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Chapter 49
What if I had said I was Eluna and asked if he was Calix?
Back then, no matter how much I tempted him, he didn’t fall so easily. But now, if I accused him of undressing me every time we slept together as some kind of revenge, he wouldn’t have denied it.
If I cried my eyes out asking whether I was the only one who remembered that burning night—and he said it never happened—then I should never see Artif again.
Every time I suspected that Artif might really be Calix, that same sense of unfairness would rise up inside me.
Yes. I really should cut him off for good.
Just as I was making that resolution, Shina opened the door and came in.
“My lady~ It’s time to get up…”
I blinked up at her with wide, alert eyes.
Shina froze mid-step, inhaled sharply, and scanned the room like a hawk.
“Haha, good morning.”
I gave a nervous laugh. Shina shut the door, locked it, and hurriedly threw open every window.
“My lady, did you seriously drink two bottles of wine by yourself? The whole room reeks of alcohol!”
She scolded me while cleaning up the traces of last night.
“If you wanted to drink, you should’ve called me. Drinking on an empty stomach with just a dessert like this? You’ll ruin your stomach! And you’ve got a hangover, don’t you?”
It wasn’t really a question. But I answered anyway.
“My head hurts. I want a cold shower.”
I needed to clear my head and send a letter to Kynon.
“I’ll get rid of these bottles before the duke or young master notices, then bring you some honey water. Just rest a bit longer.”
“Thanks.”
I lay quietly, blinking at the ceiling.
I really couldn’t remember anything.
How did Artif get home? Did he get drunk too? I hardly ever saw him drink back at the Redmond estate. Did he drink because of me? But I don’t even like alcohol that much.
Still, it must have been miserable for him—spending his own celebration night babysitting a drunk.
Once again, I vowed to end things with Artif for good.
Shina soon returned with a glass of cool honey water.
“Here, drink it all down.”
“Ahhh~”
Sweet. I downed it in one go and groaned.
“This isn’t liquor, my lady,” Shina scolded. “I’ll prepare your bath.”
After washing off in cold water, my mind finally started to clear.
I sent a messenger to Kynon, asking to continue our portrait session, then crawled back into bed.
That afternoon, Kynon arrived, forcing me to sit up.
We met in the drawing room.
“I didn’t mean for you to come straight here,” I said.
“I had to inform Countess Gren first, so it took a bit.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That since I haven’t finished the sketch, I’ll be working from Rétel Manor. It’s more efficient that way.”
He said it casually.
Hmm, the Countess will probably be disappointed.
After all, she went through the trouble of setting up a studio for him at the Count’s estate, saying it was convenient for preparing materials.
“Did Caius tell you to do this?” I asked.
“He told me to get closer to you, after I reported that you felt ‘love and hate’ toward me,” Kynon said.
Even though I knew it was a fake report, I still felt my heart jolt. I forced a curt tone.
“I’d prefer if we dropped the ‘love’ part.”
“I know. You hate me enough. Caius just lied to make it easier for me to stay near you. If another demon took the mission, I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”
I didn’t ask why he was doing all this.
Because if he answered what I suspected, I wouldn’t be able to make my next request.
“I need a favor.”
“What is it?”
“The potion the Crown Prince gets from the Demon Realm. Can you get the ingredients for it?”
He thought for a moment, then said,
“Not much. Those herbs are rare for us too, so I’d have to smuggle a small amount. I’ll bring them when I come to paint.”
It felt almost hollow—how something I couldn’t get from Chase, even after begging, came so easily from him.
“Thanks.”
“Anything else you need?”
“What about the Crown Prince and Caius? What are they up to these days?”
After our argument at the opera, Chase had come to me saying he’d accept my proposal—but only under one condition.
That we announce our engagement before I entered the temple.
The date was set exactly one year from the night of the banquet.
It made my skin crawl, but if it got me what I wanted, then a bit of flesh was a small price to pay.
It was just an announcement. Once I had what I needed, I’d overturn everything anyway.
“There’s been conflict,” Kynon said. “The fountain explosion and your engagement announcement only deepened the rift. Their goals can’t coexist. Caius has already broken his promise not to kill you.”
“So there’s a fracture,” I murmured.
Good. Let them tear each other apart.
“But they were opposites from the start,” Kynon continued. “If they need to use you again, they’ll join forces. Caius could change his mind and decide to spare you—he’s unpredictable.”
“What kind of demon is Caius, really?”
“He seems intelligent and rational, but he’s still a demon. And demons… obey their instincts far more than humans ever do. Be careful.”
His tone was calm—too calm for the warning he was giving.
“He could decide to storm your mansion and kill you himself.”
“I will. Be careful, I mean.”
I looked at him. Somehow, I felt like I’d gained an unreliable but strangely reassuring ally.
“Today, I’ll report that we reminisced about the time we picked wild strawberries and splashed in the creek together,” he said. “Just so you know.”
“I remember that,” I said quietly.
“…Then I’ll say we shared a fond memory.”
Kynon stood up as if ready to leave.
“Next time, decide where you want me to paint.”
As his hand touched the doorknob, I called out,
“Kynon.”
It wasn’t something I wanted to say—but I wanted to say it anyway.
“Be careful. Don’t get caught.”
“…Yeah.”
* * *
The so-called engagement banquet wasn’t an actual engagement or wedding—just an announcement. But Chase invited every noble in sight.
Even Artif, Caius, and the Pope, Seth, were on the guest list.
“Still feels like I should’ve asked for more,” Chase said as he escorted me down the hall.
His voice was cheerful, but it grated on me.
“This is already excessive,” I replied. “Once the nobles hear what this ‘important announcement’ is, they’ll be shocked enough.”
“Our wedding date being set is a cause for celebration. I’ve even picked out a few venues. We’ll go see them together.”
I don’t want to.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Ugh, this corridor is so long. Can’t we walk in silence?
“Come to think of it,” Chase mused, “today’s our wedding anniversary.”
We’re not even married yet, what nonsense.
“Shouldn’t we spend such a special day together?”
“That’s why we’re holding a banquet,” I said dryly.
“I meant a private banquet. Just the two of us.”
His words made my stomach twist. Suddenly I remembered how I’d once suggested to Artif that we celebrate his curse-breaking with a small party, just the two of us.
Was I that disgustingly sentimental back then too?
I still had no memory of that night.
How was I supposed to face Artif now? What if he laughed in my face—or looked at me with icy disgust?
“Shar,” Chase said, tightening his grip as he changed hands to pull me closer by the waist. “We’re out together, and you’re daydreaming already?”
“Your Highness, this is merely an announcement. We’re not married yet. Please behave appropriately.”
He only laughed.
“Think it over during the banquet. I want to know what kind of wedding anniversary gift you’d like.”
We finally reached the grand doors. A herald announced loudly:
“His Highness, Crown Prince Chase Grimoire, and Lady Charlize Rétel are entering!”
From the second-floor terrace, I could see the entire hall below—and immediately, as if drawn by a magnet, I found Artif.
Our eyes met. His expression hardened.
I wasn’t going to be the one ending our friendship—he was going to end it himself because I’d apparently made a drunken fool of myself.
“Thank you all for coming,” Chase said, sweeping his gaze across the room.
Because the banquet was for the empire’s younger nobles, he skipped formalities and got straight to the point.
“The reason I’ve gathered you all here tonight is to announce the wedding date of myself and my fiancée, Lady Charlize Rétel.”
A murmur spread through the hall. Soon, I knew, both my father and the Emperor would hear of it.
“One year from today,” Chase declared, “we will hold a grand wedding ceremony. I expect you all to attend.”
