Those eyes.

Those eyes, slightly brighter and yellower, as if hinting at a clearly different species despite the same red color.

Those red eyes were identical to the eyes the boy trapped in the wardrobe accidentally discovered fifteen years ago.

They were horrible and disgusting.

The third prince who unhesitatingly plunged and pulled out the sword of the Charliee Royal Knights into the heart of his nanny suddenly came to mind.

“……”

In succession, Sieghart realized that the knight’s eyes matched exactly with Natasha’s eyes.

The eerie eyes said to be like the sun of Charliee were embedded in the woman the man loved. The jewel shining under the magnificent chandelier was facing him.

The moment he faced the woman, the scene Sieghart had forgotten whirled through his mind again. The scene he had completely forgotten while running for fifteen years instantly stimulated his memory.

His confidence that he could handle the emotions that gave rise to the unfilial act crumbled.

Ah, it was those eyes.

You were a person of Charliee.

His past, blinded by the emotion called love, suddenly stabbed his heart. The eyes he had locked away and the truth rose to the surface one after another.

He had failed to recognize it while loving Tisha Winter with a different appearance. That that woman was of the Charliee lineage.

Charliee was the man’s enemy. Everyone with ‘those eyes’ was his mortal enemy.

Sieghart couldn’t bring himself to kiss the woman. While he could promise eternity to Tisha Winter, he couldn’t swear love to Natasha Charliee.

How could Sieghart Asthart, with the face of Enoch Calent, act so boldly in front of the family watching him from paradise?

‘To think I promised I could love a woman branded with Charliee’s mark.’

He thought he could be happy with that woman. He recklessly guaranteed his own happiness, believing he could build the most beautiful life without regretting his choice.

‘How stupid.’

Not knowing it was premature arrogance.

The woman who had followed him believing only in the emotion called love was naturally disappointed by the man’s behavior. Sieghart felt his blood run cold for a moment at Natasha shouting for divorce with a dejected expression.

Why?

‘Because that woman is trying to leave me?’

That can’t be. How could someone like Natasha Charliee be allowed to leave his side?

Right, this is because of Kyle Letius’s condition. To escape from the damned imperial family, that condition must be fulfilled. The reason for coaxing and soothing the woman trying to run away is just that.

Sieghart pretended to be a loving husband and satisfied Natasha while hovering around her.

‘It’s those eyes, my son. Those eyes brought down our Calont Earldom.’

‘Surely you’re not still in love with that woman, young master? Look at her eyes! They’re proof of Charliee’s roots!’

The memory of that day that came to mind every time he saw her eyes occasionally tormented the man, but he calmly ignored it. He spent time firmly believing that the woman before him was Tisha Winter, not Natasha Asthart.

And when the audience with the Emperor was finally arranged, he rushed to the imperial palace without looking back.

“You heartless bastard,” the Emperor spat out curses with a distorted expression as he glared at him. As the blood from his spread fingers seeped into the contract, Enoch Calent’s allegiance was dissolved.

Finally, Enoch Calent and the Asthart Duchy broke away from the Letius Imperial Family.

“Have you forgotten that the Asthart Duchy was able to grow only because it had the imperial family behind it? Now only ruin remains for your family, you fool!”

Kyle Letius, who had lost the bet, was more than just frustrated as he hurled curses at his opponent. Despite the loud shouts, Sieghart left without caring.

It was when he grabbed the doorknob to leave.

“It’s a shame that such a long relationship ends like this, but I’d like to get one answer as a parting gift. Sieghart, do you perhaps love that woman?”

Kyle Letius was a man who knew well how to perplex Sieghart. The mean question finally stopped the man’s steps.

“No, I’m curious. I hear you chased after that woman for half a year? When you could have simply dragged her by the hair and seated her, why did Your Excellency treat her so gently? And what was the reason you had to give that woman a luxurious life?”

“……”

“My conclusion is just one. That the woman is terribly to your taste.”

At first, it was obviously because he loved Tisha Winter. After understanding his relationship with the woman, it changed.

Or perhaps, was it the shallow sincerity remaining at the edge of his heart that led him to show clemency?

“I won’t answer useless questions. There’s no need for that anymore.”

Sieghart skillfully postponed answering. He didn’t know the exact answer himself, and there was no need to confess such things to Kyle Letius one by one.

“You shouldn’t love her. Wise Enoch Calent.”

The voice full of mocking nuances caught his ankle again. The tone that seemed relaxed at a glance but exuded a vicious aura projected a sense of ridicule towards Sieghart.

“Because that woman is the seed of the royal family that destroyed your family.”

He thought he was saying something great, but he was just blurting out what Sieghart had already realized.

Well, what brilliant thing could that stupid man say? He felt pathetic for even listening to the Emperor’s words.

“And, she’s also the last daughter of the royal family you destroyed.”

“……”

“It means you’re the target of her revenge.”

Sieghart Asthart.

The changed name returned to the man as a brand, striking down on his chest. The name engraved on his heart was heavier than a sword made of metal.

They say even a broken clock is right once a day, and he wondered why Kyle Letius was suddenly speaking logically.

‘Yes, to that woman, I am the enemy.’

He had been so focused on the existence of Natasha Charliee that he had completely forgotten about the existence of Sieghart Asthart.

‘…Someday, that woman will feel the same dirty emotions as I did.’

Then, would Natasha someday show him hatred? Would she erase her loving feelings and scream that his eyes were horrible? Would they eventually regret their past of loving each other?

It doesn’t matter to receive contempt from someone you don’t love, does it? What am I worrying about?

The truth deeply embedded in his heart accompanied the answer, but Enoch Calent deliberately ignored it. Sieghart Asthart did the same.

Instead, he made a different plan.

First, to cruelly abandon that woman. He thought he could just ignore and cast her aside like last time.

Then he would be able to shake her off someday. Because by then, it wouldn’t matter if the woman looked at him with contemptuous eyes.

As planned, Sieghart thoroughly ignored the woman. Whenever strange feelings tried to rise, he stared intently at the woman’s eyes and agonized.

That woman is the last survivor of Charliee and at the same time my mortal enemy.

And now it’s my turn to become the woman’s mortal enemy.

‘Yes, ignore and reject her! Ignore that damned wench!’

‘Whether Kyle Letius comes looking for that woman or not, why should you care? Just leave her be! Shouldn’t that woman suffer at least as much as you did?’

‘What are you worried about, young master? Surely you don’t still love that woman? Are you really going to disappoint this nanny?’

Sieghart began to resent her as the voices led him.

Because I’d rather you remain my enemy than I become yours.

Because it’s a bit unfair that I, who only pursued revenge, should receive your resentment just for achieving that revenge.

So he avoided everything.

Always.

Constantly.

Sometimes he would show his true feelings when unable to control his instincts, but he lied to deceive his family and nanny.

This is just sympathy and pity, nothing more, nothing less. It’s just giving alms to a companion who shares the sorrow of losing family.

And then when that woman found out his ugly truth.

“Is what the newspapers are saying true? Did you really plan everything? Did you… declare that you could take the kingdom if you destroyed the royal family?”

When she glared at him with eyes full of resentment.

“That it would be easier to seize territory if the royal family was destroyed. And that if the severed heads were hung on trees, the resistance of the royalist nobles would subside and you could claim ownership of the territory… Did you argue that?”

The man felt a deep sense of dismay.

He almost let go of the rope he was barely holding onto.

Desperately supporting his body leaning towards the cliff, he slowly began to lift the rope. His wrist felt like it would break, and he wanted to let go of the rope, but he endured.

Because he couldn’t let go yet.

“Later.”

“……”

“I have an urgent appointment now, so let’s talk later.”

He left the imperial palace while firmly gripping the rope with all his might. He believed it was right to postpone the excuses for the woman for now.

Sieghart went to confront Kyle. He couldn’t take any measures at the Emperor’s words that he would spread even the shame of the Charliee royal family if he said anything more.

Strength briefly entered his hand on the sword, then weakly dissipated. His stiff expression crumbled in an instant. He soon raised the corners of his mouth as if bitter.

‘Commit treason?’

He must be crazy.

He tried to cut off the Emperor’s head because that woman came to hate him?

‘Don’t be afraid of the woman hating you. You only did the right thing. You just eliminated the demons who destroyed the Calont Earldom and succeeded in revenge. What reason is there for you, who did what was right, to fear being condemned by that woman!’

The voice that had been waiting for its chance swallowed the man. Sieghart shook his head at the ominous question that seemed to ask if he still loved that woman.

In the end, the man returned to the ducal residence.

It was ten days after he had left.

And what greeted him upon his return was…

“…What did you say?”

The unbelievable news that the duchess had gone missing.