Vanessa wasn’t someone who placed great significance on ‘firsts.’ However, when it came to Jurgen Drake’s ‘first,’ it felt incredibly weighty and important…

She swallowed hard, overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of guilt. Her throat felt strangely parched.

What if… what if that really was this man’s first kiss…?

In Vanessa’s case, she had kissed Leroy before. As husband and wife, it was natural, if anything was natural. Of course, since Leroy was impotent, they had never gone all the way.

Besides, kissing Leroy… Vanessa grimaced at the unpleasant memory that suddenly surfaced. It was closer to being bitten recklessly until drawing blood. She couldn’t feel any of the heat or pleasure she had felt when kissing Jurgen―

“……”

Quickly putting a stop to that train of thought, Vanessa lightly slapped her own cheek. Why was she even thinking about such things? Her face felt so hot she couldn’t lift her head. It must be embarrassingly red.

“Ah…!”

At that moment―whether due to misfortune or being lost in thought―Vanessa nearly tripped over her own feet.

Naturally, it was Jurgen, walking right beside her, who caught her. Vanessa expected him to look at her with contempt, but surprisingly, his face remained inscrutably calm.

“……”

Vanessa stared at him blankly as she straightened her posture. Once she was standing properly, he slowly resumed escorting her. Walking in step with her, Jurgen casually asked.

“Why is your face like that?”

“Huh…? Ah.”

Belatedly realizing he was referring to her reddened face, Vanessa covered one cheek with her hand and avoided his gaze. She was at a loss for how to explain. She herself was confused in many ways.

Kissing Leroy had been truly terrible… so why had it been fine with Jurgen? It even made her head feel dizzy… no, let’s stop thinking about this.

Vanessa cleared her throat and spoke.

“I must have a fever from being nervous. It’s fine, I’m sure it’ll get better soon.”

“……”

At that, Jurgen gazed at her steadily―and incredibly, brought his hand to her forehead as if to check her temperature.

Startled, Vanessa flinched slightly and looked up at him. Jurgen’s eyes were as indifferent as ever, without the slightest trace of concern.

Yet her heart was pounding wildly, and Vanessa felt terribly flustered. Ever since that kiss incident, she had become increasingly conscious of him. She was dying to know what secrets he kept hidden beneath that cold mask. She had been consistently trying to probe discreetly, but all attempts had failed so far.

“There’s no fever. Fortunately, you’re not ill.”

“Fortunately…?”

Vanessa unconsciously echoed those words that seemed to show concern for her. Perhaps she had harbored some subtle expectations. But Jurgen’s following words mercilessly shattered such hopes.

“It would be a serious matter if a plague were to spread in His Majesty’s sacred palace.”

“……”

So, his concern had been about something else entirely. Vanessa glared at him with a sullen expression before turning away. What had I expected from this inconsiderate man?

‘After that kiss, I thought I might glimpse a more human side of him…’

He had definitely been disheveled then. Those golden eyes overflowing with desire and heat… His irregular breathing and racing pulse that had lost all reason.

Vanessa was curious. What would this fortress-like man look like when completely broken down?

Though it seemed unlikely that he would easily show such a side, or crumble so readily.

The Emperor’s audience chamber was a place that had an atmosphere like a temple. Incredibly intricate stained glass filtered down various colors of light, and lilies―symbols of holiness and purity―were arranged in several large vases lined along the walls.

Vanessa was shocked to realize all the lilies were fresh flowers. They must have been grown in greenhouses, but to supply this many lilies daily… the scale and maintenance costs of the greenhouses must be enormous.

“Welcome, Jurgen.”

About halfway down the long crimson carpet, a gentle voice descended from above. When Vanessa quietly raised her head, her view was filled with the sight of a beautiful man seated on a golden throne.

Moon-white hair and eyes, though his right eye was covered by a black eye patch. It was said to be the eye he had lost as the price for drinking from the Well of Eternity in the forbidden sacred realm long ago, gaining immortality.

“And the incomparable beauty beside you must be… Vanessa Roengreen. It’s been quite a while since we last met.”

Emperor Veratir Barbaroc of the Cartes Empire smiled gently at Vanessa. It was the benevolent yet noble smile of a ruler looking down upon his subjects.

The absolute power holder of this Astra continent, perhaps someone whom no one in the world would dare harm. He had remained unchanged from Vanessa’s childhood until now.

Going back even further, he must have been the same before Vanessa was born. Immortal. A body that neither ages nor dies.

About 200 years ago, since founding the empire as its first emperor, Veratir Barbaroc had remained constant like an eternally burning sun.

“Since the Kingdom of Terevron no longer exists on this land, I should treat you according to your original status as the princess of Roengreen. The House of Drake must already be doing so.”

“Your Majesty’s will is divine mandate, whatever it may be.”

Vanessa bowed her head respectfully and greeted the Emperor with utmost courtesy. Jurgen did the same, but his manner was far more natural and comfortable. As if he were familiar with the Emperor.

Having never seen anyone act that way before the Emperor, Vanessa glanced at Jurgen with wide eyes.

“By the way, you’ve arrived at quite an interesting time. I was in the middle of an important conversation with another visitor who arrived earlier. Yes, let’s see… How long do you plan to hide there? Why don’t you come forward now? It must be a welcome face after so long.”

‘…A welcome face?’

At the Emperor’s words, Vanessa followed his gaze with inner puzzlement. To one side of the audience chamber, behind the crimson curtains that hung like a veil. Someone’s hand suddenly reached out, parting the thick velvet like a curtain.

Then, slowly walking forward, a familiar face. Vanessa recognized who it was immediately.

Of course she would. How could she forget? After all those years growing up together. The feeling of betrayal from being abandoned by such a person was still vivid.

“…Declan…”

The voice that slipped from her slightly parted lips was heavy with gloom, like storm clouds.

✦ ✦ ✦

The former king of Roengreen, renowned for being a wise ruler, had three children.

The eldest son Declan and second daughter Vanessa. The two were legitimate children born to Queen Aveline, four years apart.

And the remaining one, Glena, was an adopted daughter the former king had taken in, originally born between a knight and a court maid.

Glena’s birth father had been part of the royal guard, and when the former king was attacked by demonic beasts during a national inspection tour one day, he sacrificed himself to protect the king and died in battle.

At the time, Glena had also lost her birth mother to illness and had nowhere to go, so the former king, taking pity on her situation, adopted her as his daughter.

Thus with Glena added, the three royal siblings spent a peaceful childhood without fighting or jealousy.

When did cracks start to appear in that seemingly eternal peace?

Vanessa looked at Declan with coldly sunken eyes.

In truth, she had noticed. It was probably around when she was fourteen. Vanessa couldn’t help but notice that Declan cared more for Glena than for her, his blood sister.

Though it hurt, she didn’t show it. After all, Declan was always a caring older brother, and he would often say that he would protect Vanessa, like it was a habit.

Vanessa believed that promise. She never thought Declan would abandon her, that he would throw her into the mud and make her suffer.

However, after their father’s death, Declan changed completely and tried to profit by selling Vanessa off in marriage, finally marrying her to Leroy Terevron. Even knowing that Leroy was a character-broken tyrant who constantly inflicted violence on his subordinates and ruled with cruelty.

‘Why did you do that to me?’

Vanessa still turned that question over in her mind.

A question that would never get the answer she wanted.

Of course, that wasn’t all she was curious about.

‘How did you deceive everyone―our parents and all―so perfectly? Is that your true nature? Someone who feels no guilt while pushing others into misery, who can’t empathize with others’ feelings… who uses even blood family like tools… that demon-like nature.’

If that really is your true nature―you’ve deceived everyone with remarkable thoroughness. How you could do such a thing, how it’s even possible, I can’t understand at all, but…

‘Escal Drake called Jurgen a monster, but I know what a real monster is…’

This is what a real monster means.

“Vanessa… my precious sister. I’m so glad you’re alive.”

One who can smile like an angel while possessing a demon’s heart.

Declan Roengreen. The source of my misfortune. The worst betrayer in my life.