Episode 19

It was about an hour before the arrival of Julia that Duke Blair visited Fernando's mansion.

Next to the Duke stood his daughter Cornelia.

"I didn't know you were coming with me."

Contrary to his insensitive voice, Fernan's eyes showed a rather annoyed look.

The Duke of Blair has been requesting a face-to-face meeting since its founding.

As I expressed my will to visit the Grand Duchess in person, there was no reason to refuse, so I just accepted it, and he would come with a hump.

"I came here because I wanted to see His Majesty again. I think you misunderstood me on the day of the banquet."

Cornelia laughed lightly. Only after seeing that snake-like smile did I vaguely remember meeting that woman on the terrace on the day of the banquet.

At the same time, I felt uncomfortable, and at the same time, I felt as if I knew roughly why that woman had come to this place.

"You have to sit down first."

Fernan, who was staring at them indifferently, shook his head and guided them to their seat.

As soon as Duke Blair sat down, he opened his mouth with a solemn smile.

"Probably by now, Marquis Elodie's feet must have caught fire. How did they know I was leaving here, and I ran like a madman."

The Marquis was a master at collecting information by stumbling here and there. Perhaps the Duke of Blair was well aware of the current situation.

"It would be easier for the Archduke to deal with it if he knew in advance."

Fernando narrowed his eyebrows lightly, as if annoyed. The figure of the marquis was drawn, who would run to the emperor and report the situation.

It would have touched the Emperor's heart by saying that the Grand Duke had a special heart and was in contact with other families.

"I, however. I heard from my daughter the other day that the Archduke is already considering her divorce."

At the Duke's subtle words, the memory of the banquet day flashed through Fernan's mind again.

The words that Julia, who kept coming to me, spoke harshly.

'Do you think this marriage will last forever?'

Recalling that moment, Fernan, who had somewhat calmed down, raised his eyes and answered in a cold voice.

"Your daughter has a fairly light mouth. Like a mouse, you're going to pass on the conversation you overheard."

Cornelia visibly flinched at the cold words. Without her even looking at her, Fernando continued her speech impassively.

"So, the reason you've come all the way here is probably not just wondering if I'm getting a divorce."

"Oh, of course."

The duke, embarrassed for a moment by the unfavorable atmosphere, cleared his throat and began to reveal the truth.

The reason the Duke approached Fernan was to ensure that he was drawn into the aristocratic faction.

Currently, Fernando was in a neutral position that did not belong to any place, but the shell belonged to the imperial faction.

Along with the fact that he was the emperor's nephew, the main reason was that he had a betrothal relationship with the Marquis of Elodi.

"You are currently in a relationship with a marquise, but… Well, a divorce is something you can do anytime, isn't it?"

"… … ."

"Of course, a hasty move is enough to make your Majesty suspicious. But it is a story when there is no reason."

Duke Blair added in a meaningful tone.

"It would be a different story if the Grand Duchess had a major flaw that made divorce unavoidable."

The peacock continued talking with a casual face.

"Even if there is nothing to be bothered about, it is enough to forcefully attach such a defect. Yes, I may spread a few scandalous scandals that could be fatal to the young and beautiful lady."

At the duke's next words, Fernando clenched his fists involuntarily. A vein of blood sprang up on the back of his hand.

Fernan, who had been gazing at the peacock with a somewhat gloomy gaze, soon returned to an expressionless expression.

"I don't know where to put myself, since you even made plans for my divorce."

Despite his sarcasm, the duke skillfully passed his words and continued.

"In the plan I am proposing, the Grand Duke's divorce is an indispensable element."

When Fernando tilted his head as if to tell him about the great plan, the duke raised his mouth straight.

"After the divorce, you form a relationship with our family."

"… … ."

"Don't you know? If I lose my family on my back, your Majesty will not be angry for very long."

Fernan, who was quietly listening to the duke, let out a small smirk.

I guessed it, but the fact that that was the real purpose that came to me was very funny.

It's a blatant trick to get his daughter into him. He was no different from the Marquis of Elodie.

"This is your chance to get out of the shadows of the imperial family. Wasn't it an unreasonable marriage in many ways, which the Archduke never wanted from the beginning?"

The duke was not wrong. Fernando had never wanted this marriage, and he could have ended it any time he had the chance.

But why at this moment, the question that Julia asked comes to mind?

'When are you planning to divorce me?'

When I recalled her face that asked in a quiet voice, my mood fell to the floor in an instant.

For some reason, I felt my heart sink heavily.

In fact, whenever he thinks of her these days, he is always enveloped in this feeling.

why… .

Fernan, who had fallen into contemplation in front of the duke, narrowed his brow. The afterimage of Julia, which appeared endlessly, completely engulfed his mind.

Every time I fall, I fall, I get hurt. A woman who keeps getting nervous even when she tries to ignore it.

A strange woman who worries about him again even if he hurts him with rude words, and doesn't show any anger despite being bullied by others.

It bothered me to look at me with her clear eyes, and even though I desperately pushed her away, she was always the same.

That's how she fell in love. She didn't know when or why.

I couldn't quite admit it, so I turned away, but her face always popped up in my head, completely messing with his head.

'… Am I finally crazy?'

Yes, it must have been crazy.

"grandee?"

Hearing the voice calling me, Fernan then raised his head. And I stared at the Duke and Cornelia, who were looking at me.

I know that working with Duke Blair will come in handy in many ways. But I didn't have the slightest desire to do so.

Rather, he and Julia… .

Fernan, who flinched his eyes engulfed in confusion, raised his gaze and opened his mouth.

"Duke Blair."

Fernan, who had captured his expression with his tangled mind behind him, continued speaking with a voice that became firm for an instant.

"I have no intention of getting a divorce. So, don't look for me for this kind of thing anymore."

The Duke, who had sent Cornelia out, tried to convince Fernan for a long time.

However, when the seeds were not eaten, he returned to the capital again with a promise of a later date.

I know that the Duke is not a great person to give up easily, but now it doesn't matter. Because Fernando had no intention of overturning my will any more.

He still didn't know what this uneasy feeling was when he thought of Julia.

If you look at her face and hear her voice, will you be able to figure out what this bad feeling is?

Returning to the castle earlier than usual, Fernan went to Julia's room, passing all the workers greeting me.

He stopped in front of the large door and knocked on the door without hesitation.

Not long after, the door opened and Julia appeared.

Julia looked up at him without saying a word. His pale face was expressionless, and he didn't hear him say he had been there as usual.

Fernan looked at her curiously and opened her mouth.

"What were you doing?"

Julia lowered her gaze and slightly licked her lips.

"I was just sitting there."

Her voice was subtly muffled. She also looked at her implicitly to see if she was in pain, and at that moment she pulled something out of her.

"Here is a letter from your Majesty. I was going to pick it up myself, but something happened... ."

Having received the letter, Fernando glanced at the sender and shoved it into his arms. He didn't even need to read it, as it was a letter from the Marquis.

Fernan hesitated for a moment without answering, then spit it out as if passing by.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"yes."

"Then let's go down together now."

Julia looked up at him quietly, and then looked down in his outdoor clothes.

Confirming that his attire was the same as he had worn out in the morning, she answered calmly.

"I want you to change clothes first. I'll go down first and wait."

After saying those words, Julia passed him by. For some reason, her back as she moved her steps felt different from her usual.

Fernan looked at Yulia who was moving away for a long time, and then turned away.