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Episode 2
“Duwelsen Duke, step back at once.”
At the firm command, Cassian withdrew, but his crimson eyes, still looking down arrogantly at Edel, couldn’t hide their contempt.
“You’re displeased. I wished to spend every night with you, yet you think I intended to do so with Princess Rowen instead.”
“……”
“Of course, there’s no need to worry. I only visited Princess Rowen to discuss confidential matters, nothing disrespectful at all.”
*Shameless bastard.*
Rage surged, and Edel’s hand moved on its own. With a loud crack, Cassian’s cheek snapped to the side.
Edel burst out in a hollow, almost mad laugh.
“Duwelsen Duke, do you know? You are truly amusing!”
“I’ve never once thought so.”
Cassian calmly turned his gaze back to her. Another sharp slap landed across his cheek.
“Not only amusing, but shameless as well.”
“I’ve never thought that either.”
*Unbelievable…*
“You dare talk back after cheating with my sister? Since when did you two get so close that you called each other by name? Even I never dared to call you by name!”
“Wasn’t it only because you were too shy? I never once rejected you, Your Highness. On the contrary, it was you who—”
“Silence!”
Slapping him wasn’t enough. Edel grabbed the lamp nearby and raised it high.
But that was as far as she got. Her arm refused to move further.
Cassian’s calm, bottomless eyes froze her completely. Anger drained away, leaving only emptiness and exhaustion.
The lamp slipped from her hands and rolled across the floor. Edel, drenched in sweat, covered her face and muttered weakly:
“How could you…”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you hate me now?”
“…No.”
For the first time, Cassian hesitated. Proof that his heart had truly begun to drift away from her.
Hot tears streamed down Edel’s face again.
“What is it that I lack? I’m a princess, I’m not ugly, even in bed I’m not bad. Then why? What is it that I lack?”
With each desperate word, her strength crumbled.
She had loved him. Loved him with all her heart, believing he was the one person she could never replace. She had even thought she could die for him.
But not like this—not to die for his new love.
So this was the price of her pure devotion?
Tears poured endlessly. Breathing grew painful, her chest tight, as if suffocating. She struck her chest but nothing changed.
Cassian stepped forward silently.
A hot touch met her face. His tongue, licking away her tears, stung her eyes with its warmth.
Cassian licked her tears without stopping.
But Edel felt nothing anymore. No thrill, no comfort. Just emptiness.
“Princess Edel, you lack nothing. Your rank, your beauty, your skill—all are blessings to me.”
“Then why?”
“As I said, I only went to Princess Rowen to discuss serious matters. It was never an affair.”
“Lies…”
As Edel’s body shook, Cassian pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.
Once, his tall frame and warm embrace had filled her with happiness. Now, it only felt pathetic that she was still seeking comfort in him.
“Why would I ever abandon you? Why would I ever leave you?”
“……”
She couldn’t move. She wanted to cling to this warmth one last time. A hopeless instinct carved deep into her heart.
“Are you cold?”
Was he truly so oblivious at times like this, or was he provoking her on purpose?
When she didn’t answer, Cassian simply pulled the blanket over her.
Edel wanted so badly to believe. To trust this man she loved. To believe he was innocent.
But she couldn’t. Too many pieces of evidence had piled up. Letters between Cassian and Rowen. Witnesses saying they’d been seen together often. And the most damning of all—Kia herself had seen them kiss.
It shattered all trust.
“Will you stay with me tonight as well?” Cassian asked.
“…Yes. Fine.”
This time, even Cassian looked surprised. He had expected her to refuse, but she had agreed so firmly.
“You must be tired, since you’ve taken sleeping medicine.”
“…Ha.”
Her hollow laugh steadied her somehow. If this was the last time, it was better than ending without warning.
If only she could strangle him tonight…
Edel stared at Cassian with calm, stormy eyes.
“You once told me you loved staring into my eyes all day.”
Back then, Cassian had kissed her eyelids over and over, whispering that he wanted to drown in her pink eyes, to be consumed by them.
Was that nothing but a midsummer night’s dream?
She slowly pushed him down. Cassian didn’t resist, collapsing easily.
“If not tonight, there may never be a last time.”
“A last time…”
“Yes. And since it’s the last, I want it to be grand. And for you—it’s the end.”
*—Bastard.*
Her curse was swallowed by the kiss she pressed onto Cassian’s lips. Still, he would understand from her tongue what she truly meant.
—
That night, she regretted not strangling him. Why was she still the one crying in the end?
Did she still have lingering feelings? Or did she simply not want to think of anything that night?
Her head throbbed painfully.
Kia entered with a cup of warm tea, her face full of concern.
“Please, take a break.”
“I can’t. I want to be rid of him as soon as possible—how could I rest?”
Edel forced a smile, but Kia’s worry did not fade.
“Thank you for the tea.”
As always, Kia knew her tastes perfectly.
Edel sipped the herbal tea with satisfaction and returned to her documents—procedures for divorce.
It wouldn’t be difficult. Rumors about Cassian had already spread through society, fueled by the fact that Edel hadn’t seen him in weeks.
She wondered idly what Cassian and Rowen were doing while she struggled like this. Were they brazenly together in bed, or was Cassian himself already preparing for divorce?
“Your Highness, the Duke of Duwelsen requests an audience.”
At the servant’s words, Edel sneered.
For the past two weeks, he hadn’t once asked to see her. And now suddenly he came?
But Edel had no intention of meeting him. She would see him only to demand divorce.
“Send him away.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The servant left.
“Are you sure it’s alright not to meet him?” Kia asked carefully.
“At a time like this, if he came, it must be something important. I just worry it might hurt you…”
Kia’s words reminded Edel of Cassian’s one truth—Kia was more loyal to her than anyone else. At times, more of a true partner than Cassian ever was.
“You worry too much,” Edel smiled faintly, and focused on her work again.
Not long after, the door opened once more.
“The Duke left a letter, Your Highness.”
Edel’s face twisted. Even after being turned away, he dared to leave a letter?
Fury burned through her. She ripped the envelope open roughly.
—
*To Princess Edel Jadenbarque, from Cassian Duwelsen.*
*I worry for your health, since I have not seen you. I wonder how you are. I spend every night thinking only of you.*
—
“Pathetic…” Edel muttered, tossing the letter aside after only a glance. She had expected nonsense love words. She flung it at Kia, ignoring it.
But Kia’s expression changed as she read further.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“You should read the rest. Please.”
Frowning, Edel snatched the letter back.
—
*As you said, this will be the last time. So I must speak.*
*I have thought deeply for these two weeks. At first I denied it, but now I must accept it.*
*I hate you. I despise you. I wish to leave you so much that I feel hatred.*
*But my love for you has never changed. For that reason, I give you one last chance.*
*Run away.*
—
“…Ha.”
The letter crumbled in Edel’s hands as if burned.
So he had finally admitted it. Once, he swore he’d never betrayed her. But now, he sought his “true love.”
Why did he hate her? He gave no reason. Hadn’t he once called her very existence a blessing?
“It was all lies!”
Edel screamed in fury, her hair and clothes in disarray as she hurled anything she could grab. The room descended into chaos.
*So now he even threatens me?* “Run away,” he had said.
So Cassian and Rowen truly meant to destroy her. To prey on a powerless princess like her.
“Kia, move the trial date forward.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
If he wanted to end things so badly, she would end them first.
Amidst the wreckage of her room, Edel cried like a mad beast.
—
Finally, everything was prepared. At the upcoming ball, Edel would expose everything and announce divorce. The trial would follow swiftly.
“This will be the last time you see the Duke,” Kia said as she fixed Edel’s hair.
“At least you seem happy today, that’s a relief.”
“You too, Kia.”
“I was taught to share my master’s joys and sorrows equally.”
“Well said.”
Pleased by the answer, Edel smiled for the first time in days and rose.
“Let’s go.”
Servants bowed deeply as they escorted her to the ballroom.
Her palace had grown desolate, like its mistress. Still, Edel offered them warm words. Soon, she would be free, she told herself.
But then—
*Boom!*
“What was that?!”
The entire palace shook as if struck by an earthquake. Servants gasped and huddled around Edel protectively.
“Stay here.”
But Edel pushed through them. She would see for herself.
“Why are there no guards around?”
The palace was eerily silent. Her skin prickled with dread.
“What on earth—”
“Seize the traitor!”
“Kyaaah!”
With a deafening shout, soldiers stormed in, breaking windows and doors.
Edel’s servants, panicked but loyal, tried desperately to shield her.
“Who are you?” Edel demanded, her voice icy.
The crowd parted. A familiar man with black hair and crimson eyes walked forward.
But his face was one she had never seen—cold, hostile, merciless.
“Duke Duwelsen… You…!”
“This is the end, Princess Edel Jadenbarque.”
“You…!”
“And since it is the end, I want it to be grand.”
“……”
“Arrest Princess Edel Jadenbarque for treason!” Cassian shouted, sword raised.
The soldiers rushed forward at his command.
