Chapter 43
“Then Just Love Me”
“Mom, Dad. I’m home. I’m late, right? At the academy today… huh?”
When Seohyun came home late at night and stepped into the entryway, she found the lights off and the entire house dark.
“Mom! Dad?”
With a growing sense of unease, she turned on the living room lights.
“Gasp! Wh-what… is this?”
The living room floor was covered in deep red bloodstains, scattered all over, trailing straight into the master bedroom.
“M-Mom… D-Dad?”
Seohyun, terrified, crept toward the bedroom, her trembling hand reaching for the door.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Tsk.”
Listening to the story, Diego furrowed his brows.
“It was the work of… some burglar who broke into their home… But there was hardly anything worth stealing there…”
Ximena kept her eyes fixed on the cup of red tea in her hands. Diego, puzzled by the sorrowful glint in her eyes—more than just sadness, almost tragic—watched her quietly.
“At such a young age, she lost both parents… For a while, she wasn’t herself. Thankfully, a friend of her parents took her in. Thanks to them, she grew up properly and, in the end, became someone who arrests wrongdoers and locks them away. A police officer—or rather, an investigator.”
“Hm. That turned out well. And what of the burglar who killed her parents? Was he caught?”
“Yes. I believe… he’s still in prison.”
“Ha! Absurd. A creature like that should’ve been executed at once. To leave him rotting in a cell for so long—ridiculous. Tell me his name. I’ll see him executed and avenge your friend this instant.”
“Heh… No, Your Highness. This is… a tale from a very, very distant continent. What I truly wanted to say is this: after losing her parents, my friend only remembered that brutal, unjust way they died. But then one day, someone said this to her—”
‘You know… aside from that tragic day, your parents lived such a happy life. There aren’t many couples who love each other that deeply for so long after marriage. So rather than dwell only on that horrible ending, shouldn’t you remember and cherish more the times when they lived loving each other?’
“When she heard that, she suddenly recalled something her parents once told her when she was very little.”
‘When our daughter grows up, I hope she meets someone she truly loves and lives happily.’
‘Like you and Dad?’
‘Yes. Like us. Someone who’ll be a tree for you to lean on when you’re weary, and a cool breeze to soothe you when you’re worn out… That’s the kind of beautiful love I want for you.’
“Ha! So in the end, it’s just another trite story about love…”
Diego scoffed with a dismissive smile, his face showing clear boredom.
“…Your Highness, people’s lives are unpredictable. You know yourself how much blood has been spilled over the throne. I have no interest in wealth and power that only make people struggle endlessly and live in constant fear of losing it. So, Your Highness…”
Ximena looked at Diego with quiet pity as she continued.
“Instead of chasing power, find a good bride. Someone prettier, gentler, more graceful than me. Someone you truly love, someone you’d want to protect all your life.”
“Ha! My lady, with wealth and power, I can have as many beautiful women as I please. Women who cling to me, begging for my love, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. That’s what power and riches bring.”
Diego sneered, dismissing her words as nonsense.
“How is that sweet love? That’s not love for you—that’s false, shallow love for your power and wealth!”
“False love?”
“Of course! If it’s someone I truly love, it wouldn’t matter if they were poor. And if they were in danger, I’d risk my very life to protect them! That’s what true love is!”
Seeing Ximena raise her voice in anger, Diego only frowned deeper.
‘Useless. Talking with her goes nowhere.’
“…Fine. Enough. Since I’m not one of those women who will cling to Your Highness and whisper sweet lies, I’ll excuse myself.”
Ximena sighed and stood up.
“Anyway, you swore earlier to accept the results fairly, so I trust you won’t stoop to petty revenge. Thank you for the tea, Your Highness. Goodbye.”
“Wait!”
“…Do you have more to say?”
Arms crossed, Diego glared at her, then stood and walked toward her.
“So the only reason you refuse my proposal is because… you don’t love me?”
“Well… yes, for now.”
“Then it’s not such a difficult problem.”
“…What?”
“You don’t love me yet. But who says you’ll never love me?”
“Wha—? No, wait, that’s not how love works! You can’t just not have it one day and suddenly have it the next!”
Ximena stared at him in disbelief.
“Why not? Love doesn’t follow a schedule. Just as today you were momentarily dazed by my changed appearance, tomorrow you might fall for another charm of mine. Who knows?”
“Da-dazed? Me? When?”
“Heh, don’t deny it. When you walked into this parlor today, you were so taken by me you forgot to even greet me properly.”
“Nonsense… That’s only because you were too—”
“Regardless, since I made a promise before everyone, I’ll withdraw this proposal… for now. But just because I take it back once doesn’t mean I won’t propose again. Once you fall in love with me, you might be the one begging me to ask you.”
‘Unbelievable. A textbook case of “prince syndrome.” Oh wait, he’s not just a prince—he’s the crown prince! No wonder the symptoms are worse!’
Ximena could only gape in stunned disbelief. Diego reached out, gently closing her hanging jaw with his finger and smirking.
“Heh. Struck speechless because I hit the mark, hm?”
“Ugh… Y-Your Highness…”
Struggling to contain her bubbling anger, Ximena forced herself to breathe and spoke.
“Let’s be honest. The only reason you want this marriage is my family’s wealth and, more importantly, its private army. So, I’ll talk to my father about reducing our forces—and our finances as well.”
“Hm?”
“I’ve already been pouring money into helping the poor in our lands. Taxes have been drastically lowered too. Our family isn’t what it used to be. At this rate, we’ll soon be destitute, and our wealth won’t be of much help to you, Your Highness.”
‘So the spies’ reports were true…’
“So instead of clinging to my declining family, wouldn’t it be better to seek another noble house that could truly aid you? I could even… help you find one?”
She forced a smile, trying to coax him.
“Hmm…”
Diego narrowed his eyes at her.
“Or better yet, shall I help find Your Highness a bride myself? Not just within the Kedem Empire—even across distant continents. Who knows?”
“Distant continents?”
“Have you heard the tale? Somewhere far away, there’s a princess who does nothing but sleep all day. They say she sleeps so long they call her the Sleeping Beauty of the palace. If you married her, she’d never nag you no matter how many mistresses you had—because she’d be asleep for years at a time!”
“…Hmm?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Oh! And on another continent, there’s a maiden with impossibly long hair who never leaves her tower. She just lets her hair down from the window. Marry her, and you’d never waste money on dresses or jewels—she never goes out!”
“Surely not.”
“And in a faraway frozen land, there’s a queen who sings beautifully and conjures ice with her hands. She could give you chilled drinks in summer! …Well, maybe she’s a queen, not a princess, but either way—you’d find countless beautiful women, far more useful to Your Highness than me!”
“Enough!”
“Mmff?”
Diego pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her, and shook his head.
“My lady, I told you—feelings between a man and a woman can change at any moment.”
“…Eh?”
He traced her lips slowly with his finger, his eyes darkening.
“When I first proposed, yes—it was only for one reason: the power and forces of House Silvestre. But now… that’s no longer the only reason.”
“…What do you mean?”
Ximena’s eyes widened.
“I’ve suddenly become… intrigued by you. In a very personal way.”
“…Eh?”
He tilted her chin upward and leaned close, whispering.
“This time, let’s change the order. Before proposing again, let’s first get to know each other. Properly… by dating.”
“D-dating?”
“Since you’re already here in the palace… why not start today? Is anyone out there?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The lady is uncomfortable from sweating. Bathe her and prepare fresh clothes. After that, she’ll dine with me this evening.”
“What?! No, I’m perfectly fine, not hungry at all—”
“My lady, if you leave the palace like this, will anyone believe I yielded willingly? No—they’ll say I sulked at losing the duel and pettily drove you out. That would ruin my honor.”
“But I stayed, drank tea, and even chatted—”
“Shh. You’ve already damaged my dignity enough. To make it appear as if I truly yielded, you must indulge me further. Just one dinner—it’s hardly too much in exchange for withdrawing my proposal, isn’t it?”
“No, I really don’t think that’s—”
“What are you waiting for? Escort the lady!”
“Yes, this way, my lady.”
“Wait—hey! Excuse me! Hello?!”
And just like that, Ximena was dragged away by the palace maids.
