1.

Leon Clift was a beast.

And that beast’s fiancée was none other than Yvonne Heywood, the daughter of a count. No, she was. 

Yvonne Heywood, the daughter of a count, was now receiving looks of pity from everyone.

Leon Clift, the second son of the Duke of Clift, was a beast twisted with jealousy and inferiority complex towards his twin brother, Luke. Of course, outsiders didn’t know that. Because he didn’t reveal his true nature to anyone other than her.

“Leon Clift was a beautiful young man and a loyal commander who served the country. Now we are here to say our final farewells to Leon Clift.”

The priest was babbling on about something, but she could hardly hear him. Leon had entered the gates of death, but for her, it was the day another gate opened. The gate of freedom.

“We mourn that the time God allowed was short, and now he is reborn in heaven….”

If he was reborn, she hoped he wouldn’t resort to violence.

Her head bowed automatically, burdened by the gazes pouring towards her. She saw the black dress she had worn to her father’s funeral a few days ago. To think she would be wearing this dress again after only a few days.

She brought her handkerchief to her eyes. She was crying without realizing it. Tears of joy at being free. But others would think she was shedding tears of sorrow at the loss of her fiancé. She was glad that she had covered her face with a black veil just in case the relief and joy of being free were to show on her face.

Following the funeral procedures, she gave her first words of gratitude to Leon, who was buried in the Clift family graveyard. Thank you for setting me free. Thank you for letting me go. He had freed her from the two-year engagement and prevented a terrible marriage. It was never his intention, but she was grateful for this much.

Why on earth did Leon get engaged to her in the first place? If he enjoyed seeing her tremble before him, he wouldn’t have needed to go as far as getting engaged. Yvonne still couldn’t understand it.

“My condolences.”

Yvonne was startled by the sudden voice. Although it didn’t show on her face. She had been so caught up in her relief that she hadn’t even noticed anyone approaching. She once again considered it fortunate to have a black veil covering her face.

Condolences…. Well. She didn’t know what there was to be sorry about.

She just kept her gaze down. Luke, Leon’s twin brother, who had gone to war together with him and returned alone. He was someone she wanted to avoid. 

The considerably tall and well-built Luke looked down at her for a moment before turning away.

Yvonne didn’t even make eye contact with him. He was too uncomfortable to be around. It had always been that way. Difficult, uncomfortable. Sometimes even scary. His aura was overwhelming. More so than Leon. Luke, the heir to the Duke of Clift, whom everyone respected, treated politely, and courteously. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to see the same face as the deceased Leon here again.

[It was just five minutes. In that difference, I lost my place as heir.]

The words Leon had hammered into her ears came to mind. Just his broad shoulders and back as he turned and walked away were suffocating.

[Are you looking down on me for being the second son? How dare you.]

Those were the words Leon spat out as he beat her throughout their engagement. She had never once looked down on him. She had been too scared to even think such a thing. Yet, she had to endure those words and the beatings.

At first, it was just a few slaps, but it gradually got worse. There were days when he even wielded a whip. It was a cruel act carried out secretly in the study of the Count’s mansion to prevent any sound from leaking out.

Now that horrible hell was over. She was completely free from Leon and this suffocating duchy. She was truly liberated. Liberated!

“Eve. Are you alright?”

Savoring the feeling of liberation, Yvonne briefly set aside her emotions and looked down at her younger brother, Emil, ten years her junior, who was gently tugging at her hand. 

“I’m alright.”

Holding onto the hand of her pitiful Emil, Yvonne turned around. If others had seen her, they would have thought she was the last one to leave, unable to tear herself away from the grave of her dead fiancé, Leon. They would cast even more pitiful glances at the delicate and vulnerable-looking Yvonne. But only she knew the truth.

The sky she looked up at was so clear and dazzling.

And so that day passed.

But then. A month later.

“Miss. Miss.”

Eva, one of the few remaining maids in the shabby mansion, rushed to Yvonne in a flurry of panic early in the morning.

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

Yvonne wanted everything to be quiet. It was a symbol of peace. Naturally, her brow furrowed at the maid’s clamor.

“Young Master Clift… Your Ladyship’s fiancé… They say he’s returned alive. It’s a big problem. How could this happen? Everyone’s in an uproar……”

She couldn’t hear the rest. Yvonne’s slender body, sitting at the old desk in the study, swayed greatly. What… What was she talking about?

“What… are you saying? We even held a funeral.”

She didn’t know what kind of nonsense she had heard to make such a fuss, but it was a terrible joke. Who would have done such a thing…?

“They say he just arrived at the Duke’s mansion and is on his way here. He’s severely injured. You need to prepare quickly. Hurry.”

Yvonne had to grip the edge of the desk tightly to keep from collapsing. What… What kind of unexpected shock was this? This… was absurd.

“Is… Is it true?”

She still couldn’t believe it. No, she didn’t want to believe it. 

“Yes. We need to hurry. He asked for you. I received a message from the Duke’s servant just now and came running.”

He was really alive? That beast?

And he was… coming here looking for her?

This was a dream. It had to be a dream. It must be a dream.

But even when she squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, she could still see the maid’s face, her eyes wide with surprise.

If Leon was alive, then… who was buried in the grave?

It was absurd. It had to be a terrible nightmare. If this was real, she would rather die. She thought she had finally found freedom, but it wasn’t true. But why was he coming to find her? Why? He was injured, but was he coming for her because inflicting pain on her was a cure that would make him heal faster?

Yvonne’s lips trembled. She had to see with her own eyes. To confirm if it was really Leon. Just the thought of it made her hands tremble.

Yvonne’s violet eyes shook violently as she brushed her hair back with her trembling hand. As if reflecting her heart, the golden hair that flowed down her shoulders was disheveled.

***