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 ti to be complacent. Fernan loosened the collar of his shirt without answering.
Heir. He hadn't even thought about it.
When an unavoidable situation ca, 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 mont, 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 wouldnt 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 sa ti, the Emperors anger shook the Imperial Palace.
So, you still havent found the Grand Dukes residence?
Im sorry, Your Majesty. Hes such a thorough person
The Emperor clicked his tongue at the knight, who couldnt 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 Fernans joining hands with them.
Still, Fernans 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 co 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 ca back alive from the war.
If he (emperor) had known that Fernan would co 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 na he hadnt heard in a long ti.
It was because it had been half a year since he threw the Marquis away.
He was displeased with the rudeness that ca 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 ti no see. How did you co here without communication?
Haha, as a loyal subject of Your Majesty, isnt it natural for 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 movents 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 ca 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 with this task. The Grand Duke was once my son-in-law. I had already been in and out of his house many tis, 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 Dukes whereabouts, so what can the marquis do?
Yes, this ti I will serve Your Majestys 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 cardthere 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, Ill leave it up to you.
For now, the more power he (emperor) had to destroy Fernan, the better.
***
From the ti spring ended and sumr 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 judgnt 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 ti had passed in that state? It was around the ti when Julia woke up while being held in soone'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 anti, 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 ti after that.
With only one layer of ntal cord remaining, Julia slowly opened her eyes.
And she t 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 sothing precious.
So at this mont, Julia suddenly asked him.
Your Highness."
Fernan blinked slowly as if waiting.
Julia looked at him like that for a mont, Fernans cold face suddenly overlapped.
A long ti agoWhy did you hate ?
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 ?
Fernan's hand trembled. He remained silent for such a long ti, his eyelids half lowered and he fell into a brief thought.
The cold treatnt and contempt for Julia, of course, remained as regrets for him.
But as he heard it from her lips, a feeling more than regret ca 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 ti when he acted so anly, he implicitly knew that in fact Julias 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 ti he had ever felt swayed by soone 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 wont forgive .
Seeing him muttering in a hoarse voice, Julia slowly lowered her eyelids. At this mont, for the first ti, she had that thought. Maybe he had other reasons.
Julia didn't know much about Fernan during that ti either.
His childhood, his family, his life Nothing.
So, maybe, he had so circumstances that she didn't know about.
"Of course.."
Julia opened her mouth, but at the sa ti, her stamina was completely exhausted and she fell asleep.
Standing alone in the quiet bedroom, Fernan bent one knee to et her eye level. Unlike Julia, who was sleeping peacefully, deep thoughts lingered on his face for a long ti.
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