“There isn’t any. The engagement was broken off a long time ago.”

Luth set down the knife and fork he had been holding and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Although the question seemed displeasing to him, he maintained proper manners and met their eyes while answering.

“Oh my, what happened?”

“It was decided by our families.”

“Oh dear. But please don’t resent the elders too much. There is always a reason when elders object.”

“There must have been a reason. So I do feel some apology toward the other party.”

He gave a bitter smile at the baroness’s exaggerated consolation. At that moment, his gaze naturally turned toward Eva. It might have been her imagination, but Eva felt as though a shadow of guilt flickered in his eyes. Embarrassed at how she kept trying to see him in a favorable light, she turned her head away.

“You must have liked her very much.”

“Not really. I only met her once when I was very young and never saw her again afterward, so there was nothing to like.”

Luth answered honestly. Even if he was the crown prince, it was not a disappointing answer to Eva. She was the same—she had never even had the chance to like him. And yet, she found herself paying close attention to everything he said. It was only natural to be curious about the inner thoughts of someone she had once been connected to.

“If that’s the case, don’t worry about it and meet someone else. You must have been quite popular before, too.”

“I have never been with another woman, not even once.”

Luth’s voice came out low and calm. Eva’s lowered eyelashes suddenly lifted in surprise.

“Why not?”

“Because it is not right to turn my eyes elsewhere when I already have a fiancée. Even if I do not like her, even if I have not seen her since childhood.”

He finished speaking indifferently and brought his glass of wine to his lips. Behind the tilted glass, his darkened eyes were fixed on Eva. It was as if all the night outside had gathered and filled his gaze—nothing else could be seen.

“I believed the woman I would marry would be only her.”

“……”

Eva’s anger toward the bracelet vanished in an instant. Even though she scolded herself not to feel this way, she found herself comforting her heart by imagining him as the crown prince. It felt like a reward for the innocent days when she had thought she would naturally marry him.

In a time with no love, no interest, and no expectations, they had somehow remained faithful to each other. They had not realized it while bound together, only understanding it after it ended.

After Dinner

Before tea time began, Eva followed the baroness to her room as she went to fix her makeup.

“Give it back. My bracelet.”

Eva held out her hand toward the baroness, who was looking in the mirror. Her voice had turned cold, as her anger had grown too heavy to hide. She had been taught not to show emotions easily, but she could not do so now. Many things had happened in this house, and she had endured them all silently. But that patience, hardened like stone, had now turned into a detonated fuse because of the baroness’s theft.

“A bracelet? Oh, this? I just borrowed it.”

“Taking something without the owner’s permission isn’t borrowing—it’s stealing.”

Normally, she would have taken the bracelet back quietly to avoid making things worse. But now she could not tolerate the baroness’s shameless attitude.

“Watch your words. How rude.”

“Give it back. Now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Eva.”

“What did you say?”

Eva’s voice dropped even lower. Dark emotions that had been buried surged up and drowned her reason. Today, she had no intention of holding back—no matter what retaliation followed.

“Listen carefully, Eva. Your family went bankrupt, so we haven’t been properly paid. Despite that, we took you in because of past ties. Do you know how much loss we’ve suffered raising you and Cecile? So consider this as compensation.”

“If you continue like this, I will report you to the Inspection Office.”

“Go ahead. If I say it was originally mine, whose word do you think they will believe?”

The baroness sneered and waved her arm provocatively, openly showing her greed and intent to provoke Eva.

At her shameless behavior, Eva’s lips curled.

“Named jewelry has a history. Where the stone came from, who crafted it, and how it passed through owners before reaching its current one.”

“…What?”

The baroness’s eyes wavered uneasily, clearly not knowing that. She looked stunned by Eva’s sudden resistance.

“If it’s investigated, it will be revealed that this bracelet belonged to my mother. Then it will also be discovered that you stole it.”

“Y-you must be insane!”

In anger, the baroness raised her hand. But before it could land on Eva’s cheek, it was caught mid-air.

“Madam, I am now taller and stronger than you. Did you think I couldn’t stop you from hitting me?”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t hit her out of fear—it was simply something she refused to do. A cowardly, vile expression of frustration.

Eva stared into the baroness’s eyes and pressed forward sharply. For the first time, she realized that when they stood face to face, the baroness was much lower than her gaze. And thanks to years of labor, Eva’s grip strength was unexpectedly strong.

“L-let go of me!”

Alarmed by Eva’s fierce gaze, the baroness struggled, but her wrist only twisted painfully in Eva’s hand.

“Have you forgotten? I am still the daughter of the Macy’s Count family. The difference in status between you and me is not even worth mentioning. I’m sure you know what insult to nobility means. It applies not only when a commoner insults a noble, but also when a lower noble insults a higher noble.”

“You—!”

“One more attempt to use violence against me, and I will not remain silent.”

Eva shoved her hand away, releasing her wrist. The baroness staggered backward and slammed her hip into a chest of drawers.

“Give it back. My bracelet. Now.”

The baroness, trembling, finally threw the bracelet onto the floor in frustration.

“Take it. That worthless thing.”

The mother’s keepsake rolled across the floor. Eva picked it up carefully and held it to her chest. After giving the baroness a final warning glare, she turned and left the room.

Back in her own room, Eva leaned against the door and looked down at the bracelet. The blue glow of the jewel slowly brought her scattered emotions back into place.

What have I just done?

She had never openly defied anyone like that in this house before. Though she had not always stayed silent, she had never raised her voice either, afraid of being cast out.

It felt almost as if something evil had possessed her. Strangely, she did not think it was wrong. If she had not acted strongly, the baroness would never have returned the bracelet. And there was one more realization: enduring everything was not always a virtue. When injustice reached its limit, one sometimes had to push back.

Exhausted, Eva slid down the door and sat on the floor.

Meanwhile — Outside at Night

It was a cold night. Beneath neatly lined tall garden trees stood two dark figures facing each other. After dinner, they had stepped outside for a moment: Count Holland and Luth.

“You should return now, Your Highness. The imperial court must have already been informed that you’ve left the front lines. Staying here any longer is dangerous.”

Count Holland spoke anxiously. The man he had introduced as a knight was actually Edward Kane Butterfield—the rightful crown prince of the Empire of Hemblin, appointed heir from birth. Holland was both his court advisor and maternal cousin.

Edward had been serving as deputy commander of the imperial knights at the western front for three years. It was a dangerous region where war could break out at any moment. Whenever he took leave, he was constantly monitored. There had been countless assassination attempts, most orchestrated by the current Empress Mary and her faction, who wanted to replace him with Prince Leo.

But because the Emperor deeply favored Edward and the people trusted the brave crown prince, they could not openly move against him. That made situations like this extremely dangerous.

“It’s not an unauthorized departure. I’m simply using my official leave as I wish.”

Edward stood with his arms crossed, frowning.

This time, after the Emperor briefly regained his senses, Edward had been granted a one-month leave. Tired, he had already left early and was resting in Bael Castle after altering his reported leave dates. The official documents still contained the correct schedule, so there was no violation of military law.

“Your Highness, don’t you think this is strange?”

Count Holland narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Edward.

“What now?”

“Why on earth did you raise the Macy’s family banner? Don’t you think it attracts attention?”

“It was simply a gesture of respect to Count Macy’s family. If it’s my castle, I can do as I please.”

“Officially, it is my castle.”

Holland gritted his teeth while smiling.

Five years ago, at the Crown Prince’s request, he had purchased Bael Castle and handed the deed to him. Of course, the money had come from Holland’s own pocket, and Edward had taken the deed with a promise to repay him after ascending the throne. Looking back, Holland realized how foolish he had been.

At the time, there was no guarantee Edward would even become emperor.

And now, Edward was still officially stationed at the front. Holland was also supposed to be on leave at his main estate, Avalon. Yet Edward’s conspicuous behavior was unbearable.

“And why do you keep interfering in that woman’s affairs? You saved her from drowning—that was enough. Why accept the dinner invitation so readily? And why bring up the broken engagement? Don’t tell me… seeing your former fiancée has brought back feelings that never existed?”