Kun had rushed here to see the princess. Fortunately or unfortunately, he could see her right before his eyes.

Unfortunately, indeed.

“Peace….”

Kun quietly looked at Chloe. The expression of the woman standing alone with a bouquet was subtle for a bride.

Knowing the situation of their marriage, Kun could gauge how the story was flowing.

Marrying just because of the words of dedication to her loved one. He felt not only sad but also infuriated by the frustrating situation.

“Is this the peace you wanted?”

Kun wanted to storm out right now. He wanted to walk boldly forward, grab Chloe’s wrist, and leave the church.

The aftermath might be difficult, but he could have handled it.

He would have to talk about what had happened so far, and his reputation that he had built up would crumble.

But he didn’t care.

“I swear.”

If he had not seen Chloe’s face as she raised her head for the vow.

If he hadn’t read Chloe’s eyes towards Callis.

He would have given in to his instincts without hesitation.

The woman’s cheeks that turned pink unknowingly. A shy expression that became more and more apparent the more she tried to hide it.

“…Groom, do you swear to love the bride forever?”

It was unmistakably the face of a woman in love.

Kun returned to the empire as soon as the wedding was over.

“Your Majesty, are you alright? You look pale.”

“I’m not okay.”

Kun replied immediately.

“So let’s go back to the empire as soon as possible. I feel dirty just breathing in this filthy land.”

Dillan shut his mouth at the ensuing irritable words.

If it had been the usual Dillan, he would have cheekily teased once more, but he obediently fell silent.

‘Driven away without gaining a thing.’

He lost everything trying to win her, and the knight who gained everything without lifting a finger took away his last hope.

‘I misjudged the person. I should have chosen a different knight. If I had only endured one more day….’

Kun ground his teeth, unable to overcome his boiling anger.

He shouldn’t have given Callis a chance.

No, even if he had run into a different knight, in the end, that knight would have clung to Chloe, so even at the risk of exposing his reasons, Kun should have announced the end himself.

No, after seizing the opportunity in the war and making the kingdom his own, he should have plundered the princess.

No, he simply shouldn’t have loved Chloe.

No, just… just…

Kun’s soliloquy that began with selfreproach soon came to an end.

‘It’s pathetic.’

Kun felt dirty for days on end as he headed for the empire. Day or night, awake or asleep, all day long.

Even after arriving at the empire, he had no time to get angry as he cleared up the pile of work.

Eventually, he regained his composure. His mind finally began to work realistically.

Anyway, Chloe loves Callis. Even if it’s a onesided love, if that’s her true happiness, Kun cannot intervene.

Lastly, he planted a spy in the house of Duke Argen. To check on her wellbeing from afar.

The monthly reports were utterly miserable.

Becoming the kingdom’s princess and being treated like that in such a place. Yet, Chloe was enduring it all.

Then one day, the spy brought shocking news.
Callis Argen brought a woman known as ‘Helena’ into the duke’s family.

‘The princess is really pitiful.’

A pitiful woman. Now she has truly become an outcast without a shred of hope.

The king, fearing Callis’s endless rise, pawned the princess and the title.

He won’t divorce the princess and Callis for something like this.

‘If I reach out my hand now…….’

There is no one beside the princess now.

‘Now, wouldn’t the princess take my hand?’

(This is a time separator.)

His closed eyes suddenly opened. The red eyes that suddenly appeared in the world looked around.

The body that pleased his eyes just a moment ago was nowhere to be found. Only halfeaten crackers and two glasses of wine were left in front of him.

Kun got up from his seat. It wasn’t to move his body to something like a bed.

He rushed to the door. Because of the fast walk, the silk gown kept sliding down. It was quite annoying, but now was not the time to straighten his clothing.

He ran out into the hallway and began to run without purpose.

And finally, he found the woman.

Chloe, crying loudly somewhere unknown, without even considering the unconscious maidservants.

Only then did the tension that had controlled his body release. The breath that had felt prickly in his chest began to lighten.

Kun silently stepped forward. Soon, he too knelt in front of her, who was crouched down crying.

“Princess.”

At the two words, Chloe’s head was raised. Even this time, her eyes were filled with confusion.

As if she couldn’t understand why she was being called by such a title.

However, whenever that is, it’s a subject Kun can’t answer. Would she understand Kun’s heart, not wanting to recognize her as his wife?

“Do you still love the duke?”

Busy stopping her crying at Kun’s appearance, she just shook her head diligently.

“That’s a relief.”

He wanted to hear it in words if possible, but this was enough. Just seeing that head movement dispelled the gloom that had engulfed Kun for a year.

Soon he extended his hand with a rare bright smile.

“Get up, Princess.”

“…….”

“We need to go home.”