Episode 42
“Miss Irine must have surprised you a lot.”
Though it was meant as a comforting remark, it would have been better if it had gone unsaid. Being reminded of a situation she had only just managed to put in order was irritating.
“That’s right. How can we blame everything on Miss Seluna?”
“I didn’t expect Miss Irine to think that way.”
Everything was a mess. She hadn’t imagined things could go so completely wrong.
Legios and the position of Crown Princess were absolutely untouchable. But attacking directly would have been too dangerous. That was why she had used Irine—but the result was disastrous beyond measure.
“Miss Seluna was too naive. She must have shared her feelings honestly…”
“I suppose I trusted Miss Irine too much. We’ve been friends since childhood—I never thought she’d do this.”
Stupid Irine. If you’re going to do something, at least do it well! But no, it had to be discovered by Legios, completely ruining everything. And now her own position was in jeopardy.
She must be truly stupid. What was she thinking, dragging her into this? She had nearly lost everything.
If Irine had only not framed it as something she did for her, maybe they could have rebuilt their friendship later. Of course, that would only have been in thought; they would never truly reconcile. Even so, she hadn’t liked her much to begin with. This time, she intended to cut ties completely.
Everything was ruined, but the worst part was that Legios had declared he would take Ephelia as Crown Princess.
Perhaps the banquet had been held for that very declaration. Ephelia surely knew what she was doing when she offered help—she couldn’t have been unaware this would happen.
“By the way, it’s fortunate that His Highness the Crown Prince has found his destined partner.”
“Yes. I didn’t expect him to be so passionate.”
Seluna noticed how subtly his attitude toward her had changed. Not long ago, she had been the one expected to become Crown Princess. But the moment Legios declared he would take only Ephelia as his bride, he turned completely.
If only Ephelia hadn’t returned, that position would have truly been Seluna’s. Then, leaking the Emperor’s intentions to someone else wouldn’t have been a problem at all.
Everything had happened because Ephelia came back.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Mirium.”
Legios and Ephelia, who had briefly left because of her poor health, had returned.
The title “Miss Mirium” had belonged to Seluna until recently—but now she had to share it with that older sister again.
Thinking back, her sister had always been the one to get what she wanted. Seluna had just begun to feel she possessed everything her sister had—but at the most important moment, her sister came back and took what Seluna wanted most, as if to remind her not to delude herself.
And now, standing beside that beautiful man, she realized she had lost him again. She felt miserable.
Everything that should have been hers was now claimed by that detestable sister.
“Why did you come back… why not just stay gone?”
Seluna’s gaze burned toward the man standing next to Ephelia. She wanted him desperately. She had first met Legios in her childhood, entering the palace with Ephelia by invitation of her elder uncle, a duke. She had seen boys from afar—cousins Mephisto and Kieran, and two princes.
They were Legios and Hailun.
Both were strikingly handsome, but Seluna couldn’t take her eyes off one of them. Golden hair, violet eyes, and a crooked smile lifting only one side of his mouth—it had captivated her instantly.
“Legios!”
She knew the boy’s name. Seluna realized then that this boy was the Crown Prince. When Ephelia called him, he turned and smiled, that crooked smile directed at her.
“Ephelia.”
The smile shocked Seluna.
“You’re late.”
“Yeah, coming with my cousin took time. This is Seluna. Seluna, this is Legios.”
Only then did Legios’ violet gaze reach her. Her heart pounded; a strange feeling shot from head to toe. The gentle, comforting smile directed at Seluna hardened.
“Ah, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Good day.”
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Yes.”
Even with such perfunctory answers, Seluna felt the difference in how he treated Ephelia and herself.
“This is Hailun, Legios’ brother.”
“Hi.”
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Hailun barely registered. Seluna soon realized a key fact: her cousins and the princes called each other by their first names, while she alone had to show respect and use titles.
She wanted him. She always wanted her sister’s affectionate smile to be hers.
It wasn’t just that he was the Crown Prince—she simply liked him. But he was already Ephelia’s friend, and as a countess, Seluna couldn’t approach him when Ephelia was around.
When tragedy struck the ducal house and she became a princess, she had been overjoyed. Finally, she thought she could grow closer to the Crown Prince. But that was a delusion. Legios remained cold to her and devoted only to Ephelia.
Eventually, Legios and Ephelia became fated partners. Seluna had never felt so hopeless. Her sister always got what she wanted—and it was always what Seluna desired, too.
But after that, something changed. After becoming fated partners, Legios’ behavior toward Ephelia shifted entirely.
And after a long time…
Ephelia disappeared.
With Ephelia gone, Seluna rose to become the flower of society, predicted to be Legios’ fiancée. After waiting long enough, she finally received confirmation from the Emperor.
At last, the man she had wanted since childhood was hers.
But as if to mock her, Ephelia returned and claimed Legios. Innocently, as if unaware of anything.
Seluna wanted to tear that pitiful face apart. But setting aside hatred, she knew what she had to do.
“I’ll visit my sister briefly.”
“You should. Go ahead.”
Seluna approached Ephelia.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, thank you for asking.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Miss Irine to do that.”
It was a belated apology, but a necessary one—to prevent gossip later.
“It’s okay. Thank you for caring.”
“I apologize, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“You have no reason to apologize to me.”
Nothing had changed. The same distance remained. He stood beside her sister, and Seluna could not even reach him—the distance that had always separated them. If she had not gotten close to that spot, she might not have felt this frustration. Because she had thought she could hold him soon, the blow was worse.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
Hailun arrived at the banquet hall late.
“Where on earth have you been? Don’t you know what day it is?”
“Sorry.”
Normally, Hailun would joke, smiling and saying, “I’m not suited for these events, but I’m here now, so bear with me.” But today, his expression was serious.
Seluna noticed the unusual quietness, as everyone felt his difference. Hailun walked toward the Emperor. It was clear something was about to happen.
“Your Majesty.”
Addressing him as “Your Majesty” rather than “Abamama” indicated it was a formal matter.
“I have something to report.”
“If it is an official matter, speak in the audience hall.”
“No. It must be said now.”
Hailun met the Emperor’s heavy gaze without flinching.
“Go ahead.”
Hailun’s gaze turned to Ephelia.
“Ephelia does not wish to marry her brother.”
Seluna had to restrain a smile that threatened to burst across her face.
