"Duke, I know you are very busy, but fortunately you seem to have had time to attend the banquet."
Fernan, who had narrowed his eyebrows faintly, immediately gave out a sly smile.
"of course. How could I not be present on such an honorable day?"
"I'm happy. I was very worried because you didn't attend the parade."
Fernan, who had been watching the Crown Prince silently, immediately showed an open arsenal.
It was funny that he had been upset for refusing the emperor's escort at the parade.
The Crown Prince, noticing the clear arsenic, frowned, then turned his gaze to Julia.
"Oh, the Grand Duchess was there too."
The Crown Prince showed a nice smile again.
"I have heard from Veronica that the Grand Duchess is not feeling well. You said that you received the priest's blessing, are you okay now?"
Julia smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes, thanks to Her Majesty the Crown Princess, I am now safe."
While Yulia had a few more formal conversations with the Crown Prince, Fernan's gaze subtly shifted to her ankle.
Then he looked at the slender wrist that grabbed his arm, and then fell off as if nothing had happened.
"Ah, it looks like the ball is starting soon."
The orchestra, which was playing a splendid tune, soon began to play a light waltz.
After asking for permission, the Crown Prince disappeared with the Crown Princess.
Soon the banquet hall was divided into those who went out to dance and those who quietly listened to the music while sitting at the tables.
Julia glanced at Fernan. Again, as if he had no interest in dancing, he was holding a glass of wine from the attendant.
While Julia was contemplating about what to say to him, some socialites approached Fernan while the surroundings were quiet.
"… … ."
Seeing Fernando serving people with an indifferent face, Julia patted the glass on the table with her slightly opened mouth closed.
After dealing with the constant influx of nobles, Fernando entered the terrace.
Now that the loud barking has subsided, my head seems to be getting a little more comfortable.
He leaned on the railing and took in the cold wind for a while, then suddenly turned his head at the sound of the door being opened.
A woman in a dark green dress appeared. She was Julia who came to him.
"Sir, are you okay?"
Julia approached him with a worried expression. He looked forward without answering.
There were many eyes to see in the banquet hall, but now the situation is different. She didn't want to pretend she was good with her until here.
"I got a good tea for a hangover from my servant."
Julia held out the glass in her hand. Watching him drink wine one after another, I wondered if a hangover had risen.
When he did not accept the cup, Yulia bowed her head with a slightly sullen face.
"You don't have to drink it, but… In case you don't know, I'll leave it here."
After putting the glass on the railing, Yulia hesitated for a moment without turning around.
His desire to be with him was evident in his shaky face.
Fernando blinked slowly, as if suppressing something, then abruptly turned his gaze to her.
"Is it a hobby to keep being annoying?"
His subdued voice landed on the terrace. Julia squinted her eyes with her bewildered face.
Facing that figure, Fernando had a hard time putting up with this soaring emotion for some reason. This moment was terribly offensive to this woman, even though she was okay if she ignored it and didn't deal with it.
I felt like my mind, which I had been trying to empty, was trembling again when she appeared.
"I'm just worried about your Majesty… ."
Julia hesitated and opened her mouth, and Fernand lightly ridiculed her.
"I don't know why I have to worry about you."
"… … ."
Julia raised her transparent eyes and looked at him pitifully. Without realizing it, he inevitably grinded his teeth. Those eyes have always been a problem.
Although it was obvious that the more he behaved harshly, the more he was hurt, but those eyes that always shined scratched his nerves.
When she tried to seduce me again by saying that she likes her, she had just those eyes.
"Why don't you worry about your future rather than me? Do you think this marriage will last forever?"
Julia's face turned white at the sharp landing.
Perhaps she was shocked by his words, her lips trembled as she looked down with a wounded face.
The corners of her eyes were slightly red. Seeing this, Fernando felt her heart throb for some reason.
I know it was a hasty statement. There was no need to even say that.
However, Fernan made a colder face as if he was trying to hide his shaking heart.
Meanwhile, a quiet voice came from Julia, who had her mouth shut.
"… I'm sorry. I won't be bothering you any more."
Julia turned around without even looking at him. His back face as he moved with his gaze lowered was unstable as if he was about to collapse.
Fernan, who had her eyes twitched involuntarily, as she disappeared completely, touched her forehead.
"… Damn it."
The commotion he thought would end when she disappeared was still scratching his head.
She bowed her head with tears in her eyes and did not disappear from her mind.
The constant throbbing heart didn't even think to subside.
He held on to the railing and sighed heavily. It's not good to be so emotional.
He was never good at showing his emotions.
After going through the war for a long time and passing the hurdle of death several times, he became even more adept at hiding his true feelings.
It was not difficult to hide the truth and smile casually in front of the emperor, the prince, or the nobles who tried to attack him.
Yes, I did. At some point, it started to get difficult.
Since when? .
As Fernando was immersed in anguish for a while, someone suddenly appeared.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
The woman who had been hiding behind the pillar appeared with a sly smile.
Fernan, who looked at the woman for a moment as if to pass it by, looked away again without inspiration.
From the moment I first entered the terrace, I had noticed that someone was inside. I just ignored it because it wasn't worth worrying about.
"It's been quite a while, haven't we?"
A woman approached with a smile. Fernan, who furrowed his eyebrows, responded.
"Do you know me?"
"uh… Do you not remember me?"
Fernand looked at the woman's appearance dryly. It's the first time I've seen him in my life, and even if I ever met him, I didn't want to remember him.
"Oh, I may not remember because I was young. In fact, I haven't met him a few times."
"So, what do you want to say?"
When Fernando asked the question without sincerity, the woman who had hesitated a bit immediately smiled brightly.
"I am Cornelia of the Blairs. Don't you remember? There was talk of an engagement before His Majesty went out on an expedition."
I only remembered after hearing the family name. The Duke of Blair was one of the families he and he had been married to in the past.
Originally, the engagement ceremony would have been held after the coming-of-age ceremony, but the wedding was canceled naturally as the emperor had to suddenly go out on an expedition.
That was all. However, the woman had eyes wet with emotion, as if it would be any great relationship.
"It's nice to see you after a long time. Actually, even recently, sometimes I think of your Highness."
Even though there was no reply, Cornelia continued to speak faithfully.
"By the way, your Highness seems to hate your wife very much, don't you?"
Fernando passed Cornelia without answering the question that seemed to be floating around.
I didn't know why I had to have this conversation here. It was all a waste of time.
At that moment, Cornelia hurriedly called him up.
"My father wants to help His Majesty the Grand Duke."
Fernan, who had stopped, looked back at her with his eyes narrowed.
"I heard the conversation earlier, it seems that you are going to divorce His Majesty Bishop someday."
Cornelia's snake-like eyes twinkled and she ran her hair behind her ear.
eyes full of greed. It was a very familiar look to him.
"How are you? After the divorce, you form a relationship with our family."
At that moment, Fernan, who frowned indifferently, made a small scorn as if he had heard a vulgar bullshit.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"yes… ?"
"Otherwise, it must have been something lacking."
Cornelia's eyes fluttered mercilessly. Her face was as if she was suspicious that she had heard something wrong.
Fernando stared at her for a moment as if looking at something worthless, and then left the terrace.
It would be great if it was great to sell even my father to say something like that.
There have been many women who have approached him in that way. And she didn't care whether he was married or not.
Secret infidelity among the nobles of the capital was common, so it was probably taken for granted.
However, Fernando was very contemptible for such humans.
It wasn't because he was very moral or faithful. It was just, instinctively disgusting for such humans.
When I came back to the banquet hall, the loud playing sound scratched my nerves. At the same time, the figure of Julia leaving the banquet hall in the distance caught my eye.
"under… ."
The fact that she was the first thing he saw out of all these people made Fernando startled for a moment.