I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

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1. Hunting Festival 

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“Oh my God, how can you look so good!" 

Madame Ophelia clapped in front of a large mirror hanging on one side of the dressing room. Julia, who was looking at herself in her mirror, brushed her hair shyly.

"It's my first time wearing clothes like this, is it okay?" 

Julia's outfit was not the dress she usually wore, but men's wear.  This was the hunting suit that Ophelia had been painstakingly tailoring over the past month.  It was for the upcoming Imperial Hunting Festival.  

Although it was designed with an emphasis on activity and convenience, it also created a beautiful atmosphere by using elegantly colored fabrics.  In particular, it was even more beautiful thanks to the moderately revealing of Julia's body line. Ophelia, who was adjusting her dress, nodded her head fiercely.

"Of course! Everyone will be busy looking at the Grand Duchess, far from hunting. You are so beautiful!" 

 “That’s…I’m flattered.” 

Julia smiled with embarrassment as she thought that Ophelia’s praise was exaggerated.

But perhaps, Ophelia was sincere without exaggeration.  Recently, Ophelia and other fashion designers in the capital have been commissioned to produce hunting suits for many ladies.  In other words, there was a fierce competition among designers as to who produced the more beautiful hunting suits.  

After calculating and calculating, Ophelia decided to focus on making costumes for only one person, Julia.  Julia was a woman who could be considered the most noble in this empire after the Empress. 

It was clear that she would get more attention than anyone else in this hunting festival.  Then it was a good opportunity for Ophelia to show off her clothes widely.  And, as expected, Julia looked amazing in Ophelia's costume.  

"Thank you, Madame. Wearing this suit really makes me feel like I can win," Ophelia proudly agreed as Julia shrugged her shoulders.  

"Of course. Grand Duchess will shine the brightest in this hunting festival!" 

Aside from hunting, it was obvious that Julia was the woman who would shine the most anywhere.

 It will be …… isn’t she so beautiful!  Of course, she looked beautiful no matter what she wore, but this outfit was the perfect piece to call Ophelia's masterpiece.  Surely anyone would have to stare and lose their minds.  Ophelia looked at Julia in the mirror with a happy expression on her face, and then lamented a little.

"The Grand Duke should have been the first to see this image of the Grand Duchess.”

At those words, Julia raised her lips silently. But she had a loneliness that she couldn't hide in her eyes.

 Fernan was inevitably away from the castle for several weeks due to political affairs.  Because work was getting longer this time, he couldn't even attend the hunting festival.

"Then, would you like to try on a banquet dress? I brought all the dresses that I think will go well with you!"

 Ophelia asked in a bright voice, as if evoking the quiet atmosphere.  With one hand, she pointed at the colorfully displayed mannequins.

 Julia looked at the dresses quietly and nodded her head.

 "Yes. I'll try them.”

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.

.

 After a long time in the dressing room, Ophelia finally left, and Julia sat in the parlor and had tea alone.

 A drizzle was falling outside the window.

‘There shouldn't be much rain at His Highness’s place.’

 Putting down the teacup, Julia thought blankly.

 Fernan left the castle three weeks ago to rearrange the borders, and was due to arrive in the capital on the day of a banquet after the hunting festival.

 It was her first time away from him after returning here.

 It was an afternoon when his empty seat felt particularly large. She wanted to meet him as soon as possible. Julia felt lonely.

 As she drank hot steaming tea, she enjoyed the chill of early autumn for a while. Then a heavy voice came from outside the door.

 "Grand Duchess, this is Adrian. May I come in?"

 Julia, who turned her gaze to your door, answered straight away.

 "Yes, come in."

 With a click, a tall man bowed his head through the open door.  It was Adrian who had been appointed her official escort knight not long ago.

 She remembered seeing him often when she was at Fernan's villa a long time ago.  Whether it was because of that or because of Adrian's bubbly personality, Julia was able to get close to him quickly.

 "Good afternoon, Grand Duchess. His Highness sent you a letter. I was on the way to receive it from the messenger and bring it straight to you."

 Adrian smiled and took the letter out of his pocket.  It was a neat letter envelope without a pattern.

 "Your Majesty is someone who never writes handwritten letters other than for public affairs, but as expected, the Grand Duchess is an exception. He seems to be worried about the Grand Duchess, who will be alone."

 Julia's eyes, startled at the news that a letter had come, slowly curved when she heard Adrian's words.

  "I see. He must have been busy…"

 Adrian approached with a big stride and ripped open the letter with an envelope knife.  Julia accepted it and she immediately unfolded the paper.

 As she read the letter, her eyes, like a lake, gently fluttered, and then a warm light was absorbed.

 It was a letter written in a neat and hard handwriting that resembled Fernan.

 [I don't feel comfortable thinking of you being alone, so I write you a letter. I wanted to say I'm sorry I couldn't accompany you to the imperial palace, but it's hard to fully convey this feeling in words.]

  Julia smiled slightly, and Adrian, standing opposite her, opened his eyes curiously about what was written.

 [I'll go see you as soon as the border matters are sorted out. I’ll try to arrive before the day of the banquet if possible. I miss you every day]

 It wasn't a long letter.  However, Julia could deeply feel his  affection in it.

 Reorganizing the borders took days.  As the security of the Empire and the safety of the Grand Duchess were at stake, Fernan, the owner of the Grand Duchy, played a significant role.

 In the meantime, she was thankful that he sent her a brief letter, and at the same time, she felt a little ashamed of herself for wanting him to come back soon.

 Fernan was fiercely guarding the border while she was having a comfortable time.

 Julia once again corrected her heart.

 She herself was Fernan’s wife, but before that, she was the Grand Duchess. She was obligated to protect him and the Grand Duchy too.

 She herself had to play her role diligently.

 “You look serious now. A little while ago, you smiled so happily that I wondered about the contents of the letter."

 Only when Adrian spoke to Julia did she raise her head.

 After seeing his curious expression, Julia loosened her hardened face and smiled gently.

 Her smile, as sweet as always, was overlaid with a firmness that he had never seen before.

 ***

 A week later, the day before the hunting festival, Julia arrived in the capital.

 Standing beside her were her three maids, her escort Adrian, and five knights.

 Among them was Melissa, who had long been her full-time maid.

Melissa had returned a month ago when Julia sent a person to her address to ask her how she was.

Melissa, who once thought Julia had only left for a distant land, resigned from her maid position after feeling heartbroken.

 Julia heard the story belatedly and felt bad for a long time.

 After much thought, she sent her a message to Melissa, and fortunately, Melissa gladly returned to her.

“Hic…..Grand Duchess. You didn’t leave, right? You’re really here, right?”

 Julia comforted Melissa as Melissa hugged her while crying, and she let go of her long agony.

 Thereafter, she gave Melissa the position of maid of honor, not just a regular maid.

 By that time, except for Melissa, almost all of the servants Julia remembered had disappeared, and they were filled with new ones.

 It was not only the normal servants, but also the high-ranking butlers and maids.

 The changed general butler was the old butler of the Seyrev family, which was Fernan's mother's family.

 Fernand said of the incident:

 ‘‘I can’t erase the time that bothered you, but all those who stood out and reminded you of those memories are gone.”

 Then, he said he was sorry he was too late and hugged her.

 “I'm one of those people who reminds you of that time too.”

 “…”

 “I know there will be times when you will see me and be angry or resentful me.”

 Julia no longer resented him, but as he said, there were times when she remembered the past.

She had never made it obvious, but Fernan seemed to have noticed it as well.

 “In that case, it’s always good, so pour out all your emotions on me.”

 “…  ”

 “Don’t hold it alone, release it all to me.”

 If she behaves capriciously about her past or hates and resents him, he will handle everything, so he told her not to suffer alone.

 He said so in a calm, yet sincere voice.

 But Julia affirmed that it would never happen.

 She couldn't forget all of the past as long as she had memories, and she could forget the agony and pain of that time.

 Because Fernan was there.  Because she trusted her husband to do anything for her, and he would never change.

 But even if she told him that, she knew  that she wouldn’t touch his heart right away.

 So Julia just nodded her head.  Hoping that would relieve him of some guilt.

.

.

.

 “Oh my gosh, the Imperial Palace..…  It’s like a place made of gold and precious stones.”

Melissa, who followed Julia, mumbled with admiration.

 At that moment, Julia came to her senses and stopped thinking.

“I've learned etiquette and order for today. I'll do my best to serve you. Please leave it up to me!"

 Seeing Melissa clenching her fists and nodding her head with determination, Julia let out a small laugh.

 Still, those reliable words made Julia feel better.