Chapter 111: Side story (2)

It was the next day after arriving in the capital.

Around noon, a picnic was held in the flower garden of the Empress Palace, where flowers were in full bloom.

It was a place for women to chat freely in a peaceful atmosphere.

Today was the first time Julia appeared in public after becoming the Grand Duchess again.

Perhaps because of that, while pretending not to see the eyes of the ladies, she was subtly conscious of herself.

Julia drank her tea with a very calm attitude, while still feeling the intriguing gazes.

“What a good afternoon, Grand Duchess.”

Then someone came up to her and greeted her.  Julia, who was feeling the tea’s scent, put down her teacup and looked at the owner of her voice.

It was a familiar woman who appeared with a fresh smile.

“It’s a big event for the royal family, so of course I thought you would attend, but I’m more than happy to see you.”

Her luscious red hair fluttered around her waist.  As Julia looked at the woman, she smiled quietly.

“Long time no see, Lady Blair.  No, Marchioness Jennes."

Cornelia Blair Jennes.  As the only daughter of the Duke of Blair, she once conquered the social world, and married Marquis Jennes last year.

Although Julia didn’t have a good memory about her, she knew her. 

Because at one time, Cornelia was once considered to be Fernan’s hidden lover.

Of course, the misunderstanding was resolved naturally, and in a sense, she felt a little happy.

“How have you been, Grand Duchess?”

Cornelia's eyes twinkled with interest.  She was staring at Julia’s face openly, but Julia answered with an indifferent expression.

"I’ve been very well.”

Cornelia glanced over her cheeks with a quick glance.

As proof of her relaxed answer, Julia exuded a very different atmosphere from before.

She was completely different from when she looked so fragile that she would crumble to the touch.

Her delicate and beautiful facial features were the same as before, and she was now full of vitality, unlike back then when she only looked pitiful.

Even among the ladies, there was talk about it once.

The atmosphere of Grand Duchess Caesar has changed a lot from before.

"That's a relief. In fact, I've often been worried since I heard that you had returned to the Grand Duchy. As before, I wonder if you’ll be treated coldly by the Grand Duke ……… That's why."

Cornelia's lips were covered with a soft smile, and the hint of her smirk was pervasive.

At the same time, she spoke with a voice that could be heard around her, so people's attention was focused on them for a moment.

Julia stared at Cornelia silently without any change in her expression.

By the time Cornelia felt strange about Julia’s attitude, which did not seem to be embarrassed, Julia raised her lips.

“Marchioness is very considerate.”

Julia, who opened her mouth in a calm voice.

“There is nothing to worry about, so don’t worry.”

And she turned to the other ladies who glanced at her.

Finally, Julia, who had Cornelia in her eyes, gave a harmless smile.

“Recently, I heard that Marquis Jennes brought in the mistresses, and that the Marchioness suffered a lot.  Were you worried that the same would happen to me?"

Cornelia’s face hardened in an instant at the natural change of topic.

Looking at Cornelia’s face, which went pale, Julia spoke kindly again.

“I want to repay you for your concern.  If you are having a lot of trouble with your marriage, you are welcome to consult with me at any time, madam."

Cornelia's lips twitched convulsively.  Her sharp eyes filled with embarrassment as she glared at Julia.

Cornelia, who barely maintained her expression as if she wanted to say something harsh, answered slowly.

“Yes, Grand Duchess……I’ll do that.”

Turning her face away to bear her shame, Cornelia withdrew to the other table after those words.

The reason she withdrew more easily than expected was probably because her business was exposed unexpectedly.

Only after seeing Cornelia moving away did Julia let out her sigh very briefly.

Before the picnic, it was worth listening to Melissa.

“There are a total of thirty ladies attending the picnic today.  Among them, I will briefly tell you about the recent status of influential ladies in the social world.  That way there won't be any embarrassment when saying hello. Jane told me that.”

Jane was the maid of honor at the Grand Duke's castle, and she had a lot of experience in social circles.

The current situation of the ladies that Melissa told Julia about was also mixed with Cornelia's current situation.  It was said that Cornelia's husband, Marquis Jennes, recently brought in two mistresses, which was a hot topic in social circles.

She listened to what Melissa had to say, but Julia never thought that she would have to say it to Cornelia herself.

As such, she was not used to exposing someone's secrets, and she was not in a very pleasant mood.

Of course, that didn't mean she regretted it.  Because Cornelia was the first to start the quarrel.  While Julia was holding the teacup with a calm face, the Empress sitting at the top seat suddenly drew everyone's attention.

"It's an important afternoon, and I'm very happy to be able to spend time with everyone here.”

The Empress looked at the crowd one by one.  Thanks to that, the gazes that had stayed on her Julia shifted.

"Today's seat is a place to enjoy the leisure ahead of tomorrow's hunting festival."

The Empress, who continued to speak in a kind tone, showed a gentle smile as well.

"I want everyone to keep in mind that this hunting season has a special purpose more than any other time."

Julia listened to the Empress and nodded her head.  The hunting festival, one of the annual royal ceremonies, was originally limited to male nobles and knights.

However, this hunting festival was an exception, allowing women to participate as well.  In addition, it was an event that drew more attention than other times with the purpose of giving the furs of hunted animals to the poor people.

"From tomorrow onwards, the schedule will be very difficult. So, let's wrap up today's small banquet at this point."

The middle of the afternoon was approaching.  It was a picnic that started around noon, so time had passed.

"Then, I hope you all have a good rest tonight."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. May you have a peaceful afternoon."

When the Empress greeted, the ladies bowed their heads in courtesy.  After the Empress had left with her maids first, the others also got up one by one and began to leave the garden.

"Grand Duchess, are you feeling tired from sitting for a long time? I'll take you to your residence right away."

When Julia got up from her seat, Melissa, who came to her side, asked gently.

"Yes, let’s do that."

As she was exiting the flower garden, Julia walked slowly along the path.

Melissa quickly spread out the parasol to block the shining sun.

At that moment, a group of ladies walking by the nearby fountain spoke in muffled voices.

“Who are you planning to accompany to the hunting festival?”

The owner of the voice was Cornelia, who had left first.

One by one, the noblewomen who were walking nearby answered. 

“I've never hunted before, so you're going with your husband, right?”

“That's right. Who else will you be walking around with?"

Smiling, Cornelia nodded with one hand on her cheek.

“Of course. It’s an important event.”

Cornelia made a clear voice towards Julia, who was walking a short distance away.

"The Grand Duchess will naturally be with His Highness the Grand Duke, right?"

Since the question was clearly directed at her, Julia stopped and looked at Cornelia.

When their eyes finally met, Cornelia added with a leisurely smile.

"His Highness is one of the leading figures of the empire. That's really reassuring. It is clear that tomorrow, the queen of the hunting festival will be the Grand Duchess.”

At these words, Melissa, who was standing behind Julia, spoke in a small voice.

“I'm sure they all know everything. His Highness the Grand Duke is at the border.”

“You mean he won't participate?”

Julia didn't answer, but turned to face Cornelia. Melissa's words were probably correct, since that level of information should already be known to the capital.

After all, they would like to see Julia depressed that she couldn’t go out hunting with her husband.

The noble ladies paused and gave interesting glances as they waited for Julia's response.

Julia faced them calmly, not avoiding their gazes.

If she panicked or deflated, they would get what they wanted. Inhaling a small breath, Julia slowly opened her mouth.

However, at that moment, a noblewoman exclaimed, looking at the entrance to the garden.

"Oh, is that…….?"

Everyone's eyes naturally followed where she was pointing.

Julia also averted her gaze to stare at the man who had caught their eye.

She saw a man who stood out even from a distance, approaching them with ease.

Julia's eyes slowly grew wide.

‘…Your Highness?’

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, wondering if it was an illusion.

There was no way that Fernan would be appearing here now. Because he was supposed to arrive on the day of the feast after the hunting festival.

But no matter how much she looked at him, his large physique and handsome features were clearly those of her husband.

“His Highness is here!”

Behind her, Melissa shouted loudly and joyfully. Finally, Julia's dazed eyes lit up.

When their eyes met at a slightly closer distance, Fernan lifted his lips beautifully.

At that moment, the noble ladies around her could not get on Julia's nerves any more.

Julia, whose complexion was gradually brightening, ran to him, holding the hem of her dress.

“Your Highness!”

Fernan, who had stopped, turned to face her and smiled again. He opened his arms and hugged her lightly as she came towards him. 

Julia was completely wrapped up in his firm arms and chest, and the scent of her husband's body that she was so familiar with fluttered in her nose. Fernan lowered his head and spoke in a low voice.

"I missed you…"

A gentle voice that only she could hear. Julia hugged his firm waist tightly. Their bodies touched each other without any space between them, and she felt as if a corner of her empty heart was being squeezed and filled.