Chapter 85. Like a Tyrant

Unlike the excessively extravagant Rayborn residence, this maze garden had a simple and modest charm.

Perhaps that difference was intentional? Instead of everything being too excessive, having something modest adds an air of elegance.

“Fel, what have you been up to?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. Managing the ongoing businesses……”

While engaging in various mundane conversations, we reached the center of the maze garden where a white stone fountain was installed.

The clear water from the fountain shot up into the air, with droplets sparkling like glass in the sunlight.

It was a common sight, even at the Winter Palace, but what made this fountain different was the flower beds surrounding it.

The flower beds were full of purple, pink, and white pansies, all lush and vibrant.

“Wow, how beautiful.”

I admired it and slowly approached the fountain. Up close, I saw a wooden sign indicating that it was okay to pick one or two flowers from the bed.

But I had no intention of picking any flowers, so I just bent my knees slightly and stared at them. Felix, who had approached me quietly, made a suggestion.

“Why don’t you pick one? You like flowers.”

With a smile on my lips, I shook my head slowly.

“No, just looking at them is enough.”

Then, suddenly remembering something, I turned to Felix and added.

“Why don’t you pick some? Mrs. Werner loves flowers.”

Felix’s face darkened instantly at my words. Why the sudden change? Blinking in confusion, I stared at him, and after a moment of silence, Felix spoke slowly.

“……Come to think of it, I forgot to tell you.”

“Tell me what……?”

“My mother passed away. About six years ago.”

This time, it was my turn to stiffen. The unexpected news blanked my mind.

I stood there, opening and closing my mouth in shock, and finally managed to speak cautiously.

“I’m sorry……. I didn’t know. I never received the news……”

“No, Elle. You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t worry about it.”

Felix’s demeanor was so unbelievably calm that it made me feel even more uncomfortable.

Lowering my eyes and fidgeting with my hands, Felix’s hand gently patted my shoulder as he approached.

Even in this situation, his eyes were filled with such kindness.

So kind that it made me feel sad instead.

“……My mother died in an accident.”

“…….”

“She was saving a child who was about to be hit by a carriage. ……The child survived thanks to her. The child, who was wandering the streets without any family, was sent to an orphanage. After the accident, my mother remained alive for a few minutes.”

“…….”

“She didn’t regret her choice. She was glad the child was safe…… And she apologized to our family.”

A sorrowful smile appeared on Felix’s lips. It was the expression of someone who had finally accepted the death of a loved one.

“I’m proud to be my mother’s son. ……So, it’s okay. Now.”

Now.

That meant it had been tough for a while. Naturally, it had to be.

I pictured Mrs. Werner, whom I often met as a child, in my mind. She, who resembled Felix and had a gentle demeanor, was always kind to me.

Suddenly, my eyes felt hot. With my eyes filled with tears, I looked at Felix and then reached out to hug him tightly. Hoping to give him even a little comfort.

“Elle……”

“It must have been really tough, Fel. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”

“No, I should be the one……”

Felix hesitated for a moment before continuing softly.

“……I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you when you needed it most.”

“……That’s……”

“You must have had a hard time too.”

“…….”

“I only found out after returning to Freuden that your stepmother and stepsisters tormented you so severely. ……If I had known earlier…… If I had found out before you met the Grand Duke of Bayern―”

At that moment.

A familiar voice cut through the tender atmosphere.

“If you had found out?”

A cold voice laced with sarcasm. But there was clear anger in it.

Startled, I let go of Felix and turned to look. Enoch had just entered the center of the maze garden, with a crooked smile on his face. But his eyes weren’t smiling. His sharp gaze was fixed on Felix and me as if to tear us apart.

“What were you planning to do if you had found out?”

Enoch approached slowly, like a predator cornering its prey. Terrified, I froze in place, my heart pounding like a child caught doing something wrong.

“What were you planning to do, Felix Werner?”

Enoch, now beside us, roughly pulled me away from Felix. His grip on my shoulder was so strong it felt like my bones would shatter.

I let out an involuntary groan, but Enoch didn’t loosen his grip.

I looked up at him in confusion. He seemed to be in a state where he couldn’t see anything.

“……Your Highness.”

“Skip the formalities and answer my question. What were you planning to do? Were you thinking of marrying Ellen instead of me?”

What on earth……

How could he come to such an absurd conclusion? I couldn’t understand. I hurriedly spoke up to save Felix from this predicament.

“That’s not true. Felix is my friend. We’ve known each other since childhood, we’re like siblings.”

“No matter how sweetly you say it, Ellen, you shouldn’t spout nonsense.”

He spoke harshly and pulled me closer. Seeing the vivid anger in his golden eyes, the fear I had forgotten resurfaced quickly.

I had forgotten how terrifying, cruel, and dangerous this man could be. I had been living in a false sense of security because of his feigned kindness.

“What reason does a man have to hover around you? Do you really think his feelings for you are purely platonic?”

“Don’t speak like that……!”

I snapped back without thinking and then clamped my mouth shut. It upset me greatly that he was demeaning Felix and my friendship. He didn’t understand how precious a friend Felix was to me.

Enoch’s eyes seemed to flash momentarily as he looked at me, and then his hand roughly grabbed my chin. I trembled in fear, unable to calm myself.

“Do you hug your friends that tightly?”

“I was just comforting Felix! Mrs. Werner, Felix’s mother……”

I stopped mid-sentence and glanced at Felix. He looked somewhat angry but nodded silently when our eyes met. It was okay to talk.

But before I could say anything more, Felix spoke up first.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I was telling Her Highness about my late mother, and Her Highness, feeling sympathy, was merely offering comfort and encouragement.”

Felix’s tone was impeccably polite, though it was subdued. But Enoch sneered as if Felix’s explanation was unnecessary.

“Oh, so you deliberately brought up something to provoke sympathy just to get a hug from my wife?”

“No, that’s……”

I instinctively opened my mouth but couldn’t continue, gaping like a goldfish. How could he twist things like this?

“That’s not it. Please calm down.”

“Stay out of this, Ellen.”

“No, I can’t stay out of it. Felix and I didn’t do anything wrong, and anyone can hug a friend. Especially in a situation where comfort is needed.”

“How would you feel if I hugged Angela Besnard?”

“That’s……”

Hesitating to answer immediately, Enoch chuckled. It was a fierce and cold sneer.

“Right, you wouldn’t care. Because you don’t love me.”

He whispered those words so quietly that only I could hear them. But their impact was immense.

I felt my heart pounding irregularly for a different reason than before. A bitter pain seized my chest. It felt like salt was being rubbed into a wound.

Enoch lifted me up without warning and drove the knife in deeper with his cruel words.

“But I care. As you know, because of that very wicked magic.”

……Ah.

His words left me speechless, my chest tightening painfully.

I closed my eyes, feeling something inside me collapse.

A gaze filled with confusion and worry touched my cheek. It was Felix. Enoch glanced at him briefly and then ignored him, walking past lightly.

“Wait……”

Felix’s regretful voice came from behind, but Enoch didn’t stop. He walked briskly through the maze garden towards the carriage.

Not wanting anyone to see my messy face, I buried my head in Enoch’s chest.

I could hear his heartbeat. It was pounding fiercely. That fierce beating made me even sadder. It was all a lie created by magic.

A very wicked magic.

……It was my mistake.

I should never have used that magic. I shouldn’t have been so greedy.

Click. The sound of the carriage door closing echoed.

The carriage started moving, but Enoch, holding me tightly, said nothing, and neither did I.

And after a while, as soon as we arrived at the mansion, specifically the bedroom―

“Now explain.”

“…….”

“Before I lose my temper and go kill that clueless b*stard.”

In the space where we were left alone, I had to face his full wrath. Trapped in his arms that pressed down on me like a tyrant.

“You said the contract period was one year.”

He looked down at me with a cold smile.

“Were you planning to leave me and go to him after that year?”