IWMD 15

Chapter 15

Because There Is No Turning Back (4)

“I know women like you very well. You whisper as if it’s eternal love, then once someone falls for you, you discard them as if they’re troublesome. You have no interest in feelings that don’t resonate with you—only your own emotions matter. Love is nothing more than a pastime to ease a boring daily life. You even justify it by saying emotions are fickle and can change.”

“….”

“It was the same with Asar. You stirred him with those unbearably sweet words of love, and once you obtained his heart, you threw it away as if it had become boring.”

What had Asar sacrificed in order to propose to her? He had endured humiliation—approaching a woman who clung to him obsessively despite him not loving her and even disliking her. If not for the imperial order, he might have refused. But the moment the Emperor’s command was issued, Asar buried his own feelings. Even as he set off for House Hardiness that very day, he had still smiled, saying he wanted to make things work with his future partner.

“Even that kind, gentle man.”

Just thinking of that day made Cassian’s chest ache. His kind and gentle brother’s future had ultimately been ruined by her stubborn will. In the carriage he had shared with them, Cassian had been unable to say a word. Still, he had tried to take comfort in the fact that at least Asar had gotten his wish to leave the palace.

And before that same Asar, what kind of disrespect had Veronica Hardiness shown?

Calling it mere childish sulking over unreturned feelings felt far too insufficient.

“Did you do it on purpose? Or am I just your next plaything?”

Cassian didn’t bother hiding his sarcasm. He voiced even the frustration Asar himself had swallowed.

After Veronica Hardiness caused a scene entering the palace with Duke Harry Hardiness, the Emperor had even scolded Asar, saying, “What did you do to lose even the fruit right in front of you?” He hadn’t even spared Asar’s disability from criticism. It was only thanks to Cassian’s presence that the Emperor’s irritation had been slightly eased.

“Do you know what people are whispering about us?”

“I don’t care about other people’s opinions.”

“I do.”

“….”

“If you want ‘love’ that badly, why don’t you attach yourself to someone more useful?”

Despite the outright insult, Veronica only looked at him quietly. Even after being pushed this far, she did not show anger or discomfort. That unshaken composure only irritated him further.

“You seem to know quite a lot about His Highness Asar. Even speaking on his behalf.”

“Of course.”

“Because he’s your beloved brother?”

Veronica smiled at that, unshaken as expected.

“Oh my, Your Highness. That sounds rather childish.”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t declare you know everything just because you love someone. How do you know His Highness Asar was truly hurt? How can you be so sure he was always kind and gentle? Don’t be foolish enough to think the ‘gentle brother’ you know couldn’t kill even an ant.”

The moment Asar ascended the throne, what did he do? His first act was to eliminate all other imperial heirs—his half-siblings.

From the Crown Prince who had rebelled, to the second prince who had once supported him, to the third who had remained neutral, to others who had simply observed—every one of them was killed. Those who hid were hunted down and executed.

Only the youngest prince, still an infant, had been exiled—and even then, he had never been treated well.

“People have many faces. Don’t they, Your Highness? You’re the same, aren’t you? You would do anything for your precious brother. You would obey anything he desires. You could betray trusted allies, commit murder without hesitation—even willingly cut down your own fiancée’s neck.”

Veronica let out a soft laugh, as if amused. The content was anything but amusing.

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about. Nothing you fear has even happened yet. And if you’re telling me to attach myself to someone useful, then there is no one more fitting than His Highness Cassian.”

“What are you talking about?”

Veronica knew exactly what position the man in front of her would eventually rise to. His current standing might be as unstable as a leaf in the wind, but the next emperor after the current ruler would be Asar—and this man had played a part in Asar’s rise. He was also one of those who had raised their sword against his own half-siblings at Asar’s command.

Did he even know what he would one day become? Suddenly, Veronica felt an urge to grab him by the throat.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Cassian narrowed his eyes.

“How am I looking at you?”

“With hostile eyes.”

“I would never.”

Veronica smiled brightly, narrowing her crimson eyes. Cassian felt uneasy.

“I understand what Your Highness is saying. You pretend to speak for your brother, but in truth you believe I have ulterior motives.”

“So there are motives.”

“If there are, will you hear them?”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t be so quick to agree. How do you even know what I might ask for?”

Cassian hesitated. A flicker of doubt crossed his face—perhaps he had been too hasty. Veronica, however, continued smiling brightly.

“If what I want is Your Highness’s heart, could you give it to me right now?”

“…I don’t understand what meaning there is in such lies.”

“Why is it meaningless? Even being able to express my feelings to you has meaning.”

“….”

Cassian was briefly speechless. He tried to figure out how to pierce through her thoughts, but Veronica stepped back before he could.

“If I wanted something material, I would have said so immediately. If I wanted power, I would have become the Crown Prince’s consort. That’s not what I want, so please don’t misunderstand.”

“….”

“Shall we continue our walk?”

With that, Veronica resumed walking. Even after exchanging such sharp words, she continued the stroll as if nothing had happened. That alone was absurd. Worse, she still hadn’t answered a single one of his questions properly.

Cassian let out a dry laugh while watching her back, then turned away decisively.

He was going to leave her behind.

But his firm steps halted after only a few paces.

He looked back.

Even though she must have heard him walking away, she did not turn around. That back view felt as though she had seen through his intentions.

Cassian sighed and finally followed her again.

Without speaking, they eventually reached the central garden—the most important of all palace gardens.

Not a single word was spoken along the way. The silence between them was heavy, born from unresolved tension.

Then Veronica suddenly stopped walking.

Cassian, who had not noticed, also stopped late and turned back.

She was looking at something.

“What are you doing?”

Cassian moved toward her—but stopped halfway.

A strong wind swept through the area, scattering everything around them. Her neatly tied hair came loose, her long white ribbon fluttering wildly in the air. Stray strands whipped across her face.

And her expression—was frozen.

Cold. Unrecognizable.

It was impossible to believe she was the same woman who had been smiling just moments ago, indifferent to every insult.

Cassian stared without realizing it.

The wind grew stronger, blurring his vision. He raised a hand to shield his eyes.

Through the gaps of his fingers, the world swayed as if losing its center. Her hair, her clothes, everything was in motion—except her.

That stillness, in the middle of chaos, felt strangely unsettling.

Then, just as suddenly, the wind died down.

Cassian blinked, as if waking from a dream. He ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly.

“Do you believe in fate, Your Highness?”

“I’m not interested in superstition.”

“I do.”

Cassian let out a faint laugh while adjusting his clothes.

“I didn’t think you were the romantic type.”

Veronica smiled faintly in response—but even that smile was quickly carried away by the wind.

Silence settled again.

She said nothing further, her gaze fixed to the side.

Cassian followed her line of sight.

Among thick clusters of viburnum flowers, he saw a small angel statue.

Even Cassian, who had grown up in the palace, had never seen it before.

A cherubic figure holding a small bow, looking up at the sky, wings sprouting delicately from its back. Its posture was ambiguous—was it ascending, or falling?

There were many angel statues in this country. They were everywhere—on streets, in the palace. This one, however, was old, covered in moss and vines.

Yet Veronica could not take her eyes off it.

Cassian glanced at her, then back at the statue.

Nothing about it seemed special.

“Do you perhaps have someone you care about?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“I would understand if you took a lover later.”

“…What did you just say?”

Cassian asked again in disbelief.

But Veronica did not look at him.

And then she said something even worse.