Chapter 1
Prologue
If a person were born from a jewel, would it feel like this?
Inside the gem, which looked different depending on the sunlight, was a beauty that could not be compared to any jewel in the world.
His hair was transparent white, like clouds, and beneath it was a flawless, perfectly shaped face.
“Duke!”
This unrealistically beautiful man was named Alphius Pankrachio, the Duke of the Pankrachio family, who stood at the front of the noble faction.
“You are about to have a private meeting with the Marquis! Why are you coming this way?”
Despite his angel-like face, Alphius was walking as if he might kill someone at any moment.
“Move.”
“D-Duke!”
Afraid he might hurt someone innocent, Levin, who had been waiting nearby, hurried toward him. When Alphius saw Levin, he asked sharply,
“Levin, what is her condition?”
“T-that is…”
Alphius asked immediately, but Levin could not answer properly and only shook his head with a stiff expression.
“She is still unconscious.”
“And the doctor?”
Levin looked at Alphius’s pale face, hesitated, then lowered his head and finally spoke.
“To be honest, the doctor is meaningless. No matter what diagnosis she receives…”
“……”
“Shall I call the doctor again?”
“No. I’ll see her myself.”
Alphius reached toward the room in front of him. A large lock hung on the door.
Click—
Levin hurriedly unlocked it. The lock was so big and heavy that it fell to the floor with a dull sound as soon as it opened.
Before Levin could fully open the door, Alphius pushed his foot inside.
“D-Duke! Let me come with you!”
Levin rushed after him.
Inside was a large room with only one bed. It looked cold and empty, but Alphius entered as if familiar with it and immediately looked at the bed.
A woman lay deeply sunk into the center of it. When Alphius saw her unconscious face, his expression slowly froze, as if remembering something painful.
“Duke…”
When Levin looked at him worriedly, Alphius muttered something under his breath and quickly walked forward.
“Bell.”
He leaned over the bed.
Her long, pure white blonde hair spread out, and her skin was pale and transparent like a porcelain doll. She looked beautifully made—but not alive.
Alphius slowly placed his hand on her cheek.
“……”
After silently holding her cheek for a while, the air around him began to change.
The cold, murderous presence from earlier slowly broke apart.
“…Ha.”
Despair and anger filled his face. Watching him, Levin swallowed nervously and spoke.
“Duke, please calm down.”
“Levin, how long has Bell been asleep?”
“That is… almost five days.”
“…Five days?”
Alphius’s voice turned deadly cold. Levin rubbed the goosebumps on his arm and lowered his head.
“Damn it. Then she hasn’t eaten anything this whole time?”
“We tried to force-feed her, but you dislike us touching her, so we…”
“So you just watched until Bell ended up like this?”
Alphius stared at Levin coldly. After a moment, he turned and gave orders to the knights behind him.
“Bring it. Now.”
“Yes, Duke!”
The knights entered carrying freshly slaughtered meat and held out knives as well.
“Duke, here’s the knife—”
But Alphius tore the meat into bite-sized pieces using only his grip strength.
The knights and Levin were shocked, but Alphius ignored them. Holding the smallest piece, he dismissed the knights and slowly sat on the bed.
“Bell.”
He called her, but she did not respond.
“Please. Don’t torture me like this.”
Desperately, he tried to push the meat into her mouth, but only blood stained her face.
Then, suddenly, Alphius put the meat into his own mouth.
“D-Duke!”
Levin cried out in shock as Alphius began chewing the raw meat.
Alphius held her slack cheek, forced her lips open, and pushed the chewed meat into her mouth—like an animal feeding its young.
How many times did he repeat this?
Her eyelids, motionless like a corpse, began to tremble.
Alphius lifted his head, staring intensely, unwilling to miss even a second.
Slowly—she opened her eyes.
Her eyes were golden, like pure gold.
When she fully opened them, Alphius smiled brightly, full of joy.
“Bell.”
Blood was smeared around his lips, but he didn’t care.
His smile was beautiful, like a painting—yet filled with madness.
“Are you conscious?”
He gently wiped the blood from her lips and whispered softly.
Levin turned his head away, embarrassed by the strange atmosphere.
Then she spoke.
“Cher.”
The moment the name left her lips, Alphius’s face froze like a demon’s.
Just moments ago, he looked blissful. Now, he looked like he had fallen straight into hell.
“It’s me.”
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.
“Cher?”
“Isabel.”
“Cher—.”
She kept calling only that name, as if it was the only word she knew.
Finally, unable to endure it anymore, Alphius twisted his lips into a warped smile and growled,
“Fine. I am.”
Duke Alphius Pankrachio.
The man that his revived fiancée, Isabel Ramirez, was searching for.
“I am Cher.”
He smiled darkly, deciding to pretend to be that man.
Isabel stared at him silently for a moment.
“Mm…”
She nodded sleepily, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
She seemed unable to tell that he was not Cher.
Alphius smiled gently and hugged her back.
Levin watched silently, then lowered his head.
How did things end up like this?
Alphius desperately wanting Isabel to recognize him, and Isabel, with empty eyes, calling only for Cher.
Levin slowly closed his eyes.
If only I could go back to that day and change everything.
* * *
“Isabel… Princess Isabel!”
“Huh?”
“What are you thinking about?”
When I blinked awake, the maids were calling me—it seemed my preparations were finished.
“Sorry. I dozed off.”
“It’s fine, Princess. Here’s the mirror.”
I lifted my head and stared at my reflection.
When I smiled, the maids grew excited.
“So beautiful.”
“You look amazing! Especially this diamond decoration from the Rakum region—it suits you perfectly!”
They praised everything—my hair, clothes, jewelry, even the smallest accessories.
“A jewel? I can barely see it.”
“No, it’s very clear! Your platinum hair shines even more.”
They kept talking about how beautiful the jewel was.
But I didn’t agree.
I look stupid.
The woman in the mirror, with drooping white-blonde hair and sad blue eyes, looked foolish.
“Today, the Duke will surely say you’re beautiful.”
“That’s impossible.”
The warm atmosphere instantly froze.
The maids nervously watched my expression, but I just smiled calmly.
“He’s too busy with documents to notice if it’s a diamond or a rock.”
They shook their heads, insisting otherwise.
I stood up.
“Why are you all acting like that? I didn’t lie. Shall we go?”
I was the empire’s only princess.
And my fiancé—
“To the ducal estate.”
Was Duke Pankrachio, head of the noble faction—
A man who deeply hated and despised me.
