Chapter 7
The Empress entered side by side with the First Prince, Beck, and the Second Prince, Niel.
My stomach churned, and my heart pounded violently.
If my miserable life in the Count’s household had been the first act of my life, then my life in the Imperial Palace had been the second.
There, I had lived under constant surveillance, where every trivial action could determine whether I lived or died.
As I remembered the cruelty hidden behind the Empress’s graceful appearance, goosebumps spread across my skin.
The slightest movement of her eyes or the smallest gesture made my body flinch on instinct.
The fear of facing the Imperial Family once again made my back stiffen.
“How pathetic. Hey, get a hold of yourself.”
Merni jabbed me in the side with her elbow.
“Why are you staring so stiffly? What? Have you already developed feelings for him?”
Keeping her eyes forward, she leaned slightly toward me and whispered just loudly enough for me to hear.
She truly had a gift for saying the most irritating things.
“What happened to your fiancé?”
The word fiancé startled me so much that I immediately turned toward her.
Then I quickly glanced around to see if anyone else had overheard.
“No need to overreact. By tomorrow, the rumor will be everywhere anyway.”
Because you’re the one who’s going to spread it.
In any case, no one was paying attention to us.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the grand staircase.
“It’s strange. This should be the moment he appears.”
For several minutes, only the music filled the hall.
“Oh my, I think he’s coming!”
At someone’s quiet exclamation, everyone turned at once.
A man strode forward without hesitation and, within only a few steps, came to a stop beside Niel.
It was Prince Rohen Schnader.
The Third Prince.
More than ever before, I felt the reality of having returned to the past.
The man who had died in my arms, coughing up blood…
Was standing right before my eyes.
Before his body had even grown cold, I had been dragged away as the woman accused of murdering him.
Without realizing it, tears welled up and blurred my vision.
Even so…
His broad frame remained impossible to miss.
The imposing Niel suddenly looked small beside him.
Beck shot him a reproachful glance, but Rohen paid it no mind.
Leisurely brushing back the sweat-damp hair that had fallen across his forehead, he slowly surveyed the crowd.
It wasn’t the broad gaze of the Empress or the other princes, who acknowledged everyone equally.
His eyes were searching for someone.
A specific person.
For some reason, my heart began racing.
Afraid our eyes might meet, I quickly looked away.
Many guests at the back of the hall were even watching through small opera glasses.
It was too late to hide among them.
Even as the Empress delivered her congratulatory speech and proposed the toast, I couldn’t bring myself to raise my head.
I was afraid of being caught in his gaze.
In this lifetime, we’d never even met.
Yet somehow…
I had the strange feeling we’d recognize each other the instant our eyes met.
There was something extraordinary about the way he looked at people.
As though he could see straight through them.
Fiancée.
The word weighed upon me like the brand of a criminal.
Before I realized it, the toast had ended.
The solemn atmosphere gave way to lively music, and the ballroom once again filled with cheerful conversation.
The crowd gathered before the dais gradually dispersed.
Couples began taking to the dance floor.
Merni disappeared onto it as well, gliding away with Young Lord Erwin.
“Isn’t she that young lady from House Phaeden? The illegitimate daughter…”
“She doesn’t seem nearly as uncouth as the rumors claimed. They said she was ugly, but she’s actually quite beautiful.”
“She hasn’t even had her debutante yet. What’s she doing here?”
Every whispered comment reached my ears with perfect clarity.
They’re saying it right in front of me…
Unable to listen any longer, I walked over to a table near the edge of the ballroom and sat down.
A servant had just set a glass of red punch before me.
“So this is what you look like all dressed up. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
A young lady sat across from me without invitation.
Her tone was openly rude.
Honestly… I never wanted to see you again. Yet, just like before, you always manage to appear.
I let out a quiet sigh.
“You didn’t steal that dress and necklace too, did you? Bad habits like stealing don’t disappear overnight.”
The young lady lazily twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
It was Ellie.
She was Merni’s maternal cousin and the same age as I was.
It had been so long that I’d almost forgotten her face.
After experiencing firsthand how talented she was at framing innocent people, I’d avoided her for years.
Apparently, she was displeased that we’d met again at the Imperial Palace banquet of all places.
“Now that I think about it… that necklace. I believe Father sent it as a gift for Merni.”
Ellie’s father—Merni’s maternal uncle—owned a jewelry trading company.
“Let me see.”
Ellie reached across the table.
Then she deliberately knocked over my untouched glass.
Bright red punch splashed across her ivory-colored gown, making it look as though it had been stained with blood.
“Oh no!”
She cried out dramatically.
Instantly, everyone’s attention turned toward us.
The expressions around us were filled with horror.
Anyone watching would have thought I’d committed murder.
“My goodness! I thought those rumors couldn’t possibly be true after seeing her face, but I almost believed otherwise.”
“No matter how ill-mannered someone is, causing a scene like this in public is simply unacceptable.”
Back then…
They hadn’t merely whispered.
They’d openly pointed fingers.
Just like they were doing now.
Honestly, I was the one appalled by their behavior.
“I heard she stole a necklace.”
“My goodness…”
Even though Ellie knew perfectly well that it was all a misunderstanding…
She continued acting like the victim.
“My lady, are you all right?”
“Can we help you with anything?”
“Tell us. Were your belongings stolen?”
Believing Ellie had been wronged, several people stepped forward.
She neither confirmed nor denied anything.
Instead, she simply looked down tearfully while a maid dabbed at her stained dress.
She had accused me of stealing a necklace…
Knocked over the drink herself…
And now she was pinning the blame on me.
Her acting really was first-rate.
I bit my lower lip.
There was no easy way out.
With my reputation already in ruins…
Not a single person here would believe anything I said.
All this would do was reinforce the rumor that I was a thief.
But I refused to let myself fall for the same trick twice.
An eye for an eye.
A tooth for a tooth.
If acting was her weapon…
Then I’d simply act better.
“Who… are you?”
I frowned slightly, pretending to search my memory.
Ellie’s head jerked upward.
“I don’t understand why you’re behaving this way.”
I wore the most innocent expression I could manage.
“You haven’t said a single word to me, and you haven’t laid a finger on me.”
My voice remained gentle.
Refined.
Exactly as a noble lady should speak.
“…?”
Ellie stared at me in complete disbelief.
“If you admired my necklace so much, you only had to ask.”
I smiled kindly.
“I would have been happy to lend it to you. If you were truly in difficult circumstances, I might even have given it to you.”
I carefully recalled every lesson my etiquette instructor had drilled into me.
“W-What? Don’t you know me? Listen to the way she’s talking!”
The poor, pitiful victim suddenly raised her voice in outrage.
“Since you refuse to tell me who you are, how could I possibly know? More importantly…”
I looked toward the overturned glass.
“You spilled my drink before I’d even taken a sip. I believe you owe me an apology.”
“Y-You…!”
Her face turned deathly pale.
The people who had rushed forward to help quietly began stepping back.
They had realized this wasn’t a situation they should involve themselves in.
My performance had been convincing enough.
“You keep calling me ‘you’ so casually, yet I still have no idea who you are, my lady.”
“Y-You’re… the illegitimate daughter of House Phaeden… aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I smiled pleasantly.
“But the important thing is that I still don’t know who you are… and I still haven’t received an apology.”
“T-This…”
Ellie’s hand trembled violently where it gripped the back of her chair.
You’re about to lose your mind, aren’t you?
I calmly met her gaze.
Then…
Her eyes suddenly darted over my shoulder.
Her entire body froze.
Only her frightened eyes continued to move.
Following her gaze, I slowly turned around.
Thump.
My heart nearly stopped.
Prince Rohen Schnader stood there…
Watching us with a faint smile.
“Well?”
His eyes never left Ellie.
“If you’re finished with this young lady… would you mind yielding your place to me?”
Though his voice was gentle…
His tone was as sharp as a finely honed blade.
Without realizing it, I sprang to my feet.
“I’ve been waiting over there the whole time.”
He smiled faintly.
“Are you finally finished?”
“I-I greet Your Highness, the Third Prince.”
Ellie hurriedly bowed.
“I’ll take my leave.”
“Just like that?”
Rohen asked coolly.
“I don’t recall hearing an apology yet.”
“…?”
“…?”
Ellie and I looked up at the same time.
“I happened to overhear everything while I was waiting.”
“I… I don’t understand what Your Highness means…”
“Shall we start again from the beginning?”
His violet eyes narrowed.
“You were the one who approached her first, talking about stealing and bad habits.”
“W-Well… I mistook her for someone else.”
Ellie clutched her dress tightly.
“My deepest apologies, Lady Hayla.”
“Is that enough?”
Like a judge settling a dispute, Rohen turned to me.
I nodded before I even realized it.
“Since you’ve apologized to the victim…”
He casually flicked his hand without even looking at Ellie.
“You may leave.”
Ellie bowed with a pale face and fled as though the wind itself were carrying her away.
“What?”
Rohen glanced around.
“Are all of you waiting your turn because you also have business with this young lady?”
“A-Ah… no, Your Highness.”
The crowd surrounding us quickly dispersed.
“So…”
someone whispered while retreating,
“Who was the real victim?”
“Did Prince Rohen already know Lady Hayla?”
Still unable to satisfy their curiosity, the nobles continued whispering as they walked away.
Soon…
Everyone had moved far enough away that the space around us felt like an isolated island.
“Sit.”
Rohen turned a chair around, rested his arms on its back, and sat down with his long legs spread comfortably.
Awkwardly, I sat opposite him.
“Lady Hayla Phaeden.”
He had sought me out…
Knowing exactly who I was.
It was completely different from my previous life, when we’d only exchanged a few words through an attendant.
I desperately wanted to ask how he had recognized me.
But I couldn’t.
“No matter how much you wish for it…”
His expression remained unreadable.
“The engagement cannot be broken.”
“Nor can the marriage.”
“However…”
“If you desire a divorce after the wedding, I will grant it at any time.”
A divorce…?
Why?
His completely different behavior left me confused.
I bit my lip and remained silent.
After briefly studying my reaction, he continued.
“I have no intention of restricting your life.”
“Live however you please.”
“If you happen to meet someone you like…”
“Feel free to fall in love.”
“I only need you to be my wife…”
He paused.
“For a very short while.”
He spoke as though he were merely checking another task off a long list.
That detached tone…
Hadn’t changed at all.
“If you wish for our engagement to be announced publicly, I’ll do it immediately.”
“I only kept silent because it would become troublesome.”
“But I’ll follow your wishes.”
“…I’m fine with things as they are.”
“Then that’s how it shall be.”
I hesitated before speaking again.
“Um… then… does that mean ours is a contract marriage?”
His eyebrows lifted.
His violet eyes widened ever so slightly.
Did I get carried away?
After a brief silence…
“A contract marriage…”
He nodded.
“That’s an accurate description.”
For some reason, hearing him agree eased my tension.
It reminded me of those brief moments before his death…
When he’d finally opened his heart to me.
He’d confessed that he’d committed an unforgivable sin.
He’d begged me never to forgive him.
He’d said it was already too late to change the past.
Even now…
I still didn’t know.
Why had he insisted on marrying me?
What did he hope to gain from it?
He was still just as mysterious.
Still just as difficult to understand.
There were moments when he looked so lonely…
So exhausted…
That I wanted to embrace him.
I’d thought this second life would be like taking a test with all the answers already written down.
I had been mistaken.
Back then…
And even now…
I still didn’t know the correct answer.
“Do you want a written contract?”
“N-No.”
“Hm…”
He tapped the table lightly with one finger.
“That’s hardly difficult.”
“If you ever want one, I’ll prepare it.”
“…All right.”
The conversation seemed finished.
Yet he didn’t stand.
Instead, he tapped the tabletop a few more times before suddenly stopping.
“Use me.”
His voice was calm.
“As much as you want.”
“Take whatever you can from me.”
“You deserve to gain something from this as well.”
He rose to his feet.
For a brief moment…
He simply looked at me.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Leaving me alone…
On the little island he had created.
