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Chapter 5
The Estria family mansion, filled with falling cherry blossoms, was noisy from early morning.
“Elina!”
It was because Elina ran happily toward her parents, who had just returned from their trip, and threw herself into their arms.
Masha, who stood nearby, blinked blankly as she watched her lady run off before she could even stop her.
Maximin and Celine were surprised by Elina’s unusually affectionate greeting, but they focused on gently comforting their daughter in their arms.
“What’s gotten into her all of a sudden?”
“I missed you…”
Her small hand, tightly holding onto her mother’s dress, trembled slightly.
Seeing that, their hearts ached.
It had been a long time since they had seen Elina act this way—like a child—and it made her both lovable and pitiful.
They had already heard through a letter that the engagement with the Crown Prince had fallen through.
But it seemed her heartbreak was deeper than they thought.
Celine gently wiped the tears gathered near Elina’s large pink eyes and smiled faintly, while silently cursing the Crown Prince.
Not only had he charmed her daughter with his handsome face—
He had also hurt her.
No matter who he was, even a Crown Prince—
he had no right to treat the precious daughter of the Estria family like that.
Until now, the Duke and Duchess had done everything they could for their only daughter, who was deeply in love with the Crown Prince.
Except one thing—
marriage.
The Estria family, the center of the noble faction, had supported the imperial family greatly—
only because their daughter wanted it.
“We missed you too, Elina. Shall we go inside first?”
Maximin Estria gently patted her shoulder as he spoke, looking at her with concern.
Their matching pink eyes met.
For a moment, Elina remembered her father’s eyes from before—
closed in resignation when her execution had been decided.
Only then did she realize her parents had just stepped down from the carriage.
Blushing, she quickly stepped back.
“I’m sorry… I was just too happy to see you…”
Elina covered her burning cheeks.
After being treated like a patient by Masha, she had promised herself not to act strangely in front of others.
But the moment she saw her parents—
her body had already moved on its own.
The desperate voice from her memory—begging for her life—was replaced by her mother’s warm laughter.
Her mother’s gently curved green eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Elina.
Her golden hair shone under the sunlight.
“No need to apologize. We’re the ones who couldn’t come back earlier.”
Everyone knew that the Duke and Duchess always ended their spring vacation early.
Even though it was their reward after a busy winter, they only stayed for about a week.
The reason was simple—
Elina’s birthday.
Because seeing their daughter smiling brightly at her birthday banquet—
was more beautiful than any vacation.
“Earlier than this?”
Elina laughed brightly, as if she had just heard a funny joke.
Her parents smiled warmly as they watched her.
* * *
“Are you saying… our Elina dumped the Crown Prince?”
Maximin, sitting in his office chair, asked the butler again with disbelief.
To others, the Crown Prince appeared kind and polite.
But Maximin knew the truth—
there had never been any affection in the way he looked at his daughter.
The letter had only said the marriage talks were completely broken off.
So he had naturally assumed his daughter had been rejected.
Even though the imperial family was powerful, that power existed largely because of Estria’s support.
Maximin had been thinking about what to do with Verdin, who had dared to treat his daughter so coldly—
but this unexpected news shocked him.
“Yes, that’s correct. The young lady said it herself.”
This marriage was not just child’s play.
It was more like a business deal based on mutual benefits.
The imperial family had much to gain from it.
It would end the long-standing tension with the noble faction.
In fact, since Elina began chasing Verdin, the nobles had started being careful around the Emperor.
Because they couldn’t compete with the imperial family backed by Estria.
On the other hand, the Estria family had only one benefit—
Elina Estria’s happiness.
Maximin was ready to do anything for that.
Even though he didn’t like Verdin, he couldn’t stop his daughter.
But now—
“Finally, our Elina has come to her senses.”
A relieved smile appeared on his face.
Verdin was not worthy of becoming the husband of his daughter—
the second most beautiful woman in the empire after his wife.
Even the Emperor himself often complained about his own son when drunk.
Many women were charmed by Verdin’s looks.
But Maximin knew the truth.
When Elina was seven years old, the Emperor had tried to arrange things.
He brought in a child of similar age as a playmate—
hiding his intention to connect their families.
That day—
Maximin saw something he could never forget.
Verdin smiling brightly while crushing a bird under his foot until it was unrecognizable.
The red, struggling mass beneath his feet still remained in his memory.
He was only ten years old at the time.
Maximin had gone to the imperial garden to check if it was safe for his daughter—
and discovered that scene.
Verdin was far too dangerous.
No matter who he was, even a Crown Prince—
He could not leave his daughter with such a beast.
The Emperor had been furious when he heard this.
But in the end, he stepped back and made a compromise.
Guards could accompany the children when they played.
It was practically admitting that his own son was a threat.
Maximin chose skilled hidden guards.
Even then, refusing completely would have been too difficult.
It was a decision he regretted for a long time.
He had focused only on Verdin’s dangerous nature—
and failed to realize something else.
That his beautiful daughter would fall for that “beautiful beast.”
From a young age, Elina had an eye for beauty.
Like a duckling following the first thing it saw, she followed only Verdin.
There had been another child there as well—
just as handsome—
but Elina never noticed him.
That child… was Kaian Ovilion.
“Thank goodness she came to her senses now.”
At first, Maximin thought it was just childish admiration.
He couldn’t even tell her to stay away, since he had allowed them to meet.
Even as she grew older, he couldn’t tell her the truth about that cruel incident.
He could only hope her one-sided love would end.
But as years passed, her feelings only grew deeper.
Thankfully, Verdin never showed that cruel side again.
The Emperor had wanted to arrange their engagement early—
but Maximin delayed it as much as possible.
By now, she was already at the age to marry.
He had run out of excuses.
He was just about to push forward with the engagement—
when this unbelievable situation happened.
Maximin, who had been lost in thought, suddenly stood up.
“At this birthday banquet… who is Elina’s partner?”
He stopped before leaving the room and asked.
“It is the young duke of the Ovilion family.”
Kaian Ovilion.
The name the Emperor had once used to hide his true intentions.
Remembering that name, Maximin smiled slightly and walked out.
This year’s birthday banquet—
had to be as grand as an imperial ball.
So that his precious daughter—
would never look back at that yellow beast again.
