“I asked what this act is about.”

Admund asked the figure before him in a voice devoid of any emotion.

However, his gaze was full of contempt, as if looking at something insignificant.

Meeting Admund’s gaze, Lloyd smiled wryly as if in disbelief and said.

“I greet the great Crown Prince, Your Highness.”

“Just answer the question.”

Despite the cold voice that seemed to negate the years they were friends, Lloyd was not intimidated at all.

Rather, he was irritated by Admund’s brazen behavior.

“I’ve come to take my fiancée.”

Admund and Clea were equally annoyed.

The happy atmosphere that had continued until just moments ago completely disappeared due to Lloyd’s brazen answer.

‘This isn’t even the imperial palace. I’d rather avoid causing a disturbance in the temple.’

She sighed as attention was drawn to them.

As if being branded a person of interest wasn’t enough, she didn’t want to be seen as an even worse person here.

Yet here they were, causing trouble in the temple.

To quickly resolve this situation somehow, she spoke directly to Lloyd.

“Now that I’ve left the Odoi family, do you think our relationship could continue?”

She had already said this several times, but she thought he would surely understand if she said it this often.

It was to let him know that their engagement was merely strategically arranged by both families.

That now that she had left the Odoi family, there was absolutely no reason to continue their relationship.

Lloyd also fully understood what Clea was saying.

Yet he didn’t back down at all.

Rather, as if he had expected such words, Lloyd looked at Clea with an unfazed expression.

“Think about it. Our relationship wasn’t just because of the connection between our families.”

“Then what?”

Clea frowned her fine brows as if she had heard something absurd.

Seeing her expression, Lloyd took a step closer to her.

It was his first effort to try to close the gap in their already broken relationship.

“You and I were in love.”

“I loved you?”

Clea, now finding it difficult to even respect the other party, dropped formalities.

Lloyd, undeterred by this, was smiling at Clea.

That smile seemed to contain special emotions even to others watching.

But for Clea, it only evoked feelings of disgust.

“No, Lloyd. I have never loved you once. And you have never loved me either.”

“Clea! Why are you denying it!”

Even though she was only stating facts, she heard him ask why she was denying her feelings.

Clea felt like grabbing him by the collar.

She seemed to know why he was causing a disturbance here, as if he still hadn’t come to his senses.

‘You’re still captivated by that child.’

At this point, she could have felt pity for him.

As the distance between them grew closer, someone appeared to block their way.

“Step aside. I will take my fiancée and leave here.”

“You’re the one who should get lost from my sight.”

“Your Highness, please respect your opponent.”

“Shouldn’t there be value worth respecting to give respect? And I hope you realize that even now, I’m being very patient out of consideration for our past.”

“Your Highness!”

“Lloyd Percy.”

Admund’s voice, calmer than ever, sent chills down the spine of those who heard it.

Even though he spoke quietly, there was clear hostility in his voice.

However, Lloyd was still not intimidated by that hostile voice at all.

Admund found Lloyd’s defiant gaze looking at him even more ridiculous.

“Does Duke Percy know you’re behaving like this?”

“My father will support me.”

“He’ll support you well indeed. If he sees his heir trying to openly antagonize the Crown Prince.”

“Rather, isn’t Your Highness the one behaving wrongly? Clea is my woman.”

As soon as she heard Lloyd claiming her as his woman, Clea slowly moved her feet.

It was in a direction away from both of them.

She didn’t want to be seen by others. She needed to leave quickly.

Especially, she absolutely didn’t want to be seen by Admund.

The surroundings became completely silent in sync with her footsteps.

Everyone’s gazes were directed towards Clea.

No one could know what would happen depending on her actions.

On the other hand, Lloyd’s expression slowly hardened as if he had noticed something.

‘This happened before too…’

“Ugh.”

Blood redder than roses came out of her mouth.

People couldn’t even breathe at the sudden turn of events.

Everyone froze at her cold gaze.

They couldn’t move easily or open their mouths.

Only one person could speak here.

“Look at this state. Do you still claim that I loved you?”

Look at who’s causing me to suffer. At her words seemingly pointing at Lloyd, people’s gazes turned to him.

Everyone knew that she had suffered emotionally because of Lloyd.

“Whether I was in pain or not, you were always selfish like now. You were always violent towards me.”

Her health gradually worsened as she faced him.

“As if I could have loved someone who acts so selfishly.”

She brushed her snow-white hair with her blood-stained hand.

Her beauty stood out in this mismatched color combination.

“I was in a good mood today, but thanks to you, it’s become the worst.”

“Clea, I…”

“I told you before. Don’t ever look for me again.”

For some reason, Lloyd felt a desperation he had never felt before.

This time, it wasn’t a forced emotion due to Aria’s instigation.

He hoped she wouldn’t look at him like that anymore. At the same time, he wished she wouldn’t say the next words.

She probably didn’t occupy much space in his life. Nevertheless, Lloyd didn’t want to hear the word ‘end’ right now.

But Clea had no reason to consider his circumstances.

“I hate you. More than death. So this is the last time.”

With those final words, she raised the corners of her mouth.

A hand colder than a corpse touched Lloyd’s cheek.

“If you don’t wish for my death, never look for me again.”

Lloyd’s body froze like ice.

With those words, Clea slowly closed her eyes.

Her hand fell limply, and her body began to tilt towards the floor.

Seeing this, Lloyd reached out to catch Clea as she fell to the floor.

But there was a hand that moved before him.

“Get out of my sight right now.”

It was Admund who swatted Lloyd’s hand away and caught Clea with his other hand.

He felt the urge to grab Lloyd by the collar right then, his crimson eyes burning.

However, Clea in front of him took precedence now.

“I’m her fiancé. Her fiancé!”

Admund, holding the unconscious Clea tightly, headed back to the room where she had been staying.

But Lloyd kept shouting as if he couldn’t accept it.

That he was her fiancé.

He insisted that Clea be returned to him, but the people watching this scene became certain.

That Clea Odoi did not love Lloyd, as the rumors suggested.

“Clea! Clea!”

People who had confirmed that her heart was full of hatred and disgust rather than love began to look at Lloyd with cold eyes.

They started whispering about how cruelly he must have treated her for her physical condition to become like that, and whether they had been turning a blind eye all this time.

But Lloyd couldn’t hear the whispers of others.

What mattered to him now was Admund and Clea, who were getting farther away.

Lloyd wanted to snatch Clea away from Admund somehow, but his feet were completely frozen and wouldn’t move.

It was just like that time.

Like when Clea first coughed up blood in front of him.

For a long time after that. He continued to stand in that spot without moving, only calling Clea’s name.

* * *

“Ugh.”

Clea woke up with a groan, her insides burning terribly.

“Eat this. It’s a painkiller.”

Clea turned her gaze at the voice in her ear.

Right beside her was Admund, looking at her with worried eyes.

She clicked her tongue inwardly.

She really didn’t want to be seen coughing up blood in front of him.

If he saw it, he would surely wear that worried expression.

After taking the medicine and water given to her, she carefully lay back down and said.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I think I worried you.”

“Why should you be sorry for being worried about?”

“Then I hope you won’t make that expression.”

Her blurry vision became a bit clearer after taking the medicine.

Thanks to that, she could see what expression Admund was making as he watched over her.

An expression of regret, wanting to do something but unable to.

Clea didn’t want him to make such an expression because of her.

“You’re the first for me.”

“Clea.”

He took her hand very carefully, as if he would never let go.

Seeing Admund looking impatient, Clea whispered.

That he was the first to show her many emotions she hadn’t known before.

“Joy, sadness, happiness, you taught me all of it. So I don’t want you to make that expression.”

The reason she had no attachment to this world was because she hadn’t felt any of the emotions she just mentioned.

Happiness, joy, sadness, hope.

Without feeling any of these, the only thing she fully possessed was pain.

She grew tired of such a life, but after meeting Admund, she was now living a completely different life.

“The person I truly love is you.”

The painkiller seemed to be taking effect as she no longer felt pain.

Clea didn’t resist her closing eyes.

“I love you, Admund.”