"What more can I do to satisfy Your Majesty… . Do you know the Marquis?"
To a sarcastic question, the Marquis replied with a gentle tone.
"I do not know. If you and my daughter-in-law can have a child as soon as possible and make an heir, your Majesty may recognize the Grand Duke's loyalty."
Fernan's bright forehead was wrinkled.
In other words, it was a call to give birth to an heir as soon as possible and give up the title.
When he retires, he will take advantage of that opportunity to disband the privates of the Grand Duchess and try to run the successor as he pleases.
The Marquis took advantage of Fernan's uncomfortable feelings and began to coax her.
"Once I give birth to an heir, the Grand Duke can go on vacation with my daughter, even if it is far away. Wouldn't it be nice to no longer be tormented by His Majesty?"
"… … ."
"Think about it. I'm not asking you to adopt an unrelated bastard as your successor. To hand over the title to the grand duke's own child, isn't that unreasonable?"
Fernando raised his eyes, which had fallen deeply, and glared at the Marquis. The face of the Marquis, full of greed and ambition, felt more disgusting than filth.
Fernan, who was silent for a moment with his forehead narrowed, opened his mouth slowly.
"If your Majesty's will is so, I can't resist."
Now it makes sense. It was time for the Marquis, whose mouth was about to tear, to say more. Fernando shuddered in an arsenic tone.
"It doesn't matter who is the child of my blood."
The marquis jumped up, startled to the point where his eyes popped out at those words. The Marquis raised his trembling hand and pointed at Fernan.
"I mean, what does that mean? Where are you talking about giving birth to an illegitimate child?"
It was very funny to hear him shouting gibberish in excitement. Fernan leaned back leisurely on the back of the sofa and smiled.
"No matter how much I think about it, I don't think I can have children with the wife of the Marquis. Every time I see her, I think of her father, and her body doesn't move, so what should I do?"
"That, that… !"
The Marquis grabbed the back of his neck and wheezes as if he was about to fall. Fernan watched the scene for a moment, then got up from his seat.
"I think I'm done with what I have to say, but let's just leave."
Leaving behind the trembling Marquis, Fernando left the office.
"I, that cheeky… !"
Left alone, the Marquis slammed the table. He thought he was a sullen man, but he had no idea he could water him in this way.
As he said, the emperor will be satisfied with anything as long as Fernando abdicates the title as soon as possible. Regardless of whether the heir is the child of the original wife or not.
If Fernando really gave birth to an illegitimate child, there would be no such disappointment. How dirty he had been for this marriage.
The Marquis sharpened his teeth for a long time, unable to quench his anger.
It seemed that he had to find another breakthrough that could surely tame Fernan.
* * *
"I see you, Rain. Your Majesty the Grand Duke is here first."
The servant bowed deeply and opened the door. Julia entered the dining room with her nervousness.
A calm atmosphere as usual greeted her. Fernand fixed her gaze on her papers in her hands, without even looking at her as she entered hers.
"Good evening, my lord."
Julia greeted her with a soft voice, but as usual, there was no answer.
Maybe his voice was too low to be heard. Comforting herself without meaning, she sat quietly.
Soon, the attendant laid out the hot soup, fresh salad, and well-done lamb steak on the table in turn.
"Sir, may I pour you some wine?"
"It's okay."
Yulia shook her head with a small smile and immediately started eating. Only the occasional rattling of dishes filled the dining room.
It was Fernando who broke the uncomfortable silence.
"I plan to go to the capital to see His Majesty soon."
Yulia, who was about to eat the salad, looked at Fernan with her fork in the air. He continued her speech without taking his eyes off the paper.
"You too go."
Yulia was stunned for a moment and blinked her eyes.
"Hey, can I go with you?"
"okay."
I felt my heart pounding. It was because it was the first time that Fernando had proposed to do something first.
"Yes Yes… . Okay."
Fernando did not continue the conversation as if that was the only purpose.
Still, Yulia couldn't contain the constant twitching of her lips.
Going to the capital with him. Also, in order to meet His Majesty the Emperor.
Now that I really feel like a married couple with him, I can't help but feel excited.
So she didn't notice that Fernando's heart was sinking more than usual.
* * *
The wagon carrying the Archduke and his wife set off early in the morning when the sun was just beginning to rise.
Last night, Yulia, who could not sleep because of her nervousness, was thinking of sleeping in the carriage.
But when I saw Fernan sitting in front of me, I felt like I was running away from my sleepiness.
"… … ."
He was reviewing documents as he was moving in the wagon. It was a bit disappointing that the drooping eyelids covered his eyes.
Fernando had beautiful golden eyes that seemed to melt the sunlight. He was a warm color that softened his sharp eyes.
In contrast, the black hair, as dark as ebony, gave off a rather cold feeling.
Today, he shaved his head neatly to reveal a rich forehead, thanks to which his sculptural face was clearly revealed.
It seemed that he would not get tired of looking at his face all night long.
"Why don't you just stop staring and go to sleep if you have nothing to do?"
Fernand muttered lowly, not taking his eyes off the paperwork. Surprised, Julia answered quickly.
"I'm sorry. I don't even know... ."
Raising his gaze, Fernan looked at her red cheeks and frowned softly.
Whenever he stares openly, he shows such an innocent face again.
I had no idea if I was shy or pretending to be like that. She was an unpleasant woman with a different feeling than the Marquis.
If it hadn't been for the Emperor's message in the first place, I wouldn't have gone to the capital with that woman.
The letter from the emperor brought by the Marquis contained that members of the imperial family would soon be invited to a banquet, so be sure to attend.
With a request to come with Julia.
As usual, he would not have been able to attend, but if he refused the emperor's orders any longer, it was clear that he would try to press him again, muttering disgust.
Everything was annoying and annoying. Even that woman who is still glancing at herself.
Fernan, who once again looked down at the paperwork, completely blocked her from sight.
By the time we arrived at the Imperial Palace, it was already dark evening.
While the attendants moved the luggage inside the wagon, the two were guided to their assigned place.
As soon as Yulia got off the carriage, she felt fatigue rushing in.
The desire to jump straight into bed was like a chimney, but the priority was to meet and greet His Majesty the Emperor.
"I see you, Your Majesty. How have you been?"
"Yeah, come on. It must have been a lot of hard work to come a long way."
The warm hospitality of the emperor followed. After sharing a few formal greetings with Fernando, the emperor immediately turned his gaze to Julia.
"It's the first time I've seen you since the wedding. I'm really glad that your face looks good."
Yulia answered politely while hiding the tension that was creeping in.
"Yes, I am doing well, thanks to your concern for your Majesty."
"That's good. The Grand Duke is such a blunt man. I was not alone in fear that the Grand Duchess would be neglected."
To the emperor's jokes mixed with jokes, Yulia responded with a small smile.
The emperor was a fairly easygoing and sensitive person, but he was an opponent that felt uncomfortable for some reason.
Somehow, I felt the same way when I saw my father.
"Come on, don't stand there, sit down."
The dining table inside the banquet hall was spacious enough to seat ten people comfortably.
In the seat were the Empress and the Crown Prince and several other princes and princesses.
Yulia listened to the emperor while trying to adjust to the unfamiliar atmosphere.
"It's been a long time since we've been together, so my heart is very rich."
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's thanks to the arrival of a new person into the imperial family."
The Empress smiled kindly and looked at Julia. The Empress, who gracefully rolled her red hair, had a gentle impression.
"Yes, the Empress is right. It is very fortunate that the Grand Duke has such a virtuous wife."
The emperor with a smile continued to speak.
"The Marquis of Elodie has raised her very well. Since she grew up watching her father, who is her loyal friend, the girl must also be deeply loyal to her imperial family. Jim has no doubt that the Grand Duchess will bring great fortune to the Imperial Family."
At the emperor's words, everyone's eyes turned to Julia. She felt a little pressured, but she made an effort to open her mouth calmly.
"To live up to His Majesty's expectations… I will do my best."
"Yes, thank you."
Julia thought that the emperor was exalting me too much. I should be grateful for being kind to me, but somehow I felt more awkward.
She sighed and glanced at Fernan, who was sitting across from her. His expression was strangely twisted.
Just as he was about to feel his doubts, he opened his mouth.
"I didn't know your Majesty liked my wife so much."