I Will Disappear, Grand Duke

Fernan Caesar, the Grand Duke of the North and a war hero, was Julia's sole positive memory from a difficult childhood. When her marriage to him was arranged, Julia found hope for a better life. However, the man she remembered is gone, replaced by a cold, unaffectionate stranger. He grants her freedom in all matters except his presence in the morning, deeming her feelings irrelevant. Julia's enduring love for him becomes her greatest regret. On the brink of escape, standing at a cliff's edge, Julia imprints Fernan's face in her memory, determined not to be bound to him any longer. When her desperate husband calls out to her, Julia throws herself into the abyss. Julia's life is marked by suffering at the hands of her abusive family, and her marriage to Fernan, her first love, offers little solace. He emotionally abuses her, leading her to seek escape. However, upon attempting to leave, Fernan reveals a possessive nature, imprisoning her and refusing to let her go. His actions, including threats to her friend to prevent her escape, and an intimate encounter immediately following, are described as obsessive rather than loving, bordering on non-consensual. While his motivations are later explained, they do not justify his treatment of Julia, who ultimately chooses to end her life rather than remain trapped.