Chapter 73
There were about two ships docked at the port. A sailor was checking identification to help passengers board.
With a worn cloak draped loosely over her, Yulia stood behind Cedric.
When their turn arrived, Cedric presented the two IDs and tickets he had prepared in advance.
The sailor glanced at Cedric once, then stared intently at Yulia.
After a long pause, he finally nodded, signaling them to go in.
Once inside the passenger ship, the two of them finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Yulia, go into the cabin.”
Cedric led her to the door of the reserved room.
“I’ll go check the deck for a moment. Just in case… it’s best if you don’t come out.”
Yulia nodded. As Cedric disappeared down the hallway, she quietly closed the door and stepped inside.
Through the small window set into the cabin wall, she could see the sky growing gradually darker.
The passenger ship was scheduled to depart in thirty minutes. It would pass through the Rus Territory and reach a small duchy called Ediner.
As long as the ship left the port, everything would go according to plan.
Staring out at the rippling sea, Yulia eventually sat on the edge of the cot.
By now, the news of her disappearance must’ve reached Fernan.
She wondered if she should’ve left a letter before leaving.
‘…No.’
Yulia slowly shook her head and removed the cloak she was wearing. There was no need to leave behind a letter and regrets.
She simply wished for him to live well. Because now, she knew—even that seemingly perfect man had lived a painfully exhausting life.
Within her, the long-held resentment and hatred toward Fernan had already faded.
It might come as a shock to him, but in the end, this would be better for both of them.
Yulia took a deep breath and tucked the hair away from her cheek behind her ear.
“Passengers, please step away from the exit. The ship will be departing soon.”
Only after hearing the sailor’s announcement did Cedric finally turn to leave.
Perhaps because it was an evening departure, there weren’t many people on deck.
As he crossed the deck with mild unease, raindrops began to fall lightly.
He looked up at the sky for a moment, then lowered his gaze again—and suddenly, his whole body froze.
A man had appeared in his line of sight.
Black hair swallowed by darkness, golden eyes shining with a piercing hue. A man whose overwhelming presence made him impossible to ignore.
Cedric had never met him before, but he recognized him instantly.
That man was none other than Duke Caesar—Yulia’s husband.
‘H-how…?’
As Cedric instinctively took a step back and turned to flee, two men blocked his path.
Judging by the swords at their sides, they were clearly knights.
“…Ah.”
Cedric’s eyes began to tremble violently.
Could it be… he knew from the start? That Yulia would be on this evening ship?
Footsteps echoed behind him, drawing closer. Before Cedric could even resist, the knights grabbed him and forced him to his knees.
The footsteps halted in front of him.
When he raised his eyes, the Duke stood there, looking down with a gaze burning with icy madness.
“So it was you… again.”
A voice heavy with killing intent fell upon him like frost.
Cedric couldn’t even open his mouth. He could only stare up at the man’s strikingly elegant face.
When had he been followed? How? His thoughts swirled in confusion as the Duke issued a sharp order.
“Tear apart every cabin on this ship. Find her.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
The knights scattered at once, and Fernan marched toward the cabins without hesitation.
Bursting through the bent-open door, Fernan’s gaze swept the room.
His golden eyes, like a storm before it hits, now burned with obsessive madness that had been hidden for some time.
Yulia had run away. Again. With a pure smile and loving touch, she had deceived him.
His lips trembled before going stiff. The truth was, he had sensed it—knew she was exchanging letters with that man. Knew she was full of thoughts of leaving.
He knew, yet he let himself be fooled. Because when it came to her, he always became a fool.
Bang! Each door he opened was empty.
He kept opening doors at random until, finally, he stopped in front of one room.
With veins bulging, he turned the knob without hesitation.
Through the crack in the door, he saw a familiar silhouette standing by the window.
Not in the luxurious dress he had gifted her, but in worn-out, old clothes, Yulia stood still.
Her long, light brown hair swayed slightly. She turned her head.
“Cedric, why hasn’t the ship…”
Her voice cut off. Her eyes widened instantly as she realized it wasn’t who she expected.
“Y-Your Grace…”
Fernan slowly walked toward her. As the distance closed, her gaze rose with each step he took.
His calm voice, barely holding down his emotion, fell upon her.
“Let’s go home, Yulia.”
“How did you know where I—”
Before she could finish, Fernan took her delicate hand. Despite the madness in his eyes, the hand that held hers was surprisingly gentle, not forceful.
When he tried to lead her out, Yulia quickly pulled her hand away.
Fernan stared blankly at his lightly rejected hand, then looked at her again.
“Your Grace… I’m not going back.”
“…Why?”
“Because I don’t want to stay by your side.”
Yulia’s voice wasn’t cold like the first time she had rejected him. It was gentle, as if trying to persuade him.
But to Fernan, it was as if countless sharp arrows pierced him all at once.
“I want to live a life that belongs to me—not one that belongs to someone else.”
“….”
“So please… let me go.”
Fernan quietly listened before slowly parting his dry lips.
“I’ll give it to you—that life. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“No… Your Grace can’t give it to me.”
Yulia met his eyes, her gaze unwavering.
Rockman had once said—Fernan had never had everything from the beginning. He wasn’t flawless, nor was he as strong as he appeared.
Even so, the gap between them was too wide.
Yulia knew she couldn’t stand beside him on that high pedestal. She didn’t want to be his wife anymore, or someone’s daughter.
She wanted to be free from all the chains that had bound her.
“I heard you’re discussing a marriage proposal.”
Breaking the tense silence, Yulia continued.
“I hope you walk that path with someone who truly suits you—not me.”
“….”
“I don’t hate you anymore. I don’t even resent you. So you can let go of the guilt you carry.”
Her expression was calm and composed. As if she truly felt nothing for him anymore.
“I hope you’ll be happy. I will be… for sure.”
Her final words pierced Fernan’s heart like a blade. Her voice, wishing for his happiness, shredded him from the inside out.
“Happiness…”
Fernan murmured with an empty voice. Happiness. Happiness. That beautiful word echoed in his mind as he stepped closer to her.
“Yulia, without you… I can’t be happy. Not even a little.”
His trembling voice cracked Yulia’s composed gaze.
Staring into her wavering blue eyes, he whispered:
“There is no one else for me. No other option. Ever.”
“….”
“I only need you. If I have you, I don’t need anything else.”
His elegant face contorted in anguish.
He wasn’t threatening her—his voice was filled with desperation.
Yet at that moment, Yulia felt like he might consume her whole.
As if she’d never be able to escape again.
“What should I do?”
“….”
“What do I have to do… to be part of your life?”
Fernan asked over and over, almost like he was talking to himself.
Yulia stared at him with a conflicted expression, unable to respond.
Then, she finally opened her lips with a voice firmer than before.
“No matter what you do… I won’t go back.”
“…No matter what?”
Fernan’s lips trembled, his eyes dim as if about to go out. Slowly, he reached out and cupped her cheek.
A shaky breath escaped from him as he lowered his head.
“…If I kill him.”
Then, with a voice stripped of all desperation and filled with chilling resolve—
“If I kill that priest… will you come back to me?”
