"Isn't the Grand Duke also a member of the Imperial Family? He cannot entrust the task of protecting His Majesty to a single knighthood."
Fernan looked pathetic at the prince who was persistently clinging to him. It was the emperor and his son who tried to apply pressure in this way. Being annoying seemed to be hereditary.
"Then, please consider it in a positive way, Grand Duke."
Fernando ignored the crown prince's last words and left the reception room. The longer-than-expected meeting made him feel bad.
Returning to his residence, he immediately took off his uniform jacket and walked into the dressing room.
Then he suddenly felt a strange sign and stopped and turned his head. Little In-young, lying crouched on the sofa, immediately came into view.
Fernando narrowed his eyes and approached the sofa. The face of a woman who had fallen asleep unknowingly could be seen through her messy, light brown hair.
"under."
After confirming that the woman was Julia, Fernando let out a laugh.
What the hell was he doing in a room without an owner? He narrowed her brow and looked down at Yulia quietly.
Seeing him sleeping peacefully, I felt annoyed but lost my pulse for a moment.
Fernan licked his tongue lightly and looked around the room. There was no obvious blurring.
His gaze as he wandered reached the teacup on the table. In the meantime, he even drank tea, which made him even more ridiculous.
Fernanh crossed his arms and stared at her pale face for a long time.
Then, all of a sudden, he tilted his head slightly with a suspicious look.
Her breathing was so shallow that I didn't notice it, but her breathing was rather irregular. As the cold sweat on her white forehead suddenly appeared, she entered his eyes.
It wasn't just that he fell asleep, it seemed like he was sick.
Fernan, who had been pensive in thought with an expressionless face, quickly left the bedroom.
* * *
Julia felt a throbbing headache and slowly opened her eyes. Her half-exposed blue eyes were wet and hazy.
Tossing and turning, she dug into the duvet, and her dazed eyes twitched.
Then, suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, and immediately got up. It was because I realized that this was not my place.
"Are you awake?"
A soft voice settled in my ear. Julia's mouth opened slightly as she turned her gaze in the direction of her sound.
"… majesty?"
Sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, I caught my eye on Fernando, who was looking at me.
She checked my condition with a bewildered look. Apparently, she was sitting on the couch waiting for him. Then I fell asleep for a while... .
Maybe I crawled into bed in my sleep? Yulia smirked and licked her lips.
"Your Majesty, that is… ."
"The councilor said he had the energy to die."
Fernan, who intercepted her words, put the papers in his hand on the table. Her still eyes, which did not contain a single ray of light, glanced slowly over her.
"I am a senator… ?"
At that moment, Yulia, who found the medicine on the side table, blinked bewilderedly.
I kept feeling weak in my body, but I didn't think it would be because of the pain.
Julia carefully opened her mouth.
"I, thank you… . Your Highness called a member of the legislature, didn't you?"
Fernando didn't answer, just tapped, tapped, tapped the handle next to the chair. Unable to understand the meaning of that silence, Yulia foolishly fiddled with the sheet.
Fernan immediately got up and walked over to the bed. Standing with his back against the moonlight, he gazed intently at Julia's face.
"Now tell me. Why did you hide in my room?"
"… yes?"
"You probably didn't come to protest just because you were sick."
His shadow fell heavily on the bed. He gently frowned as if trying to understand Julia's intentions.
Yulia, who flinched for a moment at the cold momentum, answered with hesitation.
"Sir, I've been waiting for something to tell you… ."
Yulia, who had blurred the end of her words, quickly caught her shaky gaze.
I don't know why Fernan was so cold to me, but I kept pulling back and didn't want to be afraid of him.
"… Then why not?"
Fernan raised one eyebrow at the still voice. Julia continued her words while holding her hands tightly.
"I'm sorry for coming in. However… Your Majesty and I are a couple."
"… … ."
"… I don't think you need to be so wary of me."
The firm voice trembled a little. Julia looked up at Fernan with her nervous expression on her face.
He wondered if his face was gradually contorted, and then a light smirk came to his lips.
"Yes, you are right."
"… ah!"
He lightly pushed Julia on the shoulder and laid her on the bed. Fernan, who sat on her frozen top, whispered.
"Come to think of it, I haven't had the first night yet."
Long fingers ran down her hair and then reached the front of the disheveled dress.
"If you want, let's do it now."
He slowly untied the silk ribbon tied to Julia's chest. Her gaze was still fixed on her.
Julia stopped breathing and looked up at him as he got closer.
But there was no heat or passion in his face.
He did not show any momentary lust, nor did he intend to fulfill his duties as a married couple.
It was just a clear attitude to think about her reaction.
Fernan, who was staring at Yulia, who had hardened, twisted one corner of her mouth.
"Why do you look like that? Weren't we talking about something like this, hoping for something like this?"
A cool voice masquerading as kindness permeated Julia's ear.
The chill he gave out made her head cold as well.
"I'm… I just had something to say. I didn't come here hoping for this... ."
Yulia, who had been muttering in embarrassment, breathed out in an instant. She suddenly felt a stabbing pain in her head.
Her long eyelashes trembled as she took a deep breath.
Yulia endured the pain and continued to stutter.
"If you have time… I was going to ask if you could come with me to my hometown. My mother's majesty, please, invite... ."
For a moment, my eyesight went blurry. In her gaze, Fernando trembled loudly.
Yulia, who looked up at him with blurry eyes, quickly pushed his hard chest away.
Contrary to the expectation that he would not budge, he was gently pushed back. Soon her huge shadow of her that had surrounded her disappeared.
"I'll go see you… ."
After getting up and getting out of bed, Yulia stumbled and sat down on the carpet. Her headache made it difficult for her to focus.
She sighed heavily with her forehead pressed against the floor to get up again.
Fernan, who had been watching her sit down several times, nervously ruffled my hair.
Then, she hugged Julia, who was still sitting, at once.
"Just stay here. I will leave."
He murmured in a subdued voice, laid Julia down on the bed, and stepped towards the door.
Is it because my mind is clouded? His face looked a little odd.
please… Like someone who made a mistake.
Julia stared blankly at his distant back, then closed her eyes with difficulty.
* * *
The next afternoon, a rattling wagon drove out of the palace.
The carriages that entered the city moved along the square and soon entered the Marais district, where large mansions were gathered.
Julia looked out the window in the warm sunlight, and suddenly turned her gaze to the other side.
In the seat in front of her, Fernando had her arms crossed and her eyes closed.
Yulia looked at him with a confused expression for a moment.
Even when she woke up from his bed in the morning, Yulia had to be caught up in a complicated mood as she recalled the fight the day before.
When she came out of his bedroom with such a gloomy heart, Julia heard the words Fernan had left through her servant.
'His Highness Rain, His Majesty the Grand Duke said that he would accompany me, the marquis, after finishing the morning work.'
'I, Your Majesty?'
I couldn't help but be surprised. Because I never thought he would do my request.
I was forced to ask questions under the pressure of the Marquis, but unlike me, he had a full schedule.
I heard that there was no time to rest during my stay in the capital because I had a lot of meetings due to the founding country... .
Above all, he was a man who had been cold-hearted toward her just yesterday.
I was even a little embarrassed that the man who had done so gave me time.
Julia couldn't hide her puzzlement and looked at him as if observing the other side.
At that moment, his closed eyes slowly opened.
"… Oh, I'm sorry."
I reflexively apologized for the thought of spying, but Fernan didn't say anything.
After staring at her for a while, he soon opened his mouth in a low voice.
"Is your body okay now?"
Yulia, who opened her eyes wide, nodded her head blankly.
"… Yes, I am fine now."
At her reply, Fernan's gaze quickly fell away. His side profile as he turned his head and looked out the window was as insensitive as usual.
But, is it an illusion? He seemed to care a little about himself.
Julia, who had her lips curled up, bowed her head with a subtle expression. She felt a little strange.