Chapter 52 …
On the Brink
“Is that so? I’ll keep that in mind.”
Judy could understand why she felt this way.
The young lady of the Clarion family who had rejected both the Crown Prince’s proposal and the Grand Duke’s proposal would be remembered as a shameless, foolish woman who had kicked away good fortune that had landed at her feet.
It wasn’t just a personal blow—it was also a significant hit to her family. The Clarion Count and Countess were only being magnanimous by respecting her choice.
The conversation between the two fell silent. In the corners of her eyes, which had been filled with boredom and irritation, a trace of sorrow began to rise.
“Miss.”
Judy, noticing even such a subtle shift in Roa, cautiously addressed her.
“You’re not thinking something bad, are you?”
Roa froze, realizing what had almost slipped out.
“Ah…”
At a crossroads of choices, speaking of “death” was understandable and easily misinterpreted by Judy.
“It’s nothing like that. I was just saying it, so don’t take it to heart.”
She wasn’t about to commit suicide or make a drastic choice. Yet the words of the fortune teller lingered persistently in her mind. Roa had placed deep trust in the woman’s words—they had all come true. For some reason, being given a chance to turn back time felt like a sign to resist a fate that should never have been fulfilled.
A fate that was destined to die anyway—when would it happen? The fortune teller had said it would be “if she failed to marry the one she loved.” So, if she married a man other than Eisen, the prophecy would likely come true soon enough.
She had tried every means to avoid destiny, but ultimately, she could only save him by driving herself into the abyss of tragedy.
As Judy had said, if she married Yudar, she might contribute greatly to the empire’s peace. Roa, who had never taken the time to look around, felt a pang of self-reflection.
But facing a death that could come at any moment, was it right to prioritize the empire? Countless heroes who left their mark in history may have done so to protect the empire. But Roa didn’t consider herself of the same caliber as them.
Besides, her sacrifice would be of a different kind—forgotten by everyone, leaving no trace in history, the young lady of a count’s family fading away into obscurity.
If her position was merely at this level, she wondered whether there was any reason to prioritize the empire at all.
In the end, the issue returned to its starting point.
“Ah, what are we going to do about this?”
The servants of the Throne family clicked their tongues as they opened the newspapers delivered early that morning.
“She’s been more gloomy ever since the ball, and now this happens…”
Eisen had voluntarily attended the royal ball, claiming he would find a new fiancée. The servants were half in disbelief. Of course, it would have been the best ending if he found someone else and started anew. But they knew he was not so easily swayed.
As expected, Eisen became even more tense after the royal ball, sharpening his nerves to an extreme. The servants, who had been walking on eggshells, found their discomfort deepening.
Whatever had happened at the ball, it was clear he had not found a new fiancée.
Days passed in silent apprehension, and it wasn’t until they read today’s newspaper headline that the truth became apparent.
It was the engagement news of Crown Prince Yudar, the imperial and royal headache, who had failed to find a fiancée. And the bride-to-be was none other than the young lady of the Clarion Count family—the woman Eisen had loved obsessively for years. She was set to become the Crown Princess.
Surely, this had been the result of a connection made at the royal ball. That explained Eisen’s heightened tension since then.
“Should we pretend we didn’t notice today’s paper? If Master sees this, he’ll never stay calm.”
The maids trembled, anticipating events that hadn’t even occurred yet.
“Yes. It might be better to hide it before any trouble falls on us.”
One maid folded the paper in half, then in half again, into a small bundle. Jane watched the crumpled paper anxiously.
“If we get caught…”
“What’s all the fuss about?”
Jane reached for the newspaper but couldn’t touch it in time. A chilling shiver ran down her spine as Eisen’s voice came from behind.
“Ma-Master! You’re awake?”
The maids surrounding the paper quickly turned around. In their haste, the newspaper rustled from its hiding spot behind them. Eisen, perceptive as ever, didn’t miss it. He strode toward the maid who had concealed the paper.
“You hid this.”
“Eh?”
“Give it to me.”
Eisen reached out his hand. Hesitant, the maid placed the newspaper into his grasp.
“Here… it is.”
He immediately unfolded the crumpled paper before the maids. The maids lowered their heads in fear, knowing the article would enrage him.
Eisen then folded the paper and turned toward his office.
The sound of the door slamming echoed terrifyingly through the mansion. Afterward, a suffocating silence settled.
Silent rage is the most frightening. Butler Ried summoned his courage and approached the office door. Even the light knock sounded eerie today.
“Master, pardon me.”
There was no answer from inside. Ried carefully opened the door and stepped in. Eisen stood, not at the desk, staring intensely at the newspaper spread across it.
“Shall I prepare some tea?”
Still no response. Only an invisible madness radiated from him.
“Something cold.”
Only after a long pause did a low, growling voice emerge. It seemed as though he was restraining his fury with difficulty.
“Understood.”
Ried returned outside and signaled a maid.
“Bring a glass of ice water.”
The maid quickly brought a tray with ice water. Ried placed it on Eisen’s desk. Eisen, without looking up, snatched it and drank deeply, as if trying to quell his anger. Ried finally felt a small relief and stepped back.
Then, a tremendous crash sounded behind him.
Clang!
Startled, Ried turned. Just from the sound, he knew a glass had shattered. But what he saw was even more alarming. The glass had shattered completely in Eisen’s hand. And he gripped the fragments even tighter, as if to destroy them further, sharp shards cutting into his flesh.
“Ma-Master, your hand… it’s bleeding…”
The maids peeked through the door, and Ried gestured for a towel.
“Ried.”
“Yes?”
Through the fiery madness, his voice sounded icy cold.
“While I was away, you said surely nothing happened at the Clarion estate, correct?”
“Y-Yes.”
Eisen’s eyes, which had never left the newspaper, slowly looked up.
“Are you sure?”
Ried trembled under his piercing gaze.
“Yes… I confirmed with the lady’s closest maids in the estate, exchanging letters and seeing them personally.”
Eisen’s gaze slowly returned to the paper.
“And yet this happened…”
Even seeing it with his own eyes, the reality was unbelievable. The reason she pushed him away could not be this. The man she would meet instead of him could not be Yudar.
“If it wasn’t a secret meeting while I was gone, then how could…”
Eisen finally relaxed the hand that dripped blood. The shards of glass, once fighting violently in his grip, now fell to the floor.
“No… no, it can’t be…”
Despite his fierce eyes, his voice began to falter.
“Am I not enough?”
“No, Master. First, let’s tend to your hand…”
Ried received a wet towel from the maids and carefully wiped the blood. Eisen, surprisingly, allowed it, showing an unusual calm.
“Why do you think Roa did not choose me?”
Eisen asked Ried the same question as before.
“I’m not sure, but surely there must have been a reason.”
At this tense moment, Ried could think of little else but tending to the injury.
“Judging by her sudden change in behavior, it must have been a reason even Lady Clarion could not overcome.”
Eisen agreed silently with Ried.
“That’s why I cannot accept it.”
His red eyes began to glow with lethal intensity.
“This wasn’t a choice for Roa’s happiness.”
