Prologue
“I want… a divorce.”
It was the last thing she ever wanted to say in her life, but the words slipped out anyway.
His face was hidden behind the papers in his large hands, but she was sure he was smiling with relief.
Of course—because he already had a lover he truly loved.
But even after some time passed, the princess couldn’t hear his voice—neither agreement nor refusal.
“I want a divorce.”
When she said it again, he finally lowered the papers and looked at her.
His face showed no emotion at all.
Those blood-red ruby eyes, his pale skin, his pitch-black hair that seemed to swallow everything—
She hated everything about him.
His lips that pretended to kiss tenderly, his acts of fake sweetness.
But she knew well—he never loved her.
Why did I love you?
Why don’t you love me?
She never asked aloud the questions she had repeated to herself throughout their forced marriage. She already knew the answer.
“I’ll hand over the magic stone mine I brought as dowry when we married. Let’s end this marriage that way.”
“…”
She thought he would simply say “alright” and accept, but instead, he stayed silent.
“I’ll leave the mine transfer with Dawson, and also ask him to start the divorce process.”
“…”
“Then I’ll be going. May the Goddess keep you in peace.”
She gave the usual formal farewell and rose from the soft sofa, heading for the grand, ornate doors.
She couldn’t bear staying in this suffocating place any longer.
“Wait.”
His low voice, rough as if scraping the ground, made her steps stop.
“I have not agreed to this divorce.”
“…So you want to continue this marriage like this?”
She didn’t turn back. She couldn’t control her crumbling expression.
Her fingertips trembled. She wanted to scream at his calm tone, but she forced it down. Just endure this moment… this time… and I’ll finally be free.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why do you want a divorce?”
His calm question made her bite her lip. Anger boiled inside her.
Was he really asking because he didn’t know?
Her cold but tender husband.
The endless rumors about his lover.
Her desperate wish for a child that never came.
The sharp, judging eyes of nobles who scorned her for failing to bear an heir.
And the cruel words from his lover, dripping with spite.
“Wh… why, you ask?”
“You know well enough that your country offered you to me like a tribute, don’t you?”
“…”
“So you should also know why this marriage can’t be broken.”
“I know. I know my father, the king, made unreasonable demands of you. I know because of me, you had to part with the woman you loved.”
“…”
“Living with you made it clear.”
He couldn’t know how hard she fought to keep her voice from shaking.
Or how tightly she clenched her fists so she wouldn’t scream.
“That you never forgot her.”
“…”
“So I apologize on behalf of my father.”
“…”
“And also to the woman you had to leave behind because of him.”
She spoke with her back still turned. Then she heard the sound of a chair pushing back and footsteps approaching. When they stopped just behind her—
“Who fed you such nonsense?”
“…”
“And if we divorce, where will you even go?”
“…”
“To that useless king who abused you? To your half-brother, who ogled you with filthy eyes because he couldn’t have you?!”
His low, icy voice at her ear made her eyes widen. She had never heard him speak like this before.
“Or perhaps back to the fiancé you once loved so dearly?”
“…”
Her whole body froze. Why was he suddenly dragging her half-brother, her childhood friend, into this?
“Or maybe to Count Bredon, who dared confess to you in front of me, begging me to let you go?”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around roughly.
He was baring his teeth in fury. She had never seen him like this—his usual cold but gentle mask was gone.
“If you knew what I did—just to make you mine…”
He trailed off, unable to finish. Then, after a moment, his face returned to that same tender expression as always.
He stepped closer and gently caressed her stiff face with his large hand.
She stared at him blankly—the man with the soft smile that had once made her fall in love, the face like a god of war, so beautiful yet terrifying.
“There will never be a divorce.”
“…”
“You will never leave me alive. And even in death, you’ll never escape this family.”
His blood-red eyes burned with fire.
“Whether alive or dead—you’ll never escape me.”
“…”
Hearing those words, she instinctively knew—she could never break free from him. The chains binding her could never be broken.
“Never.”
