“Cedric, what’s wrong?”
Julia looked at Cedric, who had suddenly fallen silent, with curiosity. Only then did Cedric lift his head and quickly respond.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Cedric managed a faint smile, thinking it might be better not to tell Julia about this yet.
However, Julia could vaguely guess why he was acting this way.
It was probably because he hadn’t found any effective treatment at the temple.
“Thank you for trying so hard. And I’m really okay now.”
Seeing her trying to comfort him, Cedric pressed his lips together slightly.
Feeling both troubled and sorry, Cedric nodded his head gently and remained quiet for a while.
After gathering his expression again, he turned his gaze to the bride standing under the wedding arch.
“Is that bouquet the bride is holding made by you, Julia?”
Julia nodded and smiled brightly again.
“That wedding arch was decorated with the children too.”
The wedding arch she pointed to shone beautifully under the sunlight, adorned with white flowers and greenery.
“You didn’t overdo it, did you? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I’m fine. In fact, I enjoyed it.”
Seeing her peaceful face, Cedric finally relaxed his expression a little.
At that moment, he couldn’t help but wish fervently. He hoped that everything could go on like this, without any trouble. He wished she wouldn’t suffer anymore and that she could remain peaceful like now.
“Those two really look happy, don’t they?”
Julia asked, her blue eyes sparkling. Despite the simple wedding, she seemed to find great joy in watching it.
Her own wedding would have been much more extravagant and luxurious.
When Cedric first brought Julia here, he had secretly worried that she wouldn’t adapt to the simple lifestyle.
However, contrary to his worries, Julia had gradually blended into life here.
But he couldn’t be sure if she was truly satisfied with her current life.
He knew well that there were times when she wore a lonely expression.
“By the way, I heard that the festival starts tomorrow.”
Julia suddenly spoke again. She had just received the news from Gabriel that morning.
Cedric nodded slightly and quickly replied.
“Yes. This summer marks the birthday of the goddess Hecate, who governs the continent.”
That was also the reason the archbishop had been traveling around the continent. Every year around this time, the Holy Kingdom held a long festival.
Julia’s face lit up with anticipation at those words.
“It’s my first festival.”
One of Julia’s small dreams had been to go out and enjoy the festival.
For her, mingling among people to enjoy the festivities was something that had never been allowed before.
Seeing her like that, Cedric spoke in a brighter voice.
“It will be fun. During the festival, foreigners are allowed to enter freely.”
“Really?”
“Yes, there will be street performances and night markets. Many merchants will come too.”
Hearing that made Julia feel even more excited.
Looking at her sparkling eyes, Cedric subtly suggested.
“Shall we go out together tomorrow? We can take the kids with us.”
“Yes, that sounds great.”
Julia lowered her gaze slightly, hiding her childlike excitement.
A sudden breeze made her hair flutter gently.
* * *
On the first day of the festival, it was afternoon.
The streets of the bustling district were beautifully decorated with colorful lanterns and ornaments.
White lanterns lit up the gradually darkening evening.
The scene, creating a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere, caught Julia’s attention.
“Wow!”
The children pulled her hands and dashed through the crowd.
As Cedric had said, numerous stalls lined the streets.
Lost in the excitement of the children, they soon found themselves in the center of the square.
A street performance was in full swing there.
People were sitting on the round steps on one side of the square, enjoying the show.
After seating the children in the empty spots, Julia sat beside Cedric.
The previously restless children quickly settled down, captivated by the exciting play.
Julia, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, soon became engrossed in the performance.
“How’s the festival? Is it as enjoyable as you thought?”
After some time had passed, Cedric suddenly spoke to her. Julia nodded without taking her eyes off the play.
“Yes, just this lively atmosphere… it really makes me feel good.”
Cedric, momentarily silent at her response, asked again.
“…Can I think that Julia is a little happier now?”
Julia finally turned her head. Cedric looked tense for some reason.
As she blinked slowly and gazed at him, Julia soon smiled brightly.
“Of course.”
Her clear smile, free of ulterior motives, conveyed that she was already quite happy.
Cedric stared at Julia as if enchanted, then inadvertently squeezed her hand.
The tips of his ears, hidden in the darkness, turned slightly red.
As Julia shifted her gaze back to the play, her eyes filled with tranquility.
It was a perfectly unfolding evening.
At the same time, Fernan had just entered the festival street.
The Holy Kingdom was a country that strictly controlled the entry of foreigners.
However, coincidentally, the day after his arrival marked the beginning of the festival.
Thanks to that, he obtained permission quicker than expected.
“Your Highness, the priest has already slipped away. What should we do?”
In just one day, the priest had vanished. But now, that didn’t matter much.
As long as Julia was confirmed to be in this country, finding her wherever she was wouldn’t be difficult.
“Divide the area and conduct a discreet search. I need to check this street.”
Fernan led two or three knights into the bustling district. The lanterns lining the square illuminated the dim view.
The white flags connecting the pillars were adorned with the symbols of the goddess in vibrant colors.
However, Fernan didn’t focus on any of that. He merely scanned the crowd with a hint of madness in his eyes.
Throughout his time here, he had been consumed by numerous thoughts and a whirlwind of emotions.
The most dominant feeling in his heart was hope.
The thought that Julia might already be dead, which had driven him crazy.
Now, the situation before him proved that thought wrong, and he struggled to contain the rising emotions.
As he frantically searched the streets, his gaze soon settled on a corner of the square.
Perhaps a spectacle was taking place, as people had gathered in a circle, looking toward the central clearing.
Fernan, who had been watching the crowd intently, suddenly turned his gaze elsewhere.
Then, unexpectedly, he fixed his gaze back into the midst of the crowd.
His golden eyes, shimmering with intensity, focused on a woman.
Among the many people, only one person entered his sight.
“Julia…”
Fernan murmured as if he were choking.
A small girl sitting on the steps. Her light brown hair tied back in a single ponytail. A delicate and well-defined face.
Even her lake-like eyes, shining brightly despite the passage of time.
Julia, whom he had envisioned thousands of times, was now vividly captured in his sight.
“Your Highness?”
His aide, who had been standing still, spoke up in confusion. Only Fernan had recognized Julia among the crowd.
He silently gestured for the knights to follow him.
Soon, the knights who had been trailing him dispersed in unison.
As if he couldn’t grasp the reality of the situation, a glow began to fill his previously vacant eyes.
The Julia he had searched for so desperately was now within his sight.
Trembling slightly, Fernan took a large step forward. His golden gaze fixated solely on Julia.
In that moment, he heard the sound of every thread of rationality snapping at once.
Would Julia be surprised? Would she be angry and ask why he came? How could he soothe and calm her?
There was no room for such normal thoughts.
His unrestrained steps quickly brought him closer to Julia.
At that moment, a parade of people swept past him.
He stopped only when Julia, who had been obscured by the crowd, began to reappear.
His wild eyes momentarily hardened.
Fernan, gazing blankly at his own feet, slowly lifted his gaze.
And he looked again at Julia’s sunlit smiling face.
So, Julia was smiling. With a face he had never seen before.
‘…Why?’
The first thought that surged in Fernan’s mind was this foolish question.
