Previously
Melissa confesses to Evgenia that she accidentally discovered Richard in the basement, but Evgenia reassures her that the slave has been freed with money. They discuss the Crown Prince's recent proposal refusal and the news that he is departing for a new war, leading to a discussion about his reputation as a war fanatic.
Right as we were discussing him, the Crown Prince decided to pay a visit.
He wasn’t a mere noble, but imperial royalty—not that it seemed to lend him any noble grace.
Suppressing a scoff, I asked coldly, “There was no advance notice of his visit, was there?”
Seeing Anne shake her head, I swallowed a sigh and turned my gaze away.
At this point, there was no other reason for the Crown Prince to visit the ducal manor.
With an unsettled look, Melissa rose slowly from her seat.
But then…
Anne interrupted hesitantly.
A chilling sense of foreboding crept down my spine.
A curse slipped out before I could catch it.
Seeing my blatant disgust, both Anne and Melissa flinched, exchanging uneasy glances.
I quickly softened my expression for their sake, forcing myself to look on the bright side.
Honestly, he was someone best avoided, but since things had come to this, it was probably better to meet him head-on once—just as I had with Richard—and make things crystal clear.
After all, it was obvious he wanted to see me because Melissa had rejected his marriage proposal.
Melissa offered cautiously, likely thinking along the same lines I had.
She had to be uncomfortable meeting the Crown Prince herself, yet she was willing to endure it so I wouldn’t be troubled.
I gave her an appreciative smile and shook my head.
I headed straight to the drawing room where the Crown Prince was waiting.
Noticing the stains on my dress, Anne subtly asked if I wished to change, but I saw no need to bother with such trouble just to see him.
I briefly entertained the idea of making him wait since he had arrived without warning, but the urge to see him immediately and throw him out of the estate was far stronger.
So I strode into the drawing room without hesitation, only to regret my choice the second I crossed the threshold.
I certainly hadn’t expected such an infuriating greeting!
The sight of the Crown Prince casually sprawled across the sofa in the Duke’s drawing room, as if it were his own private chambers, rendered me utterly speechless.
‘Male lead or not, he’s still just a man.’
Renowned as a war hero, Crown Prince Kayden Eleos possessed a solid, rugged physique that matched his reputation. His neatly styled red hair was swept back, revealing a broad forehead and sharp features that gave him a crisp, striking look—the picture of a handsome man.
And yet…
( ‘Did Evgenia truly love this man?’ )
I had expected Evgenia’s lingering emotions to wash over me the moment I stepped inside.
And indeed, facing the Crown Prince, an overwhelming surge of feeling took hold.
Yet it wasn’t the racing pulse or warm flush one would expect from being in love.
Instead, an icy chill pierced my bones, and a sharp ache gripped my chest as though my heart were about to burst.
It felt far closer to the hatred and resentment I had harbored when confronting Richard and my family—perhaps even stronger.
Perhaps her love had festered into bitter malice.
It was only natural that someone as prideful as Evgenia would unravel after being rejected over and over again.
If her treatment of Richard stemmed from this, it made sense. Seeing Richard's red eyes, so similar to the Crown Prince’s, would have fueled her fury beyond reason.
Fortunately, I had braced myself to think calmly and keep my temper in check.
Thanks to that, I could carry myself now without the slightest emotional tremor.
My mouth felt as dry as dust, but I forced my eyes downward and curtsied politely. Kayden raised an eyebrow, letting out a faint scoff.
…Except the person inside is completely different.
A biting retort rose to my throat, but I bit it back, not wanting to make my life any harder than it already was.
It was high time to untangle these twisted threads one by one.
I quietly drew a breath, waiting for Kayden to offer me a seat.
Though I was technically the host, royal protocol forbade me from sitting down without his permission.
What an infuriating state of affairs. While I stewed in frustration, the Crown Prince rose abruptly from the sofa.
His imposing frame cast a heavy shadow over me.
How could I not? I even knew she had turned you down flat.
I gave a slight nod, fueled by a strange spark of defiance, and Kayden let out a mocking chuckle before asking,
“…”
Wait, what was wrong with security in this ducal manor? Had the whole city heard rumors of a noble lady throwing a violent fit?
Mortified, I reached up and touched my forehead. The bandages had been removed days ago, and the wound had healed clean without a trace of a scar.
( ‘Could it be…’ )
I knew it! He was the one running his mouth!
Why on earth did Alexis have such loose lips despite being built like a wall?
I clenched my trembling fists and answered,
“…”
While I had held my tongue before because there was nothing to say, this time I had plenty.
Kayden’s brow twitched.
I delivered the exact response I had been longing to give, watching his reaction with a satisfied smile.
Since these were words Evgenia would never have uttered, I expected him to look taken aback, caught completely off guard.
Perhaps it was petty, but from the moment I entered the drawing room, his smug demeanor and the assumption that I would come running to see him had grated on my nerves—I wanted to land a blow.
Yet contrary to my expectations, there was no hint of dismay on the Crown Prince’s face, only a derisive smirk.
He didn't just sound doubtful; he reacted as though he had heard the most preposterous lie, which only annoyed me further.
Glaring at his arrogantly upturned lips, I answered in all seriousness.
“Yes. And I intend to marry someone else.”
At that moment, the smirk vanished from Kayden’s face.
Before I could even savor the satisfaction of watching his expression freeze, he leaned forward abruptly and gripped my shoulder with crushing force.
The air in the room turned arctic, as if the temperature had plunged well below freezing.
The murderous intent radiating from the sword master made my entire body feel as though it were being sliced by a blade, but I forced myself to reply with absolute composure.
Well, if he didn’t want to believe it, that was his problem! Why did he have to be so aggressive about it?
I glared fiercely at Kayden, but in the end, I couldn’t stop a wince from showing on my face.
I refused to show weakness, but my body was trembling under the sheer pressure, and his grip on my shoulder hurt unbearably.
Noticing my distress, Kayden hesitated, finally releasing his hold.
No sooner had I caught my breath than he spoke again.
Another infuriating remark from the Crown Prince.
Exasperated, I looked him dead in the eye as I answered. Then, all at once, my eyes went wide.
( ‘Huh? What in the world…?’ )
Had it followed me all the way from the greenhouse?
A tiny creature that definitely had no business being in a ducal drawing room was hovering, buzzing relentlessly around the Crown Prince’s head.