Chapter 1

“She’s finally showing her true colors.”  

“Chester, watch your mouth.”  

“Isn’t it true, Sommer? Didn’t she say she didn’t even want to see His Grace’s face? She’s so obsessed with the Crown Prince, yet she agreed to this marriage so easily.”  

Chester, the knight who was the right-hand man of Grand Duke Kallieon, grumbled. From the very beginning, he had not liked Asterope. No matter how much she pretended to be pure and kind, Chester saw right through her. He knew she despised this place, Serpiewood.  

She lived like a princess inside the castle, showing no interest in the estate. She only cared about embroidery and painting. Every day, she changed into a new dress, always presenting herself as beautiful in front of Kallieon.  

She was undeniably beautiful. She smiled sweetly at Kallieon and, while not particularly kind to the knights, she wasn’t mean either.  

But to Chester, she always seemed like someone ready to leave at any moment. It was as if she were prepared to fly to the Crown Prince the moment he called. Even when she looked at Kallieon, there was no sincerity in her gaze. She would pretend to meet his eyes but actually stare into space, or she’d look down at the ground, claiming she was shy.  

Chester knew she wasn’t being honest. She simply didn’t like the Grand Duke, who was the complete opposite of the pale and refined Crown Prince.  

Grand Duke Kallieon was nearly two meters tall, with a massive frame. He wielded the heaviest sword and had spent most of his time on the battlefield, giving his skin a healthy sun-kissed tone that some found attractive. His red hair and bluish-gray eyes added an air of mystery to his appearance.  

People often said his looks resembled those of a god from mythology. Moreover, he had never lost a single battle. This was why he was called the undefeated god, the god of war.  

To the knights, he was a divine figure. Quiet and reserved, he kept very few people close—only Chester and Sommer, who had been with him since childhood.  

And yet, the one person who could make this stoic man anxious was none other than Grand Duchess Asterope. For someone who had shown no interest in anything outside of war, the sudden marriage had been a shock to Kallieon. He thought she would reject him, but Asterope followed him to Serpiewood without complaint.  

To Kallieon Onyx, she was the first family he had ever known. Born an orphan and abandoned in Serpiewood, he had never had a family of his own. She became the first member of the Onyx family to stand by his side.  

For Kallieon, that alone was enough for love to bloom in his heart.  

Kallieon’s appearance was sharp and intimidating, and a faint scent of blood always lingered around him. Asterope was the only woman who had ever spoken to him warmly.  

She was the only one who melted the cold heart of a man who had lived solely on the battlefield. That was why he couldn’t help but love her.  

He knew she lied. He knew she was vain and indulgent. But none of that mattered to Kallieon.  

He could give her all of that and more.  

However, a week ago, Asterope started acting strangely. After sleeping an entire day, she woke up screaming. She ordered all the candles in her room to be extinguished, closed the curtains, and stayed in darkness. She spent her time soaking in the bathtub, trembling from head to toe.  

When Kallieon first saw her shivering in the water, he thought he would lose his mind.  

He was terrified she might be ill. But all she did was push him away, saying she didn’t want to see his face.  

She sent the doctor away and barely ate. It was as if she had been possessed.  

“Could it be magic? I heard mages sometimes appear around here.”  

“Did you forget about the magic circle on the castle walls? No curse can penetrate it.”  

“It could be a curse disguised as a blessing.”  

“There’s no such thing.”  

“Both of you, quiet.”  

Kallieon’s already aching head throbbed even more. Normally, he would have let them bicker until the end, but today he waved them off.  

Just thinking about Asterope was overwhelming. He had been driven out of her room again today. Sitting in the dining hall, no amount of alcohol seemed to help him find an answer.  

A maid filled his empty glass with ouzo. The strong liquor, distilled with grapes and herbs, was popular in Serpiewood for its ability to ward off the cold. Kallieon drank the entire glass in one go and wiped his mouth.  

No matter how much of the potent drink he consumed, he felt parched. Just as he was about to drink straight from the bottle, he heard the maid’s trembling voice.  

“G-Grand Duchess, Your Grace!”  

Kallieon put down the bottle and turned around. Her hair was still damp, but it was the most presentable she had looked in the past week.  

“Rope.”  

Kallieon called her by the nickname she allowed only him to use. With vacant eyes, Asterope leaned against the wall and spoke.  

“I’m hungry.”  

At her dry, cracked words, Kallieon immediately ordered the maids to bring food. As the maids bustled about, Kallieon and Asterope locked eyes. Neither looked away.  

“It really does seem like magic.” 

Chester muttered, watching Asterope’s unflinching gaze. It was as if she had become a completely different person overnight.  

***

Asterope ate like someone who hadn’t had a meal in days, devouring bread, soup, and meat. The etiquette she had learned so strictly as a child was long forgotten.  

During her time in prison, she had eaten soup filled with bugs.  

She had no choice; she was too hungry. Though it made her gag, she forced herself to swallow the hard bread and cold soup.  

She had been kept alive until the day Villish ascended the throne and married Hayes.  

Every day, she was tortured for answers about her rebellion. Though she truthfully confessed it was Villish’s doing, they tortured her until she finally claimed it was the Lunette’s family’s plot.  

The day after her false confession, she watched her entire family be killed before her eyes.  

Her father, mother, and two older brothers—all dead because of her.  

Asterope clenched the bread in her hand, dipped it into the soup, and shoved it into her mouth. She vowed to survive and tear Villish apart.  

A glass of water was placed in front of her.  

“Eat slowly.”  

It was Kallieon. He offered her water with herbs floating in it, his voice filled with concern. His expression didn’t change much, but Asterope could tell.  

She had spent enough time with him to understand the subtle kindness in his eyes, which others couldn’t see.  

But she had betrayed all of that for the sake of becoming Empress.  

Asterope thought about how selfish and despicable she had been.  

She drank the water in one gulp. If she didn’t fill her stomach with something, her tears would betray her. After finishing the glass, she spoke.  

“Grand Duke.”  

“…”  

“Kallieon.”  

“Go on.”  

“Please dismiss Sir Chester, Sir Sommer, and the servants. I want to speak with you alone.”  

Chester and Sommer exchanged glances. The Grand Duchess had never spoken so boldly before.  

Kallieon nodded and gestured for everyone to leave. Without a word, they all exited the room. Now, only Kallieon and Asterope remained in the large dining hall.  

Asterope wiped her mouth roughly with a napkin. The delicate woman who used to nibble daintily and dab at her lips gently was gone. She tossed the napkin aside and looked directly at Kallieon.  

“Kallieon.”  

“Yes.”  

“Crown Prince Villish is plotting a rebellion.”  

“Crown Prince Villish is the only heir to the Imperial Family. He has no reason to rebel.”  

“He knows His Majesty trusts you more. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”  

“Rope, this is not something you need to concern yourself with.” 

Kallieon wished for Asterope to remain unaware of the filthy side of the man she had once loved—or perhaps still loved even now. Villish, the Crown Prince, had relied solely on his birthright and neglected his growth. The Emperor had found this unacceptable and sought to foster Villish’s development through Kallieon.  

But there was one oversight in this plan.  

In the process, Kallieon’s talents had become too apparent. From his undefeated military record to his increasingly imposing appearance, and even the restoration of Serpiewood—everything had turned out perfectly.  

At some point, the Emperor realized his mistake and began to keep Kallieon in check. However, he could not express this openly before the citizens of the empire and its officials. He couldn’t simply stop the performance he had set into motion.  

Within the Imperial Family, Kallieon was a hot topic. Even when exiled to the distant Serpiewood, he shone like another sun, radiating his brilliance.  

However, Kallieon had no ambitions. He saw no reason to start a war and divide the citizens of the empire. Knowing that the Emperor had no intention of handing over the empire to him willingly, Kallieon was content with simply protecting Serpiewood.  

“No. Perhaps I realized it before you did.”  

“Rope.”  

“Because I am an accomplice to that rebellion.”