“No one says a pebble is pretty when there’s a diamond in front. Ah, I suppose some fools without discerning eyes might.”

Floyd’s fingers lightly wrapped around the ends of Roxiana’s hair.

“Perhaps because I’ve seen the most beautiful woman in the world, Elise Hailis’s beauty didn’t particularly impress me.”

Roxiana blinked without responding.

What does he mean?

Floyd, who had thrown a large stone into Roxiana’s heart, released her hair and started walking again as if nothing had happened.

“What if, by chance, a dark mage without discerning eyes sided with Elise? What would you do then? The tricks of dark mages are not well-known, so we don’t know how they might attack.”

Roxiana, who had been holding her breath, finally came to her senses and quickly followed him, saying,

“That’s why I’m trying to experiment with my powers in various ways.”

“… Prepared to die?”

Roxiana smiled.

“Prepared to live.”

+++

Elise didn’t want to meet Joseph V, but she couldn’t disobey a royal command. As soon as she arrived in the capital, she sought out the Crown Prince’s palace to discuss this matter, but its doors remained closed. Even though she knew Lucas had turned his back on her, she kept sending letters, but never received a reply.

The day to meet Joseph V arrived without Elise having seen even a strand of Lucas’s hair.

Elise, who hadn’t slept for days and had been constantly nauseous, looked a mess. She wore a dress suitable for a royal audience, but didn’t conceal the shadows under her eyes with makeup.

She hoped her pitiful appearance would somehow appeal to Joseph V.

But Joseph V merely cast a cold gaze at Elise, who looked like she might collapse at any moment, with not a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

“It’s all your fault.”

In a study, not even the audience chamber, Joseph V spoke.

“It must be your doing. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Elise looked up at Lucas, who was standing quietly beside the king. But Lucas wasn’t looking at her. He was staring intently at the wall mural as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

While his attempt to avoid all of this infuriated her, despair was stronger. She might lose everything at this rate. When she hadn’t even started yet. When she was just at the stage of struggling and striving. Just when she was about to reap her harvest.

“Your Majesty, of course I’m willing to do anything for the Crown Prince’s reputation, but I’m not sure if people will believe it. By Your Majesty’s order, I became the lord of King Terren City and developed it splendidly, gaining support not only from the nobles but also from the citizens of King Terren.”

Joseph V smiled coldly.

“Are you threatening me with the support of nobles and citizens?”

Elise quickly bowed her head.

“How could I? For me to threaten Your Majesty… No, absolutely not. It’s just that if I suddenly take on all the blame, I’m worried about what will happen to King Terren City. The businesses were just starting to get on track…”

“That’s for me to worry about, not you. You will admit to all crimes and leave King Terren.”

Although she had expected this, hearing it in reality made it difficult to maintain her composure. Elise staggered, but no one came to support her.

“Le-leave… Leave Gania? Your Majesty, I will bear the Crown Prince’s crimes, but you can’t exile me like this. I revitalized King Terren City and agreed to bear the Crown Prince’s crimes. How can you cast me out like this?”

With no one to lean on, words of resentment poured out. Having nothing else to do, she had to do something.

“You can’t abandon me like this, Your Majesty.”

Joseph V read in Elise’s eyes what she was thinking. He sensed her resolve that if he cast her out like this, she wouldn’t remain silent either.

Indeed, Elise Hailis was not an easy opponent.

But even so, what could she do? Regardless of her strong personality, he was the king, and she was just a woman from a colony with nothing.

He could kill Elise Hailis with a flick of his finger to silence her, but the problem was that many eyes were currently on Gania.

Already, everyone was looking askance due to the issues with the Franche royal family. If Elise Hailis’s body were to be found now, it would surely invite great criticism.

So Joseph V decided to use even this aspect. He decided to play the role of a generous king who shows kindness even to a woman who has committed crimes.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of just casting you out to nowhere. I’ll give you a small estate in the northwest of Gania. I’ll also provide you with some money. Live there quietly, reflecting on your crimes.”

“But Your Majesty…!”

“Or would you prefer to admit your crimes, repent, and hang yourself because you can’t bear the guilt?”

Elise, who was about to protest, froze stiff.

He meant he would kill her and make it look like she had taken her own life. It meant he would pin all the crimes on the dead Elise.

Elise realized from Joseph V’s cold gaze that he really could do such a thing.

“No one… will believe it.”

“Perhaps not. But you know well, don’t you? Rumors eventually become truth.”

She knew it well. All too well.

After all, Elise had benefited greatly from such rumors.

There was a time when people pitied Elise because the false rumors Joseph V had created about the Franche royal family became truth. Now it was known that it was all just baseless rumors, but that was because there were people willing to reveal the truth.

But Elise had no one.

Even if she died bearing false charges, no one would try to uncover the truth for her sake.

“What will you do, Elise Hailis? Will you die or live?”

With even Lucas turning his back on her, Elise had only one choice. Elise bowed her head, tears flowing.

“I will bear all the crimes and leave, Your Majesty.”

“Where are the words of gratitude?”

Elise’s face contorted. She spoke, grinding her teeth inwardly.

“I thank you for your boundless generosity, Your Majesty.”

+++

Elise withdrew from the king’s presence but didn’t leave the palace right away. She stood blankly in the corridor leading to the Crown Prince’s quarters after descending from the study.

‘I can’t end it like this.’

Her mind wasn’t working well.

‘What should I do?’

Her vision was spinning. Her physical condition had been poor ever since confirming Roxiana’s survival. As if under Roxiana’s curse.

‘Think. You must think, Elise Hailis.’

If she’s exiled like this, it’s over. Even if she steps down as the lord of King Terren, the personal debts Elise had incurred would follow her to her grave. It was an enormous debt that couldn’t be repaid even with a fraction of the small amount of money Joseph V promised to give.

No man would accept a woman followed by debt collectors. She couldn’t even dream of social advancement, and if she fell into the hands of unscrupulous creditors, she might have to live like a slave for the rest of her life.

Unlike Roxiana.

‘Why…?’

She suddenly compared her situation with hers.

Roxiana had lost her family, her country, her status as a princess, yet she seemed no different from when she had everything.

‘Why do you still shine so brightly? When I’m in this state?’

In contrast, Elise’s situation had worsened compared to when she was in the Ider Palace. She might soon fall into ruin.

‘I worked so hard… What’s the difference between you and me?’

If Roxiana were in front of her, she wanted to grab her collar and shake her, asking why God’s favor was only directed at her, why she was losing everything despite trying so hard.

‘No. I haven’t lost anything yet. I’m still the lord of King Terren, still the Crown Prince’s lover. Yes, for now.’

In the distance, she saw Lucas approaching.

Though she was shaken by the many events, she didn’t think his feelings had completely cooled. She could find a way to overcome this situation. She must find it.

“Your Highness.”

As Elise approached, Lucas, who had been looking at the ground while walking, raised his head. Deep wrinkles formed between his brows when he spotted Elise.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting for Your Highness. I wanted to at least greet you before leaving on a long journey… You’ll allow me to say farewell, won’t you?”

When she said she would leave obediently, Lucas’s expression softened. He relaxed the corners of his mouth and said,

“Yes, we should say farewell. I feel sorry that things turned out this way for you.”

“No, Your Highness. You’ve given me so much. There’s nothing to be sorry about. Don’t feel guilty. I’m worried it might affect your health.”

As Elise pretended to worry only about Lucas even in a situation where she had to take on everything, Lucas’s heart melted. He sighed softly and walked slowly.

“I tried to protect you, but my father’s will was too firm to persuade.”

Elise knew this was a lie, but she put on a touched expression.

“So you tried for my sake. That’s enough for me. Really.”

Lucas stopped walking and turned to look at Elise.

“I will miss you.”

“Me too, Your Highness. Please don’t forget that no matter where I am, my heart belongs only to you.”

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then approached Elise closely. His face drew near as he wrapped his arm around Elise’s waist.

She felt nauseous.

Although his face was still undeniably perfect, knowing what he was hiding behind that handsome face made her feel disgusted. Still, she tried to accept his lips, but she couldn’t swallow all the bile rising up.

“Ugh!”

As Elise couldn’t hold back and retched, Lucas pushed her shoulders away and stepped back.

“What are you doing!”