I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

It was only half a day after Fernan’s return that Julia's trail was found.

It was near the border to another land. It was there that the knights, who were confirming the identities of the territory people, recognized her face.

Due to the crowds of people, Julia escaped, but some knights soon caught up with her and succeeded in tracking down the carriage in which she was riding.

The news was immediately conveyed to Fernan.

"Yes, she ran away on her own.”

Fernan murmured with a strange expression.

Now it was certain that Julia had escaped on her own.

‘You said you’ll stay by my side, smiling and talking, said you’ll be waiting for me, but you ran away.’

With her eyes clear and transparent as always, and her face innocent as if she knew nothing.

Like that, she deceived him and left.

Fernan stared into space with an unfocused gaze and soon clenched his fists. He felt a burning sensation in his chest.

His mind began to teeter between betrayal and rage.

He stood silently for a long time, then turned at the sound of the door opening.

Lloyd, who entered, opened his mouth with a slightly complicated look on his face.

"Your Highness, according to the servant's words…. the only thing that disappeared in the Grand Duchess’s room was a few pieces of clothing." 

Fernan’s quiet gaze turned to Lloyd.

"The valuables and accessories…"

"They seem to have been left untouched."

Fernan gave a small twist of one side of his mouth.

He ordered the servants to check Julia's room, but he had no idea that she only took a few clothes with her when she fled…

Julia left him in his castle, leaving behind all that he had offered her.

He intuitively knew what this meant.

She was trying to erase the time she had lived here as his wife. She dared to hope that she would be forgotten by him forever.

Fernan’s sharp gaze reached the wedding ring in his hand.

With a turbulent gaze, Fernan stared out the window. Before he knew it, it was snowing outside. He looked out the window for a while and thought. Julia would be back to her place soon.

The knights would continue to track her, and as long as she could not leave the territory, she had no choice but to be caught.

But the impatience that kept rising continued to scratch his nerves.

Even though he tried her best to stay calm, he just couldn't calm this feeling down.

Julia should never have run away like this.

As his wife, she had to be by his side and feel his pain even when she was sick. Even if it was painful, she had to suffer in front of his eyes.

Julia Caesar, even if she died, had to die in his territory.

"Your Highness!"

At that moment, a knight stormed in the office.

 "Her…Her Highness….she’s gone!”

"What kind of nonsense is this?"

Fernan asked back in a sharp tone, and the knight, who had been panting for a long time, continued to speak gibberish.

"We have confirmed that Her Highness was indeed in the carriage, but after we surrounded the carriage, we checked again and she wasn’t there. We had no idea what was going on…ah!”

In the blink of an eye, Fernan pulled out his sword as he approached the knight. A sharp look fell on his face, as if he was about to cut off his head.

"Don't say nonsense and say it right. Where did she disappear?"

"We are continuing to search nearby, but there are no witnesses and no whereabouts…"

"You b*st*rds."

Throwing the sword randomly, Fernan swept his hair roughly.

"I'll go there myself. Prepare the horse."

"Yes, sir!" 

He clenched his teeth. He should never have entrusted the job to those incompetents in the first place.

"Your Highness, I'm sure Her Highness has helpers. It doesn’t make sense how she was able to escape in the presence of that many knights.”

Lloyd, who was following Fernan, spoke cautiously. At that moment, a scene unexpectedly flashed through Fernan’s mind.

A few months ago, the priest of Ilion, who came to bless the castle, seemed quite close with Julia.

He didn’t know why the priest suddenly came to mind at this moment, but before Fernan could think deeply about anything else, he immediately gave an order.

"Lloyd, go to the Temple of Ilion and find the priest, who blessed the castle. She might be hiding there, so search carefully.”

"Yes, sir!”

If the priest had helped Julia escape, he surely would have used his holy power.

If he used his power, Julia would be able to her presence and distract his (Fernan) eyes for a while.

A blue vein appeared on the back of his hand as he held the reins. The mere thought that Julia might be with someone filled him with an indescribable anger.

But underneath was a hatred for himself, because he had been so cruel to her all this time.

“Why are you doing all this…? Are you just being cruel to me to the end?”

Julia’s tearful voice grazed his ears. Fernan bit his lip.

He knew. He knew that Julia's leaving was ultimately something he brought on himself.

***

Wearing a robe, Julia moved quickly with her head down.

She managed to get rid of the knights, but it was  still too early to be relieved.

“Ha…”

Entering a deserted alley, Julia grabbed her chest and breathed heavily.

Her appearance, inside the hood, had now changed into a completely different person. With Cedric's help, he temporarily changed her appearance, but she probably wouldn't be able to maintain this state for long.

"You've already used your power quite a bit, so if you use more strength, your body won't be able to handle it.”

In the carriage, surrounded by knights, Cedric quietly tried to convince Julia. 

"Perhaps we should cooperate with them honestly and then try again for a later date.”

"..No, if not now, I won't be able to escape forever.”

Despite Cedric's dissuasion, Julia replied in a calm tone.

"I can do anything. I've been prepared from the start that things could get dangerous."

Seeing the earnest look on her face, Cedric was silent for a while. After a long silence, he eventually nodded.

"Julia, if you cross the southern border here, you will find a place there called Helios Monastery.”

Cedric held Julia's hand tightly and infused her with his power, transforming her appearance.

“If you can escape them, go there. I’ll be waiting for you.”

That was the last time she was with Cedric.

After catching her breath, Julia began move her feet again. The pendant on her neck made a small rustling sound.

Perhaps it was because she had used so much energy, her heart has been throbbing and hurting since earlier.

Using holy power comes with its own price, so her body may have already begun to go wrong.

She could guess her condition by her face, which was rapidly becoming paler than before.

Jukia went out into the street again, looked around, and froze in place.

"I can’t believe it…"

In the distance, Fernan was seen like an illusion.

He had been riding fast on his horse and stopped for a moment at the surging crowd. Julia hurriedly walked with her head down.

Her heart began to beat faster. How could he be back so soon after he went on the expedition?

Julia walked along the crowd, her hood pulled up tightly over her head. He wouldn't be able to notice her, but still her anxious steps accelerated as if being chased.

The first thing she had to do was get on the carriage and leave the area.

"Julia!”

At that moment, unbelievably, Fernan’s voice could be heard.

Surprised, Julia hesitated and hurried to her feet.

There was no way he could recognize her. She looked like a completely different person… How on earth… Julia was unconcerned and at the same time quickly headed for the carriage station. But soon after, he grabbed her by the shoulders.

Fernan, who turned her around, pulled back her hood.

"…!"

She had to face him still, unable to avoid his gaze. Goosebumps broke out all over her body.

Fernan, who was staring at her as if he was devouring her, quietly recited.

"What the…”

He frowned as he realized he was mistaken, and let go of her shoulders. Taking advantage of the gap, Julia faltered and stepped back. She felt like her mind had gone blank.

For a moment, Fernan certainly recognized her. How on earth…

It was the moment when she was about to turn away completely, the shocked expression was still on her face, Fernan suddenly grabbeb her arm.

Staring at the pendant necklace on her neck with a fluttering gaze, he cut the string without mercy.