Welcome, Crown Prince.
Henzela, the Empress, rose from her seat to greet Killian.
Killian lightly kissed the back of his mother’s outstretched hand.
The Empress’s eyes overflowed with satisfaction as she gazed at Killian, her only son.
His sturdy frame, broad shoulders rivaling any man’s, his formidable supernatural power praised by the Empire’s citizens, and his jet-black hair—identical to the Emperor’s—radiated charisma.
Killian was the Empress’s pride and her perfect son.
He had always followed her wishes obediently, growing into an exemplary Crown Prince without major transgressions.
Though she had once worried over his tender-hearted nature in childhood, proper education had ensured such concerns no longer arose.
As the Empress sat down, Killian took his seat across from her.
“His Majesty left early this morning for a hunt.”
“Yes. I was informed by a servant on my way here.”
Taking a sip of soup and gently dabbing her lips with a napkin, the Empress smiled lightly.
“A marriage proposal has come for Prince Edan.”
Must she bring this up so early in the morning?
Faced with the Empress’s inexplicable remark—so unlike her usual self—Killian sliced his meat with an impassive expression.
“Is that any concern of mine?”
The Empress smiled contentedly at Killian’s reply.
Then, setting down her napkin, she continued in a soothing tone, as if coaxing a child.
“The other party is Princess Ciela.”
His rigid, icy expression seemed to crack, his pupils trembling faintly.
Then, as if sudden strength surged into his gripping hand—crack!—the plate shattered into two pieces.
“Clean this up.”
Yet, as if regaining his senses in that brief moment, Killian commanded in a terrifyingly low voice.
He then calmly set his knife and fork back in place.
“She is no longer a princess, is she?”
The Empress, who had been watching Killian’s every move with sharp intensity, picked up her empty wine glass.
“Do you think she became a commoner simply because her kingdom fell?”
Killian’s expression hardened at the Empress’s cheerful tone.
“You are gravely mistaken. Come to think of it, the Crown Prince has been unaware of Princess Ciela’s recent circumstances. She has now ascended to the position of Imperial Princess.”
Meanwhile, fresh food was placed before Killian, and red wine was poured into the Empress’s glass.
“The Emperor of the Eastern Empire has taken Princess Ciela as his adopted daughter. Her beauty must have made it possible.”
“Isn’t she still essentially a hostage?”
“That may be true, but outwardly, she is now the Imperial Princess of the Eastern Empire—a fortunate turn for her, wouldn’t you say?”
The wine slid down her violet-tinted lips into her mouth.
Killian glanced fleetingly at his mother—drinking wine so early in the morning—and then deliberately averted his gaze as he spoke.
“I’m not so sure.”
Killian picked up his water glass, untouched by the newly served food.
“It would be better to refuse. Even if she is called the Eastern Empire’s Imperial Princess, she remains little more than a hostage. A marriage between her and a Grand Duke makes no strategic sense.”
Originally, the Eastern Empire had been a kingdom. It waged war against Princess Ciela’s kingdom, won, and became an empire.
Though its power had grown over the years, it still paled in comparison to the Alkedania Empire.
If the goal was diplomatic relations with the Eastern Empire, countless alternatives existed beyond a political marriage.
And to propose, as a match for a prince, not even a true Imperial Princess but a princess from a defeated kingdom—
For a moment, Killian’s eyes narrowed.
A sham Imperial Princess and a bastard prince in a political marriage.
The Empress’s calculations—his own mother’s scheming—were painfully obvious.
Killian had no intention of opposing the public pretense of treating Edan in such a manner.
But the other party was Ciela.
Not just anyone—Ciela Hestia.
Killian’s first love, the only woman he had ever considered marrying.
Her marrying Edan?
That would never happen—not even if the world turned upside down.
He would oppose it fiercely. And—
“If the Grand Duke has any sense, he will refuse.”
He already resents me for it.
If he intends to live with any clarity from now on, he will refuse.
Even though the Emperor, his father, secretly sends him potions—half of which are fakes anyway—he will surely desire the Great Saintess’s healing power.
Killian lifted his glass and signaled with his eyes; a maid approached and refilled his wine.
Gulp. The red wine slid coldly down his throat.
The Empress, silent until now, stared at Killian, then set her glass down.
“No. Prince Edan has already accepted the proposal.”
At the Empress’s words, Killian’s gaze—fixed on his wine—turned chillingly fierce.
[This is the timeline separator]Returning to his office, Killian seized a large vase near the entrance and hurled it mercilessly against the wall.
The flowers inside scattered midair and fell; the expensive vase shattered loudly into countless fragments.
Shards flew in all directions, one grazing the tip of Killian’s chin.
A stinging sensation followed, and blood began to trickle from his jaw.
Unable to contain his rage, Killian clutched a shard tightly.
The sharp fragment dug into his palm, and dark crimson blood dripped steadily onto the floor.
“Damn it.”
Unable to suppress his fury, blue supernatural energy erupted from Killian’s body. The resulting throbbing headache forced him to fling the shard aside and collapse onto the sofa.
Breathing felt laborious.
Killian, head resting against the backrest, gazed up at the crystal chandelier.
Morning sunlight streamed in, making it glitter dazzlingly.
‘My first meeting with Ciela was also beneath a chandelier.’
He closed his eyes.
Even when he wished not to recall it, memories of her remained stubbornly rooted, deeply embedded.
[This is the timeline separator]The Kingdom of Eldmon, under threat of invasion, sent its princess to seek alliance with the Empire.
‘I am Ciela Hestia.’
A small, unremarkable kingdom—lacking abundant resources, numerous knights, or exceptional talents.
Ciela was the sole princess of that insignificant realm.
Anticipating defeat in the war against the Eastern Kingdom, King Hestia sent his only daughter as a hostage, hoping to preserve his kingdom.
Whether that would succeed was a matter for later; securing the Empire’s aid left him no other choice.
‘May I walk with you through the garden, Your Highness?’
She, barely past twenty, had grown up basking in her kingdom’s adoration—pure, untainted, and radiant.
Yet she possessed impeccable manners and dignity to match.
Any man would have coveted her.
A woman like a white flower bud in a dawn forest after light rain.
‘As you wish, anytime.’
Though not dazzlingly beautiful, Ciela’s graceful, elegant charm instantly captivated both the Emperor and Killian.
The Emperor declared he would accept Ciela—if Killian’s heart approved.
For the first time, Killian held someone in his heart.
Even his persistent headaches felt insignificant beside her. Thus, he offered her boundless, limitless consideration.
‘If you hold no feelings for me, I will wait until you do.’
‘But I…’
‘Do not worry about support for your kingdom.’
‘Killian.’
He could never forget how she looked at him then—clearly startled, yet brimming with gratitude and tears in her eyes.
Gradually, the way her cheeks flushed crimson whenever their eyes met became unbearably endearing.
He wanted to spend his entire life with this woman.
Until Ciela met Edan.
‘I’m sorry. I’ve grown fond of Prince Edan.’
He couldn’t believe it.
‘So please release me from our promise. I cannot marry you, Your Highness.’
She sobbed as she uttered that damned, absurd declaration.
Ciela and Edan had merely brushed past each other briefly at an official event—nothing more.
Yet she preferred Edan over him, despite spending an entire month building memories together?
‘You said you would understand even if I held no feelings for you.’
That did not mean he would understand her choosing Edan.
‘I beg you, Your Highness. I wish to marry Prince Edan. He said he would grant my wish if I desired it.’
It was an insult.
He had cared for her because he loved her; he had tried to understand everything because he loved her. But to see that love’s reward go to Edan was utterly unbearable.
‘Then vanish before my eyes.’
In his rage, Killian withdrew all military support sent to her kingdom; Ciela’s kingdom fell.
The next time they met, he resolved to force her beside him—no more consideration, no more restraint.
With the Great Saintess appearing and his supernatural power’s side effects diminishing, once he ascended the throne, he would certainly be capable of it.
He would make her regret choosing Edan.
Why Edan and not me? The Edan you chose is going mad from the side effects of his power.
He is not in his right mind.
With that intention, he banned Edan from entering temples and isolated him completely.
When he met Ciela again, he planned to make her weep at the sight of Edan.
To tell her: Didn’t you eventually return to my side? Regret it for the rest of your life, while I keep you beside me.
No more consideration. None whatsoever.
“Ciela Hestia…”
Killian’s eyes slowly opened, accompanied by a low murmur.
The crystals still gleamed brightly.
‘I was unaware of Ciela’s circumstances? Impossible.’
Killian knew better than anyone the details of Ciela’s movements.
That she had been taken hostage by the Eastern Empire after her kingdom’s defeat.
That the Emperor of the Eastern Empire—who had no Imperial Princess—adopted her as a hostage.
That when Ciela refused the proposal, they coerced her by threatening the lives of her parents.
He knew it all.
Sunlight pouring through the chandelier refracted through the crystals, scattering rainbow hues. Among them, a fleeting hint of pale green reminded him of Ciela’s eye color.
He glimpsed Ciela turning away from him, walking into Edan’s embrace.
In that instant, blue supernatural energy erupted from Killian’s body, coiled around the chandelier, and hurled it violently out the window.
Shattered crystals rained down like brilliant gemstones onto the palace grounds below.
“Come in.”
At his low command, his subordinate waiting outside swiftly entered.
Though the room was in chaos, the subordinate asked no questions, kneeling on one knee and awaiting orders.
“Break the unbreakable wall.”
Killian issued a command he should never have given.
‘If you intend to take what is mine, then I shall take what is yours.’
A faint, cruel smile spread across his lips.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
