Julia came out of the banquet hall and walked along the long hallway.
He was exhausted both physically and mentally. As she walked without her strength, she stopped at the sudden pain.
My ankle, which I thought had fully recovered, suddenly throbbed because of wearing high shoes.
As I stood still, sighing, I heard footsteps in the hallway that followed.
"uh… ."
Yulia raised her head and widened her eyes. A priest was walking slowly across the hallway.
It was a priest named Matteus whom I met when I went to Mass with Veronica some time ago.
"The Grand Duchess."
Matthews stopped and spoke to her, then looked at her swollen ankle.
"You look injured."
"Ah yes… ."
Julia stared at him with puzzled eyes. Seeing him in a priest's uniform at the central palace where the banquet was in full swing, I felt a little strange.
Possibly noticing that gaze, Matthews smiled slightly.
"I got lost while walking. The Imperial Palace is so wide and complex."
"ah… , you did."
Priests are also lost... . As he blinked with an absurd thought, Matthews gently knelt down on one knee.
"Can I have a look?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine... ."
Seeing him suddenly on his knees, Yulia showed an embarrassed face. Matteus spoke calmly as if reassuring her like her.
"I can use my sexual power to heal my injured ankle. I am confident in healing, so don't worry."
Matthew's soft tone somehow evoked trust. Julia nodded her head slightly.
"then… Please."
Matthews lightly wrapped one hand around her ankle. Soon a blue light leaked out and hovered around his hand.
It felt as if I had dipped my feet in cold water. I could vividly feel his holy energy seeping into my ankles.
"Would you like to move?"
When I moved my ankle slightly, surprisingly, there was no pain. Julia opened her eyes wide and let out her admiration.
I just grabbed it a little bit, but how can I get better all at once? It's a new thing, but Matthews in front of me seemed like a great person.
"I, thank you. I am no longer sick."
"I am happy to be of help."
Matthews slowly got up, smiled a little, and lowered his head.
"Then, I'll just go."
Julia suddenly grabbed him as he was about to turn around as if he had finished his work.
"I have something to ask you, Priest."
"Yes, tell me."
Matthews stopped and waited patiently for her words. Hesitating, Yulia carefully opened her mouth.
"… Have we ever met?"
At last Mass, it was always on my mind that he asked me if I knew him.
If you've met such a great person in the past, there's no way you can't remember them.
Matthew paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, but of course you don't know me."
"… Why?"
He looked into her questioning eyes and smiled meaningfully. The curiosity only grew more and more.
As Julia kept her mouth shut and waited for an answer, Matteus continued speaking in a soft tone.
"At that time, you were just a newborn baby."
"… yes?"
Julia froze as it was. Her eyes were blank and she wandered around his face.
No matter how you look at it, he seemed to be about the same age as him or even younger. But how can he remember himself as a newborn child?
Seeing her frozen, Matthew burst out a small laugh. Soon his gentle voice followed.
"Some priests may stop aging when their stamina is overloaded."
"Then, the priest… ."
Doubt filled Julia's eyes.
"I was fifteen when I first saw you. Could it be the answer?"
"ah… ."
Yulia nodded her head with a puzzled face. She wasn't as old as she thought she was, but she never looked her age.
Yulia, who had been blankly examining his face, immediately came to her senses.
"Well, where did you see me? And, how the hell did you recognize me? ."
Curiosity soared endlessly. Julia wiggled her hands, revealing her impatience.
Matthews smiled softly. And at that moment, a commotion was heard from the end of the hallway.
Several people were seen leaving the banquet hall.
"You must have a lot of questions, but I have to go."
"Ah yes… ."
Julia nodded her head with regretful eyes. As she looked at her kindly, her Mateus whispered softly.
"I will tell you one thing. You are a very special person to me. I always want you to be happy."
His voice was so warm that it made my heart ache. Her sincerity was buried deep in her words that she wanted her to be happy.
"Soon, we will see each other again."
Finally, with a light smile, Matthews disappeared through the hallway.
As if a bright light had wrapped around her for a moment and then disappeared, my heart became empty inside.
* * *
After the frantic Founding Day ended, there was only silence on the way back to the estate.
Julia looked at the window while thinking. Her meeting with Matthew did not disappear from her mind.
It was still unbelievable that he had seen him when he was a far-fetched infant that I can't even remember.
'Then maybe he knows his mother?'
Since we broke up when I was seven, I haven't met my mother once. She didn't even know where she was or what she was doing.
The Marquis sometimes referred to her mother and threatened to listen to me, but she didn't seem to know where she lived.
My mind was so confused.
Matthews said they would see each other again soon, but when would that be... .
'I guess I should have asked what temple they belonged to.'
Yulia sighed a little at the belated thought.
Julia took her eyes off the window and stared blankly at my ankle. She wiggled her feet meaninglessly and then raised her head, and she met her eyes with Fernando.
He looked away immediately. His indifferent face remained silent.
Julia pursed her lips to say something, then closed it tightly. If he talks to him, he'll be told he's annoying again.
Except for the occasional rattling noise, there was only silence throughout the carriage.
It took a full day to get to the castle.
In the dim darkness, Yulia got off the carriage and headed straight to her bedroom.
Then, when he saw the vase he had never seen before on the table, he tilted his head.
The clear glass bottle was filled with white lily of the valley.
While puzzled, Julia approached the table and brought her face closer to the vase.
A pleasant scent permeated my mind.
"Ah, Vision. Are you here?"
Turning her head, Melissa, who had just cleaned the dressing room, approached her.
"Melissa, did you bring this flower?"
When asked, Melissa smiled shyly and nodded her head.
"Your Majesty seems to like flowers, but I couldn't bring them because I had a job in the downtown area the other day. That's what I'm really worried about... ."
Julia looked at Melissa with her eyes wide open. It's just that he cares about it, so he bought the flowers again.
I was grateful for that feeling, and my heart was full for a moment, but at the same time, I felt a little complicated.
"Well… , don't you like it?"
When Melissa asked a gloomy question, Julia quickly shook her head.
"No, thank you. By the way… I have nothing to give you back."
"Oh my gosh, that's not what I was hoping for! Never mind."
From the beginning until now, Melissa has always been a warm person. She did not know how she was supposed to respond to such a favor.
"… Thank you for being nice, Melissa."
I couldn't help but to say thank you. Melissa gently patted her on the shoulder.
Melissa said nothing, but seemed to comfort her with a warm touch. Her hand seemed to relieve her weary and weary heart, at least a little.
* * *
After the founding period ended, time passed quickly.
The summer was over and the weather was colder than before.
On a morning like any other, a letter in gold leaf brought by the servant was placed on the table in front of Julia.
The source was, of course, Marquis Elodie.
"ha… ."
Julia sighed heavily and opened the envelope with a reluctant face.
It was obvious without even reading the contents. There will be words asking if there is any news of fertility and pressure to have children as soon as possible.
My relationship with Fernan has completely changed due to the weak drug my father gave me last time.
And despite all the circumstances, Julia did not want to have children yet.
'… I'm a man who hates me so much, would he like me as a child?'