Episode 48
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“So that’s the conclusion?”
“Father!”
Hexi muttered in disbelief, and Seluna let out a shriek. She never expected to hear the word *give up* from her own father.
“The Crown Prince’s position is very clear.”
Though nothing had been formally finalized, the Crown Prince had made his stance known. There was no room to interfere. Interfering now would only reveal that everything done so far had been a façade.
“Are you really saying we should just give up?”
“Of course not. We need to find another way.”
“Is there a way?”
“There is only one way.”
“How?”
“Ephilia must refuse that position herself.”
If Ephilia were to express her refusal, it would make things somewhat easier—but the problem was that she had taken the whole matter in stride.
“She wouldn’t refuse!”
If she were going to give up, she would have said so already. She wouldn’t have dragged it out this long.
“Generally speaking, yes.”
“Do I have to lose again?”
She truly did not want to be taken away. Not the position of Crown Princess, and certainly not Regios. She wanted that beautiful, magnificent man for herself.
“I don’t even know why I came back. It’s so irritating.”
Seluna muttered irritably.
“Hmm.”
Denold fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.
“I’ll think of a way. You two should go back for now.”
After the children left, the only sound in Denold’s office was the soft tapping of his fingers on the sofa’s armrest.
“Anyway, as long as Ephilia isn’t there…”
Denold smiled, curling the corners of his lips. She had already faced death once. She had survived, but who could guarantee she wouldn’t die again?
He should have done this long ago. She should have been sent to her parents from the start. Yes, to her family.
“Thank you all for gathering despite your busy schedules.”
The grand room was filled with the imperial family and dukes’ households. No one could have failed to understand why the Emperor had summoned them.
“Your Majesty, how could we refuse your invitation?”
“How have you all been?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty, we have been well.”
“Now that Ephilia has returned, several events have arisen, and only now could we properly arrange this gathering.”
“Apologies for causing concern.”
“Is it your fault? It’s because of my incompetent children.”
Regios stiffened, and Hailen chuckled lightly.
“You intend to finalize the matter of the Crown Princess. Now that they’ve reached adulthood, their opinions are to be respected.”
“As I said before, there will be no Crown Princess other than Ephilia.”
Before the Emperor could even ask, Regios answered. The Emperor had already confirmed Ephilia’s stance, likely gathering everyone’s opinions beforehand. So this meeting was simply to communicate those positions.
“Ephilia.”
“I’m fine.”
She wasn’t fine. But that was all she could say. Ephilia had no alternatives; she had never had a choice from the start.
“Do you have anything to say?”
The question was aimed at Hailen. He shrugged and replied,
“If Ephilia allows it, there’s nothing I can say.”
“Miss Seluna.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Since it’s come to this, you must understand.”
“I’m fine with it too.”
Seluna, too, answered that she was fine, but she was anything but. Inside, she was burning with frustration. But she had no choice but to smile. Before the invitation, Denold had told them there was nothing they could do now. The Emperor had seen the situation and confirmed it—there was no room for intervention.
Opposing it now would only put them in the Emperor’s disfavor. It was better to step back gracefully, even if it added a little burden to the Emperor.
“This was bound to happen anyway.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“It’s only natural.”
Ephilia’s calm demeanor—sitting quietly without refusing—was infuriating. She had fooled everyone by pretending not to covet the position. Thinking back, there was no way Ephilia didn’t want it. Even when the Crown Prince had treated her coldly, she had never backed down. And now, with his protection, there was no reason to give up.
“Now, it’s best for Ephilia to remain in the palace until the engagement ceremony. What do you think?”
“Of course. Thank you for showing her favor.”
Seluna had expected resistance. She couldn’t understand her father’s reasoning. She wanted to take her to the dukes’ estate, to care for her a little before the engagement. If she gave up everything like this, would she ever get her chance?
“Then let us adjourn. A banquet will soon follow, and I hope everyone will attend.”
This was, naturally, the banquet for Ephilia’s return, which had been ruined before. Everyone rose. Only the Emperor and Empress remained. Before Regios could call for Ephilia, Seluna spoke first.
“Can we talk for a moment, sister?”
“Yes.”
Ephilia nodded as if she had been waiting.
“Let’s go together.”
“I want to speak alone.”
“Ephilia.”
“I’m not going anywhere, so you don’t need to follow.”
Seluna bit her lip. With Regios present, she couldn’t say what she wanted. But seeing Ephilia act as if the man she so desired was bothersome made her blood boil.
She noticed Regios’ lips twitching into a smile at Ephilia’s words—a smile he never showed her. She clenched her teeth.
“Alright.”
“Let’s go, Seluna.”
“Yes, sister.”
They arrived at the palace reception room where Ephilia was staying. As Ephilia sat, Seluna teased lightly,
“That’s not your seat, sister.”
“Huh?”
“You should sit in the main seat.”
Until now, both had been guests, but now Ephilia was to be the master of this beautiful palace. Seluna, as a guest, could only sit in the remaining seats.
Before Ephilia returned, Seluna had been the queen of society. There was no princess, and she had been a candidate for Crown Princess.
To make Ephilia understand that she had been ousted, Seluna sat opposite her. Warm tea was placed before them, but neither touched it. Even so, Ephilia did not sit in the main seat, choosing to sit opposite Seluna.
“Congratulations. You’ve become the Crown Princess.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Why would you apologize? For deceiving us? Can ‘sorry’ fix that?”
Ephilia sighed. Her lowered eyes, trembling lips, and pale hair and skin made her appear pitiful—as if she were the one at fault.
“If you’re really sorry, say you won’t do it now. Say you don’t want to marry the Crown Prince, that you don’t want to be the Crown Princess.”
“That’s…”
Ephilia trailed off, and Seluna snickered.
“You don’t want to, right? That’s your true feeling. Pretending to have no ambition, but this was the goal all along.”
Her silence, as if struck in the heart, was infuriating.
“You never change. Back then, you never gave up that seat either.”
Back then, that same pale, lifeless face evoked pity. She had clung to the Crown Prince, who loathed her like a leech, never leaving his side.
“I must have forgotten with time. Foolishly, I believed your words that you had no ambition. Thank you—I’m wide awake now.”
Pretending to have no desire for the Crown Princess seat, to stand next to the Crown Prince, she had fooled everyone.
What was taken must be reclaimed. This would not end here.
—
“If you’re really sorry, say you won’t do it now. Say you don’t want to marry the Crown Prince, that you don’t want to be the Crown Princess.”
Seluna thought she had easily taken the position after letting her uncle and Ephilia let their guard down. But Seluna’s assumptions didn’t matter. What mattered to Ephilia was not her or her uncle’s feelings, but her foster parents’.
She could not be certain of Regios’ intentions. If it were the Regios she knew, he would never have prompted such a conversation. She had no intention of testing him with her foster parents.
Ephilia put down her fork and sighed. She had lost her appetite, even for the salad she had nibbled earlier, and drank water to finish. She lightly rang a bell for Gina. The food on the table remained untouched, except for the slightly disheveled salad. Gina asked worriedly,
“You’ve barely eaten anything. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine. I don’t have an appetite. I’ll get sick if I eat more.”
“You’re not having dessert either?”
“Will you eat it instead?”
Ephilia smiled faintly. Gina ate the meals and treats left behind. The palace’s offerings for the returning princess were extravagant. At first, she had enjoyed them, but Ephilia’s intake was so small it seemed unsustainable.
“Still, you’re eating far too little. You’ll collapse like this.”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t suit my taste.”
“Today’s dessert is apple tart. Beautiful, like a rose. And the scent is wonderful.”
“Tea should be light in flavor.”
Ephilia’s suggestion implied she try just one.
“…Princess.”
“I’m tired, so I’ll rest.”
Gina nodded reluctantly and left. She was kind. Ephilia was grateful for her concern, but she was too tired to think of it.
Despite being in an expansive, ornate room, Ephilia felt stifled. She opened the balcony door, letting in a breeze. It didn’t clear her mind entirely, but it helped.
Having barely slept the night before, she felt drowsy. Ephilia lay on the bed, closing her eyes. The wind brushing her cheeks eased her headache slightly. She was awakened by a soft touch, like a breeze.
‘Ticklish.’
It brought a nostalgic feeling, like the gentle touches of her mother in childhood, or Ena brushing her sleeping cheeks.
“…Mother.”
Ephilia smiled faintly, and the hand paused. The pressure on her cheek made her open her eyes. A large hand blocked her view.
She called the name of the one before her.
“…Regios.”
The hand, firm yet gentle, was not feminine. Even before it moved away, she knew who it was. No one but family could enter a woman’s room uninvited, much less touch her while she slept.
A normal fiancé could never do this—but he was the Crown Prince. Who else could sit by her sleeping side without permission?
As expected, Regios sat by the bedside, looking down at her. Ephilia straightened. Though he was close, she resisted moving away too obviously.
“What is it?”
“…Why, shouldn’t I come?”
His low voice carried displeasure, even anger. Could a simple visit truly make him angry?
“Why are you upset?”
“If anyone is treated as an intruder at first sight, they’d be upset too.”
“That’s not it.”
“Not it?”
Regios tilted his head, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He dared her to explain. Ephilia sighed.
“You don’t come without reason.”
“…There’s going to be an outdoor banquet soon.”
She had guessed correctly. He wouldn’t have sought her out for no reason. The outdoor banquet replaced the ruined one.
“You came to tell me that?”
“Yes.”
“You could have just sent a servant.”
He was the Crown Prince, soon to inherit the throne. Busy with meetings and duties, yet he personally informed her.
“I know you’re not pleased, but I’d like it if you didn’t show it.”
“Why?”
“I get hurt too.”
Her words lacked conviction, but he seemed to enjoy her discomfort.
“And you’ll move your residence too.”
No need to ask where—it would be the Crown Prince’s palace.
“You’re still a princess until the engagement ceremony.”
So there’s no reason to stay at his palace.
“Alright. If it’s more comfortable, stay here.”
He seemed to enjoy watching a trapped mouse squirm.
“Once you’re done, leave.”
“Did you forget what I just said?”
Apparently, he liked seeing her discomfort. Ephilia could only endure it. His gaze on her cheek was intense enough to feel sharp.
“Why are you staring like that?”
“Do I need permission to look?”
“I want to rest.”
“Rest.”
“How can I rest with you here?”
“Am I bothering you?”
She indirectly expressed discomfort, but he brushed it off effortlessly.
“If I say I’m uncomfortable, will you leave?”
His smile indicated otherwise. Ephilia turned to look outside.
“Ah.”
She let out a small cry as he grasped her face to meet her gaze. It didn’t hurt, but startled her. Her eyes widened. Regios’ violet eyes were gemlike, yet deep and unreadable. The intimidating presence from above made her heart race.
He seemed unfamiliar, despite having known him since childhood. Ephilia questioned if she had ever truly known him.
“Let go.”
“Don’t look away.”
It was a warning—if she avoided his gaze, he wouldn’t relent. The violet in his eyes deepened, almost black. Still, Ephilia lowered her eyes, biting her lip under the weight of his stare.
He leaned closer. The sweet scent made the air feel hot, perhaps due to his body heat.
It wasn’t the first time they had been this close. As a child, she had whined about leg pain, and he carried her. But this was different—uncomfortable, awkward.
“I said don’t look away.”
He came so close that Ephilia finally met his eyes. Her reflection was caught in his violet gaze. Within those eyes, she saw herself as fragile, unstable, almost scared.
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t you know?”
Ephilia wasn’t a child; she understood the situation. But there was no reason for them to be this close. She needed to ask *why*, not *what*.
“Why are you doing this?”
“We’re engaged.”
He paused. Even without touching, his hot breath poured over her.
“We’re adults now.”
His finger brushed her lips. In those violet eyes, Ephilia realized the emotions she had never recognized before.
He had always looked at her this way—but now, she understood. It was desire—something she never imagined would be directed at her.
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