Chapter 63
The Root of All Evil
“If you don’t want to talk, then it’s fine to just give yourself to me like this.”
A pair of strong arms wrapped around Illina’s waist and lifted her up effortlessly. Ruans strode toward the bed and threw her down upon it as though releasing long-suppressed desire.
The soft sheets pressed against Illina’s back. When Ruans climbed over her and looked down with satisfaction, she could see the hunger in his eyes—
“Damn it.”
Knock, knock.
The sound at the door shattered the moment.
“What is it?”
Ruans raised his voice, clearly annoyed.
“It’s Ardon. I apologize for disturbing you, Your Highness Ruans, Lady Illina. Someone from the Imperial Palace—no, several knights—have come looking for you.”
Ardon’s urgent voice came from outside.
“That was quick.”
Ruans got up, scratching his head irritably as he began rebuttoning the collar he had undone. Illina trembled slightly as she hurried to straighten her disheveled dress.
She couldn’t say a word. If one could express the inability to trust in love with a single word, it would be surely not. There was nothing more painful than the moment when a once-loving heart turned into one of disbelief. And when that disbelief proved true—pain became something words could no longer contain.
“Lady Illina, we’ve come under orders from His Highness the Crown Prince to escort you to the Imperial Palace’s Investigation Office.”
“Captain Alecto. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has, Your Highness Ruans.”
“You’re taking Lady Illina to the Investigation Office?”
“A letter was discovered at the residence of the late Young Lord Roryrolls. Because of its contents, Lady Illina must be questioned as a witness to a potential murder case.”
“Lady Illina would never have killed Young Lord Roryrolls.”
“I never said she did. I clearly stated it was witness questioning.”
At Ruans’s defensive tone, Illina’s brows furrowed. Just moments ago, he had been cold and brutal toward her—now, before others, he played the role of a devoted lover. The contrast made her stomach twist.
“She’s in an unfair position, Captain Alecto.”
Illina said nothing, watching him argue on her behalf. To an outsider, he would look like a faithful man, passionately defending the woman he loved.
“People are beginning to suspect Lady Illina as the one who killed Young Lord Roryrolls.”
“How unreasonable! Lady Illina could never take a life!”
“That’s precisely why she must undergo questioning—to clear her name. There’s no other choice, Your Highness.”
Alecto’s tone was firm. He had thought Ruans had gone to the Greycan Territory after the duel, but it seemed he’d secretly returned to the capital—and now, to emerge from an unmarried lady’s room in the Earl of Heredian’s mansion?
From Ruans’s tousled hair and flushed expression, Alecto could easily imagine what had happened behind closed doors. The sight of them together was, frankly, pathetic. Did they even realize how they looked?
“I’ll go to Prince Adrian myself and tell him she’s innocent, Lady Illina.”
Alecto glanced at Illina. For someone being defended by her lover, she didn’t look relieved—rather, hesitant, as though afraid of Ruans.
“I’ll prove your innocence. Trust me a little longer.”
Why did I ever challenge Young Lord Roryrolls to that duel? Why did I end up humiliated that day?
When I think about it, everything began with Lady Illina.
She created this mess—so it’s only right she bears the punishment.
Illina’s shoulders sagged. If Ruans had said these words to her alone, she might have wept with gratitude. But he had abandoned her. And realizing just how completely she’d been discarded made her tremble uncontrollably.
“Captain Alecto.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Please give us a moment alone.”
“…Understood.”
When Alecto, Ardon, and the other knights left, Ruans immediately pulled Illina into his arms. His breath brushed her ear, sending chills down her spine. She pushed him away in fright.
“After listening to Your Highness, I’ve been thinking—whether I should become a dog or a cat.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll be a dog.”
A loyal dog who loves its master—
Choose, whether you’ll be a dog that bites your master’s throat… or a cat that meekly climbs into the pot to become stew.
Illina shook her head violently, denying the words that surfaced in her mind—Laurencia’s voice. If she hadn’t sent that letter to Roryrolls, just as Ruans said, none of this would have happened. Laurencia must have wanted their love to crumble. That monster had always hated her.
How foolish of me, to be swayed by that creature’s words.
“I love you, Your Highness Ruans.”
No matter what others said, her love was precious. She spoke that truth to him, sincerely.
“Do you love me sincerely?”
Someone once told her that true feelings eventually reach the heart of another.
“Yes. I love you.”
She looked at him with all the love she could muster—but his expression wasn’t the one she’d hoped to see.
“Lady Illina, I believe love and delusion are the same thing.”
Her eyes widened.
“A stalker says they loved someone, but no one believes them. Do you know why? Because their ‘love’ is born of delusion. That’s why love and delusion are one and the same.”
His voice was light, almost amused—but it struck her like a blade.
“My love isn’t a delusion. You told me you loved me too, didn’t you?”
“I always said I loved you. But since you seem not to have understood, let me explain it properly. When I said I loved you, what I meant was—don’t be deluded by my love.”
“Were you just… playing with me?”
“Don’t you think it’s a little shameless to speak of love to me?”
“What do you mean?”
Tears spilled down Illina’s face again.
“Crying again? Why do you always cry whenever I say something?”
“Because Your Highness’s words hurt so much.”
“Listen carefully, Lady Illina.”
She took a step back, but Ruans advanced, closing the gap.
“The reason my life’s gone wrong…”
‘Isn’t the cat cute? Illina gave it to me. I named him Leo.’
“…The reason I gave that damn cat to Laurencia…”
‘Illina pushed me down the stairs. I fell to my death because of her.’
“…The reason you tried to kill Laurencia out of jealousy…”
Illina backed away until her back hit the cold wall. She couldn’t retreat any further.
“…The reason I was humiliated in that duel. The reason Lady Anne killed herself.”
Ruans was now right before her, his face inches away. Illina’s breath caught in her throat.
“It’s all because of you, Lady Illina.”
His face smiled sweetly, but his emerald eyes glinted with murderous intent.
“You are the root of everything that’s happened to me. That’s why you’re being punished.”
He tapped her cheek with his fingers, smiling slyly.
“But I’m a generous man.”
Illina sobbed.
“I won’t have you killed and disguised as a suicide, like Lady Anne. When you’re imprisoned, and later sent to a convent, I’ll make sure you stay in the same room where your dear mother died. That way, you can still feel her warmth. I’m too kind, aren’t I?”
“What… did you just say?”
Goosebumps ran down her arms. She wiped her cheek where he’d touched her, her hands shaking.
“I’ll never forgive you. I’ll tell them—you killed Young Lord Roryrolls.”
“Do you think anyone would believe that? No one will. You’re already the ‘villainess,’ Lady Illina.”
He reached out and ran his fingers through her golden hair.
“From this moment, you’re no longer my lover. We’re done.”
“Did you ever truly think of me as your lover?”
“Of course. I was always gentle—with you, on the bed.”
His laughter filled the room.
Then he turned and walked away. Illina couldn’t move to stop him. Whether his words were lies or truth didn’t matter anymore—all she knew was that she’d been utterly broken.
“My mother…? Faked her suicide? Tell me that’s not true.”
“It’s not a lie, Illina.”
She smiled faintly through her tears.
If love couldn’t be fulfilled—if it could never be repaid—then it should be bitten and torn apart.
That was how she’d always lived. If she couldn’t have something, she destroyed it.
“Laurencia left another message for you.”
Ruans stopped walking. For a moment, she’d caught his attention—but he didn’t turn around.
“It’s fine. When I see Laurencia—no, our Roa—I’ll ask her myself.”
Without looking back, he opened the door and disappeared. Through the crack in the door, Alecto and the knights entered the room. Illina bowed her head as tears fell one after another.
Ah… she had been completely abandoned.
Amelin gently stroked Laurencia’s cheek as she woke. Unlike the first time they met, Laurencia had filled out, her skin now soft and healthy.
“You’re awake?”
“Mhm. Good morning, Amelin.”
As soon as she sat up, Laurencia ate the high-calorie breakfast prepared by Teishar and even finished the snacks he’d brought.
Teishar never missed a day of meetings with the chefs and pâtissiers—Amelin and Evan also attended. Everyone was astonished at the effort he poured into caring for Laurencia.
He carefully oversaw every menu, every drink, every dessert. The others could only shake their heads at his devotion.
But one thing was certain—thanks to that devotion, Laurencia’s once-thin body was beginning to regain its
