IPWDP 46

Episode 46

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Ephilia had thought that only Hailen could provide her a place of rest. For as long as she could remember, he had never changed his attitude toward her, always putting her at ease with his playful demeanor.

Even after returning, he remained the same, which brought her a sense of relief. He was the only person in the palace with whom she could truly feel comfortable.

To Ephilia, who had lost both family and lover, he was her only remaining friend.

He didn’t expect anything from her; he had no emotions to complicate things. All that existed was simply affection. Or so she thought.

It wasn’t true.

He had feelings—heavy, cruel, and terrifying feelings he had kept hidden until now: love.

And she finally understood. Why Hailen had endured such sacrifices for her at the banquet—it was love.

She had never known what he truly felt for her. And now, she realized that beneath his unfailing kindness lay not mere friendship, but love.

He had finally revealed the emotions he had kept so carefully concealed. It was almost strange that she hadn’t noticed sooner. Since when had he felt this way? The wind that had felt warm only moments ago now seemed chilling.

She could barely imagine the weight of the emotions he had hidden. It felt as though someone were strangling her—breathless.

“…Ephilia?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Ephilia. I asked you—what about me?”

It was impossible. If he had no feelings for her, she might have considered it. But such sacrifices could not be anything other than love.

“Then I’ll truly become a villainess,” she said.

To be engaged to her brother while marrying her younger brother? She would be remembered in history as a legendary villainess. And the fact that her brother was the crown prince and the other a prince—what an entertaining story that would make! Ephilia could only respond as if joking, because there was no other way.

“Shall I become a villainess too?”

“I’m serious. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

“What do you mean? Pretend I don’t know what…?”

“You know what I mean.”

His expression, devoid of any trace of a smile, was unfamiliar. It was as if she were looking at a stranger. The playful glint that had always lingered in his eyes had vanished completely. He looked at her directly, in a way she could not ignore.

“I’m serious.”

“You know what could happen.”

He didn’t seem to care about the shame or loss he might suffer.

“What do you gain from this? You’ll only suffer.”

“No. I gain something too.”

What could he possibly gain?

“I have a purpose.”

Ephilia seemed to understand Hailen’s purpose. His revelation of his feelings had been a hint: his ultimate goal was her. She felt crushed by the weight of those emotions.

She wished it weren’t love. If it had only been pity, she might have been willing to take his hand. But if it was love—then no.

Ephilia had experienced firsthand how consuming love could be. When one’s feelings are unreciprocated, it inevitably leads to despair.

Why did it have to be love?

She now preferred hatred over love. Those who hated her were bearable—it was familiar. But love was frightening. She had once abandoned herself because of it.

“Lady, Lady!”

A desperate voice called out—it was Gina. Until Ephilia returned to the palace, she wouldn’t have come to find her, so something must have happened.

Whatever the matter, Ephilia was grateful that it broke the suffocating heaviness of the moment. She quickly responded.

“I’m here. What’s the matter?”

“Lady, the crown prince has come to see you,” Gina said cautiously. Since he had eased his restraint, he must have come out. Unlike Hailen, who acted knowing the outcome beforehand, Regios only moved after hearing the results. That was the difference between Regios and Hailen.

The call had been joyful moments ago, but now she felt awkward hearing the reason.

“Brother must be in a hurry. Still, I guess it’s typical of him to be so punctual,” she said, with a subtle edge beneath her cheerful tone.

“I’ll see you later then.”

“Why? I could stay too.”

“But….”

Before, she might not have minded, but now a situation with the three of them together no longer felt comfortable. Hailen would always visit when she was feeling down, give her a brief smile, then disappear. Ephilia had always found the timing peculiar. Now she understood—it was because Hailen had been watching over her where she couldn’t see.

“Go. I have something to discuss with Ephilia,” Regios’s voice suddenly interjected. Gina flinched.

“How did you—?”

“I thought it would be faster for me to come than to wait. Good thing I did.”

“You seem anxious, brother.”

“You said it’s better for me to leave, didn’t you?”

“Is it a matter I shouldn’t be involved in?”

“It’s something for the fiancés to discuss.”

“I thought nothing had been decided yet.”

Regios’s lips twisted into a smirk. He had been the one to disrupt what was already settled. Gina had quietly disappeared.

“So you arrived before me—before I even eased my restraint.”

If she didn’t leave quickly, it would reveal she had come out during her confinement. Hailen laughed at the audacity.

“Wow, that’s cheap.”

“So hurry and go.”

“Fine. Go tell Father. You’ll be confined again, no doubt.”

Hailen pouted playfully, but his tone made it clear he would not back down. Regios frowned. Whatever he planned to say, Hailen’s presence wouldn’t make it any easier. If a difficult conversation arose, Hailen might interfere.

“Hailen, could you step aside for a moment?”

“Ephilia.”

She knew he wanted to stay for her sake. That only made her wish he would step aside even more. Hailen had no reason to suffer further, especially not for love.

“Would it be better if I went?”

“Yes. I have something to discuss.”

Regios could insist she leave, but he couldn’t ignore her. Hailen sighed.

“Understood.”

“Thank you.”

Ephilia gave a faint smile. Hailen watched it quietly and nodded.

“Think about what I said,” he added.

There was nothing to think about—she could never accept it. But she no longer had the strength to continue speaking with Hailen and nodded.

“What did you talk about with Hailen?”

Before she could ask why he had come, Regios spoke first.

“Why do you ask?”

Again, he fixated on Hailen. She had assumed he came regarding the engagement, but she hadn’t expected him to mention Hailen first. It was odd.

He had always been sensitive when it came to Hailen. Now she understood why. Could it be that he had known all along?

“You knew from the start?”

“Answer me. What did that fool say?”

“You mean… he confessed?”

He muttered coldly.

“He didn’t.”

“So he didn’t confess directly?”

Though her answer was vague, he understood perfectly.

“What else did he say? Did he ask you to choose him?”

It was as if he had seen everything. Ephilia bit her lip, unable to respond.

“Don’t entertain foolish thoughts. I’ll never let that fool take you.”

He hadn’t shown love when she wanted it, yet restrained her when she tried to leave, binding her.

‘What is the name of that feeling? Mere obsession?’

She could not understand why he was so fixated on her. If it wasn’t love, was it fate? Yet she was his destiny, and he had been cold when she desperately sought him.

Ephilia had once held a similar feeling—desperate longing, as if she could not live without him. But she never revealed it, fearing further rejection.

If Regios’s feelings weren’t love, then what had hers been? Was it also not love?

Just the obsession of a lonely girl with no one to lean on? And that was why Regios despised her and avoided her?

Was it, like Ephilia’s own, too heavy to bear?

If so…

If so…

He let her go.

Because he did not want her to suffer, he gave her up, sacrificing even himself. And just when she thought she had found her own happiness, he came and shattered everything.

There was nowhere to escape. She felt crushed beneath the weight of that obsession, suffocating.

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