I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

Julia glanced at the Emperor who was having a conversation with Fernan.

 The new Emperor of the empire was younger than and more serious-looking than expected.

 The Emperor, who gladly welcomed them in the late evening, seemed surprised to hear that the Grand Duchess had returned, but he acted as if he knew what had happened.

 Regarding Julia's disposition, the Emperor filled out the paperwork faster than expected and stamped it.  In the civil war, she was kidnapped at the behest of the emperor, so it was a document stating that she had nothing to do with the Elody family.

 Unlike the former emperor, Fernan was treated with courtesy and respect by the current emperor.

 Julia listened carefully to their conversation and could tell that Fernan had a good relationship with the current emperor.

 That fact brought a little peace to her heart.

The conversation that continued with the private talk led to the execution ceremony that would take place soon.

 The Emperor suddenly remembered and spoke to Julia.

 "If the Grand Duchess wants it, it's okay to meet the Marchioness before the execution day."

 The Emperor seemed to want to give Julia his kindness in his own way.  Although she was a sinner, the Marchioness was Julia’s family nonetheless.

However, because it was an unexpected proposal, Julia hesitated with her eyes wide open.

While coming here, she heard from Fernan that the Marchioness was about to be executed. However, she did not want to see her.

 But when she heard the emperor's proposal, she suddenly thought that she wanted to check out what kind of appearance she was waiting for her death.

 Julia, who was contemplating, glanced at Fernan.  Then he nodded slightly as if to say she could do whatever she wanted.

 After a brief contemplation, Julia looked at the emperor.

 “Thank you for your concern, then, as you allowed…  I want to see my mother for a moment.”

 The dungeon of the imperial palace had a gloomy and unpleasant atmosphere as it was intended.

 Fernan, who was going down the stairs with Julia, suddenly opened her mouth as if it was too much to let her into a place like this.

 “Julia, if you don’t like it even now, you don’t have to go in.”

 Julia, who was taking steps calmly, looked at him and shook her head.

 "No. I want to see her for the last time.”

Fernan looked somewhat worried at the answer, but eventually accepted her will.

 They descended a long staircase and headed for the iron cell placed at the far end, following the guidance of the knight.

 Julia stopped in front of it and looked at the woman lying face down in the iron cell. Hearing footsteps, the woman flinched and slowly raised her head.

 “Ahhh !”

 Perhaps she recognized Julia, the Marchioness groaned, scratching her neck, and crawling to the door of the cell.

 Julia looked at her and murmured softly.

 “You seem to have gone through a lot of hardship.”

 “Ju….Jul….”

 It was hard to even open her mouth, so the Marchioness only twitched her parched lips.

 It looked as if she was about to run out of breath.

 If anyone had seen the Marchioness’ sad appearance, they would have sighed and sympathized.  However, Julia only had a dry gaze.

 “Why didn’t you live quietly from the beginning?”

 As her serene words descended, the Marchioness began to raise her voice with all her might as she thought that Julia had sympathy for her.

 “Save….me. I…wrong…i'm sorry…..”

 "No. Mother will go to hell.”

 Piercing through that expectation, Julia intercepted her words with a cold voice.

As Julia tried to step back, the Marchioness reached out and tried to grab Julia's ankle.

Julia, who lightly avoided her touch, looked down at her calmly, and then, for a moment, recalled her old childhood.

 A long time of oppression and abuse.  At the center of it all, the Marchioness was always holding on.

 She constantly poured out abusive language and beatings for no reason.  In a way, Julia was more afraid of her than the Marquis.

Never in her dream, she thought she would never look down on the Marchioness like this.

 Julia, who woke up from her thoughts and looked down as she was, spoke in a calm voice as if passing towards the Marchioness.

 “I want you to go to hell, and even if you die, I want you to live like you’re dead.”

 “Ugh. No, no…..”

 “I’m just here to say this.”

With those words, Julia turned around without hesitation.  Behind her, the sound of the Marchioness’s painful groans and apology continued to be heard.

 Even after hearing all the heartbreaking noises, Julia continued walking with her expressionless face.  Fernan silently followed her by her side.

 When they were up the stairs again and finally reached the brightly lit ground.

 Julia looked back at Fernan, breathing in the open air.

 When her eyes met his, who was staring at her, Julia threw away her gloomy energy and smiled lightly.

Her heart was stronger than she expected when she saw the Marchioness  at the end.

 The feeling wasn't that bad.  Perhaps a little … but it was refreshing.

 Maybe it was thanks to this man who stood firmly beside her.

 Above all else, Julia felt completely free from the family name that was holding her back all her life.

 She met Fernan's eyes, who continued to look at her.  And once again, she deeply realized it.

 From now on, this man in front of her was really her family.

 “Let’s go, Your Highness.”

 There was no longer anything to interfere with them.

 ***

 At the end of summer, it rained every day.

 It has already been two months since Julia returned to the castle as Grand Duchess.

 They stayed together in the couple's bedroom every day, leaving their own bedrooms.

 At one time, it was a quiet and cold space because it had never been used, but now the cozy and warm air revolved around it every day.

 One morning when the rain that had been pouring down for days, Julia woke up feeling a touch tickling her cheek.

 Through her half-open eyes, she saw the face of the handsome man looking at her.

 Fernan was looking neat and regal, not like the man who had tormented her all the way from night to dawn.

 At the moment when she felt a little bit of injustice at the sight, a low, soft voice descended from him.

  “It’s past noon. It’s time to get up.”

 Julia shook her head and buried herself in her pillow again.

“I'm going to sleep a little longer.”

Her body was aching all over. Her back was throbbing.  It was all this man's fault, so he didn't have the right to wake her up now.

 Julia tried to close her eyes with such rationalization, but unexpectedly, happy words descended.

 “It stopped raining since morning.”

 At those words, Julia opened her eyes wide. Fernan smiled and added.

"You’ve been waiting all this time for the rain to stop." 

 Eventually, Julia raised her body up.  As he said, she had been eagerly waiting for the rainy season, which lasted all summer, to end.

 So, she could hardly miss a rare opportunity.  As Julia tried to get out of bed, Fernan immediately supported her.

 Realizing that he had pushed her to her limits last night, Fernan took care of her more gently than usual.

 In the afternoon, when the sun was at its brightest, they went out together to the forest near the castle where they once walked together.  The rain did not dry out, so the ground was slightly muddy, but the sunlight quickly hardened the road.

 The wind blowing through bushes swept through Julia's hair.  When she smelled the scent of green trees that was carried by the wind, she felt more at ease.

 "Promise, you finally kept it."

 Julia looked at Fernan and opened her mouth. Fernan immediately understood her words and nodded.

 “I promised to come to this forest with you again.”

 Fernan looked at her lovingly.

 “At the time, I thought it was a promise I couldn’t keep.”

 For Fernan, the days of losing Julia were vivid.

 So, there were times when he was still worried about Julia, who was still by his side.

 He wondered if she would disappear again somewhere.

 Fernan put a little more force into his unconsciously grasped hand.  Julia looked up at him.

 Now, Julia knew that he was often engulfed in formless anxiety like this.

 After stopping her steps, Julia turned to face him.

 Just as she was about to speak, a drop of water suddenly fell on her head.

 The rain, which had been falling one or two drops at a time, began to intensify in the blink of an eye.

 “Suddenly it rains again …  ”

 While Julia, who had forgotten what she was going to say, muttered, Fernan led her and turned to a wooded path.

 As they went a little deeper into the forest, the densely lined trees blocked the rain to some extent.

 Fernan reached out and smoothed Julia's slightly wet hair.

 Julia, who felt his delicate touch, looked up at the darkened sky.

 She then gently raised the corners of her lips.

 “I don’t think a day like this is too bad.”

 Yes, even on an imperfect day was fine.

 Julia suddenly raised her arms and hugged Fernan’s neck.

 When she was with this man like this, everything was filled.  Then, with a gentle smile, Fernan wrapped his arms around Julia.

 His hands brushed her back, and without warning, his lips lightly touched her forehead.  Julia closed her eyes and smiled happily.  It was such a warm day even though it was raining.

 "You're right. It's a good day."

 Fernan whispered belatedly. The anxiety that filled him faded little by little as he held her in his arms.

 As soon as his expression improved, Julia raised her head and pulled his  neck.  With his eyes closed, Fernan lowered his lips as if he had been waiting. At the same time as their lips touched, a deep kiss continued. 

 Meanwhile, the rain stopped little by little. Julia smiled, feeling the hot breath flowing through her mouth. 

She didn’t have to hope that this time will last forever or feel afraid of when and what will happen. Julia could now be sure that this man would stand by her side forever.

And she too, would stand by him.  So, prayers and wishes were no longer needed.