He could only carry out his plan.

“Well, that might be a bit difficult.”

“Why?”

“As you’ve already heard, I negotiated with your brother.”

“…”

“And that negotiation involves you.”

He couldn’t say the reason for keeping her was her. For someone like you, who harbors feelings for another man, my emotions are worthless.

Presenting a negotiation proposal that would likely be rejected was meaningless.

“…So, are you going to use me in that negotiation? Breaking our promise?”

“If we get technical, sadly, it seems that way.”

He shamelessly replied that he would break the contract. A face entirely lacking in remorse.

Blair, facing that face, couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh.
I tried to keep the contract with him. I endeavored to overcome my fears and faced the truth I wanted to ignore.

I don’t regret it.

It was not only for him but also for Esmeralda. It was a debt of my heart that wanted to honor her.

But separate from him, the betrayed trust was painful.

It felt nauseating, just like when I faced Katrina and Ivan at the palace a while ago. The realization that he was no different from them suffocated me.

This man, too, only intended to use me.

That’s what I despise about him.

And what’s more dreadful than that is…

I, who trusted him, hesitated at Mikhail’s proposal, promising to keep our commitment like a fool.

After receiving so much pain from you in my past life, I found myself falling in love with you again in this life.

“I think this marriage won’t be a bad choice for you either.”

“…”

“We get along quite well.”

“…Do you really think so, sincerely? That we get along well?”

A hint of confusion lingered in his distorted eyes. He genuinely seemed to believe that there was nothing wrong with their relationship.

I laughed at that fact.

“No. We clashed from the beginning, and the one who adjusted was me, not us.”

In my past life, because I loved you.

In this life, to meet Asiel.

Your desires always came first. I always had to adjust in this relationship that was constantly going off track, and you know the feeling of continuously piecing together countless shattered glass shards, the lonely feeling that I couldn’t give up on, don’t you?

“I was the one holding onto our relationship alone, just to maintain a good relationship with you. You probably didn’t notice because it seemed so natural to you.”

“…”

“I finally understand now. We can never be together.”

“Then let’s adjust and move forward.”

I once believed that too.

Because I loved you, I thought someday you would understand my sincerity. I thought we could adjust to each other.

But now I realize that it was my arrogance.

“No, I won’t do that anymore. There’s no reason to. You are no longer my ally.”

“Blair.”

“Let me go.”

Almost a desperate plea. However, to Haldin, it was a piercing statement, like a dagger.

His lips twisted as he looked at her. The rising anger turned into a chilling tone.

“Everyone lives like that. They get married against their will, exclude emotions, and live in a marriage where they only seek their own benefits.”

“…”

“Your plan was ridiculous from the start. A princess causing a scandal and eloping… It’s absurd.”

“…”

“You’d either be caught after running away and become a waste in the palace, or if you’re lucky, you might end up as an old lady’s adopted daughter.”

“…”

“How long will you be trapped in your own ideals, forcing yourself into something that doesn’t make sense?”
Blair’s eyes twisted at his sarcastic words.

Her fragile body, unable to control her emotions, appeared dangerously shaky. It seemed she could collapse at any moment.

The feeling of watching her in such a state became repulsive. There was no sense of achievement or leisure that usually followed winning an argument.

Haldin, loosening the cravat that tightly squeezed his neck with a rough motion, sighed and spoke.

“…Enough now. You don’t look well.”

He approached Blair, who seemed like she could collapse any moment, and embraced her.

“Let go of me!”

But Blair pushed him away. With feeble hands, persistently.

Haldin eventually released Blair, whom he had been holding. Freed from his embrace, Blair looked at him with eyes full of hatred, tears streaming down her face.

“I horribly regret it. Trusting you again.”

As if it were the final blow, Blair spat out those venomous words and left the room.

Haldin sighed, running his fingers through his disheveled hair.

He knew she wouldn’t be able to escape from this mansion no matter where she went. If she got tired and crouched somewhere, he could bring her back then.

However, as Haldin lifted his head again, the moment Blair, who was leaving the bedroom, collapsed became visible.

At the same time, his heart sank.

“Blair!”