Cassian laughed hollowly again. It meant he still thought she was lying.

“I dislike women like you.”

Sharp blue eyes turned towards Veronica.

They contained deep disgust. Veronica felt a familiar sense of déjà vu.

“I know women like you well. Whispering of eternal love, then tossing it aside as bothersome once you’ve won over. Uninterested in feelings directed at you, only caring about your own emotions. Love is nothing more than entertainment to relieve boring daily life. Arguing that even emotions can be fickle.”

“……”

“It was the same with Asher. You shook him with whispers of intense love, but once you got his heart, you threw it away as if bored.”

What resolve Asher must have needed to propose to her.

He suffered the humiliation of proposing to a woman he didn’t even love, who clung to him despite his dislike.

If not for the imperial order, he might have refused.

But from the moment he received the direct order from the Emperor, Asher set aside his own feelings.

Even as he headed to the Hardness estate that day, he smiled, wanting to try his best with his future partner.

“That kind and gentle person.”

Cassian’s heart ached just thinking of that day.

The gentle brother’s future was ultimately ruined by her selfishness.

Cassian couldn’t say anything in the carriage they rode together.

Would it be any consolation that his wish to leave the imperial palace could be fulfilled?

What rudeness did Veronica Hardness commit in front of such an Asher?

It was too much to say she was just sulking because he hadn’t reciprocated her feelings until then.

“Did you do it on purpose? Or am I your next plaything?”

Cassian didn’t hold back his sarcasm. He vented the frustration Asher couldn’t bring himself to express.

After Veronica Hardness and Duke Harry Hardness caused a commotion upon entering the palace, the Emperor berated Asher, saying “How did you act to miss the fruit right in front of you?”

He didn’t forget to bring up his leg disability either. Perhaps Cassian’s presence soothed the Emperor’s displeasure a little.

“Do you know what people whisper about us?”

“The opinions of others don’t matter.”

“They matter to me.”

“……”

“If you want ‘love’ that badly, why not attach yourself to someone more useful?”

Despite his extremely rude words, Veronica just stared at him blankly.

Even when pushed this far, she didn’t get upset or angry. Her unruffled expression was irritating.

“Your Highness seems to know Prince Asher well. You even speak on his behalf.”

“Of course.”

“Because he’s your beloved brother?”

Veronica smiled as she said this. As expected, her face showed no signs of being affected.

“My, Your Highness. You sound quite childish.”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t declare that you know everything just because you love someone. How do you know if your brother was truly hurt? How can you believe he’s just a kind and gentle person? Don’t be mistaken in thinking the gentle brother you know wouldn’t hurt even an ant.”

What did Asher do as soon as he ascended to the throne?

The first thing he did was eliminate the other heirs to the throne, his half-siblings, one after another.

From the Crown Prince who rebelled, to the second prince who helped him, the neutral third prince, and the other princes and princesses who watched the situation unfold – all were killed. Those in hiding were found and killed.

Only the youngest prince, still an infant, was sent into exile. Even he likely didn’t receive good treatment growing up.

“Everyone has many facets, Your Highness. Isn’t that true for you as well? You’d do anything for your precious brother, right? You’d grant any of his wishes. You could betray a trusted colleague, not hesitate to kill, and even gladly behead your fiancée, me.”

Veronica chuckled softly. As if amused. Despite the content being far from amusing.

“I don’t understand what you’re so worried about. The things you’re concerned about haven’t happened yet. And if you tell me to attach myself to someone useful, there’s no one more suitable than Your Highness Cassian.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Veronica knew what position this man before her would rise to in the future.

His current standing may be as unstable as a leaf fluttering in the wind, but the next in line for the throne after the current Emperor was Asher, and one of the people who aided his usurpation of the throne was this very man before her.

The one who raised his sword against his half-siblings on Asher’s orders was also this man.

Do you know what atrocities you will commit in the future? Veronica suddenly felt the urge to strangle him.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed.

“How am I looking at you?”

“With unsettling eyes.”

“That can’t be.”

Veronica smiled brightly, narrowing her crimson eyes. Cassian felt an unpleasant sensation.

“I understand what you’re saying. You’re pretending to speak for your brother, but you think I’m doing this because I want something.”

“It seems you do want something.”

“If I do, will you grant it?”

“Tell me.”

“Don’t be so quick to agree. How do you know what I’ll wish for?”

Cassian hesitated. For a moment, doubt flashed across his face, wondering if he’d been too hasty.

Veronica continued to smile cheerfully.

“If what I want is Your Highness’s heart, can you give it to me right now?”

“…I don’t understand what purpose such lies serve.”

“Why would it be meaningless? Just being able to convey my feelings to Your Highness Cassian has great meaning.”

“……”

Cassian was momentarily at a loss for words. He pondered how to uncover this woman’s true intentions. Meanwhile, Veronica stepped back.

“If I wanted something material, I would have said so right away. If I desired power, I would have become the Crown Prince’s mistress. It’s not that, so I hope you won’t misunderstand. My feelings as well.”

“……”

“Shall we continue our walk now?”

With that, Veronica resumed her steps.

It was absurd that she didn’t stop walking together despite their sharp exchange of words.

Moreover, she hadn’t properly answered any of his questions.

Cassian laughed hollowly again as he watched Veronica walk ahead.

Then he hardened his expression and turned in the opposite direction. He intended to leave her behind like this.

But his firmly planted feet didn’t make it even a few steps before stopping. He looked back again.

Though she must have heard his footsteps retreating, she didn’t turn around. Her back view seemed to see right through his inner thoughts.

Cassian finally sighed and took heavy steps towards her.

As they walked silently, the two soon entered the central garden.

It was the garden located at the very center among the gardens scattered throughout the castle.

Neither dared to continue the conversation all the way there. It was an uncomfortable silence brought on by unresolved topics.

Veronica suddenly stopped walking. Cassian, who had been walking without realizing she had stopped, belatedly halted as well.

When he turned around, Veronica was looking at something with her head turned.

“What are you doing?”

Cassian was about to approach her but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The wind blowing from all directions scattered everything around.

Her neatly pinned-up hair became disheveled in the wind, and the long white hair ribbon fluttered in the air.

Wisps of hair moved gently. The face revealed beneath was terrifyingly hardened.

It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had been smiling just moments ago, not showing a hint of emotion despite any sarcasm.

Cassian unknowingly stared at that sight. Then the wind grew stronger, blurring his vision.

Cassian raised one hand to shield his eyes.

Through the gaps between his fingers, he saw the world losing its center and swaying as if staggering.

Hair fluttered, clothes wrinkled, everything around swayed, but only that delicate form stood still without wavering.

Would it be strange if that sight felt rather unsettling?

The wind that had blown strongly for a moment soon calmed down. Cassian closed his eyes and opened them again.

His mind cleared as if returning from a dream to reality. He ran his hand through his hair for no reason.

“Do you believe in fate, Your Highness?”

“I’m not particularly interested in superstitions.”

“I believe in it.”

Cassian, who had been straightening his clothes, smirked.

“I didn’t think you were someone who knew romance.”

Veronica laughed along with him. But that laughter was quickly blown away by the passing breeze.

A calm silence descended. Veronica was silent again. Her gaze remained fixed to the side.

Only then did Cassian turn his gaze in that direction.

Through the privet trees with their abundant white flower buds, a statue of a baby angel could be seen.

It was something even Cassian, who was born and raised in the imperial palace, had never seen before.

The baby angel, holding an arrow in its small hand and looking up at the sky, had wings adorably protruding from its back, with fabric spread out in a circular shape around it.

At first glance, it seemed to be flapping its wings to rise to the sky, but upon closer inspection, it also looked like it was falling while gazing at the sky.

There are many angel statues in this country. Even without deliberately looking for them, you can see angel statues just by going out on the street a little.

Similar angel statues were common within the imperial palace as well.

This angel statue looked unsightly with moss growing on it and vines climbing up, as if it had been neglected for a long time, but there was nothing special about it.

Yet Veronica couldn’t take her eyes off this angel statue. She stared at it for quite a while, despite it being a commonplace sculpture.

Cassian looked at Veronica once, then turned back to the angel statue. He scrutinized it thoroughly, but still couldn’t see anything special about it.

“Do you perhaps have someone in mind?”

“Why do you ask such a thing?”

“I would understand if you kept a mistress later.”

“What did you just say?”

He asked again, too dumbfounded. Veronica still kept her gaze on the angel statue.

Cassian was at a loss for words. He learned for the first time while talking to her that when a person is too dumbfounded, they become speechless.

Veronica, unfazed, brought up an even more outrageous topic.