Chapter 92
Once again summoned, Judy gasped in surprise upon seeing the letter in Yulia’s hand.
“Ah! Why is that…! I’m so sorry. I must have dropped it without realizing.”
Yulia carefully returned the letter to Judy, who was reaching out politely with both hands, and asked cautiously,
“Judy, this letter… who is it from?”
The letter had arrived from Vanosa — her mother’s hometown — and contained a message about someone searching for their daughter. It was only natural that Yulia’s heart filled with unease, wondering if it might be a letter from her mother.
“Ah, well… Among the servants, no one knows who it belongs to, so we’ve been asking around,” Judy replied, still looking puzzled by Yulia’s anxious demeanor.
“So no one’s claimed it yet.”
Yulia, clasping her hands tightly together, stared at the letter still in Judy’s hands.
“If a letter ever arrives from Vanosa again, could you let me know first?”
Hearing that, Judy widened her eyes slightly and tilted her head, confused.
She couldn’t understand why the lady of the house would be so concerned over such a shabby and anonymous letter.
Still, being the diligent maid she was, Judy nodded briskly.
“Yes! If another letter comes, I’ll bring it directly to you, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Judy.”
With a deep bow, Judy finally left the bedroom.
Left alone, Yulia stared blankly at the closed door before biting her lip lightly.
She had no definitive proof that the letter was from her mother.
Even so, her heart couldn’t help but race anxiously.
Since the day she was taken to the capital under the Marquis’ authority, she hadn’t had any contact with her mother.
The only times the Marquis ever mentioned her mother were as threats to keep Yulia obedient, leaving her with no way of knowing where her mother might be now.
Yulia had always consoled herself with the thought that her mother might be living a new life somewhere, hidden and safe from anyone’s reach.
But whether her mother still remained in Vanosa — she had no way of knowing.
Vanosa was a small land, yet there was no guarantee that no servants here hailed from there.
For now, all she could do was wait.
Yulia gently pressed down the swelling anxiety in her chest.
If her mother truly was trying to find her… surely she would send another letter.
Clearing her thoughts, she sat at the table.
It was almost time for Calrosa to visit for her regular examination.
As she sat quietly, waiting for him, Yulia slowly unclenched her tightly joined hands.
Meanwhile, across the estate, Fernan stood by the office window when Lloyd approached.
“Your Highness, there are no suspicious movements from the Imperial side as of yet.”
Thanks to the strengthened defenses around the Grand Duchy, the surrounding area remained peaceful without any signs of unrest.
Yet Fernan’s face showed no sign of relaxing as he asked,
“What about Marquis Elody’s side?”
“With the heir succession ceremony approaching, the Marquis household also seems to be staying quiet, showing no external movements.”
Due to the previous Marquis’ death, his eldest son, Grayson, had inherited the title earlier than expected.
Grayson was known for his absence from political circles.
He had held no official position, nor managed any family business.
Living detached from family affairs either meant he lacked ability — or the will to maintain the house.
Thus, it was far more likely that the one feeding information to the Emperor had been the late Marquis’ wife, not his son.
Naturally, eliminating the Marquis alone wasn’t enough to free Yulia from their grasp.
“Negotiations with Geranian are proceeding smoothly, so for now, there shouldn’t be much cause for concern,” Lloyd added.
As long as Yulia continued to remain safely within these walls, there was nothing to worry about — at least for now.
At present, securing the alliance with Geranian was the top priority.
Only a few months ago, talks of a royal marriage had been taking place between the Imperial Family and Geranian.
The candidates had been narrowed down to the Emperor’s third son and the second son of the Lakin Count family — a founding noble house.
However, neither candidate had been satisfactory to Geranian.
A powerless third prince and a second son with no claim to his family’s leadership hardly seemed worthy of Geranian’s only princess.
Thus, talks had stalled, and the border regions between the two nations remained tense.
Fernan had seized that opportunity to reach out to Geranian’s Chancellor.
Given the strained relationship between Geranian and the Empire, Geranian had shown a favorable reaction to Fernan’s proposal.
He promised to support Geranian’s side regarding border skirmishes and even offered them priority rights to his maritime trade routes.
In return, Geranian would ally themselves not with the Empire but with Fernan personally.
Such a pact would help Fernan apply pressure on the Imperial capital, which remained firmly under the Emperor’s grip.
“To finalize the negotiation, Your Highness should meet the Chancellor personally soon,” Lloyd advised quietly.
At those words, Fernan finally turned away from the window and replied,
“Make it two weeks from now.”
Fernan no longer had any intention of tolerating the Emperor’s tyranny.
One by one, he would secure alternatives to tighten the noose around the Emperor’s neck.
Crossing the office, he opened the door and stepped outside.
The cold glint in his eyes did not fade as he ascended the stairs and passed through the corridors.
Only when he stopped in front of Yulia’s room did his fierce energy subside.
Fernan knocked lightly with the back of his hand.
The door soon opened.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
Yulia, who appeared at the doorway, had a serious expression, but upon seeing him, her features softened.
A familiar blush colored her cheeks.
However, Fernan, who had clearly seen the worry that had flashed across her face just moments earlier, immediately asked,
“Did something happen?”
At his searching gaze, Yulia quickly shook her head.
“No, nothing happened.”
Answering firmly, she took his hand, leading him inside.
Fernan, allowing himself to be guided, never took his eyes off her face.
Yulia, as if trying to reassure him, raised the corners of her lips into a gentle smile.
“Father Calrosa should be visiting soon.”
Fernan nodded slightly at her words — it was the very reason he had come.
Lately, whenever Calrosa visited, Fernan would stay by Yulia’s side throughout the session.
Though her memories showed little change so far, Calrosa had reported that the stimulation to her memory center was gradually increasing.
Which meant… there was now a higher chance that fragments of her past might suddenly resurface.
Upon hearing that, Fernan found it harder than ever to leave her side, even for a moment.
“Um… Your Highness,”
Seated once again at the table, Yulia spoke hesitantly.
“Has there… been any contact from my family?”
Fernan, who had sat across from her, raised his eyes.
Before he could ask why she was concerned about that, she continued,
“It’s just… Father used to send me letters quite frequently. But lately, they’ve stopped coming altogether…”
In the past, Yulia had been constantly harassed by her father’s demanding letters.
But now, those letters had ceased altogether.
She couldn’t help but wonder — had her father started trying to contact Fernan directly instead?
“No. Not at all.”
Fernan replied immediately.
