“It’s a baseless assumption. Renee couldn’t have smuggled anything in here to begin with. She’s always with me—”

“You can’t be sure of that, can you?” Can you honestly say that you’ve never been alone with that handmaiden? Besides, the evidence has already come to light. Who knows what she’ll sneak in next if we let this go? Poison, perhaps? Or a dagger intended to assassinate me? It’s happened once before, and it could happen again.”

Anita spoke urgently, but Cedric cut her off without hesitation. As if that weren’t enough, he even mocked her by bringing up the previous assassination attempt.

“Your Highness!”

Anita cried out in shock, raising her voice. Yet Cedric’s face remained cold, his expression unyielding.

“Or maybe she’s already brought it in. Could that be why Her Highness has been so anxious and restless? We’ll find out soon enough once the investigation continues. Don’t worry about that. I’ve already ordered them to smash the statue if necessary to ensure a thorough examination.”

No one should be condemned so unjustly. Anita glared resentfully at Cedric, who seemed intent on pinning the blame on René. Cedric caught sight of the faint scar beneath her pale blue eyes and, with a smile that carried no hint of deceit, continued.

“While we’re on the subject, the item you received as a gift from the Empress is under investigation as well. I’d advise you not to expect it back. No matter who it came from, this is my palace. To think you’d bring such a thing inside under the Empress’s orders without my permission… You’re bolder than I thought, Princess.”

It was only then that Anita recalled what she had momentarily forgotten because of Renee. She had expected Cedric to be displeased, but not to this extent.

Was Renee being punished simply because a maid from the Empress’s palace had sent the statue?

She tried to dismiss this idea as overthinking, but the look on Cedric’s face made it clear who had set this entire ordeal in motion.

“Your Highness, if I’ve offended you, I’m sorry. I wanted to refuse, truly but the situation was complicated. I can explain. It happened because—”

“Don’t bother.”

“…….”

“I don’t need an explanation. I’m not interested in hearing one.”

With his arms folded, Cedric looked down at her before rising from his seat. His movement made it clear that the conversation was over. Anita quickly stood up too, unwilling to let things end like this.

“I don’t know what you hoped to gain by coming here. But there’s only one thing I can tell you.”

“…….”

“There are no exceptions to punishment, Princess. Especially not for crimes as brazen as this. Even if the culprit happens to be your handmaiden. Then again who knows? Since you were personally chosen by His Majesty and cherished by the Empress, perhaps I might have overlooked it once.”

“…….”

“But your maid won’t escape punishment. Once her sentence is carried out, she’ll be expelled from the Imperial Palace—no, from all of Laxion. We can’t keep a criminal here.”

“…….”

“If you understand what I’m saying, return to your chambers. Stay there quietly as if you’re dead. Unlike certain people who waste the day sipping tea, I don’t have time to indulge in useless chatter.”

Having said everything he wanted to say, Cedric pointed towards the door, his expression unreadable. But Anita, who had been silent with her head bowed until now, didn’t move.

Cedric frowned and sighed.

“……Are you defying me now?”

Just as he was about to tell her to leave again, Anita lifted her head sharply and looked him in the eye. The flustered or fearful expression that had been on her face had disappeared, replaced by one of determination.

“No matter who you are, Your Highness, you cannot treat me so unjustly! I am the Crown Princess of Laxion. Whether you acknowledge it or not, that fact has been established by a marriage contract bearing the seals of both our kingdoms.”

Though displeased, Cedric’s expression lost its mocking edge the moment he heard her firm declaration. Instead, his gaze turned cold; so cold, in fact, that Anita’s legs trembled beneath her.

“Your Highness and I are equals as husband and wife. Through the lawful procedure overseen and ratified by the emperors of both nations, I became your wife. You have no right to treat me with such disregard and injustice. Just as I respect you, Your Highness, you must also show me respect.”

She couldn’t back down. If she faltered now, she would never be able to save Renee. Resolute, Anita pressed on.

“Renee belongs to me. I brought her here, and I have kept her by my side ever since. Therefore, even if she has committed a crime, I have the right to punish her. Furthermore, I should not be excluded from the investigation into her actions. If you suspect me too, then as my equal you should not preside over this matter; His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress should.”

Cedric’s eyes lingered on her trembling arms before slowly moving upwards. His gaze traced her slender neck, which looked fragile enough to break at the slightest touch, before reaching her pale, frightened face. Her clear yet fearful eyes only served to deepen his irritation. The fact that he even had to stand there and argue with her was infuriating.

“……Have you said all you wanted to say?”

“…….”

“I wonder how you managed to hold your tongue all this time when you’ve been dying to shout that out loud.”

He stepped toward her. Anita, who had faced him without a word until now, visibly flinched as he closed the distance between them.

“Princess. No—Crown Princess of Laxion, my wife, recognized by the emperors of both nations.”

Cedric stood before her, suddenly inclining his head in mock courtesy as he took her hand. He lifted it to his lips, pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and then tightened his grip as he straightened up.

“Ah—”

Anita gasped in pain and tried to pull away, but his hold was unyielding. Cedric gave a faint, crooked smile.

“Do you truly believe you and I are equals?”

Anita, speechless, could only look up at him, her captured hand trembling violently.

“Isn’t it laughable? Tell me, what part of us is equal?”

“…….”

“Is there anyone foolish enough not to know that Callithea is nothing more than a candle before the wind? Without Laxion’s support, your dear brother’s head would’ve been severed and displayed long ago.”

Anita’s face drained of color at his cruel words. No matter how reckless he was with his tongue, how could he say such a thing? Hearing them made her chest tighten with disbelief and horror.

But Cedric was not the kind of man to stop there.

How dare that insolent woman speak to him like that?

Though his face betrayed nothing, fury surged beneath the surface. It was so strong that he nearly gave in to the impulse to seize her throat.

“Of course you’re no different. If you hadn’t married me – in that ridiculous marriage – do you think you’d be sleeping so soundly, with your body intact and your mind at ease? You’d be trembling every night, wondering when you’d be dragged from your bed, defiled, and torn to pieces by rioters.”

He unleashed a barrage of cruel, deliberate words on the small, fragile woman before him.

“Just look at the way people in this palace see you. You’re useless to me. A burden, even. The only reason I’ve tolerated you is because His Majesty of Laxion personally chose you as my wife.”
“…….”

“If he hadn’t desired this union, if he not ordered me to honor that pitiful scrap of parchment you call a marriage contract, you’d never have had the chance to stand here and speak to me like this.”

He didn’t hesitate to tear her down, crushing her without mercy, as one might break a wild beast.

“So don’t delude yourself. You and I are not equals.”

“…….”

“You bring me no benefit, no satisfaction, nothing but irritation. You’re nothing more than a pretentious little girl playing at grace and dignity.”

A pretentious little girl.

Perhaps that was the truest sentiment Cedric had for her. She was a woman who was too foolish to know her place, and too proud to realize that being called ‘Princess’ was more than she deserved.

Anita did not cry. Yet the violence of his words left countless invisible scars. Some would never heal.

‘Cedric?’

Was this really the same man she had known? The memories she had guarded so carefully were beginning to erode, piece by piece. The beautiful image fractured, its smooth edges becoming jagged and cruel.

“Why don’t you believe me? Still can’t grasp your situation? Then think of it simply.”

“…….”

“I don’t need you. In fact, I’d be far better off without you. At least then I wouldn’t have to endure this kind of pathetic conversation.”

With every word, the color drained from her memories. Moments that had once gleamed with warmth faded to grey, and, as they did, Anita’s heart grew darker.

“And you? What do you think?”

Cedric gave Anita’s dazed hand a sharp shake. She was so overwhelmed by shock that she had forgotten the pain she felt from his grip. Only then did tears finally well up in her eyes.

Seeing the raw hurt plain in her expression, Cedric felt a dark thrill of satisfaction. He repeated his question in a low, cutting voice.

“Crown Princess? Don’t you need me?”

“…….”

“Without me, without even the title of Crown Princess you cling to, what could you possibly do?”

Anita hated herself for being unable to tell him that she didn’t need him. She didn’t need him. Instead of blaming Cedric for the cruel words he had directed at her, she blamed herself for being too weak to reject him.

Hating him, truly hating him, was too painful. Even though she knew he was wrong and his words had hurt her deeply, she couldn’t bring herself to despise him.

As she stood there, motionless, tears trembling on her lashes, Cedric’s gaze caught sight of something within them that he clearly despised. With a flick of his wrist, he released her hand as though brushing off something filthy.

“How repulsive. Such boundless greed when you don’t even know your place.”

“…….”

“Do you know the real reason I look at you this way?”

Cedric knew that look in those blue eyes all too well.

Five years ago and still now, that look had never changed. Vivid and unmistakable, it shone with such clarity that it almost hurt to see it.

“Because you still look at me with those eyes.”