I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

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***

Julia raised her head as she felt the touch on her back. When their eyes met at a close distance, her heart raced anew.

 From the moment she saw Fernan, the atmosphere around her seemed to have changed.

 "I came here because I heard you went to a picnic."

 Fernan said in a low, soft voice.

 "Fortunately, it looks like I’ve come just in time."

 Julia looked at him without hiding her happy face.

 “How are you? You said you'd be arriving the day after tomorrow."

 Julia belatedly looked at his military uniform. Seeing that he wasn't wearing a robe, it seemed like he had come here as soon as he arrived.

 “The job was done sooner than expected.”

 He stroked Julia's eyes with his other hand, and then he completely wrapped her bright cheek.

 “Did anything happen?”

 At his question, Julia remembered the picnic that was going on a while ago.

 Then she turned her head, remembering the people standing around her.

 The ladies stood a little farther away and looked at her with their mouths covered.

 As soon as they made eye contact with Julia, they left the place as if they were running away.  Cornelia, who was intermingled among them, bit her lip, blushing to her ear, and then she disappeared without looking back.

 Julia, who was watching their backs as they left, straightened her head.

 "No. Nothing happened.”

 Julia buried her face deeper into his palm that covered her cheek.

 She didn't want to think about anything else because she just felt good right now. Thanks to this man who appeared in front of her like a present.

 Fernan touched the corners of her eyes. As if it was ticklish, Julia, who gently closed her eyes, soon took his hand.

 They headed towards a maze garden leading to the side.

 “Your Highness, how are you?  Are there any injuries?”

 Julia, who was looking all over his body, starting with the back and palms of his hands, asked.

 Fernan smiled slightly, seeing how cute she was as she fiddled with his body as if searching.

  "Of course not. Because you told me not to get hurt.”

 At the moment when Julia raised her head in relief at his gracious answer, Fernan suddenly lowered his head and kissed her, and their lips touched lightly and fell apart.

 Through the narrow gap, they looked into each other's eyes as if asking for consent.  Then he kissed her lips again.

 Julia slowly raised her arms and hugged his neck, and accepted him as his tongue dug into her mouth.  A deep kiss continued for a while in the garden with no one around.

 She was used to it, but her heart pounded, as always, at the intense contact with him.

 Deep, hot breaths passed through each other's mouths for a long time, as if pouring out the longing they had endured.  Finally, when their lips parted slightly, he kissed the corner of her lips aloud, as if branding one more time.  Then he pulled her into his arms as if to enjoy the rest of her aftertaste.

 Julia leaned her cheek against his chest and felt his warmth.  His heart was beating as fast as hers.

 Her two hot ears felt like they were about to explode, so Julia tightly closed her eyes.

 ***

 The hunting festival was to be held on a hill outside the capital.

 The next morning, Julia put on the hunting suit that had prepared in advance while surrounded by her maids.

 "I'll tie your hair up and decorate it with purple ribbon to match the color of your clothes.”

 “Yes, please.”

 A cumbersome outfit would interfere with activities in the mountains, so it was important to have a light and comfortable appearance as much as possible.

 Melissa brushed Julia's hair with her dazzling hand gestures, and her lustrous hair was tied in a high ponytail.

 The long, white nape of the neck was exposed, creating a cooler atmosphere than usual.

Melissa finally tied her hair one more time with a purple string.

 The maids praised Julia, saying that she was the goddess of war, like a beautiful fairy living in the forest. 

 Julia had to swallow her embarrassed smile several times.

 When she finally finished her preparations and left her dressing room, Fernan, who had been waiting for her in the hallway, straightened his body which was leaning against the wall.

 "Your Highness."

 Julia, who smiled broadly, approached him with frequent steps.

 Fernan stopped as if frozen, and looked at her slowly as she approached.

 His golden eyes fluttered softly as if possessed.

 Julia tilted her head as she looked up at him motionless.  Her light brown hair, tied together in the recoil, fluttered over her shoulder.

 Fernan, who was gazing at her as if to engrave Julia’s image in his eyes, finally raised his eyes. When their eyes met, he made a small cough.

 “…Pretty"

 With a muttering voice, the nape of his neck was red, avoiding her gaze unsuitably.

 Julia looked up at him with her eyes wide open.

 As she drew closer to him, who didn't make eye contact, she saw his thick, long neck tremble.

 He looked like he was nervous.…  Strangely.

 Of course, it wasn't the first time he'd said that she was pretty.  But he had never looked away from her gaze or seemed as nervous as he was now.

 Perhaps that was why Julia felt a little fresh. She was happy to see his new side.  Julia raised her lips happily.

 Both of her cheeks were already blushing.  

.

.

.

The hunting area was a hill near the capital.  It was a terrain where dangerous beasts appeared as they went deeper.

 For safety, the area where the women go in and out had been designated as the entrance to the mountain.  It was an area where small animals such as foxes, rabbits, and deer were gathered.  Julia bravely walked the mountain path with her silver crossbow.

"I'll do the hunting, so don't overdo it."

 Fernan, who was walking ahead and paving the way, held out his hand.  Julia took his hand and went down the steep road.

 "I can do it too. I trained with Adrian a month ago.”

 Julia raised her crossbow.  During the time Fernan was away, Julia called Adrian to practice shooting arrows whenever she had spare time.

 At first, the arrows missed randomly, but now she could easily hit the target.  Adrian said that her posture was perfect.

 "It won't be a big beast, but I’ll probably be able to hunt deer and foxes."

 But she also added in a low voice, whether there was any certainty.

 "Um….. maybe."

 With her crossbow strapped back to her shoulder, she began to stride ahead.

 Fernan lifted his lips and smiled as he looked at her as she walked proudly.

Having caught up with her with just a few steps, he looked around with a slow gaze.  Although it was a hill, the topography of this mountain was rather complicated.

 Wild animals such as wild boars sometimes appeared even at the foot of the mountain.  Even though the Imperial Palace knights camped and escorted them in the depths of the mountain, dangers beyond their control always appeared in moments of ignorance.  So he couldn't let his guard down.

 "Huh?"

 At that moment, Julia uttered.  A large fox was running in the direction she was looking.  She quickly took her pose with her crossbow forward.

 With a click, she pulled her trigger thanks to her preloaded press and her arrow flew right away.  It flew with a whoosh through the air.

 However, the arrow flew and dropped to the ground. The fox had run away as soon as she pulled her trigger.

 "Hmmph·······”

 Julia lowered her arm with a sad face.  It was certainly not difficult for her to hit a target during training.

 However, it was difficult for her to hit a moving target.  As she looked around for other prey, Fernan approached and stood behind her and grabbed her hand and raised her crossbow back.

 “… "

 Following his movement, Julia put her hand on the trigger.  Then she pulled the trigger with her hands overlapping Fernan’s.

 swish!  The arrow, which flew away with a louder sound that could not be compared with the previous one, accurately hit the fox that came out of the bush.

 "Wow… !”

 Julia exclaimed in admiration. Even before she could turn her head and look at Fernan, the trigger was pulled again.

 puck!  This time, the arrow was inserted into a giant rabbit that Julia didn't even know was there. Julia opened her mouth wide and shouted her cheers.

 “Hunting two in less than a minute!”  When Julia looked up at him excitedly, Fernan whispered as he removed his hand.

 “Aiming a moving target may not be easy yet, so learn your senses first.”

 "Yes, Yes."

 Her lake-blue eyes twinkled as if telling him he was great.

 Julia, who remembered his movement a while ago, quickly raised her crossbow.

Whoosh! This time she shot an arrow at a flying bird without hesitation.

 However, the arrow that cut through the air, missed the bird, and fell straight to the floor.

 Seeing her regretful eyes, Fernan again carefully grabbed her hand and gave her a crossbow.  Then she glanced around with alert eyes, and raised her crossbow at the soaring bird. With their hands together, she pulled the trigger.

 puck!  A large bird flew near the tree and fell to the ground in an instant.

 "Oh my gosh………."

Half curious and half excited, Julia looked back at Fernan.

 Ability to hit even flying birds.  Adrian knew well how good a sharpshooter Fernan was.

 Whether it be a shotgun, a bow, or a sword, the fact that he has mastered all weapons.

 But seeing it with her own eyes was different.  Julia was able to experience his physical abilities in person.

Looking up at Fernan, Julia smiled and ran to the place where the bird fell.

 A peaceful warmth permeated Fernan's eyes as he watched her.