Chapter 10
“Hah… huff…”
Her breath was all the way up in her throat, but Elena didn’t stop. If she stopped even for a moment, she felt like she might run back to him.
Why don’t you love me? Is it that hard for you to let Helena go?
She felt like she would cling to him, crying miserably.
“Haa… ha…”
Tap, tap.
Her running slowly came to a stop. She had worried what she’d do if he followed her—but realizing that worry was pointless made her feel pathetic.
What was I even expecting…?
“Oh my, well look who it is.”
“…!”
“Isn’t this that filthy illegitimate girl?”
At the sharp voice from behind, Elena turned around.
A princess. The First Princess.
The one who hated and despised her.
Seeing her suddenly—Oriana Wales—made Elena’s body freeze.
“Don’t tell me you actually think you’re a real Grand Duchess just because you became one?”
“Y-Your Highness…”
“Even if you’re a Grand Duchess, you’re still just that. Lower than a princess of this kingdom.”
Oriana, dressed in luxury, giggled while looking at Elena.
She had thought Elena would just stay as some commander’s plaything—but she even got the title of Grand Duchess. She didn’t like the Grand Duke for it, but she figured it couldn’t be helped.
After all, even if she was a half-blood princess, she was still royalty.
“…”
“Looking at those accessories that don’t suit you… it’s like putting pearls on a pig.”
“…”
“Did your mouth get glued shut? Why aren’t you answering?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Looking at Elena’s dress and jewelry made Oriana feel bitter.
She had expected Elena to look tacky and laugh at her—but when Elena entered the banquet hall with the Grand Duke, she couldn’t close her mouth in shock.
“…”
It was her first time seeing his face properly.
She’d heard he was a monster, a cold-blooded killer—but no one told her he looked that handsome.
Watching him carefully escort that illegitimate girl inside made her stomach twist.
If I’d known he looked like that, I would’ve gone myself!
Seeing the gentle way he looked at Elena, Oriana clenched her fists.
And when she saw him cut Elena’s food for her, she bit down on her red-painted lips.
She told herself it was only because Elena was still a princess—barely—that he treated her well.
“The Grand Duke treats you well, doesn’t he?”
“…Yes, he does.”
“Really? I heard he has a lover. That’s unfortunate for you—having to spend your life with a man who loves another woman.”
“…”
“Your situation is just like your mother’s.”
“…”
“Don’t end up like her—dying miserably after chasing someone else’s man.”
But looking at Elena’s dress and jewelry again, Oriana realized how wrong she was.
Everything Elena wore was incredibly expensive.
The dress sparkled under the light—it was covered in finely ground diamonds.
And the jewelry hanging from her delicate neck and ears…
They were rare red diamonds from the only diamond mine in the Labyrinthe Empire.
“Don’t you think those are too much for someone like you?”
“Huh? Ah… yes…”
“Give them to me.”
“…What?”
“Are you deaf? I said give them to me. Do you even understand their value?”
At her sharp words, Elena flinched.
These were things Ian had given her.
Without realizing, she grabbed the necklace tightly.
“It looks plain to me, but I like the craftsmanship. So give it to me as a gift.”
“Y-Your Highness, this is…”
“You don’t suit things like that. Something so flashy suits me.”
“…”
“You wearing them just lowers their value.”
Even while hearing the insults, Elena didn’t let go of the necklace. She just trembled.
Seeing that, Oriana scoffed.
“You’ve only been in Labyrinthe a few days, and you think you’re really the Grand Duchess? Do you really think the Grand Duke acknowledges you?”
“Your Highness… this was given by His Grace… I… I can’t lose it…”
Even while shaking, Elena tried to speak up.
That only made Oriana more annoyed.
“Idiot! Who said anything about losing it? Just say you gifted it to me!”
“B-But…”
“What are you all doing?! Grab her right now!”
At Oriana’s sharp shout, the maids rushed toward Elena.
Elena curled up, trying to protect the necklace.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
A dark, heavy voice—like it came from deep underground—made everyone turn.
Elena, who had been trembling with her eyes shut, opened them and looked.
“Y-Your Grace…”
“What do you think you’re doing to my wife?”
“We were just sharing some sisterly affection.”
Oriana smiled sweetly and approached Ian.
Up close, he was even more desirable.
Tall, broad, strong—rare in Wales. His uniform, decorated with medals and gold, suited him perfectly.
And yet, he looked restrained, almost ascetic.
“Wales must have a rather rough way of showing sisterly affection.”
“Rough? Not at all. My maids were just expressing how happy they were to see Elena again.”
Ian stared at Oriana for a moment.
She didn’t look away.
Even if he was an enemy commander, she wanted him.
A man like him shouldn’t belong to someone like Elena—but to her.
“Since you’re here, shall we go to my palace and talk?”
“…”
“It must be your first time there. I’ll guide you.”
She gently grabbed his arm.
Feeling the firmness through his uniform made her fingertips tingle.
“If Elena is tired, we can send her to the Rose Palace first. The summer flowers should be in full bloom.”
“…”
“Girls, escort Elena to the Rose Palace carefully.”
At her command, the maids grabbed Elena’s arms.
“Let go.”
“…What?”
“Let go of my wife.”
The maids immediately released her, trembling under his pressure.
“Don’t touch my wife.”
“…Your Grace.”
“And don’t touch me either.”
He lightly shook off Oriana’s hand—but to her, it wasn’t light at all.
She was thrown back onto the ground.
“Your Highness!”
“Ahh!”
With help, Oriana stood up and glared at him.
“How dare you treat me like this?! I’m a princess of Wales!”
“This pathetic palace means nothing to me.”
“Grand Duke!”
“And I probably know this palace better than you do.”
“…”
His red eyes—like blood—gleamed.
Oriana froze in fear.
It felt like he could rip her throat out at any moment.
“Which path would let me kill the king instantly…”
“…”
“For five years of war, I thought about how to corner the royal family in their secret passages and slaughter them.”
Oriana felt like she was facing a black panther.
She couldn’t handle the killing intent.
“I know everything about this palace.”
“G-Grand Duke…”
“I even know your palace has eleven secret passages.”
“…!”
She collapsed again.
Only the king and she knew that.
Each palace had secret paths—but only the owner and the king knew them.
“And I also know that my wife Elena’s residence had not even one.”
“…”
“That makes me want to burn this useless palace down… but I’ll hold back for her sake.”
“Y-Your Grace, that’s not—!”
“So go back to your palace quietly.”
“Y-Yes…”
Shaken pale, Oriana stood with help.
She just wanted to escape.
“Wait.”
They froze again.
Ian walked up to her slowly.
Then, leaning close to her ear, he whispered.
