Chapter 3
The imperial court was embroiled in a fierce succession battle. After the crown prince’s unexpected sudden death, the throne had unusually remained vacant for an extended period.
The main contenders in this succession struggle were the princess and the prince.
The princess enjoyed overwhelming support from the majority of the nobility, led by the progressive faction, while the prince, though under the emperor’s protection, had only the backing of a conservative minority.
In such circumstances, if the emperor were to announce the prince as his successor, it was obvious that backlash among the nobles would be intense.
The Destrian ducal family, being moderates, served as a sword guarding only the emperor. Unless the prince ascended the throne, there was no reason for Kavil to support or protect him.
Though he had refused for the reasons above, it seemed unlikely that the emperor would back down easily. The thought of getting entangled in troublesome affairs already stirred irritation within him.
The empire’s citizens hailed him as a true loyalist for heading out to subjugate the foreign tribes right after his marriage, but the reality was entirely different.
Kavil hadn’t volunteered for the subjugation out of loyalty or patriotism.
There was only one reason he had stepped forward.
‘Helena Florence.’
It was to avoid her.
The moment he lifted the veil and saw the bride’s face revealed. He felt despair as if standing at the edge of hell, and simultaneously, ecstasy as if he possessed the entire world.
It was a sensation far more horrifying than he had imagined. To have his breath catch in his throat and his heart clench tightly at the sight of someone he’d never met before.
Before he could even comprehend the inexplicable emotions, the bride smiled brightly, her face paling in comparison.
She was so beautiful that it felt wasteful to even lay eyes on her—as if his bride had gathered all the light in the world.
Yet, over the bride’s face, his past, stained crimson, overlaid itself,
“Promise you’ll come back without being late.”
“…I understand. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
“You promised. To come back? I’ll be waiting.”
By the time the afterimage of someone already dead overlapped, Kavil had fled the wedding hall without even knowing how the ceremony had ended.
Kavil, lost in thought, lifted his head upon sensing an unfamiliar presence.
At the end of the palace corridor. The prince, Lucien, spotted Kavil and raised his hand in a gesture of delight. When Kavil bowed in greeting, Lucien quickly approached him.
“Well, if it isn’t the empire’s hero, Duke Destrian?”
“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”
“Such stiff formalities between us? I’m glad to see you’ve returned in good health. As a close friend, I was more than a little worried when you set off to subjugate the foreign tribes without even enjoying your honeymoon properly.”
“Is that so.”
Despite Kavil’s indifferent response, Lucien didn’t drop his smile. He even clapped his hands, speaking in an excited tone.
“Of course. Oh, right—how about joining me for luncheon soon? With the duchess, naturally.”
“My wife as well?”
“The duchess is the empire’s rising new painter, isn’t she? This is just between us, but I’m quite fond of her paintings. So please, don’t refuse.”
“…Understood.”
When Kavil reluctantly agreed, Lucien’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. At that moment, an attendant approached and whispered something in Lucien’s ear.
“Oh dear, I must go first. I look forward to seeing you again soon, Duke.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Kavil stared at Lucien’s retreating figure, hurried along by the attendant, a cold glint appeared in his eyes.
The fact that news of Helena, which even he hadn’t known, came from Lucien’s lips left him with an oddly subdued mood.
To think she was a rising new painter.
‘Did Helena like painting?’
Kavil, furrowing his brow, soon let out a self-mocking laugh. Come to think of it, it was ridiculous. It was none other than himself who had threatened Helena to live like a ghost, out of his sight.
Even during the subjugation, hadn’t he deliberately refused to hear any news of her? And now, to feel flustered about not knowing—it struck him as absurd.
Though he hadn’t properly seen her face since their wedding night, Helena remained vividly clear in his memory. Her pale, round forehead, shimmering golden hair like threads of gold, and green eyes like lush foliage.
With Helena’s face so sharp before him that he could see it even with his eyes closed, Kavil let out a sigh.
He decided that as soon as he returned to the mansion, he would tell his secretary, Claude, to find out how Helena had been faring in the meantime.
As soon as he stepped out of the palace, he approached the waiting knights. Mounting his black horse lightly, he commanded,
“To the ducal residence.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As he turned his horse toward the ducal residence, his gaze sank low.
* * *
Three days had already passed since Kavil’s return. A precarious peace, as if it could shatter at any moment, hung over the ducal residence.
Unlike a year ago, Helena no longer avoided Kavil. She didn’t stop in her tracks at the sound of his footsteps, nor did she confine herself to her room.
Whether by chance or ill fate, the two crossed paths several times a day, but he passed her by without even a glance.
His blatant disregard, enough to make any onlooker uncomfortable, burned the servants’ insides black with worry. But contrary to the servants’ concerns, Helena was truly fine.
She felt relieved that he hadn’t brought up divorce, thinking that even as a wife in name only, she must still be necessary to Kavil somehow.
To Helena, not returning to her family home was more important than her husband’s inexplicable coldness. There was no place for her at the Florence count’s residence.
But here, at the Destrian ducal residence.
‘I have a place.’
The precious memories and people she had gained during the year Kavil was away gave her certainty.
That this was where she belonged. So Helena resolved to hold her ground with all her might.
Just as she had endured alone at the count’s residence after her mother left, she intended to survive here no matter what.
Thinking of her husband’s cold gaze made her shrink a little, but she reassured herself that this too would be fine with time.
And now.
“……”
Helena blinked in confusion, looking up at Kavil blocking her path.
With the sunlight at his back, Kavil…
Seemed like a predator cornering its prey, or an insurmountable massive wall.
Come to think of it, this was the first time they had properly faced each other since their wedding night. Under his piercing, sharp gaze, Helena instinctively stepped back.
She had come down to the first-floor entrance to gather paints and head to the annex. It was pure coincidence that she ran straight into Kavil, who was returning from hunting.
After offering a perfunctory greeting, Helena tried to slip past him quickly, but that was when he blocked her.
“Madam.”
A thick scent of blood emanated from Kavil, fresh from the hunt. The pristine white marble floor where he stood was stained with dark red blood.
Helena, who had been staring down at it, lifted her head at the low voice.
“You seem to find my words amusing.”
“…Pardon?”
“Was it hard to understand when I said not to show yourself?”
Kavil’s eyes suddenly sharpened as he continued in a sarcastic tone.
“Or are you ignoring my words?”
Helena, parting her lips in bewilderment, slowly spoke.
“Of course not. How could I ignore Your Grace’s words? However….”
“Madam.”
Cutting Helena off mid-sentence, Kavil leaned his upper body toward her threateningly. The man’s shadowed golden eyes flashed like a beast’s.
“I’m not interested in your response.”
“……”
“To you, who ignored my words….”
Tilting his head loosely, Kavil said in a low voice.
“I’m kindly issuing the command again.”
“……”
Helena’s lips hardened stiffly. Kavil straightened his bent upper body. A cold gaze directed at Helena.
“Don’t show yourself, Madam.”
“……”
“That’s what you need to do.”
As Kavil finished his words and turned to leave, his gaze suddenly fell on Helena’s wrist.
Perhaps from painting, her pale wrist was smeared with colorful paints. Even her soft, powder-like white cheek had faint traces of color.
Staring openly at the sight, Kavil abruptly extended his hand. Before Helena could dodge, his large hand touched her cheek.
The man’s firm fingertips slowly rubbed her cheek. Over the paint-smeared white cheek, the dark red blood from Kavil’s hand overlaid.
Looking down at the frozen, startled Helena, Kavil’s eyes curved in satisfaction. The mingled paint and bloodstains looked better than expected.
His large hand grasped Helena’s chin and turned it slightly. His languid gaze lingered over every part of her small face. The corner of Kavil’s mouth twisted upward.
“Indeed. It suits you well, Madam.”
Kavil’s smile didn’t last long. It was because Helena slapped his hand away forcefully. Looking at his hand flung into the air, Kavil let out a short, empty laugh.
Helena glared at Kavil with cold eyes.
“I fully understand Your Grace’s intent.”
“……”
“I’ll try my best. To stay out of sight.”
A flicker of interest passed through his deep golden eyes. Kavil stepped close to Helena. Leaning down, he whispered low.
“I hope this time you don’t forget my command.”
Having issued the warning-laced order, Kavil turned without hesitation. The knights, who had been standing behind with bowed heads, unsure what to do, quickly saluted and hurried after Kavil.
Only when Kavil was sufficiently far away did Helena finally exhale the breath she’d been holding. She stared at the spot where he had been, then turned her body. Marian wore a face of uncertainty.
“Madam, at least wipe it with this handkerchief….”
“Marian.”
Helena stopped in her tracks. The cheek and chin where his hand had touched felt strangely hot. Annoyed by the inexplicable heat, she deliberately rubbed her cheek hard with the back of her hand.
Dark red blood smeared onto the back of her hand.
“Instead of the handkerchief, could you prepare bathwater? Somehow….”
She said, gazing down at the back of her hand stained with his traces.
“I think I need to wash it all off.”
