“Welcome, Crown Prince.”

Empress Henzela 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 physique with shoulders as broad as anyone’s, his strong ability praised by the imperial people, and his jet-black hair resembling the Emperor’s all exuded charisma.

Killian was the Empress’s pride and perfect son.

He had followed her wishes well and grown into an exemplary Crown Prince without major deviations.

There were days of worry in his childhood due to his delicate nature, but thanks to good education, such issues no longer occurred.

As the Empress took her seat, Killian sat across from her.

“His Majesty went out hunting early this morning.”

“Yes. I heard from an attendant on my way here.”

The Empress took a sip of soup, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and smiled lightly.

“A marriage proposal has come for Prince Edan.”

Why bring up such a topic first thing in the morning?

Killian cut his meat with an expressionless face, not understanding the Empress’s unusual remark.

“Is that a matter related to me?”

The Empress smiled with satisfaction at Killian’s response.

Then, putting down her napkin, she continued softly as if soothing a child.

“The other party is Princess Ciela.”

His firmly cold expression seemed to crumble, and his eyes trembled slightly.

Then, as strength entered the hand holding the knife, the plate broke in two with a thud.

“Clear this away.”

However, as if he had regained his senses in a brief moment, Killian ordered in a terrifyingly low voice.

He then quietly placed the knife and fork back in their places.

“Is she not no longer a princess?”

The Empress, who had been keenly observing Killian’s every move, picked up an empty wine glass.

“Do you think she has become a commoner because her kingdom has fallen?”

Killian’s expression hardened at the Empress’s words, which were spoken with a pleased air.

“You’re greatly mistaken. Come to think of it, the Crown Prince hasn’t known about Princess Ciela’s whereabouts. She has now ascended to the position of Imperial Princess.”

In the meantime, new food was placed at Killian’s seat, and red wine was poured into the Empress’s glass.

“The Emperor of the Eastern Empire has taken Princess Ciela as his adopted daughter. It was possible because she’s a pretty child.”

“Isn’t she just being held as a hostage regardless?”

“That may be so, but officially, she has become the Imperial Princess of the Eastern Empire, so it’s fortunate for the princess as well.”

The wine seeped into her mouth along her purple lips.

Killian glanced at his mother, seemingly displeased with her drinking so early in the morning, then averted his gaze and spoke as if he hadn’t noticed.

“I’m not so sure.”

Without touching the newly served food, Killian picked up his water glass.

“I think it would be better to refuse. Even if she’s the Imperial Princess of the Eastern Empire, she’s no different from a hostage. Isn’t marriage to the Grand Duke a mismatched union?”

Originally, the Eastern Empire was a kingdom. There was a war with Princess Ciela’s kingdom, and after winning, it became the Eastern Empire.

Although its power had grown in recent years, it was still lacking in many aspects compared to the Alkedania Empire.

If they wanted to establish relations with the Eastern Empire, there were plenty of methods other than a political marriage.

And to propose a fallen kingdom’s princess who wasn’t even a real Imperial Princess as a match for the Prince.

For a moment, Killian’s eyes narrowed.

A political marriage between a fake Imperial Princess and an illegitimate Prince.

The calculations in his mother the Empress’s mind were obvious.

Killian had no intention of opposing such treatment of Edan outwardly.

But the other party was Ciela.

Not just anyone, but Ciela Hestia.

Killian’s first love and the only woman he had ever considered marrying.

Her marrying Edan?

Such a thing would never happen even if the world turned upside down.

He would definitely oppose it. And−.

“The Grand Duke will refuse if he has any sense.”

Because he’s already hated by me for that reason.

If he intends to live soberly from now on, he would refuse.

Although the Emperor, his father, is secretly sending him potions, they’re half fake, and he must be wanting the Great Saint’s healing power.

Killian gestured with his glass, and a maid approached to fill it with wine.

With a gulp, the red wine coldly slid down his Adam’s apple.

The silent Empress gazed at Killian before setting down her glass.

“No. Prince Edan has already accepted the proposal.”

At the Empress’s words, Killian’s gaze, which had been fixed on the wine, turned frighteningly cold.

Returning to his office, Killian picked up a large vase near the entrance and hurled it mercilessly towards the wall.

The flowers that had been arranged in it flew and fell, and the expensive vase shattered into pieces with a loud crash.

Fragments scattered in all directions, and one of them grazed the tip of Killian’s chin.

With a stinging sensation, blood flowed from his chin.

Unable to swallow his anger, Killian tightly gripped a shard of the broken vase.

The sharp fragment dug into his palm, and dark red blood dripped onto the floor.

“Damn it.”

Unable to contain his anger, a blue energy began to emanate from Killian’s body. As a throbbing headache surged due to this, Killian threw the shard away and collapsed onto the sofa.

It was difficult to breathe.

Killian’s gaze, resting his head on the backrest, turned towards the crystal chandelier.

The morning sunlight streaming in made it sparkle so brightly it was almost blinding.

‘My first meeting with Ciela was also under a chandelier.’

He closed his eyes.

Even though he didn’t want to recall it, the memories with her remained, deeply ingrained and unfading.

The Eldmon Kingdom, under threat of invasion, sent their princess to form an alliance with the Empire.

‘I am Ciela Hestia.’

A small, unremarkable kingdom with neither abundant resources, nor a large number of knights, nor outstanding ability users.

Ciela was the only princess of this insignificant kingdom.

King Hestia, anticipating defeat in the war against the Eastern Kingdom, was willing to send his only daughter as a hostage to protect his kingdom.

Whether it would work or not was a matter for later; it was the only way to somehow receive aid from the Empire.

‘May I stroll through the garden by your side, Crown Prince?’

At that time, having just passed twenty, she was pure and unblemished, having grown up monopolizing the love of her kingdom.

Nevertheless, she possessed all the proper etiquette, giving her an air of dignity.

Any man would have coveted her.

A woman like a white flower bud in the forest at misty dawn.

‘As much as you wish, if that is your desire.’

Though not strikingly beautiful, Ciela, with her graceful and elegant charm, instantly captured the hearts of both the Emperor and Killian.

The Emperor said he would accept Ciela if Killian was agreeable.

For the first time, Killian held someone in his heart.

Even the throbbing headaches seemed like nothing when he was by her side. So he showered her with boundless, limitless consideration.

‘If you don’t have feelings for me, I can wait until they develop.’

‘But I…’

‘Don’t worry about support for your kingdom.’

‘Killian.’

He couldn’t forget her looking at him with evident surprise, gratitude, and tears welling up in her eyes.

From some point on, the way her cheeks would flush bright red whenever their eyes met became indescribably lovely.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

Until Ciela met Edan.

‘I’m sorry. I’ve come to like Prince Edan.’

He couldn’t believe it.

‘So please withdraw your promise. I cannot marry you, Crown Prince.’

Saying these unbelievable words, she shed tears.

Ciela and Edan had only briefly passed by each other at an official event, nothing more.

Yet she liked Edan more than me, who had spent an entire month creating memories with her?

‘You said you would understand even if I didn’t have feelings for you, Your Highness.’

That didn’t mean understanding her choice of Edan.

‘Please, Your Highness. I want to marry Prince Edan. He said he would do so if that’s what I wanted.’

It was an insult.

He had been considerate out of love, tried to understand everything out of love, but he could never bear to see that love being repaid to Edan.

‘Rather disappear from my sight.’

Enraged, Killian withdrew all the troops supporting her kingdom, and Ciela’s kingdom was defeated.

He thought that the next time they met, he would force her to his side without any consideration.

Now that the Great Saint had appeared and the side effects of his ability were fading, he could certainly do so once he ascended to the throne.

He would make her regret choosing Edan.

Why did you choose Edan and not me? The Edan you chose is going mad from the side effects of his ability.

He’s not in his right mind.

With that intention, he banned Edan from entering the temple and thoroughly isolated him.

When he met Ciela again, he planned to make her shed tears over Edan.

Saying that she had ultimately returned to his side. Telling her to regret it until her dying day, keeping her by his side like that.

Without any more consideration.

“Ciela Hestia…”

With a low voice, Killian’s closed eyes slowly opened.

The crystal was still shining brightly.

‘You say I didn’t know about Ciela’s whereabouts? Impossible.’

Killian knew better than anyone about Ciela’s movements.

That after her kingdom’s defeat, she was taken hostage by the Eastern Empire, that the Emperor of the Eastern Empire, who had no Imperial Princess, adopted her as his daughter to keep her as a hostage.

That they threatened Ciela, who had refused the proposal, by holding her father and mother’s lives as collateral to force her.

He knew everything.

The sunlight pouring through the chandelier reflected off the crystal, shimmering in rainbow colors. A glimpse of pale green reminiscent of Ciela’s eye color caught his attention.

The image of Ciela turning her back on him and heading towards Edan’s arms flickered in his mind.

At that moment, blue energy surged from Killian’s body, enveloping the chandelier before hurling it out the window.

The shattered crystals became a brilliant rain of jewels showering down below the palace.

“Enter.”

At the low command, his subordinate waiting outside the door quickly entered.

Despite the chaos in the room, the subordinate asked nothing and knelt on one knee, awaiting orders.

“Break down the unbreakable wall.”

Killian gave an order that should never be given.

‘If you’re going to take what’s mine, then I should take what’s yours.’

A sinister smile spread across his lips.