IMTVD| Chapter 6

Episode 6

Emilia glanced at the small travel bag she’d packed in advance. It looked light—hardly anything inside.

Her room was full of luxury items befitting the lady of the Casper household. She could have taken a few without

anyone objecting, but she had no desire to touch them.

These things already have an owner.

Once she left, the real mistress of this room would take over soon enough.

Edwin would never let Diana use anything that had been touched by another woman, so he’d likely throw it all out.

He was the sort of man who became obsessive when it came to Diana—disposing of perfectly fine belongings wouldn’t

surprise her in the least.

Even so, Emilia refused to take anything. If she wanted a clean break from this place, she had to leave everything

behind.

She hadn’t died like in the original story, but she still wanted to disappear quietly, asking for nothing.

Tidying up every last thing felt like the right way to end it.

“This ring, too.”

She slipped off the wedding band Edwin had put on her finger during their vows and set it on the desk.

It was nothing more than a pretty trinket with no real memories attached, yet it had been her only tangible proof that

she was his wife. Looking at it had given her a strange sense of reassurance.

Leaving it behind was the last step.

Bag in hand, she stepped into the hall—and ran into Beati, the head maid.

“I see you’re aware of your… situation.”

She hadn’t expected to make it out of the mansion without someone noticing, but of all people, it had to be Beati.

Emilia still remembered the look Beati had given her on her first day here—an open scowl, as if her very presence was

offensive.

“So you know you’re about to be thrown out.”

The packed bag made her intentions obvious, and Beati wasted no time sneering.

A woman from the Hermann family—bitter enemies of the Caspers—had been unwelcome from the start. Beati had

always believed Emilia had come to steal family secrets when everyone’s guard was down.

In reality, Emilia had never even thought of such a thing, but Beati was convinced she’d personally thwarted some

grand espionage.

“This marriage was a mismatch from the beginning. Like a graceful swan paired with a sly crow.”

“I know. I know we don’t suit each other.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Emilia didn’t bother to deny it. It was true—Edwin had someone else who suited him far better. That was why she felt

no lingering attachment now.

If I have one last wish… it’s to never have to see Edwin and Diana smiling happily together.

No huge settlement, no apology—just that.

She didn’t want to witness the man she loved smiling beside another woman. That was why she was leaving first.

“Well then, goodbye. Ah, you’re not a noble anymore, so I don’t even have to be polite. The Hermann family’s gone,

after all.”

There was nowhere for her to return to—the Hermanns had been wiped out by her husband and the emperor.

Emilia walked on, ignoring Beati, who bristled at being brushed aside before forcing another smile.

“Don’t ever come back. I won’t have the Casper name dragged through the mud by the likes of you again!”

Outside, a cluster of servants watched her. Some looked pleased, others glared, and some dismissed her entirely.

It was shockingly rude behavior toward someone who had been their mistress—but she wasn’t that anymore.

She didn’t care. If they weren’t going to stop her, all the better.

I was worried they’d lock me up until things were finalized.

Their apathy almost reassured her—they were telling her she wasn’t worth the trouble.

She crossed the wide garden.

“This’ll be the last time I see this view.”

The garden had been the only place she could relax here. The flowers didn’t hate or reject her.

Sometimes she’d stand here just to catch a glimpse of Edwin coming home, never daring to approach, but content to

watch from afar.

Now even that small comfort was ending.

No one like me was ever going to be loved in the first place.

So she stepped out of the gates with a strange sense of release—one she hadn’t even felt when leaving the cursed

Hermann estate.

“Edwin, look at this. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Your Highness.”

Diana smiled brightly, holding up the necklace at her chest for him to admire. Edwin was tired just looking at her.

There was still too much work left undone. With the emperor offloading his own duties, Edwin was busier than the

emperor himself.

Yet Diana summoned him at whim, just because she wanted to see him.

This relationship ends today.

Whatever expression she wore, it didn’t matter. Now that Hermann was gone, he no longer needed to play along.

Too much time wasted coaxing the royals.

To wipe out the entire noble faction, including the Hermanns, he’d been forced to use Diana’s influence.

The Caspers were loyal to the crown, but to the royals, they were just another tool. They wouldn’t listen to Edwin—

but they obeyed Diana without question.

If tolerating her had been the price of clearing obstacles, so be it.

“Duke, why don’t you have dinner with me later?”

Her cheeks flushed prettily in a show of shyness.

Once, he might have liked that. He’d even admit that, for a time, he’d been interested—maybe for personal reasons,

maybe just for the family’s sake.

But it was strange, seeing her smile so innocently. After all, he’d been the one to drag her from the streets and restore

her as a princess.

Could someone who’d lived like that truly remain pure?

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“…Are you refusing me?”

Her sweet expression vanished, replaced by a stony glare. The palace attendants bristled, their looks saying, How

dare you insult the princess?

But Edwin simply smiled.

“I’m hosting a celebration at home tonight.”

“A… celebration?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Her expression shifted instantly, and she grabbed his hand, smiling again.

He almost frowned. Grabbing the hand of a married man so casually—it was insulting. He’d told her before not to do

it, but she seemed to forget within a day.

Sighing inwardly, he looked down at her.

“I’ll be looking forward to it, Duke.”

Whatever she was imagining, he didn’t care to know. He bowed to excuse himself, ignoring her brighter smile, and

left.

Alone in the long hallway, he thought of one face.

No one will be able to stand between us now.

Emilia Casper.

Golden hair, that perpetually expressionless face—yet in his mind, always vivid.

Thinking of what had happened that morning, he quickened his steps, eager to get home and see his wife.