I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

“Don’t worry. I’ll sort these feelings out soon.”

Cedric looked up at his mentor with a composed expression, forcing himself to appear calm.

From the beginning, he hadn’t harbored feelings for her with any expectations. Just being by her side was more than enough for him.

“I fear the anguish you’re about to endure,” came Mateus’s heavy voice. Cedric simply pressed his lips together.

“For now, let’s focus on the fact that Lady Julia is safe. If she needs our help, she will definitely reach out to us.”

Mateus redirected the conversation, though there was an undeniable hint of worry in his voice.

“But what concerns me… is her health.”

Julia’s condition was precarious.

For reasons unknown, a significant amount of her divine power had somehow flowed back to Mateus.

He could sense it. After all, the divine power that resided in her heart originally belonged to him.

It was highly likely that, for some reason, she had used that power. Or perhaps… her light was simply fading.

Ever since surviving that fall off the cliff, Julia’s life had been like a flickering flame, weak and fragile.

So fragile that even the slightest breeze could extinguish it.

Mateus couldn’t be certain when or how the wind would come to fully snuff out her life.

“Master Mateus, I intend to visit the estate where Gabriel and the children are,” Cedric calmly requested, interrupting Mateus’s troubled thoughts. He wanted to check on their safety in person.

And if possible, he wanted to find any trace of Julia as well.

Mateus placed his pale hand lightly on Cedric’s shoulder.

“Very well, be careful.”

At that, Cedric gave a small, weak nod, managing a faint smile.

—

Winter had long since passed. Spring had arrived in full bloom.

Julia, who had not ventured outside for some time, decided to take a midday stroll for the first time since coming to this place.

She walked along the path in front of the villa for a while, enjoying the sound of the grass rustling with every step.

The once snow-covered fields were now a vibrant green, reflecting the warmth of spring, which momentarily thawed the coldness in Julia’s heart.

She reflected on the past two months.

During that time, Fernan had not asked anything of her.

He hadn’t tried to take her back to the grand duchy, nor had he imposed any demands, no matter how small.

It was as if he was proving his earlier statement—that having her nearby was all he wanted.

He also seemed to understand that she didn’t want to face him, for he no longer visited her without reason, as he had before.

Instead, he would watch over her while she slept at night, then quietly disappear.

Sometimes, Julia would awaken to his hand caressing her cheek, but she rarely understood what he murmured in his quiet voice—too drowsy to comprehend.

His behavior was strange and unsettling, and Julia had no desire to understand it.

Shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts of him, Julia continued walking.

Melissa, who had been following her, suddenly spoke up.

“Your Highness, are you cold?”

Julia turned to Melissa and nodded lightly.

“No, I’m fine.”

The heavy winter shawl was no longer necessary.

As they continued walking, Julia’s gaze lingered on the wildflowers lining the path. Then, a thought crossed her mind, and she spoke again.

“Melissa.”

“Yes, Your Highness?” Melissa responded, drawing closer.

Melissa had been by her side for the past two months, just as she had in the past. To Julia, Melissa was the only person she could trust.

Despite the year-long absence, Julia’s feelings hadn’t changed.

Perhaps Melissa could help her send a letter to the Holy Kingdom.

“Has His Highness ordered the servants not to leave the villa?”

“No, he hasn’t given such an order. But I believe you’d need permission to go outside,” Melissa replied quickly. Julia hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“I want to send a letter to the place I was staying. If you happen to go outside, could you mail it for me?”

She couldn’t leave the villa herself. While Fernan had told her she could go anywhere she liked, she doubted that included contacting the Holy Kingdom.

If she sent a letter herself, it would surely end up in his hands before it even left the estate.

“Of course. That would be easy.”

“Thank you, Melissa.”

Julia finally relaxed a little, a faint smile on her lips.

She just wanted to let the monastery know that she was safe. By now, they must be very worried about her.

She had no intention of asking them for help, as that might bring harm to them as well.

“But… Your Highness, do you plan to return there someday?” Melissa asked cautiously, watching Julia carefully.

In Melissa’s eyes, Julia remained cold and distant toward Fernan, never opening her heart.

Even when Fernan visited, she refused to look at him, and when he spoke, her responses were brief.

She always seemed uncomfortable in his presence, her expression tense. Melissa often found herself watching Fernan uneasily, too.

After witnessing this for two months, Melissa couldn’t help but worry about Julia’s well-being here.

“…Yes. I can’t stay here forever,” Julia answered softly.

She had a place she needed to return to. For now, she was biding her time, but her resolve hadn’t wavered.

Meeting Melissa’s concerned gaze, Julia thought of the faces she longed to see—Gabriel and the children, Cedric, and all the people she’d spent time with at the monastery.

Oddly, whenever she thought of them, her heart raced with anxiety, as if something was wrong.

‘…Why?’ she wondered.

With a troubled expression, Julia continued her walk, eventually turning back toward the villa.

As she approached, her expression hardened.

Fernan stood near the entrance, watching her from a distance.

Julia averted her gaze and continued walking resolutely.

She intended to pass by him, but Fernan followed her as she stepped inside.

“You sent the doctor away this morning,” he said calmly from behind. Julia kept climbing the stairs.

“You’re still unwell. Your fever hasn’t subsided.”

“……”

“I’ve called for another physician. It would be wise to undergo another examination and get a new prescription.”

Julia, walking quickly down the hallway, suddenly stopped.

Before she realized it, Fernan had closed the distance between them, standing just a step away.

Without looking back, Julia responded coldly, “I don’t want to see another doctor. Just continue giving me the current medication.”

The medicine helped manage her symptoms, so she continued taking it. However, seeing another doctor felt pointless.

After delivering her statement, Julia resumed walking. Normally, when she cut the conversation short like this, Fernan would stop following her.

But today, his footsteps didn’t cease.

Suddenly, a large hand reached out and grabbed the door handle ahead of her. His chest lightly brushed against her back.

“Julia.”

His voice, low and urgent, broke the silence as he closed the space between them.

“I’ll do as you wish.”

His voice sounded strained, as though he were anxious. Julia stiffened.

With him so close behind her, she couldn’t even turn around. His low voice continued to spill over her head.

“So… just look at me once.”

His grip tightened on the door handle, as if he were holding something back.

Julia had been avoiding him day after day, never letting her gaze linger on him for long.

Unaware of how that weighed on Fernan’s heart, she simply stared at his hand on the door.

Without turning, she spoke quietly, “Let go.”

She gently placed her hand on his, feeling his grip loosen slightly in response to her touch.

As he released the handle, Julia turned it and stepped into the bedroom.

Without once looking back, she closed the door behind her.