Cornelia had said that she overheard the entire conversation between Julia and Fernan on the day of the national founding festival banquet.
“Why don’t you prepare someone in advance, Your Highness? Someone to console your loneliness or perhaps someone to remarry after the divorce.”
Julia recalled the elegant voice that had spoken to her in front of Fernan’s residence, looking directly at her.
Julia’s expression gradually darkened.
If Fernan was indeed close to Cornelia and there had been talk of marriage between them, it wouldn’t be surprising if she deliberately spread such rumors.
“It’s been almost a year, and there’s still no news of a child, so I had my suspicions… You, as always, are insignificant.”
The Marchioness murmured, with a look that made it unclear whether she was angry or mocking.
It was a mixed emotion. While she was angry at Julia for disgracing the marquis family, she also felt a slight satisfaction seeing her being treated as befitting her lowly birth.
Julia merely closed and reopened her eyes slowly, showing no signs of distress.
Such rumors no longer mattered to her. There was no reason to let them hurt her.
After all, she planned to leave her position as the Grand Duchess before winter ended.
When Julia showed no reaction, the Marchioness deliberately furrowed her brows deeply.
“Do you have any idea how much I lost face in front of the noble ladies because of you…?”
“Mother.”
Julia raised her calm eyes to meet the Marchioness’s gaze.
At that emotionless look, the Marchioness narrowed her eyes for a moment.
Julia spoke in a dispassionate voice.
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to leave now?”
“What?”
“It’s quite late. I’m also a bit tired.”
Speaking in a calm tone instead of showing fear, as usual, made the Marchioness’s eyes widen in anger.
“You insolent girl. How dare you tell me to leave?”
Unable to suppress her anger, the Marchioness dropped her kind facade.
Looking at the Marchioness with a raised hand, just as the Marquis had once done, Julia simply averted her gaze.
Her expression showed nothing but fatigue and annoyance.
The difference between the Marquis and the Marchioness was that the latter had sharper instincts.
The Marchioness lowered her hand, which she had raised to slap Julia, and glared at her intently.
“Do you have some other scheme in mind?”
The Marchioness had never seen Julia with such a face before.
She had only ever seen her cowering, trembling, and obedient.
Although Julia clenched her delicate hands tightly at the Marchioness’s words, her expression remained calm.
The Marchioness stared at her for a long time before continuing in a much softer tone.
“Once you leave our family’s protection, a girl like you is no different from a commoner on the streets.”
Her words fell like a curse, telling her she could never escape her oppressive life.
“So, don’t even think about climbing higher and just obediently fulfill your remaining duties.”
Julia slowly relaxed her tightly clenched hands. Though the pain in her heart was intense, she managed to completely compose her expression.
“It doesn’t matter what you say.”
“What?”
“Please leave.”
Julia was determined to do whatever it took to escape this misery.
Thus, such hateful words could no longer bind her to this hell.
Julia walked to the door, opened it wide, and looked back at the Marchioness.
Seeing the Marchioness standing there in shock, Julia called out to a passing servant in the hallway.
“Lady Elody, the Marchioness is leaving. Please guide her out.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will do so.”
Julia looked back at the Marchioness again. Under the servant’s gaze, the Marchioness had no choice but to move.
However, she did not forget to glare at Julia even as she walked out.
After the Marchioness disappeared down the hallway, Julia closed the door without hesitation.
* * *
The first event the next day was a meeting of the royal women.
It was a discussion about the banquet and charity event to be held after the Crown Princess gave birth.
The Empress had requested Julia to visit the capital more frequently.
Since the Grand Duke was not deeply involved in the capital’s affairs, the Empress thought it would be beneficial for the Grand Duchess to maintain close relations with the palace.
Julia agreed without hesitation. It was a promise she wouldn’t be able to keep, though.
As there was some free time before the next event, Julia headed to the back garden of the secondary palace alone.
In the middle of the vast garden was a maze made of boxwood. Julia wandered through the maze slowly, trying to clear her mind.
Three days of events lay ahead.
“…Ha.”
Julia sighed deeply. Only a day had passed, yet she already felt exhausted.
Returning to the Grand Duchy wouldn’t change much, but it seemed better than this unfamiliar and uncomfortable palace.
Just as she turned a corner with a dark expression, she unexpectedly encountered someone.
It was a boy, about ten years old, dressed in a white priest’s robe.
The boy smiled brightly when he saw Julia.
The face seemed familiar. She remembered meeting him at the Ilion Temple.
He was the young priest who had guided her to Mateus that day.
“Hello?”
The boy greeted her in his cute voice, just like before.
He must have been one of the priests from the Ilion Temple.
Julia returned a faint smile and knelt down to his level.
“We meet again, little priest.”
If the boy was here, Mateus must have arrived at the palace as well.
Before Julia could ask, the boy provided the answer she wanted.
“Mateus went to the central palace. He said he had to prepare for the mass in the afternoon.”
“I see. So, are you alone?”
Julia asked gently, matching his eye level. The boy nodded his small head.
“Yes, Mateus said I could explore the garden for a bit.”
The boy’s eyes softened as he smiled, and Julia chuckled at his charming demeanor, then suddenly extended her hand.
“This garden is quite complex. You might get lost. Shall we walk together?”
The boy blinked at her offered hand, then giggled and took it.
“Okay.”
Holding his small hand, they walked through the maze garden together.
The boy chattered about various things. He explained that they were here for the Crown Princess’s birth mass, that he would stay for a week, but Mateus would stay for over a month.
He also mentioned that he was Mateus’s only disciple and, despite his looks, he was quite old.
“Can I ask how old you are?”
Curious, Julia inquired gently. The boy hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
“It’s a bit difficult to say today, but I promise to tell you later.”
Julia found the boy’s attempt to act grown-up adorable and unconsciously patted his curly, chestnut-brown hair.
The boy’s eyes widened, and he blushed slightly, looking embarrassed.
When they reached the fountain at the end of the maze, the boy looked up at her and spoke.
“My name is Cedric.”
Then, with eyes shining like fresh foliage, he asked cautiously,
“Would it be rude if I asked for your name, Your Highness?”
Julia hummed and took her time before answering slowly.
“I don’t mind, but it might be considered impolite by others.”
Concerned that the boy might ask other nobles their names, she gently hinted at this before kneeling to meet his gaze again.
“My name is Julia.”
“…Julia.”
The boy repeated her name as if engraving it in his mind, then smiled brightly and nodded.
“Julia, can we take a walk together again tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
Since she would be staying in the palace for the next three days, she would have plenty of time to meet and walk with him.
“Then let’s meet here at this time tomorrow, little priest.”
“Okay.”
Cedric was like a fresh breath of spring.
Spending time with him alleviated her pent-up frustrations and fatigue somewhat. Holding his hand again, Julia led him out of the maze garden.
The garden, bathed in winter sunlight, was enveloped in a moment of peaceful tranquility.
