IWDGD 06

Chapter 06

“Your Highness, I am at a loss for words that you would visit us despite your busy schedule.”

Marchioness Elodie greeted the Grand Duke and his wife with a bright smile. The mansion’s servants also stood in a long line, bowing deeply toward them.

“I have other engagements, so I cannot stay long. I ask for your understanding.”

Fernan replied courteously, though without warmth, and entered the mansion.

The Marquis, who came out to the main hall a little late, offered his greetings to Fernan.

“Do come in, Grand Duke. I hope I haven’t troubled you when you’re so busy.”

“It’s unfortunate that you asked me to come and go despite knowing I’m busy.”

When Fernan answered without sincerity, the Marquis’s face twisted for a moment. Soon regaining his composed smile, the Marquis continued smoothly.

“It’s a pity we cannot offer you a meal now that you’ve come all this way. How about enjoying a tea party in the rear garden instead?”

Due to their schedule, they had to return to the imperial palace before evening.

The Marquis stroked his beard and continued speaking.

“As it happens, my knights are conducting outdoor training right now. If Your Highness would observe them, it would be a great honor for them.”

After finishing his words, the Marquis turned his gaze to Yulia, who stood beside Fernan.

“Yulia, escort the Grand Duke around the mansion. I’ll call you when the tea party is ready.”

At the Marquis’s words, Yulia glanced at Fernan. He, standing with no particular expression, gave a slight nod as if telling her to lead the way.

As she climbed the stairs with him, Yulia felt a slightly strange sensation.

This mansion held her childhood, stained with pain and wounds.

It was a place she had never wanted to return to, but being with Fernan made one corner of her heart feel strangely secure, for no particular reason.

Perhaps it was because she had unconsciously felt a little uplifted that he had made time for her.

“This is where the portraits are gathered.”

Yulia guided him to the gallery and looked around at the paintings hanging on the walls in turn.

A place where the portraits of the Marquis’s family hung—it was the gallery that the Marchioness had decorated most elaborately in the mansion.

Because of that, it was also a place where young Yulia had never been allowed to set foot.

Thinking unpleasant memories might surface, she turned her head away—and discovered Fernan standing still in front of one painting.

“Oh, that one…”

The painting he was looking at was Yulia’s portrait. The figure in the painting, looking very young, sat with an expressionless face.

Despite the Marchioness’s opposition, Yulia’s portrait had hung there for a long time.

It was staged for show, to display to guests who visited the mansion.

Fernan didn’t even glance at the other paintings, fixating on Yulia’s portrait for a long while.

Yulia, watching his profile with puzzlement, was soon seized by a subtle feeling.

The Yulia in the portrait was around thirteen years old. The first time she had met Fernan was also around that age.

Perhaps, he might remember her. A faint hope swelled in Yulia’s heart.

But he said nothing, merely gazing at the painting.

Yulia, pressing her lips firmly, cleared her throat softly and changed the subject for no particular reason.

“I-I heard there are also works by famous painters in other rooms. Would you like to see them?”

Only then did Fernan tear his gaze from the painting and look at her.

“No need. Let’s go out now.”

As if he had no further business, he immediately exited the gallery. Hurrying after him, Yulia gently touched her cheeks, which had grown warm for some reason.

When they returned to the main hall, a servant informed them that the tea party was ready.

As they headed together to the rear garden, Yulia carefully opened her mouth.

“Your Highness, thank you for making time today despite your busy schedule.”

Fernan nodded without answering. In his eyes, touched by the sunlight, a gentle light lingered, unlike usual.

Yulia lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and moved her light footsteps softly.

“You’re here. Please, sit down.”

Upon arriving at the rear garden, the Marquis, who had arrived first, guided them to their seats.

On one side of the vast rear garden, about a dozen knights were conducting their training.

After briefly discussing the knights’ training methods, the Marquis soon turned the topic to his business ventures.

“—and so, I’ve recently expanded my business into the city market as well. If Your Highness is also interested…”

Fernan’s face remained impolite to the point of rudeness, showing no interest throughout.

Even though he received almost no responses, the Marquis was anxious to keep the conversation going.

Her father, who had always been overbearing and frightening toward her, seemed almost insignificant in this moment.

Surprised at herself for having such thoughts, Yulia pressed her lips tightly shut.

After some time had passed in that manner, the Marquis suddenly asked her.

“Ah, Yulia. Would you follow me for a moment? I’ve bought you some jewelry and dresses. I’m not sure if they’ll be to your liking, though.”

The Marquis put on a gentle smile and glanced briefly toward Fernan.

Fernan showed no particular reaction, simply watching the knights’ training.

After asking Fernan’s permission, the Marquis left the rear garden and led Yulia to a secluded annex.

After checking their surroundings, the Marquis quickly got to the point.

“So, how is the Grand Duke these days? Any suspicious signs?”

“…Suspicious signs?”

When Yulia failed to grasp the meaning of the question, the Marquis frowned in frustration and added.

“I’m asking if he seems to be wandering about outside unusually often, or if he appears to be meeting other women.”

Yulia’s eyes slowly widened. She had never once thought of such a thing.

But upon reflection, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

Several months had passed since their marriage, yet he still showed no intention of consummating it.

When Yulia remained silent with a complicated expression, the Marquis urged her on.

“Why no answer, hm?”

Only then did Yulia quietly shake her head.

“I’m not sure about things like that. All I know is that he’s very busy…”

“Hah, what on earth do you even do at the Grand Ducal residence? You should at least have a grasp of where your husband goes and what he does.”

The Marquis scowled and raised his voice. Yulia fell silent, slightly shrinking back.

Clicking his tongue as if even that displeased him, the Marquis continued.

“Did you use the medicine I gave you last time?”

“…….”

Yulia recalled the medicine the Marquis had handed her on the day he visited the Grand Ducal residence. Finding it somehow suspicious, she had put it on a shelf and completely forgotten about it since.

“Well, not yet…”

“Why on earth are you dragging your feet? What, do I have to shove it into the Grand Duke’s mouth myself? I don’t know what you’re capable of doing on your own.”

The Marquis’s loud scolding continued for some time. Yulia, as she always did, kept her mouth firmly shut and silently endured her father’s words.

After finally managing to calm his anger, the Marquis let out a long sigh and spoke.

“Yulia, listen to me carefully.”

He was utterly at a loss as to where to even begin teaching and coaxing this naive and foolish girl.

The Marquis judged that, as he had always done, resorting to threats would work best.

“You haven’t forgotten what I’ve told you time and again, have you? If this marriage with the Grand Duke falls apart, you will no longer be my daughter.”

The Marquis continued in a tone thick with malice.

“If you don’t want to be abandoned and rot away for the rest of your life like your real mother, then whether you boil him or roast him, use whatever means necessary to bear his child.”

Yulia’s hand flinched. It wasn’t so much that she was frightened by the Marquis’s threatening tone, but rather because of the unpleasantness that filled one corner of her heart.

Every time she heard those words—to bear a child by any means—she felt as though she were nothing more than livestock, and it was agonizing.

She wanted to cover her ears right then and there, but all she could do was bow her head deeply.

“I know well that the Grand Duke is not the type to treat you kindly. He’s a man who dares to stare right back at His Majesty, so how much worse must he be?”

The Marquis clicked his tongue in irritation. He had already experienced firsthand just how ruthless Fernan could be.

It was not long after the man had returned victorious from the war—that is, before this marriage had been decided.

The Marquis had once, by the Emperor’s order, secretly sent a woman into Fernan’s bedchamber.

That woman was the wife of a certain count, and it was widely rumored that she had remained chaste after losing her husband.

If it were revealed that he had violated such a woman, even Fernan would inevitably have a stain on his otherwise flawless reputation.