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Chapter 54
Someone Else
Senelia believed that Benerucia didn’t know a single one of her wishes.
He was someone special by nature—it was only natural that he couldn’t even begin to imagine them.
Because Benerucia didn’t love her.
But once again, Senelia was wrong.
Benerucia did know her desires.
And still, he kept her by his side in silence.
It had been her own decision to remain by him.
But she couldn’t stop the resentment that rose inside her.
“…I didn’t want to let you go. It’s foolish of me to realize it only now, but I love you.”
Benerucia accepted her resentment.
He would rather take her anger than…
Have her not look at him at all.
“You’re selfish,” Senelia accused.
“I know.”
Benerucia accepted her reproach too.
“If I were a proper man, I would’ve let you go.”
He knew full well.
That he didn’t deserve to long for her love.
But putting that knowledge into practice—he was far too greedy for that.
“So don’t waver, Selli.”
He dared to say such a thing to Senelia.
“Because when I see you like this—I don’t know what I might do to Yennellop Pendragon.”
Senelia looked utterly speechless.
Benerucia ridiculed himself internally.
He was far too horrible a man to be loved by her.
And yet, knowing that—he still loved her.
“Are you saying you’d… deal with others just to have me?”
Her voice trembled involuntarily.
Benerucia’s words hadn’t been limited to just Yennellop.
Why was that?
She had wanted Benerucia to be obsessed with her. And he was a man of power.
Threatening someone like Yennellop would be all too easy for him.
And yet, some part of her had always believed that he wouldn’t go that far.
Because such cruel deeds were the kind that Clifford would do.
“Selli, if you marry someone like Yennellop Pendragon—well, sure, your life wouldn’t be hard. It would be that normal life you’ve always wanted.”
Benerucia hurriedly changed the subject as he placed his hand over hers.
He didn’t want her to dwell on his ruthlessness.
“But I’m still the one who knows you best.”
He gently lifted her hand and kissed the tip of her finger.
“Please. I’m the only one who can give you what’s best. The only one who can make you happy.”
Benerucia’s words were a plea.
No—more like a beg.
But all his desperate gestures only stirred up Senelia’s fury.
After stripping her of every real choice, here he was again, lowering himself and begging for love as if she still had one.
It would’ve been better if he had simply brought out an imperial decree commanding their marriage.
“Fine. I’ll do as you wish.”
So Senelia chose cruelty.
“But just as before, Your Grace may meet whomever you please.”
The joy that had bloomed on Benerucia’s face immediately froze at her next words.
“And I would appreciate it if you didn’t mind whoever I happen to meet, either.”
In short, even before the wedding, she was proposing a sham marriage.
“…Are you saying it wouldn’t bother you if I were seeing someone else?”
Benerucia’s voice wavered with anger.
He couldn’t tell if the thing scraping his throat was a voice—or a blade.
Even swallowing felt like being stabbed.
“I’ve experienced it before. I’m used to it.”
Senelia answered calmly.
And even those words pointed back at his past misdeeds.
Yet he couldn’t bear the calmness on her face.
Just like how her composed demeanor had always broken him whenever his scandals made the news.
“…Just say you didn’t mean it.”
He gripped her shoulders.
But perhaps because he remembered bruising her wrist in the past, his grip was cautious.
“No—just say it bothers you. Even just once.”
Senelia completely ignored his desperate eyes.
Just as he had pretended not to see her pain.
“Of course it bothers me.”
When the answer he longed for didn’t come, Benerucia clenched his jaw and stepped back.
“You’re only saying this because you’re angry right now.”
He muttered, flustered.
But Senelia remained silent.
And a heavy silence fell between them—as if it would never break.
“…I’ll prove it.”
Suddenly, fire flared in Benerucia’s eyes.
“I’ll prove that this kind of relationship… you can’t possibly be fine with it.”
He bit out the words through gritted teeth.
And he began to back away from her.
In this situation, her collected demeanor only made it feel like she no longer loved him.
It was a dreadful thought.
“You won’t be able to say you’re fine. Just wait.”
With that, Benerucia turned his back on her.
As always—Senelia didn’t stop him.
* * *
On the second day of the victory banquet, Benerucia brought the daughter of a count as his partner.
There had been a long line of noblewomen wishing to accompany him, so it wouldn’t have been hard to find one in a day.
As expected, Senelia acted unfazed.
Worse, Yennellop walked right up to her in front of Benerucia—boldly—as if to show off.
It only made Benerucia seethe.
The third and fourth days of the banquet were the same.
No matter who Benerucia showed up with, Senelia didn’t say a word.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Ben? What are you trying to do? Are you really pushing me away like this?”
Even when Lucalina tried to confront him, Benerucia didn’t care.
Not when his thoughts were consumed by Senelia’s reaction.
“This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it.”
His cold reply wounded Lucalina.
But Benerucia, who stood beside one woman while staring at another, didn’t even notice.
And so came the fifth day of the banquet.
Benerucia realized that this tactic no longer worked.
Like a child causing trouble to gain attention, he called over one of the royal servants.
“You called, Your Grace?”
“I have something for you to do.”
He lowered his voice and whispered.
“Spill wine on Lady Daphnen’s dress. Then lead her to the designated lounge.”
At last, Benerucia decided to cross the worst line.
There’s a world of difference between imagining something—and actually seeing it.
Just like it had been for him, Benerucia believed Senelia wouldn’t be able to bear seeing someone else touch him the way he had touched her.
Even if it was cheap and low—he wanted to be sure of her love.
Everything went according to plan.
The lounge door opened. She entered.
He believed it would all end the way he wanted.
“You won’t believe me, but I didn’t come here on purpose…”
Smack!
“You disgusting—spying on someone’s private moment—”
But Benerucia’s illusion shattered instantly.
Because Senelia stood there, letting herself be slapped across the face by the marquess’ daughter—without even flinching.
“There’s no reason I would have to spy…”
She calmly tried to explain.
As if her flushed cheek didn’t matter at all.
That only made Benerucia lose his mind further.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
He clenched his fists.
If he didn’t, he felt like he might strangle the woman in front of him.
His vision burned red—just like Senelia’s cheek.
“Come here, Ben. This woman was spying on us—”
Unfortunately, the marquess’ daughter didn’t sense the danger in his expression.
Ben.
The pet name he had let her use to provoke Senelia—now grated on his nerves.
Senelia never once used it, even when he desperately wanted her to.
And now, it only fanned the flames of his rage.
“How dare you hit her.”
At last, he couldn’t hold back. His fury exploded toward the marquess’ daughter.
Her face turned pale.
“B-Ben, what are you doing?!”
She was understandably shocked.
It had been strange when he’d suddenly asked her to be his partner.
Still, she had accepted.
And he had been sweet all day—like a man in love.
They’d even slipped off to the lounge to share a romantic moment.
So why was he suddenly acting like this?
“Don’t ever lay a hand on Selli again.”
His growled warning sent chills down her spine.
The cold look in his eyes—the venom in his voice—this was not the man she thought she knew.
“If Your Grace treats the young lady like that, it will only upset Marchioness Ishia.”
Senelia’s calm voice broke the silence.
If not for that, the marquess’ daughter might have been too stunned to move.
