I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

Gabrielle and the children were staying in Richel, one of Fernan's estates.

 In the wagon going there, Julia felt nervous and clasped her hands together.

‘Is everyone staying healthy without any injuries?  Maybe the children suffered from the aftermath of the war…’

 Many worries filled her mind.

 The carriage, which had been running for a long time, soon passed the checkpoint.

 After entering the outskirts of the village, moving a little further, the entrance to the mansion began to be seen from afar. Fernan, who got off first, reached out to her.

 When she took his hand and stepped outside, a man rushed to them and bowed his head, seemingly the caretaker of the place.

 Even before entering the mansion following the caretaker’s guidance, someone from the inside popped out.

 “Julia!”

 Small children rushed out and clinged to Julia.

 Excited, Julia bent her knees and made eye level with her children.

 "Guys……  ”

 For some reason, she felt like she was about to cry, so Julia, who was trying her best to hold back the tears, hugged her children tightly.

 “Julia, why are you so late?  Are you sick again?”

 "No, Julia, I hate it when you get sick.”

 The faces of the children, who looked up at her with whimper, were fortunately very healthy.

 Julia sighed in relief and stroked the hair of the child standing next to her.

 “No, I’m not hurt.  Sorry for coming so late.”

 “Julia, are you crying?  Your eyes are red.”

 Rosemary, hanging from her arm, reached out and touched her eyes. Julia smiled faintly and hugged Rosemary again.

 In the midst of unraveling the affair with the children, Gabrielle, who ran out late, said excitedly.

 “Oh, I heard that you were coming, but I didn’t expect to be this soon!”

 “Gabrielle.”

 Julia stood up and took Gabrielle’s hand as she approached.  Gabrielle’s eyes were teary as if she was worried a lot.

 “Are you hurt?  Are you all right, huh?”

 Gabrielle looked over her body urgently and asked.  Julia nodded.

 "I’m okay. There are no injuries.”

 “Yes, yes.  I'm so glad to see you again safely…”

 Gabrielle, who wiped the tears with her wrinkled hands, looked behind Julia.

 “By the way, the one who came with you a while ago….”

 With those words, Julia looked behind her and her eyes widened.

 Because Fernan was nowhere to be seen.

 ‘…  Did he leave?’

 Julia looked at the empty yard with complicated eyes.

 Soon after turning her head again, she entered the mansion after a long reunion greeting.

The mansion was bigger than she expected and the inside was very neat, Julia couldn't help but be a little surprised.

 “We’ve been treated so well, I don’t know what to do.”

 Gabrielle, who was following Julia's gaze looking around inside, hurriedly added her words.

  “The gentleman who came with you was the one who helped us, right?”

 “…  Yes, that's right."

 Julia answered with a complicated face as she finished climbing the stairs.

 As soon as she entered the parlor, a servant brought refreshments.

 Julia, who had been hesitating, slowly opened her mouth.

 “Gabrielle, the others… ”

 Gabrielle nodded her head slightly as she understood what Julia was asking.

 “…  Yes, we are the only survivors.”

 Gabrielle sighed in silence.  Wrinkles were growing on her forehead, perhaps because she had a hard time.

 “It turns out that not only our monastery, but the entire village suffered a lot of damage.  If it weren't for the knights who saved us…”

 Julia, who had been quietly listening to her words, lowered her gaze slightly.

 The knights Gabrielle was talking about were probably referring to Fernan's knights.

 “Julia, are you okay?”

 As Gabrielle asked carefully, Julia rubbed her lips with a complicated face.

 “Actually, I can’t remember at all what happened after I left the monastery… .”

 “Oh my gosh, it seems like you’ve been in a lot of shock.”

 Gabrielle, who patted the back of her hand with pity, took another deep breath and sighed.

 “Yeah, it’s a disaster that it would be better to forget about it.  How did such a thing happen to a country blessed by God…?”

 Gabrielle , who shook her head as if to shake off the misery, spoke again.

 “Oh, I should tell Cedric about you too. He must be very worried right now.”

 “Is Cedric safe and sound?”

 “Yes, the priests were fortunately protected by the paladins in the central temple.”

 At that moment, Julia, who was relieved, swept her chest.

 For a long time, they talked about many things.

 Gabrielle told Julia one by one how she had been doing here.

 She said that food, clothing, and food were provided abundantly, and members of the clinic visited regularly to take care of the children and Gabrielle’s health.

In particular, the children played with excitement every day, because it was their first time staying at such a large mansion.

 Julia, who silently listened to Gabrielle, showed a subtle expression as if she did not know what expression to make.

 Gabrielle noticed her glance at the door and hinted.

  “Well, would you like to thank him? He's my savior, but I haven't had a chance to see him.”

 "Ah…  Yes.  Okay."

 Julia meekly nodded. Gabrielle said she had to go check on the children and get up first.

 Julia, who had been contemplating after Gabrielle was gone, belatedly stepped out of the parlor.

 “Um, His Highness, where is he?”

 Julia carefully asked the servant who was standing at the door. And the servant answered in a polite manner.

"His Highness went to the study on the third floor. I will guide you.”

 Following the leading servant, Julia slowly moved her steps.

 Her mind was in disarray the whole time she climbed the stairs.  Because she didn't know that Fernan cared for them this much.

 Since he saved Gabrielle and the children, he must have also saved her and brought her to the villa.

All this time, she thought she was forced to go back by him and acted harshly, but when he saw her like that, why didn't he say a word…

 “This is the library.”

In the meantime, the servant who guided Julia to the study bowed and turned around.

  Standing in front of the door, Julia hesitated for a moment, then turned  the doorknob.

 As she entered, she saw the interior full of bookshelves. Julia looked around and found Fernan standing in front of the window and looking outside.

 “Your Highness.”

 Fernan turned his head at the quiet call.

 With his back to the sunlight, he looked at Julia with a gentle gaze.

 Julia approached him a little closer.

 "I…."

Julia, who opened her mouth, could not easily connect the words.

 She should say thank you, but for some reason it was hard to look at him.

 Fernan, who was staring at her, opened his mouth first.

 “You can stay a few more days if you want.”

 With a soft voice, he reached out and caressed Julia's eyelids as she looked down.  As if wiping away the tears like the last time.

 As soon as he touched her, Julia, who raised her head, made eye contact with him.

 For the first time, Julia, who always showed a lot of thorns when looking at him, had her eyes shining like before.

 “… thank you."

 Fernan's lips drew a faint arc at the brief gratitude she barely uttered.

 Julia felt her heart pounding.

 ***

 After that, Julia stayed in the mansion for three more days.

 She spent a lot of time playing with the kids, and chatted a lot over refreshments with Gabrielle.

 It was a peaceful time, as if she had returned to her time at the monastery.

 On the last day, Gabrielle, who was seeing her off, quietly asked.

 “Julia, what do you plan to do in the future?”

 Gabrielle said she intended to leave this place as soon as she found a different place to live, saying she couldn’t be indebted too long without paying.

 “I probably won’t be there long either.”

 Julia answered in her calm voice. The idea of leaving someday remained unchanged.

 However, her mind was more confused than before.

 “Whatever decision you make, think about your heart first.”

 Looking at the complicated-looking woman, Gabrielle said insinuatingly.

 For some reason, Gabrielle’s words seemed to be stuck in her ears.

 "Yes I will…  ”

 With a small smile and a nod, Julia soothed the sniffling children.

 After she hugged each one of them and promised to come back soon, Julia turned around.

"Gabrielle, I'll write to you as often as I can."

 "Yes, stay healthy. If anything happens, be sure to call me, okay?"

 Gabrielle hugged Julia tightly as if she couldn't help it. And Julia hugged her back for a long time.