The smile that was once on Caius’ face suddenly disappeared.
Yesterday, when he returned to the banquet hall after being summoned by the Emperor, he found Diego standing at her table.
He impulsively took a step forward.
Although they simply stood as they engaged in a conversation, the subtle closeness made it clear that it was more than exchanging pleasantries.
Seeing them together bothered him, and in his irritation, Diego intentionally fuelled the flames.
‘Did she quietly wait for her fiance, who might not return, just to end up as such a woman?’
Ironically, he found himself responding quite nicely to this petty provocation.
He was nothing more than a vulture not worth guarding against. Yet his once insignificant stepbrother now coveted what belonged to him.
So, what about that woman?
“Master, Miss Leah has arrived.”
Upon hearing the voice outside the door, Caius set aside his thoughts and turned to face the door.
“Come in.”
As he granted permission, the door swung open immediately. Behind Victor, a petite woman slowly revealed herself.
She seemed tense, her face showing a fear of the unknown.
A faint hint of colour appeared on her cheeks when she looked at him.
“Master, I was going to tell them to bring tea…”
“Not needed.”
Caius cut Victor off and gestured towards the door. Understanding the unspoken command, Victor promptly closed the door.
It was just the two of them left in the silent room.
Leah, who had been hesitating, approached the sofa, but Caius seemed to have no intention of taking a seat. He stood, staring right through her.
“Caius, what’s going on?”
She was the first to break the silence. Caius, who finally straightened up, took a step forward.
With each step he took, her face became more vivid. Finally, Caius stopped right in front of her and spoke.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
She loved him; at least, that’s what he believed. She had always looked at him with dewy eyes, and her feelings were so evident that she could hardly conceal them.
He didn’t think her actions were insincere. However, as time passed, he found it difficult to remain certain.
Caius needed to get rid of the unsettling feeling. He still needed her, so he had to be sure of her.
Without offering her a seat, Caius got straight to the point.
“While you’re my fiancée, you must avoid being a part of any scandals.”
“…Scandals?”
Caius responded to her question as he looked down at her coldly.
“There have been rumours of the Princess having an affair with the Second Prince.”
He continued in a firm tone.
“And that you’re weighing the two princes against each other.”
“Th-that’s ridiculous!”
Leah replied desperately, her head dropping as if considering the source of the rumours before quickly lifting her head.
“I don’t know who told you such things, but what you’re saying isn’t the truth.”
Her face was ashen, and Caius continued to gaze down at her without much reaction.
His unreadable expression heightened Leah’s anxiety.
“I’m saying the truth. I’ve never done anything to be ashamed of in front of you. I’ve never harboured such feelings.”
Leah desperately made eye contact with him, trying to prove her innocence.
Caius smirked as if mocking her.
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
With just a few words, he trampled over Leah’s innocence. He continued to stab her with his words.
“I don’t know about you. Not even during the past three years when I was absent.”
“Caius…”
“I have no way of finding out what you did with my brother.”
“Doesn’t…doesn’t anything I say count as proof?”
Leah’s lip began to tremble. She genuinely appeared innocent, but if it was all an act, Caius considered it a remarkable talent.
Though he vaguely felt her sincerity, Caius, determined to press on, calmly dismissed her.
“Who are you?”
“….”
“Who are you to expect me to believe those words?”
Her face turned red. In her unique amethyst eyes, moisture welled up.
With her head lowered, she earnestly appealed to him.
“I know. That you no longer have any feelings for me… Still, please believe me.”
She seemed to be holding back tears.
“Caius, there has never been anyone but you for me.”
His Adam’s apple moved slowly. It was unclear why his lips were parched, but for a moment, at least, he didn’t feel displeased.
Watching the sobbing woman gave him a strange feeling of satisfaction.
He didn’t call her to see her like this. He just wanted to give a minimal warning to prevent the spread of rumours that he couldn’t handle.
However, now that she stood before him, the suspicions seemed laughable as the woman before him appeared pitiful.
Pressing further would only be cruel. It didn’t matter anymore.
Caius impulsively reached out to the woman with her head bowed down.
“Ah…”
As he gently lifted her chin, the startled woman’s eyes quivered.
Caius persistently locked eyes with her.
“All I need from you is the presence of an engaged woman. An engaged woman who quietly fills the role without causing any disturbances.”
His piercing gaze seemed to penetrate deep into her eyes.
“If you can’t do that, there’s no reason to keep you around.”
The hand gripping her chin raised Leah’s face a bit more forcefully.
In contrast to the rough touch, Caius’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
“If you’re so desperate to prove your innocence, then act according to your role.”
Leah froze in bewilderment.
Only her trembling lips indicated that she was still breathing.
Caius stared at her lips, waiting for an answer. The colour in her once-red lips had now faded.
Suddenly, a tear fell down her cheeks, brushing against his hand.
“…Alright.”
After receiving a response, Caius withdrew his hand, feeling satisfied.
Her attempt to wipe the tears on her cheeks seemed urgent. It was as if she expected him to disdain her for crying.
Her reddened eyes caught his attention. Caius observed the scene for a moment as if appreciating it.
While it wasn’t the first time he saw her cry, this time felt slightly different.
Indeed, it wasn’t as unpleasant as before.
* * *
Back at the West Palace, Leah walked for a while before stopping. Her eyes, darkened with contemplation, stared at the ground.
“Caius, do you regret choosing me?…”
She had once vaguely asked Caius, wondering if he regretted choosing her over a solid match.
When they first met, Caius was on the verge of an arranged engagement. The other party was a prestigious figure chosen by the emperor. They were a better match when compared to her.
When Caius broke off the engagement before expressing his feelings to her, she couldn’t help but worry if he regretted making such a hasty decision.
“Regret?”
At that moment, Caius looked down at Leah. There was warmth in his blue eyes.
However, Leah’s question displeased him, causing him to respond coldly.
“Why are you asking that? Am I not good enough?”
“Oh, no! It’s not that.”
Leah apologised immediately.
“I’m sorry. I felt a bit depressed for no reason. It’s because I feel like I can’t do anything for you…”
Even though she was happy with him, there were times when an unexpected sense of self-deprecation washed over her. That day, for some reason, that feeling surged more strongly.
As Leah looked at him with a troubled expression, Caius, staring at her intently, uttered words that surprised her.
“Leah, I’ve known you longer than you think.”
“What?”
Leah’s widened eyes couldn’t comprehend his words, and he chuckled silently.
“You probably don’t remember, but it was a moment that changed a lot for me.”
“When…”
Leah was about to ask a question, but Caius gently embraced her, lowering his head to kiss her.
Leah, uncertain about what to do, tightly held onto his waist as their lips met, and between slightly parted lips, Caius whispered.
‘You wouldn’t understand how I felt when I met you again.’
“…”
‘And not choosing you would’ve been the greatest regret of my life.’
His subsequent low voice sounded certain.
‘I will never, under any circumstances, let you go.’
The smile that was once on Caius’ face suddenly disappeared.
Yesterday, when he returned to the banquet hall after being summoned by the Emperor, he found Diego standing at her table.
He impulsively took a step forward.
Although they simply stood as they engaged in a conversation, the subtle closeness made it clear that it was more than exchanging pleasantries.
Seeing them together bothered him, and in his irritation, Diego intentionally fuelled the flames.
‘Did she quietly wait for her fiance, who might not return, just to end up as such a woman?’
Ironically, he found himself responding quite nicely to this petty provocation.
He was nothing more than a vulture not worth guarding against. Yet his once insignificant stepbrother now coveted what belonged to him.
So, what about that woman?
“Master, Miss Leah has arrived.”
Upon hearing the voice outside the door, Caius set aside his thoughts and turned to face the door.
“Come in.”
As he granted permission, the door swung open immediately. Behind Victor, a petite woman slowly revealed herself.
She seemed tense, her face showing a fear of the unknown.
A faint hint of colour appeared on her cheeks when she looked at him.
“Master, I was going to tell them to bring tea…”
“Not needed.”
Caius cut Victor off and gestured towards the door. Understanding the unspoken command, Victor promptly closed the door.
It was just the two of them left in the silent room.
Leah, who had been hesitating, approached the sofa, but Caius seemed to have no intention of taking a seat. He stood, staring right through her.
“Caius, what’s going on?”
She was the first to break the silence. Caius, who finally straightened up, took a step forward.
With each step he took, her face became more vivid. Finally, Caius stopped right in front of her and spoke.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
She loved him; at least, that’s what he believed. She had always looked at him with dewy eyes, and her feelings were so evident that she could hardly conceal them.
He didn’t think her actions were insincere. However, as time passed, he found it difficult to remain certain.
Caius needed to get rid of the unsettling feeling. He still needed her, so he had to be sure of her.
Without offering her a seat, Caius got straight to the point.
“While you’re my fiancée, you must avoid being a part of any scandals.”
“…Scandals?”
Caius responded to her question as he looked down at her coldly.
“There have been rumours of the Princess having an affair with the Second Prince.”
He continued in a firm tone.
“And that you’re weighing the two princes against each other.”
“Th-that’s ridiculous!”
Leah replied desperately, her head dropping as if considering the source of the rumours before quickly lifting her head.
“I don’t know who told you such things, but what you’re saying isn’t the truth.”
Her face was ashen, and Caius continued to gaze down at her without much reaction.
His unreadable expression heightened Leah’s anxiety.
“I’m saying the truth. I’ve never done anything to be ashamed of in front of you. I’ve never harboured such feelings.”
Leah desperately made eye contact with him, trying to prove her innocence.
Caius smirked as if mocking her.
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
With just a few words, he trampled over Leah’s innocence. He continued to stab her with his words.
“I don’t know about you. Not even during the past three years when I was absent.”
“Caius…”
“I have no way of finding out what you did with my brother.”
“Doesn’t…doesn’t anything I say count as proof?”
Leah’s lip began to tremble. She genuinely appeared innocent, but if it was all an act, Caius considered it a remarkable talent.
Though he vaguely felt her sincerity, Caius, determined to press on, calmly dismissed her.
“Who are you?”
“….”
“Who are you to expect me to believe those words?”
Her face turned red. In her unique amethyst eyes, moisture welled up.
With her head lowered, she earnestly appealed to him.
“I know. That you no longer have any feelings for me… Still, please believe me.”
She seemed to be holding back tears.
“Caius, there has never been anyone but you for me.”
His Adam’s apple moved slowly. It was unclear why his lips were parched, but for a moment, at least, he didn’t feel displeased.
Watching the sobbing woman gave him a strange feeling of satisfaction.
He didn’t call her to see her like this. He just wanted to give a minimal warning to prevent the spread of rumours that he couldn’t handle.
However, now that she stood before him, the suspicions seemed laughable as the woman before him appeared pitiful.
Pressing further would only be cruel. It didn’t matter anymore.
Caius impulsively reached out to the woman with her head bowed down.
“Ah…”
As he gently lifted her chin, the startled woman’s eyes quivered.
Caius persistently locked eyes with her.
“All I need from you is the presence of an engaged woman. An engaged woman who quietly fills the role without causing any disturbances.”
His piercing gaze seemed to penetrate deep into her eyes.
“If you can’t do that, there’s no reason to keep you around.”
The hand gripping her chin raised Leah’s face a bit more forcefully.
In contrast to the rough touch, Caius’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
“If you’re so desperate to prove your innocence, then act according to your role.”
Leah froze in bewilderment.
Only her trembling lips indicated that she was still breathing.
Caius stared at her lips, waiting for an answer. The colour in her once-red lips had now faded.
Suddenly, a tear fell down her cheeks, brushing against his hand.
“…Alright.”
After receiving a response, Caius withdrew his hand, feeling satisfied.
Her attempt to wipe the tears on her cheeks seemed urgent. It was as if she expected him to disdain her for crying.
Her reddened eyes caught his attention. Caius observed the scene for a moment as if appreciating it.
While it wasn’t the first time he saw her cry, this time felt slightly different.
Indeed, it wasn’t as unpleasant as before.
* * *
Back at the West Palace, Leah walked for a while before stopping. Her eyes, darkened with contemplation, stared at the ground.
“Caius, do you regret choosing me?…”
She had once vaguely asked Caius, wondering if he regretted choosing her over a solid match.
When they first met, Caius was on the verge of an arranged engagement. The other party was a prestigious figure chosen by the emperor. They were a better match when compared to her.
When Caius broke off the engagement before expressing his feelings to her, she couldn’t help but worry if he regretted making such a hasty decision.
“Regret?”
At that moment, Caius looked down at Leah. There was warmth in his blue eyes.
However, Leah’s question displeased him, causing him to respond coldly.
“Why are you asking that? Am I not good enough?”
“Oh, no! It’s not that.”
Leah apologised immediately.
“I’m sorry. I felt a bit depressed for no reason. It’s because I feel like I can’t do anything for you…”
Even though she was happy with him, there were times when an unexpected sense of self-deprecation washed over her. That day, for some reason, that feeling surged more strongly.
As Leah looked at him with a troubled expression, Caius, staring at her intently, uttered words that surprised her.
“Leah, I’ve known you longer than you think.”
“What?”
Leah’s widened eyes couldn’t comprehend his words, and he chuckled silently.
“You probably don’t remember, but it was a moment that changed a lot for me.”
“When…”
Leah was about to ask a question, but Caius gently embraced her, lowering his head to kiss her.
Leah, uncertain about what to do, tightly held onto his waist as their lips met, and between slightly parted lips, Caius whispered.
‘You wouldn’t understand how I felt when I met you again.’
“…”
‘And not choosing you would’ve been the greatest regret of my life.’
His subsequent low voice sounded certain.
‘I will never, under any circumstances, let you go.’
