

From the emperor's point of view, the Marquis Elody was a handicapped hand.

Even skilled knights struggle to find the Grand Duke’s whereabouts, so what can the marquis do?

“Yes, this time I will serve Your Majesty’s deepest wishes.”

The Marquis quickly spoke to the emperor's disapproving look on his face.

“I will find out everything about the Grand Duke and give you a plan to bring him down.”

In the eyes of the Marquis, greed, which had been hidden for a while, was boiling again.

After Julia disappeared, everything went awry, but he couldn't just lose everything like this.

So, the Marquis was determined not to shy away from rolling the mud and doing all sorts of dirty things. He has been such a human ever since.

The emperor looked carefully at the marquis, then touched his chin.

Well, if it was a discarded card…there was no reason to refuse.

Certainly, the Marquis will not hesitate to do anything to return to his position.

After a short deliberation, the Emperor granted his permission.

“Yes, I’ll leave it up to you.”

For now, the more power he (emperor) had to destroy Fernan, the better.

***

From the time spring ended and summer began to approach, Fernan helped Julia to freely enter and exit Richel's estate.

Richel was his estate anyway, and it was a decision made under the judgment that there would be no danger if only escorting the way to and from it.

So Julia stayed in Richel for three days.

The children, who grew up day by day, overflowed with energy even after playing all day.

So on the last day in the carriage returning to the villa, Julia fell asleep right away as soon as she put her head on the window.

How much time had passed in that state?  It was around the time when Julia woke up while being held in someone's arms up the stairs.

Julia, who had her head buried in his broad shoulders, raised her gaze slightly.  A sharp jawline that appeared above the thick neckline.  Familiar and elegant features.

Fernan, who was looking straight ahead, was silently climbing the stairs.  Julia was quietly hugging him without fussing.

Perhaps it was because she got used to holding him whenever she learned how to horseback riding, his arms were familiar to her.

Soon they arrived in the bedroom. The door opened and he gently laid her down on her bed.  In the meantime, Julia closed her eyes again and buried her face in the soft bedding.

She was so tired that she thought she would go back to sleep soon.

Fernan's shadow, which had fallen on the bed, did not disappear for a long time after that.

With only one layer of mental cord remaining, Julia slowly opened her eyes.

And she met those soft golden eyes that looked down at her.

She still wasn't used to those eyes.  A warm and calm gaze, as if looking at something precious.

So at this moment, Julia suddenly asked him.

“…Your Highness."

Fernan blinked slowly as if waiting.

Julia looked at him like that for a moment, Fernan’s cold face suddenly overlapped.

“A long time ago…Why did you hate me?”

A soft voice caused a stir in his calm face in an instant.

Then, staring at him hazyly, she continued.

“Why were you so harsh on me… ?”

Fernan's hand trembled.  He remained silent for such a long time, his eyelids half lowered and he fell into a brief thought.

The cold treatment and contempt for Julia, of course, remained as regrets for him.

But as he heard it from her lips, a feeling more than regret came to him.

Fernan clenched his hands and slowly raised his eyes.

“I did it because I was stupid.”

He took his anger out on her, who did not know anything.

Because she was the daughter of the Marquis, because the emperor was behind her.

With that thought, he misunderstood her and treated her coldly.

But even in the midst of a time when he acted so meanly, he implicitly knew that in fact Julia’s eyes were sincere towards him.

When her clear and transparent eyes touched him, his heart unexpectedly shook.

So he had to push further.  However, no matter how much he pushed and pushed, Julia continued to squeeze closer to him.

It was the first time he had ever felt swayed by someone helplessly.

He couldn't admit that he was being shaken by everything about her.

So he kept hurting Julia, and eventually made her run away because she couldn't stand it any longer.

“…  I know I hurt you, and you won’t forgive me.”

Seeing him muttering in a hoarse voice, Julia slowly lowered her eyelids.  At this moment, for the first time, she had that thought.  Maybe he had other reasons.

Julia didn't know much about Fernan during that time either.

His childhood, his family, his life… Nothing.

So, maybe, he had some circumstances that she didn't know about.

"Of course….."

Julia opened her mouth, but at the same time, her stamina was completely exhausted and she fell asleep.

Standing alone in the quiet bedroom, Fernan bent one knee to meet her eye level.  Unlike Julia, who was sleeping peacefully, deep thoughts lingered on his face for a long time.