At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 31

It was a wedding that had everything—except that nothing belonged to the bride.

Not the engagement ring she received, nor the wedding band, nor even the tiara on her head or the heirloom jewels; even the groom was the same, and in truth, she hadn’t even deserved the bride’s place. She’d merely stood in someone else’s spot, temporarily filling it.

“Here.”

Caella returned the engagement ring she hadn’t worn even once since leaving Klein.

“Why… this…?”

Pheon choked on his breath, barely squeezing out the words. The sentence wasn’t even finished. He had clearly declared it hers and given it to her—so why was she returning it?

“Since I already got one…”

Or perhaps because one was enough. Watching Caella, who had stared at him with blank confusion just moments ago but now suddenly seemed wary, Pheon couldn’t even dare to sigh freely.

He couldn’t frighten her further—not when she was already shrinking into herself, as if realizing she’d done something wrong.

Ever since she’d collapsed, Caella had treated him not as the older brother she’d known in childhood, but solely as Grand Duke Lusenford. After awakening from her prolonged illness, she’d become even more formal.

She’d drawn a clear line, revealing no emotion at all. And now, the only hint of feeling she showed was this timid glance in his direction—making Pheon feel utterly disgusted with himself.

“Vi—no, Caella.”

He shook his head.

“No. It’s all yours. Didn’t I already tell you not to give it back?”

To the woman who’d been imprisoned in the northern tower and starved to death, Lusenford had been barren land where she’d merely clung to survival. Every year, she’d had to endure the nobles’ hostile stares and rude behavior, all disguised under the pretense of the Tour Berries.

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