“No! Your Highness—please, no!”

The necklace began to strain under his pull, the chain stretching taut and trembling. Anita struggled, desperate to free herself from Cedric’s grip. The locket, which contained a small portrait given to her by her brother, was one of her most cherished possessions. Even the investigators had examined it and returned it without question. And yet now—

“Starting with this.”

Snap.

A sound she prayed not to hear struck her ears, followed by a sharp jolt against her neck. Pearls scattered in all directions, rolling across the floor like spilled tears.

“Throw it away.”

White pearls rolled to a stop at her feet. The shattered necklace dangled from Cedric’s hand, its ruined chain glinting faintly in the light.

Anita reached out in desperation, her voice trembling.

“P-please… return it to me, Your Highness. It was a gift from His Majesty, the Emperor of Callithea.”

“…”

“It’s mine. No matter who you are, Your Highness, you have no right to destroy my belongings.”

“…”

“Cedric… please…”

Hearing her say his name made him freeze. His jaw clenched and the muscle twitched as he bit down hard. Without a word, he released her and strode over to the window.

Thrown off balance, Anita stumbled, tears spilling freely as she tried to steady herself. When she realized his intention, panic seized her and she rushed forward.

“I told you. You are not permitted to speak my name.”

Before she could reach him, the window swung open and the necklace disappeared. The faint chime of something falling echoed in the silence. A single pearl, miraculously unbroken, rolled across the floor until it stopped at her feet.

“Ah…”

Her knees gave way. Anita sank to the floor, trembling. ‘Why… why go this far?’ Her fingers reached instinctively for the scattered pearl, the question burning quietly in her chest.

And yet, even after everything, even with her heart crushed and humiliated, she could not bring herself to hate him. Not even by the smallest fraction.

All she could feel was the ache of long-held affection, heavy and sorrowful, pressing painfully against her ribs.

When she lifted her tear-streaked face, Cedric was already moving away. He didn’t look at her, not once. His gaze passed over her as if she were invisible, and he pointed to the door.

“Princess. Our conversation is over. You may leave now. I have other matters to attend to.”

Despite his clear rejection, Anita couldn’t move. Her body refused to obey her.

Cedric exhaled sharply, as if her presence alone were weighing him down.

“You can’t have a guest lingering in a room without its host. Jacques!”

At his call, a servant entered almost instantly. The young man froze, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of the princess lying on the floor amid the scattered pearls that glinted like tears.

“Escort Her Highness out.”

But the servant hesitated, clearly unwilling to either touch her or speak to her.

Before Cedric could bark another command, Anita slowly rose to her feet. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to walk forward.

When she reached him, she bowed low, a perfect gesture of courtesy, as though she were before a foreign sovereign, not her own husband.

Then, without saying another word, she stood up straight, turned around, and walked out on her own.

Her back remained straight until the very end.

··· ✦ ···

“Your Highness!”

The dark night was illuminated only by the flickering light of lanterns. Hunching over, Anita searched the ground between the cobblestones and flowerbeds. She almost hit her head on a low-hanging branch before Renee pulled her back quickly.

“Careful, Your Highness.”

Renee warned, relief flooding her voice.

“You could’ve hurt yourself.”

Anita gave her a small, sheepish smile.

“Thank you.”

She said softly, then turned back to the ground, circling the tree to resume her search.

“Please, let someone else look for it tomorrow. There’s no reason for you to trouble yourself like this.”

But Anita kept her eyes on the ground. She was searching for the necklace that Cedric had thrown away. Facing him had left her body aching and her heart feeling hollow, yet she couldn’t bring herself to give up.

“It’s mine. Who here would search for it as earnestly as I would? Aside from you, Renee, no one would bother.”

Her voice was calm, but there was no trace of hope in it. After all, who in this palace, where the people of Laxion treated her as an obstacle, would ever sincerely follow her orders? They would search half-heartedly and then claim that they couldn’t find it.

Renee clenched her fists to suppress her frustration and forced a brighter tone.

“Then let’s stop for tonight. It’s getting late, and I’m worried about your health. When morning comes, the light will make it much easier to search.”

“You’re right.”

Anita said after a pause, nodding obediently. But inwardly, she whispered to herself—Not yet. I can’t give up yet. Even if it takes time, even if it’s difficult… I’ll keep going.

··· ✦ ···

Perhaps he was in a bad mood. Or perhaps he had simply drunk too much. Either way, Cedric’s head was pounding as he crossed the dimly lit corridor leading to the stairs. He pressed his temple, wincing.

He’d been trying to push the thought away, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even in his drunken haze and despite the pounding in his skull, he could see her face.

‘Why.’

Why had she stood up after collapsing like that? Why had she lifted her head so proudly, walking out with her back straight when she should’ve been dragged away like a fallen servant?

That look on her face wounded, trembling, and yet defiant gnawed at him.

And then, echoing again in his mind, her voice.

“Cedric… please…”

The image of her pale face, trembling red lips and faint blue eyes flashed before him once more, refusing to fade.

An inexplicable feeling stopped Cedric in his tracks halfway across the colonnade. The air was heavy and almost stifling. Dian stopped behind him, following his lead in silence.

Irritation. That was what it was, an undeniable, clawing irritation. Cedric exhaled sharply and undid another button on his collar, as if to ease the pressure on his chest. His gaze shifted towards the breeze blowing through the corridor, and then—

“Hah.”

A flicker of light caught his eye, followed by the outline of a figure slowly emerging into view in the dim light. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t mistake the color of her hair or the slender line of her form.

He couldn’t see exactly what she was doing, but he had a good idea. Judging by the direction she was facing, she must be near the spot outside his office where he had thrown her necklace. Searching for it, no doubt.

“She’s lost her mind.”

He muttered, his voice laced with contempt. To think she would make such a spectacle of herself in the dead of night over a mere trinket. A spark of anger surged through him. He almost ordered his guards to drag her away immediately, but his hand clenched around the stone railing instead.

The veins in his forearm stood out sharply as he tightened his grip. His eyes glittered coldly as he stared at the two dim lanterns swaying in the distance.

After a long moment, he finally released his hold. With a frustrated sigh, Cedric strode quickly and heavily across the corridor, his temper restrained but evident.

Dian followed close behind, though his keen, dark-adapted eyes couldn’t help but flicker towards the Crown Princess. Even from a distance, he could make out her movements.

‘Her hand…?’

The maid beside her was flustered and hopping around, while Anita appeared to clutch her hand in pain. This came as no surprise. Even experienced gardeners can easily cut themselves in the dark, and Anita was far too delicate and inexperienced to handle such a task.

A bitter taste rose in Dian’s mouth. But what could he do?

He forced himself to look back at Cedric’s retreating figure, his jaw tightening as he remained silent.

··· ✦ ···

This was the first time Anita had left the Crown Prince’s residence since Cedric had been the target of an assassination attempt. Her reclusive lifestyle had made the outside world feel distant and unfamiliar.

The Emperor and Empress had summoned her that day. Accepting their invitation, she made her way to the Central Palace, which was far grander yet still unfamiliar compared to the sombre quiet of the Crown Prince’s wing.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

“It is an honor to meet Your Highness.”

“Blessings upon you, Your Grace.”

Greetings came from all directions. Unlike the cold, formal stares of the people in the Crown Prince’s palace, those in the Central Palace welcomed her warmly. Their voices were gentle and their manners gracious.

For the first time in a long while, Anita could feel herself beginning to belong.

She returned each greeting with a gentle nod, trying her best to remember the faces around her. Most of those who approached her warmly belonged to the Empress’s faction, gracious and welcoming on the surface, though their smiles hid clear intent.

In contrast, those who stood at a distance, whispering behind fluttering fans, belonged to Cedric’s faction. She recognized some of them from the Crown Prince’s palace, where they had watched her daily with cold, unfriendly gazes.

“Come closer, my dear. It’s been far too long.”

“Welcome, Crown Princess. Have you been keeping well?”

In the imperial family’s reception hall, both the emperor and empress received her warmly. The emperor seemed quietly guilty for having left her alone after the assassination attempt, while the empress appeared gently calculating.

Such a warm welcome after such a long time should have been comforting, but Anita could only manage a faint smile. She felt a bittersweet ache in her heart, knowing that every kindness shown to her came with its own hidden agenda.

‘It’s difficult…’

She had expected life in a foreign court to be challenging, but she found the loneliness far worse than she had imagined. Cedric was hostile and everyone else was wary, so there was no one she could confide in. However, since this was not Callithea, she had no right to complain.

Her hand brushed against the small weight hidden in her pocket: the locket necklace that she had searched for until her fingers bled. She had found it again, yet the faint comfort it offered was fleeting.

‘No. I can’t dwell on this now.’

Forcing a smile, Anita turned her full attention to the imperial couple. As a princess and now the Crown Princess of Laxion, it was her duty to be graceful—to please, to adapt, to survive.

“Thanks to Your Majesties’ generous care, I’ve had no difficulties at all. His Highness, the Crown Prince, has been very kind to me as well.”

“The Crown Prince? Among family, call him Cedric. He is your husband, after all.”

“My, Your Majesty.”

The Empress interjected gently, her voice smooth as silk.

“They’ve only just married. It’s natural for things to still feel a little formal. In time, they’ll grow closer on their own. For now…”

The Empress deftly changed the subject and the tension dissolved. Under her guidance, the rest of the discussion flowed easily and became pleasant. The Emperor watched Anita with quiet approval. Though sharp and calculating, the Empress wore the mask of warmth perfectly.

Time slipped by unnoticed. Eventually, the Emperor stood up and said that he had a council meeting to attend. Before leaving, he took Anita’s hand in his and gave it a gentle pat on the back.

“Crown Princess, you’ve never visited my consort’s palace, have you? She would surely enjoy your company.”

When he was gone, the Empress smiled.

“Would you keep me company for a while, my dear? I find myself quite at leisure today.”

Anita hesitated for the briefest moment. It was unwise to grow too close to the Empress, Cedric’s stepmother but declining the invitation of an Empress was even more dangerous.

“It would be an honor, Your Majesty.”

She stood and bowed gracefully in reply. The Empress praised her composure, then took her hand and escorted her out of the reception hall. Their soft laughter faded down the corridor.

As the two women disappeared beyond the grand archway of the Central Palace, a lone attendant quietly slipped away, heading straight for the Crown Prince’s residence to deliver the Empress’s secret command.