Chapter 1

Axel Fedelian is a cruel person.

Even if not everyone thinks so, Judith evaluates Axel as such.

Because he doesn’t have a cruel heart, he is even more cruel.

So Judith decided to cut off Axel.

She was tired of hoping alone and getting hurt alone.

Although she expressed it as “cutting off,” in truth, it wasn’t even that.

From the start, Axel would only find it cumbersome whatever feelings Judith held for him.

Nevertheless, it was a feeling she cherished alone.

A simple and pitiful heart that she had buried deep in her chest for fear of being criticized, writing letters she could never deliver to melt it away.

Anyway, it was really time to cut it off.

Judith fiddled with the teacup in her hand before opening her lips.

Perhaps because the practice she did several times the night before helped, the words that came out were neat and without excess.

“I’m thinking of getting engaged so I can marry right after graduating from the academy.”

That was the end of what she had prepared to say. Now it was time to wait for a reaction.

Judith looked up at the sky.

June, a season where everything shone green and was full of vitality.

She suddenly realized that graduation from the academy was indeed not far away.

In a few months, when white snow started to fall from the sky, she would graduate from the academy.

Then, sitting face to face and talking with Axel like this would end. The only connection between Judith and Axel would disappear.

Axel was the sole heir of the Fedelian Dukedom. After graduating from the academy, he would begin preparations to officially succeed the dukedom.

Judith would marry someone and leave his side.

Thus, they would each walk their separate paths.

It was a future without any surprises, perhaps determined long ago.

Until then, Axel remained silent. His response was slower than expected.

Amidst the continued silence, Judith turned her gaze to look at the man in front of her.

Axel Fedelian, who had completely transformed from a boy into a man.

Judith moved her gaze sequentially.

The white cheeks that still had baby fat had transformed into a sharp jawline.

A neat forehead, a high nose bridge as if carved, and deep-set eyes.

The blue-gray eyes beneath the long eyelashes resembled a calm sea. They seemed cold and chilly, yet there was warmth within them.

On his neatly dressed school uniform, a student council president brooch sparkled, suiting him well.

After a moment, Axel opened his eyes wide as if he had heard something unexpected.

“With whom?”

“Well.”

Judith was conscious of the clear gaze stuck to her cheek. But she shifted her eyes to avoid his gaze.

She bowed her head deeply and only fiddled with the teacup handle.

The warmth was no longer felt from the black tea, which had been steaming warmly at first.

“It’s not like my opinion matters.”

An orphan who would graduate at the top of the academy.

Fortunately or not, Judith’s value in the marriage market was quite high. And Judith was well aware of her value.

In fact, as graduation approached, a few places sent letters to Judith. Most were noble families with plenty of money but not much honor.

They thought she could give birth to a good heir since she was quite smart and could be easily handled as she had no backing.

They could bring her without any troublesome process if they just gave her some money.

Judith knew she was being treated merely as a tool to give birth to a smart heir, but she didn’t care.

She also regarded engagement and marriage as a kind of tool.

She was not foolish enough to expect love from an arranged marriage from the start.

The reason Judith decided to marry after graduating from the academy was simple.

One day, she received a letter from Madame Fedelian.

The letter contained a proposal asking if she had any plans for the future after graduation and that they could pair her with a man from a good family if she wanted.

Though written as if for her benefit, Judith sensed an unspoken pressure behind it, indicating they wouldn’t stand by and watch two young people of marriageable age continue to stay together.

A coercion disguised as a recommendation.

But she didn’t think it was bad. She was tired of her situation, being tied to Axel as a sponsor and sponsored.

Since the Fedelian family had sponsored her to attend the academy, she decided to repay their grace and break away from Axel.

Remaining by his side would only cause her to continue suffering alone.

“Judith.”

The voice was firm and hard, but beyond the firmness, there was definitely concern mixed in.

Having been with Axel for a long time, Judith couldn’t help but know.

“Why isn’t your opinion important?”

Judith disliked that.

A trace of warmth and concern. It made people misunderstand and expect things.

In this regard, Judith had no choice but to evaluate Axel as a cruel person.

“Why isn’t your opinion important, is someone forcing you into an engagement?”

She reflexively lifted her head. She tried her best not to meet his gaze, but it was a kind of irresistible force.

Axel was looking at her with calm eyes. The blue-gray eyes were like a calm lake without a single ripple.

She was momentarily lost in them before she came to her senses.

Is someone forcing me?

If you knew who, you wouldn’t be able to ask such an innocent question.

Judith had long known that her opinion didn’t matter.

No matter how hard she tried, there were too many things in the world that couldn’t be changed.

Since her father passed away, she had painfully realized all of it.

If, as he said, her opinion was important enough to control her life, she wouldn’t have started a foolish and unrewarding unrequited love in the first place.

Judith stopped her thoughts there and gripped and released the hem of her skirt as if trying to hold something back. Her voice flowed out sharply as if it had thorns.

“It’s not like that, so don’t worry.”

“But why so suddenly—”

Judith interrupted Axel’s words and spoke.

“Then you—”

But she stopped speaking, making her interruption meaningless.

Axel tilted his head slightly as if curious about what she was going to say next.

Judith bit her lips silently. Her lips felt like they were bursting, tasting of blood. It was metallic.

There was only one thing she wanted to ask him.

Then, is your engagement truly of your own will?

Of course, the answer to that question was predetermined.

Even without asking, Axel seemed happy with his fiancée.

Riana Zernias, a beautiful girl from a noble family who suited Axel perfectly.

Since she had no hobby of buying pain, Judith swallowed the question and stood up.

She felt the blue gaze busily following her as she packed her bag. But Judith didn’t stop organizing her belongings.

Her small notebook and the fountain pen she received as a birthday gift. She gathered all her belongings scattered on the table and turned around.

“Sorry, I’m a bit tired, so I’ll leave first.”

But Axel stood up abruptly and carefully grabbed Judith’s arm.

“Wait, Judith.”

A gentle touch that she could easily shake off if she wanted to.

But Judith froze as if she had turned to stone from the moment Axel held her.

It was because Axel’s body heat was too vividly felt through the thin shirt.

Thump, thump.

Her heart pounded as if it were broken.

“Look at me for a moment.”

Axel gently pulled her arm and turned her around. In front of Judith’s eyes was a neat white shirt without a speck of dust.

Axel bent down abruptly. His black hair fluttered for a moment.

A fresh soap scent reminiscent of a forest wafted, and soon his eyes, filled with a gentle light, stared intently at Judith from up close.