I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

The carriage, which had left the villa, rattled down the mountain road.

 They were heading to a small town near the border. It was a city where squares and downtown areas were properly arranged and there were not many people.

 Julia carefully looked out of her window through the slightly tilted curtains.

 It was to find out exactly where this villa was and what road to take to get out of the mountain.

 While Julia was staring outside like that for a while, Fernan suddenly spoke to her.

 “If you feel uncomfortable, tell me right away.”

 At that moment, Julia, who turned her gaze to the other side, nodded his head without answering.

 Then, suddenly, she realized that it was the first time she and Fernan went out like this.

 They left a few times together to go to the Imperial Palace, but that was only for official events.

 It felt a little funny, and at the same time, it felt futile.

 She had never been alone in her marriage, and it was strange that it had come to this point.

 If she was the Julia of the past, she would be beyond happy that she could accompany Fernan on an outing.

Because she was simple and foolish.

 But she just doesn't like being with him right now.

 Julia lowered her gaze and silently waited to arrive in the downtown area.

 After such a long time, the carriage entered the city.

 The first thing that caught her eyes was the river that ran across the street.

 A small boat floated on the surface of the water, and people were sitting huddled together.  After watching the boatman rowing for a moment, the carriage stopped nearby.

  Fernan got out first and held out his hand to her. Julia hesitated for a moment, but soon held his hand.

 As she stepped on her feet, the bright sunlight poured over her head. Looking around, she saw a plaza with a relaxed atmosphere.

 ‘I did come, but…’

 The reason she wanted to go out was just to find an escape route and to figure out the exact location of the villa.

 So there were no other plans.

 She glanced at Fernan, and as soon as their eyes met, she averted her gaze.

 At first, she thought it would be better to walk as far as her feet could reach.

 So, as she entered the street, various shops were lined up. From clothing stores to jewelers to stalls selling miscellaneous goods.

 Julia looked at the crowded street without much meaning.

 As she tried not to be conscious of Fernan who was following her from behind.

 After wandering the streets for a long time, her gaze was suddenly fixed somewhere. It was a jewelry shop.

 Brilliant accessories were piled up in a glass showcase.

 Among them, what caught Julia's attention was the blue diamond earrings.

 Without realizing it, she stopped and looked at the display case.

 She wasn’t very interested in jewelry, but the bright colors automatically caught her eyes.

 The gaze did not linger for long. Julia quickly turned and made her way back into the street.

 From one moment on, she became unconscious of Fernan who was following her.

 He didn't say anything as if he was really an escort, and he was following Julia at a reasonable distance.

 So she walked the streets with a relaxed mind without much thinking.

 After that, time flew by, and as she reached the end of the street, a nearby flower shop caught her eyes.

 When she saw the flowers, she naturally thought of the monastery.

 She wondered if they were doing okay. Gabrielle, the kids, and Cedric…

 Julia looked at the flowers for a moment and thought of them, but then she turned around.

 As soon as she entered the street, Julia took a small breath.

 In the first place, the purpose of going out had already been accomplished, so it was meaningless to spend more time here.

 “Let’s go back.”

 Julia, who looked back at Fernan for the first time, spoke to him.

 He was still following her at a reasonable distance.

 After she saw Fernan nod and was about to turn around again, a man suddenly ran out of the street next door.

 Before the man ran into Julia, Fernan pulled her towards him.

 “Hey, be careful…  ”

 The man, who jumped out suddenly lost his temper, found Fernan standing behind her and withdrew in surprise.

 Looking at Fernan with a ferocious expression like he was about to pull out his sword, the man apologized incessantly.

 “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

 Then he ran away in a flash.

 Julia, who had been staring blankly at the running man, looked up at Fernan, who wrapped his arms around her.

 As if when her life had come to an end, he looked at her with refined eyes.

 “…thank you.”

 After a belated murmur, Julia escaped from his arms.

 With her mouth shut, she turned around and hurried her steps.

 To return to the square, the two walked slowly across the bridge over the river. A slight breeze blew through her hair.

 Fernan stood still at that moment, without even looking elsewhere, he engraved each figure of her into his eyes.

 As he wandered around this downtown area, of course, Julia was the only place he focused his attention on.

 After a while, Julia looked quietly somewhere over the bridge. Her gaze turned to the stable.

 Unwittingly stopped, she stared intently at the white horse tied to the end of the stable.

 “Do you like that horse?”

 Fernan asked quietly. Then, looking back at him, Julia shook her head.

 Rather than liking it, its appearance looked mysterious, so it caught her attention right away. It was the first time she had ever seen such a white and shiny horse.

 Julia didn't know how to ride horses. One of the qualities of a noblewoman, however, was because she was not given an opportunity to learn.

 Julia turned her head away from the horse.

 Meanwhile, a large and colorful carriage arrived in front of them.

 The carriage arrived at the villa at sunset.

 She went straight to her bedroom, and Julia’s eyes went wide as soon as she stepped inside.

 Above and below the table, there were a few boxes that she hadn’t seen before.

 “Your Grace, did you have a good trip?”

 Melissa rushed to the news that Julia had returned and bowed her head.

 Nodding her head, Julia asked, pointing to her table.

 “Melissa, but where did this come from?”

 “Didn't you buy them? It came from the carriage that arrived before you.”

 At those words, Julia felt puzzled as she opened one of jewelry boxes.

 Inside was a pair of earrings studded with blue jewels.

 Julia's eyes gradually widened.  Obviously, it was the earrings she saw in the glass case at the market. 

Melissa spoke quietly to her.

 “I guess His Highness bought it for you.”

 But Julia didn't see him buying anything.

 … To be precise, she didn't know because she never looked back at Fernan, who was following her the whole time. 

  While Julia, who had an unknown expression on her face, closed the jewelry box, someone knocked on the door. Melissa opened it, and there was a servant in front of the door.

 And in his arms was a large bouquet of flowers.

 “Grand Duchess, His Highness told me to deliver this flower.”

 “… ”

 Julia took the bouquet from the servant with both hands, and unexpectedly accepted it.

 It was a beautiful bouquet of blue forget-me-nots and white daffodils.

 The fragrance of flowers approached the tip of her nose. Julia looked down at the bouquet blankly.

 “Why are you like this…”

 Those earrings and this flower.

 They were all the things she had her eye on while wandering around downtown.

 ‘… Has he been watching?’

 Fernan followed her silently, keeping his promise not to disturb her.

However, it seemed that he was watching everything that Julia looked at.

 At this moment, for the first time, Julia wondered about Fernan's true intentions.

‘What in the world is this beneficial to him?’

 Of course, he said he didn't need any profit, but Julia didn't believe it.

 “What does His Highness want?”

 Julia muttered quietly as if she was talking to herself, and Melissa, who looked at her with a strange expression, answered.

 “I think he  just wants to give something to Your Grace.”

 “…  ”

 “Because His Highness……”

 Melissa stopped at mid sentence and hit her lip.

 She thought it was presumptuous for  a maid like her to talk about the owner's heart.

 But, at least in Melissa's eyes, it was clear that Fernan had come to love Julia.

Fernan has been anxious about Julia, who was colder, and she was the only one who filled his gaze and nerves.

 Their situation completely reversed from before.

 “He wants to give me everything…  ”

 Julia muttered. Even so, she had never wanted anything like this.

 She didn't want anything from him.  However….

 Julia felt confused and she looked at the flower bouquet again.  The fresh scent of the beautiful flowers gently shook her heart.

 Without realizing it, Julia embraced the bouquet in her arms.