I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

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Sponsored by Curufin ? (⅘)

***

Julia waited patiently for the words to come from him.  She wanted him to be as pleased with this news as she was.

But on the other hand, she could not fully predict what Fernan would think of the child.  Because they had never had a conversation about successors or children.

He was the Grand Duke at the center of the empire.  For him, succession was also one of the indispensable elements.

However, Julia did not want to be happy simply because they had an heir. She wanted him to be happy to have their ‘child'.  A child was the fruit of love.  And she wanted Fernan to think so too.

"Julia."

Fernan finally called her name and got up slowly.  Then he held her in his arms very carefully and affectionately.

“…  In fact, I thought it was okay to have no children.”

Fernan gently caressed her back.  For him, the fact that Julia had come back to him was enough. He did not want to burden her with the obligation to produce his successor.

The reason he never brought it up was because he didn't want to put a burden on her. Even if they didn’t have kids, he thought they would be fine.

“But, I guess I was wrong. This….It makes me very happy.”

 He looked at Julia as he exhaled his trembling breath deeply. His golden eyes twinkled brightly.

"I'll protect you. You and our children."

Fernan took Julia’s hand and kissed the back of her white hand.  His lips were finally softly curved with affection.

Fernan was like her. This child was not just a successor, but the fruit of love and a blessing.

“…. our child"

Julia muttered and nodded her head slowly.  Yes, it was their child.

Julia sniffed her nose as if she was about to cry.  Fernan caressed the corners of her red eyes.

On an ordinary winter day, a very precious gift came to them.

***

On a snowy moonlit night, Julia could not sleep and read her book.

“I used to hate winter…but now I like it.”

Julia felt tight arms around her and turned over the page.

Fernan, who was holding her from behind and supporting her book, asked,

"Why?"

“Well, there is a fireplace, and there is a magic stone.”

"Yes."

"And, we have two more family members."

Julia smiled and glanced back at Fernan. Then Fernan gently stroked her stomach with his hand.

At Julia’s second checkup, Lockman said she was expecting twins.  At the first visit, the pulse was faint, so he couldn't tell them apart, but as the number of weeks increases, he could feel it clearly.

Yet her stomach was flat without any traces.  It was hard to believe that there were two children growing in such a small body.

“This moment is like a dream.”

Julia whispered softly.

The first winter they met, just staring at each other without any passion or hardship.

It was a dreamlike time and a dreamlike gift in winter.

“Me too.”

Fernan replied softly.

The sound of burning embers filled the peaceful silence.

Julia turned one more page.  Fernan continued to stroke her stomach.

“Which do you prefer, boy or girl?”

She asked abruptly, fixing her gaze on her book.  Fernan answered right away without thinking deeply.

“It’s good either way, but I’d like them to look like you.”

“Um, I hope they’re half and half alike.”

Julia nodded joyfully. Two children resembling them were imagined running around.  It would be really cute and lovely.

Julia turned the page with a pleasant imagination.

So, when she turned ten pages, the bright moonlight gradually faded.  Fernan whispered as he pressed his lips to her cheek.

“You should sleep now.  It's late at night."

Recalling Lockman’s words  that mothers should get enough sleep, he encouraged Julia. 

Julia said, ‘One last page,’ and quickly skimmed through the long lines.

Only then did she rest her head on her fluffy pillow and close her eyes. Fernan lay obliquely next to her and looked at her.

She said that she couldn't sleep, and within ten minutes of lying down, Julia fell asleep quietly.  Fernan, who smiled faintly, kissed her on the forehead, on the cheek, and then on her lips.

***

The two children were growing up smoothly.  Julia's stomach swelled up quickly, and she paid attention to her health every day, so there was nothing wrong with her body.

Around that time, her fetal movement began to feel great. The children loved Fernan's voice.  Because they reacted unusually loud whenever he called Julia's name or stroked her tummy.

Now winter was over and spring was in full swing.

Julia liked to take a walk in the garden, feeling the warmth of spring. Because she felt that when she talked to her children here and there, admiring the flowers she had bloomed, she liked them too.

Perhaps her children also liked what she liked.

"Your Grace, please come out for a moment. A visitor is here to see you.”

“Huh?”

Julia, who had spent time embroidering on white handkerchief, tilted her head.

Melissa grinned, supported her and walked out into the hallway.

It was then that she knew who Melissa was talking about.

"Julia, how have you been?"

"Oh, my god…"

It was priest Matheus, whom Julia hadn’t met since returning to the castle. She looked at the man approaching her with a happy face.

Julia looked up at him in surprise as he got closer. It had been a year since she had seen him like this.

She couldn't hide her joy.

“Matheus, how did you get here? I didn’t hear from you…”

Matheus stopped in front of her and greeted her politely, then smiled sweetly as before. 

“I have been called by the Grand Duke to give a blessing to Julia and the children in her womb.”

Then, a smile gradually spread across Julia's face.

"I see. I didn't even think about it…”

At one time, Matheus was her longtime benefactor and a strong supporter. Was that why?  After being pregnant, she often thought of him.

She had once told Fernan about it, too, and perhaps that was why Fernan called Matheus.

The feeling was new. Long ago, she was saved by Matheus’ divine power, and now she was embracing a new life.

Julia headed with him to the parlor with her pounding heart.  And they talked a lot about things that they couldn't finish.

The news that Gabrielle and the children of the monastery have returned safely to their original place, and the news of Cedric who has left the temple and was free.

“Did Cedric give up his priesthood?”

"Yes, I've heard he's been traveling around.”

Julia was a little startled, but she soon smiled softly. Cedric seemed to be doing just fine, so her heart was relieved.

It was good that he was happy after becoming a free person, Julia thought. 

Matheus looked at her warmly as she smiled, then looked down at her bulging belly.

“It seems that the Grand Duke cares for Julia a lot.”

Now, Julia's past was gone and she was full of vitality.

They were more mature and healthier than before by sharing their hearts with a lot of love.

Matheus could feel that fact deeply just by looking at Julia’s expression.

Julia nodded her head and smiled shyly.

“The story of the past……well, he was cold and heartless.  Even Matheus must still be familiar with His Highness at that time.”

An unparalleled warmth permeated her eyes.

"Now he cares and love me so much, so I don’t remember that time anymore."

As Julia gently clasped her hands, she looked up and smiled once more.

“Matheus, I am very happy now.”

The joy spread even to Matheus, who knew at once what she wanted to say.

In the distant past, when Julia was born, his blessing, wishing her to be happier than any other child in the world, has now come true.

Matheus looked at Julia, feeling the emotions overflowing deep in his heart.

"It's a great joy for me, too, that you are happy."

The blessings given to the mother and the children in the womb were made in front of Fernan.  Because it was also a blessing for the family.

After a long time, Julia felt his divine power seep into her stomach.

“The two children will be born healthy. And finally, under the protection of the two of you, they will be happy for a long time."

Matheus removed his hand from her stomach and whispered softly.

"So don't worry about anything."

Julia nodded her head.  At that moment, a spring breeze blew from the window as a proof of blessing.

Julia smiled happily as she felt the wind wrapped around her body.  At the same time, Fernan, who was standing behind her, gently grabbed his hand.

They looked at each other and smiled lovingly. Julia felt that the children in her stomach were also delighted.