IWDGD 11

Chapter 11

Yulia looked up at him with drooping eyes.

Even though she was hurt by his continued coldness, seeing his face like this made her feel relieved despite herself.

Yulia opened her mouth in a quiet voice.

“…Your Highness, why won’t you return to the residence?”

At her words, Fernan narrowed his eyes. Yulia, though shrinking her shoulders, continued steadfastly.

“I know this is presumptuous of me, but… I was worried.”

Without answering, Fernan silently looked down at her before finally letting out a small scoff.

Not content with speaking of worry, she was even making pitiful eyes in this situation.

Fernan, frowning clearly, seemed about to say something more but pressed his lips shut.

Then, after looking at her fallen form for a moment, he coldly turned away.

After he returned to where the knights were, Lloyd, who had been quietly watching the situation from nearby, suddenly extended his hand to Yulia.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

“Ah… thank you.”

With Lloyd’s support, Yulia finally managed to stand up, limping.

No matter how cold-hearted he was, how could he just leave her like that after she had fallen? Lloyd clicked his tongue at his master’s ruthlessly indifferent attitude.

Hesitating as she looked at Lloyd, Yulia cautiously asked.

“Excuse me, where is His Highness staying?”

“Ah, well…”

After a moment’s deliberation at her question, Lloyd answered evasively.

“He’s staying comfortably, so don’t worry. His return is delayed because of work.”

“I see…”

Seeing her look dejected made him feel as if he were committing a sin. Lloyd scratched his cheek and gave an awkward salute.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, Lloyd hurried after Fernan.

Once the commotion settled, the street became quiet again.

“Y-Your Highness, are you alright? Let me see.”

Melissa, who had been keeping her distance and watching, finally rushed over in a fluster. As she quickly rolled up Yulia’s sleeve, a red, swollen wrist was revealed.

“Oh no, what do we do. This is definitely going to bruise… How’s your ankle? Can you walk?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can walk on my own.”

With Melissa’s support, Yulia suddenly looked back.

All the items she had bought with such excitement earlier were scattered on the ground.

Melissa hurriedly picked up the fallen items. Yulia also limped over to pick up the bouquet lying on one side, but at that moment, passersby mercilessly trampled over the flowers.

Quietly staring at the crushed petals, she withdrew her outstretched hand.

And without hiding her sorrowful expression, she turned her gaze away.

—

* * *

Yulia sighed as she looked at the bandages tightly wrapped around her ankle. Not only her ankle, but her wrist was also bruised a deep blue.

Several days had passed since their visit to the commercial district, and her injuries had only grown worse.

With both her hands and feet in bad condition, moving around was difficult.

Yulia sat in an armchair, staring blankly out the window. She felt as if her heart was empty.

She had been sitting like that for some time when—

Someone threw the door open and hurriedly entered. It was Melissa.

“Your Highness, His Highness has returned!”

Yulia’s eyes widened and she sprang up from her seat.

Feeling a small sense of relief at his return, she took Melissa’s support and went out into the corridor.

Standing at the railing and looking down at the hall, she saw Fernan entering through the entrance.

Crossing the hall at a brisk pace, he quickly ascended the stairs. Yulia stood at the top of the stairs to greet him.

“Your Highness.”

Fernan’s gaze touched her for a very brief moment before immediately drifting away.

And so he passed by Yulia indifferently. As if he intended to treat her as if she didn’t exist.

Biting her lip hard, Yulia limped after him.

But with her injured leg, she couldn’t possibly catch up with his long strides.

By the time she reached his door, he had already entered his room.

Arriving belatedly at his door, Yulia hesitated before knocking.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”

She knocked several times, but no answer came from within.

Eventually, Yulia slowly stepped back and let out a small sigh.

“Hah…”

The pain surged all at once, likely from overusing her ankle.

Leaning against the wall, she crouched down and gently rubbed her ankle.

She didn’t have the strength to get up. Yulia rested her head against the wall and sat there for a long time.

After some time had passed, she finally heard the sound of a door opening.

Raising her head, Yulia met eyes with Fernan, who was silently looking down at her.

“I-Your Highness.”

Yulia hurriedly got to her feet. Afraid that he might go back inside again, she unconsciously grabbed his large hand.

“…Don’t go. Even if it’s just for a moment, please talk to me.”

Fernan’s eyes as he looked at her were unfathomably deep and dark.

His intensity was a little frightening, but Yulia couldn’t easily let go of his hand.

Eventually, Fernan silently pulled her wrist away.

At that moment, pain shot through her wrist, and Yulia let out an involuntary cry.

“Ah!”

Fernan frowned and reflexively lowered his gaze. Then he stared at the blue bruise marks on her wrist.

His eyes flickered subtly for a moment, but the gaze didn’t linger.

Soon he turned his back again without hesitation and walked down the corridor.

“W-Wait…”

Yulia tried to hurry after his retreating figure, but she didn’t get far before collapsing.

It seemed her ankle had given way from overexertion, and a sob escaped her lips.

“…Huh.”

It hurt too much to move any further. She had to follow him, but her body wouldn’t obey—and that made her feel unbearably sorrowful.

Tears felt as if they were about to spill, so Yulia furrowed her brow and held back her sobs.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps that had been growing distant began to draw closer again.

“…You really do try everything, don’t you.”

A low murmur reached her ears. When she looked up, Fernan had returned and was standing there, biting his lip.

He bent down toward her fallen form. His strong arms supported her behind her knees and back, lifting her gently.

Because of the way she was held, his face was now very close. Yulia looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

Without even glancing at her, Fernan silently began to walk.

“Th-Thank you…”

Yulia murmured softly, staring up at him in bewilderment.

She had been certain he would leave without a second thought, so seeing him return caught her off guard.

His expression remained cold, devoid of any warmth.

Yet his embrace, pressed against her body, was warmer than she had expected, and the hands holding her were gentle.

That gap felt unfamiliar, yet it made her heart glad.

“Your Highness, I…”

Her emotions welling up, Yulia steadied her breath and opened her mouth again.

“…I have never once thought of harming Your Highness. And I never will.”

“……”

“That aphrodisiac back then… it was my fault. Your Highness had every reason to misunderstand…”

“You seem to be under some kind of misconception.”

A carelessly indifferent voice cut her off.

“I’m not misunderstanding you.”

“……”

“If you want to know the reason for my attitude, I’ll tell you.”

Fernan looked down at her with eyes devoid of any emotion.

“From the very beginning, I never wanted you as my wife. That is my reason.”

Fernan’s words pierced through her heart like a stab. After gazing at him endlessly, Yulia eventually dropped her gaze.

His words hurt, but compared to everything she had endured so far, they barely counted as a wound.

Surely that should be the case—yet the pain that pressed down on her was greater than when she had been struck and cursed.

Yulia flinched, lowering her reddening eyes, and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Even so, I, Your Highness is…”

“……”

“…I liked you, from the very beginning.”

Fernan stopped walking and looked down at her with a furrowed brow.

Yulia lifted her gaze again and met his eyes. Her tearful voice continued.

“I like you, and I don’t want to drift apart. I don’t want to be hurt…”

Tears streamed down from her blue eyes.

Yulia raised her trembling hand toward his face. But unable to touch him, her hand fell and lingered ambiguously in the air.

She had always wanted to touch him like this. To meet his eyes at such close distance and exchange tender words.

The truth was, she had liked this man from the very beginning.

A long time ago, a kind man who had reached out his hand to her like a light in a dark room. A calm voice that had told her not to cry because he would stay with her.

To Yulia, this man remained such a warm memory.

From the moment she met him again, everything about him had become hopelessly dear.

She liked this strong man who seemed to fear nothing. She liked that he seemed like someone from a completely different world from hers.

Which was why, even though he was a man who only hurt her, Yulia simply could not bring herself to hate him.

Foolish and stubborn as it was, her heart simply wouldn’t obey her.

Fernan looked down at her with an unreadable expression for a long while. Then he averted his gaze and continued walking.

After crossing the corridor and entering her room, he set her down on the bed and immediately turned around.

His flat voice reached her.

“Your feelings are of no use to me—not even a shred.”

He distanced himself once more. Turning his back, as always.

His retreating figure, which she had grown weary of seeing, made her heart ache painfully once again.