Chapter 76
Yulia shuddered as Fernando’s scorching touch—hotter than the feverish heat flooding her mouth—seared into her.
Her unsteady body staggered back against the terrace railing. His hand, pressed to the small of her back, steadied her.
The obscene sound of their mingling breaths, the reflexive heat rising in her body—none of it felt familiar yet.
Yulia clenched her eyes shut and gripped the fabric of his clothes.
The kiss, urgent at first but lingering long, filled her hazy mind with fire.
Finally, their lips parted with a slick slide of his tongue against her lower lip.
“…Hah.”
A shallow breath escaped through Yulia’s parted lips.
Her face, once pale and hollow, was now flushed from the feverish contact.
Fernando brushed his thumb over her reddened ear and whispered, voice thick with heat:
“Even if I held you all day, it wouldn’t be enough.”
“…….”
“Do you really want me to do as I please?”
Yulia pressed her damp lips together and lowered her wavering gaze. In response, he crashed his mouth against hers again, demanding an answer.
Her head spun white. With a strained push, she finally shoved him away.
Fernando stepped back, leaving just a sliver of space between them as he looked down at her.
“…Fine. Let’s go.”
“…….”
“You said… you wanted to see the ocean.”
Yulia met his eyes, her face still warm, her gaze faintly accusatory.
Finally coaxing a response from her, Fernando straightened with a satisfied exhale. As if her answer alone pleased him, he gently swiped his thumb over her swollen lips.
Then, unable to resist her resentful stare, he kissed her cheek.
Evening, by the Sea
By sunset, Yulia had obediently followed him to the shore.
The sky bled scarlet and pink, a mesmerizing hue. She absorbed the sight quietly.
Back when she had resolved to escape Fernando, she’d thought she’d never see this ocean again.
Perhaps that was why the endless horizon before her felt so vivid now.
She glanced up at the man walking beside her, his hand fully enveloping hers. Then she lowered her gaze to his feet, deliberately matching her slow steps to his.
Stifling the tangled emotions rising in her chest, Yulia turned back to the sea.
Waves rolled in, leaving dark stains on the sand like scorch marks.
Just as this man, holding her hand, had always done.
Wherever he passed, something remained—wounds, sorrow, rage, or pleasure.
Even when she’d loved him, even now when that love was gone, Yulia could never free herself from him.
So did that mean she had to willingly accept the marks he left?
No. It doesn’t matter anyway…
She wouldn’t last much longer. These thoughts were meaningless.
She could feel it—her body, long neglected, was irreparably broken.
I wanted to live happily… for a long, long time.
Even knowing it was impossible, she’d clung to hope.
As if hoping hard enough could miraculously fix everything.
But reality refused to bend. Maybe she’d been living in a dream all along.
If today were my last, what should I do?
Yulia stared at the distant horizon, then turned to Fernando.
“I…”
She opened her mouth as if to speak—then froze.
Her vision darkened abruptly.
Fernando stopped beside her. When she didn’t move, he turned, only to find her staring blankly at him, one hand pressed to her chest.
A violent surge of energy hammered through her nerves like a drumbeat.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Her heart threatened to burst. At the same time, a scorching heat crawled up her throat.
The sensation of something burning through her core—
“Yulia!”
Fernando caught her as she swayed violently.
Collapsing against his solid frame, she clutched his arms, but her limbs kept losing strength.
“Yulia, what’s—?”
His frantic words didn’t reach her.
In that moment, every function in her body seemed to shut down, one by one.
Burying her face in his chest, Yulia suddenly coughed—
And vomited blood.
His white shirt bloomed crimson.
Her eyelids fluttered shut.
The Estate
Carried back in Fernando’s arms, Yulia was laid carefully on the bed.
No color remained in her face. She didn’t stir.
After a prolonged examination, Rockman barely managed to speak.
“I… can’t detect a pulse. She isn’t breathing…”
There had been no warning before her collapse.
Though her health had always been fragile, she’d never been this close to death.
“Her heart is still beating, but… not for long.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Fernando muttered as if unable to comprehend.
His clothes and hands were stained red.
“She was just—”
Just moments ago, she’d been holding his hand, watching the sea.
The warmth of her touch still lingered on his skin. The memory of their kiss before leaving for the shore was still vivid, still burning—
Rockman bowed his head, guilt heavy in his voice.
“I’m sorry. This is my fault… Her heart condition has deteriorated rapidly, and I failed to notice…”
He’d monitored her regularly. Her illness had never been this severe.
“Your Highness, I know it’s presumptuous, but… you must prepare yourself.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say the rest—
She won’t last much longer.
Because the man standing there, staring blankly at Yulia, looked like he would die first.
Fernando said nothing for a long time.
Then he bent over her, pressing his ear to her chest.
Thud. Thud.
A slow, faint heartbeat.
That sound alone kept his frayed sanity intact.
“…Save her.”
His whisper was hollow.
“Do whatever it takes. Bring her back.”
“Your Highness, at this stage, there’s nothing—”
Fernando seized Rockman’s collar. His face was eerily blank, but the veins in his hand bulged violently.
“Don’t tell me you’re useless. Tell me how.”
“…Your Highness.”
“Tell me how to make her breathe again. Please.”
Rockman swallowed hard.
“All bodily functions have stopped except her heart. By all accounts, she’s… already gone. She won’t hold on much longer…”
Fernando released him.
“That’s impossible.”
He turned back to Yulia, dropping to his knees beside the bed. Clutching her limp hand, he pressed it to his forehead.
He still couldn’t understand. Wouldn’t understand.
Gasping for air like a drowning man, he pulled her into his arms.
He bent over her, pressing his lips to hers again and again—
As if he could breathe life back into her.
The blood still smeared on her lips stained his mouth red.
“Y-Your Highness…!”
Rockman couldn’t bring himself to stop him. He turned away, eyes squeezed shut.
“…Hah.”
Fernando’s mind numbed with each futile attempt.
Yulia’s face grew paler in his blurred vision.
He wiped the blood from her lips with trembling fingers.
“…No. You’re not dying. I won’t allow it.”
His murmur was dazed, delirious.
Gone. Death. Those words didn’t belong to Yulia. He wouldn’t let them.
His throat burned. In one motion, he lifted her carefully into his arms and stood.
“Your Highness! Where are you—?!”
Ignoring Rockman’s shout, Fernando strode out of the room.
He descended the stairs and barked at the waiting servants:
“Prepare a carriage. Now. We’re going to the Ilion Temple.”
