I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

It took several days to prepare for the move.

In the meantime, Julia headed for Lihel.

The Lihel estate, in the height of early summer, was filled with a vibrant energy.

As the carriage stopped, children who had been playing in the front yard rushed over, waiting eagerly for Julia to step out.

“It’s Julia!”

The moment she got down, five or six children clung to her all at once, wrapping her in their arms.

Julia laughed brightly, holding their hands as they walked together through the front gate.

“Come in, Julia.”

Gabriel greeted her warmly, with the same kind smile as always.

Seeing him, Julia felt an immediate sense of ease, just like she always did.

“Gabriel, I think I’ll be leaving for a distant place soon.”

Julia spoke only after they were alone in the drawing room.

“How far away are you going?”

“It’s quite far from here, and I don’t think I’ll be able to visit again.”

The Seiref estate, where Julia planned to go, was located on the opposite side of the grand duchy.

Gabriel’s eyes widened with surprise but soon returned to calm curiosity.

“Have you decided to stay with him?”

“…No.”

Julia forced a smile, but Gabriel’s gaze, tinged with worry, softened even further.

“After I go there, I plan to leave again. To another place.”

“Another place…?”

“A foreign land. Somewhere far, far away from the empire—somewhere no one will be able to find me, no matter how hard they try.”

This time, she had to live on her own, without anyone’s help. There would be no one to take her in unconditionally, as they had in the Holy Kingdom. She had to stand on her own.

Gabriel looked at her with concern still etched on his face.

“Julia, once the Holy Kingdom stabilizes, why don’t you return and stay with me and the children? Wouldn’t that be better?”

“…No. If I go back to the Holy Kingdom, he’ll find me again.”

Fernan already knew she had been staying there, so it was no longer a safe refuge.

“Then, how about leaving with Cedric? I’m sure he’d go with you.”

Julia lowered her gaze, as if weighing Gabriel’s suggestion carefully.

“No… Cedric has his duties as a priest. I can’t burden him any longer.”

Gabriel immediately shook his head. Cedric had been waiting, hoping for a message from Julia, longing to be with her. Gabriel had known for some time just how much Cedric cared for her.

“If it’s what you truly want, I won’t stop you. But I’m certain he’d willingly go with you.”

“…”

“So, think carefully. It worries me to think of you leaving alone.”

Julia, who had been blinking in silence, eventually nodded.

“Yes, I’ll consider it.”

Before she left, she needed to meet Cedric at least once. If not in person, they would have to exchange letters.

If Cedric offered to help, Julia had no reason to refuse. She didn’t have the strength to escape Fernan on her own.

If Cedric could use his divine powers to hide her presence or alter her appearance, it would be a blessing beyond words.

“Gabriel… there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

Julia gave a faint smile as she spoke.

“Thank you for treating me with such kindness and care, as if I were your daughter. To me, you’ve always been like a mother.”

The year she spent in the small monastery of the Holy Kingdom was the happiest time in her twenty years of life.

And at the center of that happiness was Gabriel, who, despite not being related by blood, had shown Julia endless affection.

Julia hoped this wouldn’t be the end of their connection. Once she settled somewhere, they could meet again.

Gabriel gently took Julia’s hand, her warm smile as reassuring as ever.

“Julia, you will always be my daughter.”

“…”

“When you’ve gone where you need to go, let’s meet again. We’ll have more time together then.”

Julia grasped Gabriel’s wrinkled hand, and though she tried to follow his smile, she felt on the verge of tears.

—

She managed to contact Cedric on her last day in Lihel.

Gabriel had sent a letter to the temple on her behalf, and Cedric responded within a day.

[You’re going to Seiref. Since there’s a port there, it will make it easier for you to escape, just as you planned. Come with me.]

As Gabriel predicted, Cedric didn’t refuse her.

Cedric had been there for her through everything—from their escape from the grand duchy to their time in the Holy Kingdom.

They agreed that Julia would contact him again once her departure date was set.

With that, Julia returned to the villa.

“Your Grace, you’ve returned?”

Melissa hurried over as Julia entered. Julia gave her a brief nod.

The villa was bustling, with servants moving quickly to pack her belongings.

“His Highness is away at the moment. He asked me to tell you that the departure for Seiref is set for three days from now.”

“Thank you.”

Three days. The schedule was tighter than she expected. Julia went straight to her room to prepare a letter for Cedric.

“Your Grace, is there anything else you’d like me to pack?”

Julia paused mid-sentence, startled by an unfamiliar sensation rising within her.

“Ugh…”

Covering her mouth, Julia bent over, and blood began to trickle through her fingers.

“Your Grace!”

Melissa dropped the vase she was holding and rushed toward her.

The sound of the vase shattering echoed through the room.

“I-I need to call the doctor right away!”

Julia grabbed Melissa’s hand before she could leave the room.

“No, don’t… call anyone.”

Barely able to speak, Julia shook her head. Melissa’s eyes trembled as she stared at the blood staining Julia’s lips.

“Y-Your Grace, you need medical attention…”

“I’m fine. Please… don’t call anyone.”

Though it felt as if something was crushing her chest, Julia forced the words out.

“Melissa, listen to me. I’m really fine…”

Melissa looked at her in disbelief but slowly knelt beside her.

“Why… Why are you doing this, Your Grace? After coughing up blood like that…”

Julia, sensing Melissa’s distress, gently lowered her trembling hand.

“This isn’t something that can be treated… It’s not just a simple illness.”

“Not a heart condition? Then what…?”

Julia took a deep breath, her heart pounding wildly as if it might burst.

“I can’t explain it exactly… but no doctor or priest can cure it.”

“Your Grace…”

“Please, Melissa. Don’t tell anyone, especially His Highness.”

Julia’s voice was firm as she made her request. She didn’t want her condition to delay her escape.

Melissa, her face pale, bit her lip and nodded reluctantly.

“If His Highness knew, he would find a way to cure you… He would…”

Julia squeezed Melissa’s hand gently, her voice soft but determined.

“I won’t be staying with him for long, and you know that. Please, just trust me.”

Melissa realized that this wasn’t the first time Julia had coughed up blood.

Fighting back tears, Melissa lowered her head. Julia handed her a handkerchief and wiped her bloodstained lips.

“Are you really leaving?” Melissa whispered. “Are you going to Seiref to escape?”

“Yes.”

Julia answered quietly, resting her hand on Melissa’s.

Melissa’s eyes welled with tears, but Julia smiled faintly, as if to thank her.

Thanks to Melissa’s silence, the commotion passed without incident.

Three peaceful days followed. On the morning of their departure, Julia chose a dress Fernan had once bought for her—a white frill dress with a sapphire adorning the neckline.

The summer sun bathed her in warmth as she stepped outside.

Fernan, who had been giving instructions to his aide in the front yard, turned toward her.

“Your Grace.”

At his soft call, Fernan approached, his gaze lingering on her face, hair, and dress before meeting her eyes again.

“We’ll be leaving soon,” he said quietly.

Julia nodded, looking back at him. Her whole body ached, but she smiled as if nothing was wrong.

Knowing their time together was limited made her feel both at ease and uneasy.

But for now, she wanted to be kind to him, as he deserved.

She no longer wanted to run from him out of hatred or fear.

She hoped he would live well after she was gone—find someone new and no longer be tormented by those who despised her.

She wished for them both to live easier lives.

Seeing her tender smile for the first time, Fernan’s eyes softened.

He reached out and gently wrapped his hand around hers—a touch both firm and kind.