Standing before the tightly shut door, Fernan lowered his eyelids halfway.
Julia still felt so distant.
If only she would look at him with those calm, shimmering eyes just once, that would be enough.
Yet, no matter what he did, her warmth never reached him.
After staring at the door she had disappeared through for a long while, Fernan finally turned away.
His heavy footsteps led him to his office on the first floor.
“Your Grace.”
Lloyd, who had been standing nearby, bowed respectfully before stepping forward with a letter in hand.
“A message from the imperial palace. The Emperor’s attendants have visited the castle twice already.”
Fernan had been away from the castle for a long time without notifying anyone of his whereabouts. As a result, the attendants had left empty-handed both times, which seemed to have greatly displeased the Emperor.
Fernan took the letter with an indifferent expression and swiftly tore open the envelope.
“It appears the Emperor is especially upset because you did not attend the Empress’s birthday celebration,” Lloyd continued with a sigh. On that day, Fernan had been too preoccupied with retrieving Julia from the Holy Kingdom to bother with any social event.
Besides, ever since Julia disappeared, the Emperor had been suffering from severe anxiety. It was likely because he could no longer fully control Fernan.
And now that Fernan had missed one of the empire’s most important events, the Emperor’s irritation was probably at its peak.
“…”
Fernan read the letter with cold eyes.
The message demanded that he visit the imperial palace soon, as the Emperor no longer wished to doubt the Grand Duke’s loyalty.
A smirk twisted one corner of Fernan’s lips. It seemed that such crude threats never changed, no matter how much time passed.
From a very young age, Fernan had been treated like a pawn in the Emperor’s political game. Even then, the Emperor’s tactics had always been the same.
The Emperor, who had once demanded daily proof of loyalty from his young nephew, had constantly implied, *If you don’t, I will have to doubt your true intentions.*
“It would be wise to pay a visit this time, unpleasant as it may be. While you’re there, you could finalize the mining deal and inspect your estates,” Lloyd gently suggested. It was true that Fernan hadn’t been to the capital in a long time, so it seemed necessary to make a trip.
The Emperor was a cunning old man, and if his dissatisfaction grew further, there was no telling what kind of scheme he might concoct to slander Fernan.
“Are you worried about the Lady?” Lloyd asked cautiously, observing Fernan’s thoughtful expression.
Lately, Fernan’s mind had been consumed by only one person—Julia.
It had been more than two months since Fernan left his usual residence and moved to this secluded villa just to be with her.
“Don’t worry too much. Adrian is still here, and there are plenty of knights stationed around the villa,” Lloyd added.
Even so, Fernan only tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, saying nothing.
He wasn’t unaware of Julia’s silent resolve, her intent to leave him at any moment.
That knowledge continued to torment him.
After a long pause, Fernan finally spoke, his gaze now clear and decisive.
“I will visit the capital soon.”
—
While Fernan was away from the villa for the first time, Julia spent some time alone.
She had told Melissa, who had gone to post a letter, to take a few days off.
After a solitary walk across the plains, Julia returned to the villa to find someone standing at the entrance.
It was Adrian, Fernan’s lieutenant, whom he had left behind.
“Lady Julia,” Adrian greeted her with a respectful bow. Julia’s eyes gradually widened as she glanced at his face.
For some reason, his face wasn’t unfamiliar.
“Do you need anything, my lady?” Adrian asked, standing at attention. But Julia simply stared at him in silence.
It wasn’t until Adrian’s expression grew slightly uneasy that Julia took a step back.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. She felt like she had seen him before, but couldn’t quite remember when.
Had she perhaps glimpsed him standing near Fernan a few times while she lived in the Grand Duke’s castle?
Something about him tugged at her memory, but Julia shook her head slightly and began to walk past him.
Adrian, watching her retreat, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
For a moment, he thought she had recognized him.
Adrian had been one of the knights Fernan had planted in the Holy Kingdom, posing as a devout follower and occasionally visiting the monastery to check on Julia’s well-being.
Although they had never interacted directly, he wondered if she remembered his face from those brief encounters.
‘But perhaps it would be better for Fernan if she did remember…’
Julia, of course, believed that Fernan had forcibly brought her here.
She had lost her memory, and the circumstances had led her to such a misunderstanding, but Fernan had not bothered to correct her.
Contrary to her belief, if the Holy Kingdom hadn’t been invaded, Fernan might never have brought her back.
For half a year, he had watched her from afar, ensuring her safety and providing for her so that she could live peacefully.
And in the meantime, he had been breaking down, withering away.
Even now, he kept her hidden, not telling anyone that she was alive.
That was his way of saying he wouldn’t force her back into her old life.
“…Sigh.”
Adrian let out a short breath. As one of Fernan’s longtime subordinates, the situation felt increasingly complicated to him.
—
In the central palace.
As Fernan walked down the long hallway, the attendants bowed their heads in unison.
Upon reaching the audience chamber, a servant respectfully opened the door.
Fernan entered slowly, offering a polite, expressionless bow to the Emperor.
“I trust you have been well, Your Majesty.”
As always, Fernan’s demeanor was formal, yet there was a subtle arrogance beneath his poised expression. The Emperor, unable to hide his irritation, spoke.
“So, you’ve come. Judging by how long you kept me waiting, I assume you’ve been quite busy.”
Though the Emperor’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, Fernan responded without a change in his expression.
“Yes, many important matters have required my attention.”
“…”
The Emperor frowned, displeased, and tilted his head slightly.
Only then did Fernan take a seat across from him.
With a heavy sigh, the Emperor eventually softened his expression, his tone now more benevolent.
“Well, I won’t press the issue any further. I know you have many lands to manage, and I can’t be offended over something so trivial.”
“I’m grateful for your understanding,” Fernan replied, maintaining his composed demeanor.
The Emperor stroked his beard, observing Fernan closely before turning his attention to the door when someone knocked.
“Your Majesty, the young lady has arrived.”
“Good, send her in.”
As soon as the Emperor gave permission, a servant opened the door, and a young woman timidly entered the room.
With a pleased nod from the Emperor, she gracefully approached him and greeted him with a polite bow.
“Did you grow bored while waiting?” the Emperor asked.
“No, Your Majesty. I passed the time chatting with the maids, so it went by quickly,” the woman replied, smiling softly at the Emperor before glancing at Fernan.
She blinked shyly in his direction, and Fernan’s brow furrowed slightly.
He immediately understood what this sudden situation meant.
The Emperor, smiling warmly at Fernan, spoke again.
“She is the daughter of Viscount Cerevis. She recently returned to the capital after studying abroad.”
The Emperor, still looking pleased, continued speaking.
“I hear you’ve refused to accept any marriage proposals, but we can’t leave the position of Grand Duchess vacant forever. After all, you’re not exactly young anymore.”
Fernan’s lips curled into a grim smirk.
So this was the true reason behind the Emperor’s repeated attempts to summon him.
“Given how important your new marriage is, I’ve given this a great deal of thought. Viscount Cerevis has long been one of my most trusted vassals. You and his daughter would make excellent partners.”
As the Emperor casually spoke of arranging his nephew’s marriage, Fernan’s expression grew colder.
It was as if the Emperor was certain that Fernan would never defy him.
Despite fearing Fernan’s power, the Emperor still treated him like a mere child, never fully acknowledging the threat Fernan now posed.
