“Even before he met you, he had long been preparing to capture the Marquis of Blante. Everything Kylance showed and said to you, expressing love, was nothing but a lie. The only genuine feeling Kylance had toward you was the desire to destroy you—the child of the person who killed his parents, the child your father loved more than anyone else.”

‘From the beginning, everything was planned…’ 

Even the declarations of love, the promises of being together forever… it was all a lie. 

He had deceived her all these years, all to destroy her father and take his revenge. 

“Haah…” 

Ariel closed her eyes and bowed her head. She propped herself up on trembling arms, pressing her hands against the floor to keep from collapsing completely. 

At last she understood why Kylance had been so cruel to her. 

She had resented him, wondering how he could be so heartless to someone he once claimed to love. 

But now it was clear – he had never loved her, not for a moment. 

And that was why he could be so merciless. 

She had been nothing more than a fool, a pawn dancing in his palm. 

Ariel clenched her hand to the ground, her nails digging into her palm with such force that they broke the skin. 

As her tears mingled with the blood staining the floor, a sudden rush of clarity came over her, bringing her back to reality. 

The only thing left in this cruel, nightmarish reality was her foolish self. 

Only then did she finally break down in tears. A cry that never seemed to end, a mournful wail that ripped from her chest as she clutched at her suffocating heart, weeping like a wounded beast. 

How long did she cry like that? Ariel was soon overcome by a wave of rage. 

Her tear-stained face still untouched, she strode to the dressing room with a mad look in her eyes. 

Inside were the jewels, shoes and dresses Kylance had given her – every item tied to memories of him. 

“It’s all fake, all of it! It was all a lie!” 

She screamed as she grabbed the jewellery, shoes and dresses, throwing and tearing them apart in a frenzy. Like someone who had lost her mind, Ariel stumbled around the room, ripping apart every fragment of their shared memories. 

“Hah… hah…” 

But even after discarding and destroying everything connected to Kylance, Ariel was left with nothing but a deeper despair. 

For the wardrobe was now completely empty. 

Yes, that was it. Ever since she had fallen in love with him, her whole world had revolved around him. 

Every little thing in her life had been tainted with memories of him. 

She had given everything to his imaginary game of love. 

Even her father’s life. 

Once again Ariel felt the crushing weight of the brutal truth: the only thing left in this horrible reality was her foolish self. 

The terrible reality was driving her to the brink of madness. 

“Aaaah!!” 

‘Kylance never loved you, not for a moment.’ 

‘Stupid, foolish girl. In the end, it’s your fault your father died.’ 

‘Blinded by love, you handed him the Marquisate of Blante on a silver platter.’ 

The whispers in her head taunted her like a devil’s voice, an echo of cruel hallucinations. 

“Please, please… stop… stop!” 

Ariel screamed, clutching her fiery red hair, her voice raw with desperation. 

But no matter how hard she screamed, the voices in her head wouldn’t stop. 

Because they weren’t wrong. It was true – she had ruined everything. 

If only she hadn’t fallen for Kylance. If only she hadn’t foolishly believed in her so-called destiny. 

Her father wouldn’t have died. 

While he plotted against her father, she had been blissfully unaware, staying at the Grand Duke’s estate. 

That way the accusations against her wouldn’t stop.

Until the day she died. 

At that moment, Ariel’s every movement came to an abrupt halt. 

‘Yes, then it will all be over.’ 

I’ll… be able to see Mother and Father again. 

A single tear fell from Ariel’s emerald green eyes. 

As if lost in a trance, she left the dressing room. Although her feet were cut and bleeding from the sharp jewels, Ariel walked on without hesitation.

Dazed, she made her way to a desk and scribbled a single line of a will on a blank piece of paper. 

“It was all my fault. I ruined everything because I loved him. So… I take all the blame. I’m sorry, Aunt.”

Thud. 

Ariel put the pen down and left the room with a blank stare. 

Outside, a flash of lightning illuminated the dark sky. 

* * * 

Arriving at the Viasteus estate, Kylance frowned at the heavy rain that was pouring down. 

With thunder and lightning, it felt eerily identical to the day he lost his parents. 

Perhaps that was why a feeling of unease began to creep over him. 

He felt as if something terrible was going to happen if he didn’t act quickly. 

Before the coachman could even open the door, Kylance stepped out of the carriage and strode into the estate, his demeanour devoid of his usual composure. 

Caroline, who had rushed to greet the Grand Duke upon hearing of his sudden arrival, quickened her pace when she saw him. 

“Your Grace…” 

She was about to bow in greeting when Kylance raised a hand to stop her. 

“There is no need for formalities. Where is my aunt now?” 

Caroline hesitated as she watched Kylance. There was something unsettling about the intensity with which he asked for the Duchess. 

At that moment, the Duchess was calmly playing the harp, satisfied that she had accomplished all she had set out to do. 

She had given strict orders not to be disturbed unless it was urgent. 

“Well… My Lady is resting and playing the harp. Since Your Grace arrived without warning, I haven’t had a chance to inform her. If you will wait a moment, I will go and…” 

Kylance interrupted her. 

“If she’s playing the harp… she must be in the music room. I see.” 

Without waiting for an answer, he climbed the stairs as if permission from the Duchess was unnecessary. 

Even though they were close family, such behaviour was rather rude. He had never acted so unreasonably before. 

But this time he couldn’t help himself. 

His composure had been shattered the moment he had learned the truth about his father’s precious sword. 

There was only one thought on his mind: 

He had to confirm whether his aunt had known the truth. 

“Your Grace! Even as Grand Duke, this is unacceptable! Please show some respect!” 

Caroline, still unaware of what was happening, hurriedly followed Kylance as he strode up the stairs with a determined, almost dangerous air. She called out urgently, trying to stop him. 

But Kylance didn’t stop. He didn’t even hear Caroline’s words. 

But just as he put his foot on the last step of the grand staircase, a voice echoed from the hall below, calling out a name he couldn’t ignore. 

“Did you see Lady Blante leave the estate earlier?” 

“No, why?” 

“She looked so pale, like she’d seen a ghost. It was as if… she wasn’t even there anymore, as if her spirit had left her body.”

“Really? Did the Duchess slap Lady Blante or something? Told her not to cling to the Grand Duke – ahh!” 

The maid, who had been laughing playfully, let out a sharp scream before she could finish her sentence. 

At the far end of the corridor, near the stairs, one of the subjects of their conversation – Kylance – stood staring directly at her. 

“You there.” 

Kylance’s cold, piercing gaze fell on the maid, who trembled as she quickly lowered her head. 

“Y-Your Grace…” 

She prayed fervently that Kylance was just passing by and hadn’t heard her words. But there was no undoing what had already been said. 

Kylance, his expression icy and unyielding, looked down at the trembling maid and spoke. 

“Say it again. Who came to the estate today?”   

“What is it…?” 

The maid trailed off, her voice shaking with fear. 

At that moment, Caroline, who had followed Kylance, stepped forward and pushed the maid aside, standing between her and the Grand Duke. 

“Your Grace, it’s nothing. You all leave…” 

But before Caroline could finish her sentence, Kylance’s icy voice cut through the air. 

“Who said you could leave? Caroline, are you openly defying me now? Does your favouritism for my aunt blind you to everything else? A mere head maid who dares to dismiss me?” 

Kylance’s sharp, cold gaze landed directly on Caroline. Though he stood perfectly still, it felt as if a blade had been pressed to her throat, and her entire body tensed in response. 

She felt an overwhelming fear that one more word could lead to her figurative demise. 

“My apologies, Your Grace.” 

Caroline had no choice but to bow deeply. 

Without breaking his piercing stare at Caroline, Kylance turned back to the maid.

“I ask one last time. Who came to see my aunt and left?” 

Understanding the weight behind the word *last*, the maid closed her eyes tightly and replied. 

“L-Lady Blante… She met with the Duchess and then left.” 

So he hadn’t misheard. 

Kylance followed slowly. 

“You said Lady Blante looked as if she’d seen a ghost when she left the estate. Is that correct?” 

“Yes, Your Grace.” 

Overwhelmed with fear, the maid fell to her knees, trembling. 

“Please… spare my life.”

Kylance stared down at the kneeling maid with an icy, unyielding gaze, cold as death itself.  
The maid had laughed at Ariel’s miserable condition as if it had been entertaining. And now she was begging for her life. 

Kylance wanted to tear her mouth out for mocking Ariel. But he knew that would be nothing more than his own misplaced venting. A mere maid had no right to mock Ariel, yet it was his actions that had brought Ariel to such a state in the first place. 

He had no right to take his anger out on anyone but himself. 

Still, he couldn’t bear to look at the maid any longer. 

With a cold, distant voice, Kylance gave his order to the trembling maid. 

“I have no desire to stain my hands with filthy blood. Leave.”