Chapter 73

“…Please, help me.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think there is any way I can help the Princess. Why not find someone else who can help you? Please explain so I can recommend someone who might be helpful…”

“No, this is something you can do to help. And that’s something only you can do. Duke Ferial, please marry me.”

Zagnac’s brow furrowed at Princes Livia’s proposal. Even though he didn’t say anything, this was an apparent refusal.

Livia’s face, ignoring his refusal, turned red from her shame. The nanny Daran had said that there would be no man who would reject her proposal… Still, that wasn’t the point because she didn’t intend to live happily ever after with him.

Livia clenched her fists and lifted her head.

“I also wrote it in my letter, but… I want to get out of the Imperial Palace.”

“….”

“But, it is not easy to do that as a princess. Except for one thing: marriage.”

Princess Livia strode forward in front of Zagnac. Even though she wore high-heeled shoes to not look young to him, their height difference was significant.

Would she have seemed a little more mature to him if she had been taller than Countess Todd, who had stepped aside a little while ago? If she was like that, would he have thought about her proposal for a few seconds…?

Princess Livia uttered with a dignified look, clearing her trembling voice so as not to look miserable.

“Duke Ferial, I have a proposition for you… pretend to be married to me.”

“…Pretend to be married?”

“I don’t want it because of love or affection. There is only one thing I want from you, to get me out of the Imperial Palace.”

“….”

“If I use you to get out of the Imperial Palace and gain freedom, and you use me to become a member of the Imperial Family and gain great power and wealth, wouldn’t it be good for each other?”

Although she pretended to be calm, in fact, Livia was giving tremendous strength to keep her trembling lower lip from showing. It was because she felt like she was about to burst into tears at the contemptuous sight of her selling herself out. However, Zagnac’s expression did not change even at her suggestion.

With his gaze down, he gave a weak smile and ruffled his well-groomed hair roughly.

“After all, all humans want is help from others.”

“….”

“…If you could just say that you need my help like I do now.”

She didn’t understand. When Princess Livia tilted her head at Zagnac’s words, he glanced into the air and gave a blank expression, and shook his head.

“I didn’t say this to Princess Livia. When I see the Princess, I think of a heartless person who says that they don’t need even the slightest bit of help and is trying to solve things on their own.”

“….”

Was this sarcastic?

Princess Livia stared at him without a word. She wanted to get out of here by passing Zagnac at any moment… Still, she couldn’t because he was her last savior.

“Duke Ferial, I wouldn’t object if you told me that you love another woman and that after you married me, you will make a new start with that woman. Like I said, all I want is to escape from the Imperial Palace and be free.”

Having said this, there was really no reason for him to refuse. She even said that she would let go of everything. If he only provided the fence of marriage, she would do everything he asked for.

Nonetheless, Zagnac resolutely shook his head at her suggestion.

“I’m sorry, but I think it would be better to find someone else.”

It was a cold tone. With that stern tone telling her not to stop him anymore, Livia couldn’t stop Zagnac, who turned away. Livia asked, hurriedly grabbing his sleeve as he turned around and exited the terrace.

“Why, why? It must not be a bad offer for you.”

“…Well, yes, but first of all, I don’t need any more wealth. What I have now is enough to make a living while fooling around.”

“….!”

“Secondly, I do not want to associate myself with the people of the Imperial Family. I don’t think it’s necessary to tell you why.”

“Ah…”

“And, finally.”

Zagnac coldly shook away her tiny hand that was holding his sleeve. Princess Livia, who looked at her hand that hovered in the air with embarrassment, finally gazed at him with eyes full of tears. His deep purple eyes were cold, without the slightest emotion.

“I have no interest in women.”

* * *

…Yes, he clearly said so. Princess Livia opened her closed eyes and stopped her recollection of the past. He obviously said he had no interest in women, but he brought a woman into the mansion?

“…Liar.”

“Yes?”

When Princess Livia gave a small whisper, Daran, who applied the medicine to the wounds, asked. However, Livia only pouted her lips and gave no answer. She pulled her little knee into her arms and buried her head between them.

The nanny Daran was helpless at Princess Livia’s melancholic gesture, and she quietly stood by her side.

All people were liars. Her mother said she loved her, her father said he wanted to marry her for her own sake, her siblings, and even the maids who were busy smiling in front of her yet shunned her from behind…

…They are all liars.

She confided everything, even revealing her secrets, to ask for help. There was no one in this world to trust except herself.

Princess Livia lifted her head, which had been buried between her knees.

“…Anyway, if that’s the case, I’ll use it to my heart’s content.”

“What? Princess…?”

“I will marry Duke Ferial at any cost.”

* * *

“What? What about Countess Todd… No, Azela?”

The servant clenched his eyes and bit his lips at the sharp sword that was thrust against his neck. Countess Todd… No, now she was Azela Vellista. He was only faithfully fulfilling Crown Prince Chises’ orders to deliver any news about Azela Vellista, but he held out a sword at him.

“It seems you didn’t hear my question.”

When the servant didn’t answer his question, Chises frowned and clenched his sword. As red blood trickled down his neck, the servant cried again urgently.

“Az, Azela Vellista has come to the capital…”

So far, this was good news. It was the news Chises had wanted, and it was what he had hoped for so much.

The problem was the sentence afterward.

“…Together with Duke Ferial as his escort knight!”

Yes, this sentence was the problem.

Chises resisted the desire to cut the servant’s throat right away and threw his sword to the floor. His emotions were completely engulfed. Taking a deep breath, he shouted loudly.

“Everyone, get lost!”

The knights who were escorting Chises, the maids, and the servants all hurriedly left the training ground at his yells. It was because they were sure to die if they stayed by his side at this time. Even after everyone had left the training ground, he started tossing everything he could get in his hand, as the rage had not subsided.

“When I asked her to come with me, she refused because there was still work left to do!”

Chises threw a large flower pot and shouted. As he took a deep breath, he slumped down.

She obviously refused when he asked her if she needed his help.

He couldn’t hide his impatience, biting his nails and frowning his brows. His fingernails, bitten, were cut off, and blood dripped, but he couldn’t feel the pain. He had heard rumors that Azela had gotten divorced.

As Chises heard the news, he cheered.

Now, there was nothing to hold her back. When he could bring her to his side, everything would be perfect. In fact, Chises was slowly preparing everything for that. He never imagined that a person would suddenly intervene in the middle.

“Duke Ferial…!”

Everyone knew that he had always had a crush on Azela, and that he only wanted her for the rest of his life—Zagnac, too. In fact, everyone who had a crush on Azela had to give up because of him, and even those who wanted to work with her couldn’t because of Chises.

However, Zagnac did not… Instead, he proudly put Azela by his side. Chises held the sword he had thrown to the floor in his hand.

Stinging poison seeped into his eyes.

“Duke Ferial…”