Episode 54
For some reason, Hayes couldn’t bring herself to look at her and only stared at the floor.
“You said your name is Hayes, correct?”
“Y-yes, Lady.”
“Thank you.”
No matter the circumstances, she needed to express her gratitude—Hayes had spoken up for her.
“It was nothing, my Lady.”
“But you don’t have to do that.”
“What do you mean?”
Hayes asked carefully.
From now on, rumors about Ephelia would spread all over the palace—some of them no better than malicious gossip. She needed to stop Hayes from stepping forward every time.
“I mean, if someone talks about me like earlier, you don’t need to bother. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything. I appreciate the sentiment, but you’ll only tire yourself out.”
She claimed she was saying it for Hayes’ sake, but it wasn’t completely altruistic. Honestly, she was exhausted. Whenever someone defended her and ended up suffering for it, Ephelia couldn’t just turn away—it forced her to get involved.
“But my Lady, you shouldn’t have to hear such things.”
“Even if you defend me, there’s nothing I can give back to you.”
“I didn’t do it expecting anything in return!”
The girl, who had been shrinking into herself, suddenly snapped her head up and looked straight at Ephelia.
“…What?”
“You may not remember, but you once did me a great kindness.”
Ephelia blinked. She couldn’t understand how she could have shown kindness to a young lady she had never even seen before.
“Kindness?”
Of course, Ephelia didn’t remember.
Hayes hadn’t been born into nobility—she became a baron’s daughter only after her mother remarried. She had no noble friends and had debuted in society only recently.
Even then, Hayes was always alone. No one wanted to include a girl who had risen from commoner to noble through marriage. One day, she ran away from a banquet, crying alone in a corner of the garden.
*‘Why are you crying?’*
The voice had been so gentle that she stopped crying out of shock. When she saw who it belonged to, she was stunned enough for her tears to dry.
Ephelia—fiancée of the Crown Prince, daughter of a duke.
*‘L-Lady…’*
*‘Did something happen?’*
*‘N-no, nothing.’*
*‘I don’t know what happened, but don’t cry anymore.’*
Ephelia held out a handkerchief. Seeing it only made Hayes cry harder.
*‘…I can’t go back in. My dress is ruined.’*
The front of her dress was soaked completely red with wine. It was beyond salvaging.
*‘Then use this to cover it.’*
Ephelia removed the white fur shawl draped over her shoulders and handed it to her. The fur was obviously top-grade—luxurious beyond anything Hayes could ever afford.
*‘B-but then you’ll be cold.’*
*‘It’s fine. I actually wanted some fresh air.’*
She wrapped the shawl around Hayes’ shoulders and left before Hayes could react. The warmth from the shawl had been comforting—but Hayes still couldn’t return. Not because of the ruined dress, but because the banquet hall terrified her.
*‘You’re still out here?’*
The soft voice returned. Hayes lifted her head.
She would be alone again the moment she went back. But saying that felt too shameful.
*‘…I just wanted some fresh air too. A-anyway, here’s your shawl.’*
*‘It’s fine.’*
*‘What?’*
Did she mean Hayes could keep it? But the next words revealed something else.
*‘It’ll be fine.’*
Ephelia smiled faintly—so faintly it seemed the smile could disappear at any moment. She had no way of knowing Hayes’ circumstances. She was just saying it. But for Hayes, those simple words became a source of comfort.
After saying that, Ephelia returned to the banquet hall. Because of that, Hayes had been able to go back too. Things didn’t suddenly get better afterward. She still had no friends and still remained on the outskirts. But she endured, thinking:
*It’ll be fine.*
Ephelia now understood why she had spoken those words back then—because she herself had once wished someone would say them to her.
“I did that? I’m sorry—I don’t remember.”
Maybe it had been a small act of kindness to Ephelia, but to Hayes, it was a precious memory.
“But even if it wasn’t me, anyone would have done the same.”
That was wrong.
No one else had.
The girl who spilled wine had apologized—while laughing. Hayes didn’t know whether it was intentional or not, but she had been too inexperienced and alone to cope. She could only run away.
Only Ephelia had shown kindness in that frightening place.
And she was still kind.
“I’m so happy to see you again, my Lady. I’m so glad you returned—and that we can talk like this. It feels like a dream.”
Hayes was sincerely happy.
But Ephelia couldn’t return that feeling. She knew Hayes meant every word, but all she could give back was pretense.
“Thank you for saying that.”
“I’m relieved that His Highness now cherishes you too.”
Only someone who knew nothing could say that. From afar, that was how it must have looked. Hayes’ sincerity was obvious—she had stepped forward earlier to defend Ephelia.
There was a time when Ephelia desperately wished for that day to come. For him to protect her from cruel words, to treasure her again… maybe even to love her.
But now, the attention and obsession suffocated her.
*Were you like this too? When I looked at you—did it feel this unbearable?*
What about Regios? The thought alone was horrifying.
“I hope you will be happy, my Lady.”
Ephelia looked at Hayes again. *Happy?* The words suddenly stung. Hayes wasn’t pretending. She truly meant it.
“…Thank you.”
This time, the gratitude was genuine.
“Tail. Please don’t tell Regios about what just happened.”
If he found out, there was no telling what he would do.
“My duty is to protect you, my Lady. How can I remain silent?”
“They didn’t attack me.”
“They harmed you with words. I won’t forget the things they said.”
“I’m just… tired. I don’t want more rumors.”
Everywhere she went, people talked about her. She didn’t want to give them more to talk about.
No response.
“Is it difficult?”
Ephelia was so tired. If Regios punished them, it would cause even more gossip. She was exhausted by everything.
“…Very well.”
Ephelia’s eyes widened. She had expected refusal. He was Regios’ knight—of course he should report everything. Yet he agreed so easily.
“…Thank you.”
“Let us go.”
The banquet hall was bright and dazzling, yet she felt like she was walking into darkness. Even outdoors, it felt like suffocating walls were closing in. Ephelia clenched her fists and walked.
“Ephelia.”
She looked up at Regios.
The man who trapped her inside a radiant hell.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine now.”
“Then let’s go forward.”
As they walked side by side, people’s gazes pierced her like blades. No—people merely looked. But to her, it felt like her flesh was being scraped away.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness. Thank you for hosting such a splendid—”
Why did those words suddenly echo in her mind…
*‘I hope you will be happy, my Lady.’*
Maybe because no one had ever wished for her happiness before.
She was not happy. She could never be happy here.
Jealousy, curiosity, expectation, hatred—every emotion swirled in this place. How could happiness exist here?
She couldn’t breathe. She wanted to run. She hated everything surrounding her. She knew there were people who cared.
The emperor, the empress, Hailon… maybe even Regios.
But even their feelings weighed on her like a crushing burden.
None of it was what she wanted.
People stared at her, bewildered. Regios looked at her too—his brows furrowed. Her heart dropped. She couldn’t breathe.
*Why are you looking at me like that?*
Only then did Ephelia realize she was stepping backward.
“Ephelia.”
He grabbed her wrist—telling her not to run anymore. It didn’t hurt, but it felt like a shackle that would never loosen.
Terrifying.
She wanted to escape everything.
Ephelia ran.
—
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