~Chapter 14~
At first, I thought I had heard wrong.
But Marquis Valandier’s following words confirmed it was no mistake.
“His Highness the Crown Prince was unilaterally dumped in front of everyone at that ball.”
“Th-that… that can’t be…”
I denied it with my mouth, but deep down, I knew.
If it was Livia, she could absolutely do that.
She would have aimed straight for Khalid’s heart with a smile.
My heart pounded painfully at the horror of it.
“It was the Goddess’ Ball, the first in a long time since the Saintess recovered. Nobles from across the entire Empire gathered there. It was an extravagant, luxurious event.”
And there… Khalid.
Humiliated, in front of countless people.
Marquis Valandier’s troubled face said everything about that tragic scene.
Even he, who had traveled across the continent and seen all kinds of cruelty, wore an expression so grave.
“Tell me exactly… what happened.”
“…Do you really have to hear this?”
“It’s something that happened to him. Something he went through.”
“….”
“It’s a humiliation… that he probably thinks was inflicted by me.”
My voice trembled uncontrollably.
My eyes burned, and my heart quaked with anxiety.
I didn’t want to hear it, yet I had to.
“Please… tell me.”
Marquis Valandier continued, his face bitter.
With a faint smile, Livia tilted her head as if puzzled.
Unlike Khalid, whose face darkened with each word, hers remained bright and radiant.
‘Did Your Highness… imprison me in that mansion?’
‘Livia, please. You know that’s not what this is.’
‘Well, since I don’t remember anything about being with you… that’s what it sounds like.’
‘Livia.’
‘Don’t call me that, Your Highness. Were we ever close enough for that? Or… are you saying it to disgust me? If so, congratulations.’
‘…….’
‘See? It worked perfectly.’
Her smile wasn’t kind. The way she narrowed her eyes, revealing the beauty mark beneath them, looked painfully artificial.
That was when Marquis Valandier realized — a familiar face could become so terrifyingly unfamiliar.
‘Don’t do this, Livia. Even if you lost your memories… the time we spent together didn’t just disappear.’
‘Well, Your Highness. The only memory I have of you… is glaring at me like you were about to kill me every time you saw me.’
‘Your memories can return. Even if they don’t completely… your heart, at least, will never change.’
‘Pfft! Wh-what? Puhuhu… ahahahaha!’
At Khalid’s desperate words — words spoken like that was his only hope — Livia Arfin finally burst into laughter.
With eyes gleaming in open mockery, she clutched her stomach and laughed in his face.
‘Poor Crown Prince Khalid. Why do you still think my heart would remain the same?’
‘Because you… are Livia Arfin.’
‘Yes, I am Livia Arfin. The purest bloodline in this nation, the sole Saintess across the continent, ruler of divine power.’
‘…….’
‘Why would someone like me ever harbor feelings for someone like you?’
‘…….’
‘Who do you think you are?’
That was mockery. Pure, unfiltered scorn.
Words spoken only to humiliate him, and Livia didn’t hide that intent at all.
The ballroom fell into a deathly silence.
Some nobles were stunned. Others scoffed. Still others trembled with shame.
The first were clueless nobles, the second her loyal followers, the third Crown Prince Khalid’s retainers who had arrived late.
‘Your Highness, it’s time to wake up from this dream.’
‘Livia….’
‘You should have realized by now, shouldn’t you?’
With a face full of ridicule, she said clearly to the crumpled Crown Prince:
‘I could never have truly loved you.’
‘…….’
‘Especially… you, of all people.’
Slowly, she reached out and cupped his cheek. Her flawless, unblemished hand caressed his face as if comforting him.
Her gesture was so graceful that from afar, it looked like she was whispering words of love.
But what she truly whispered was poison.
‘The game is over, Your Highness. Loving the woman you once despised… how pathetic. What a beautiful sight.’
From a distance, it looked romantic.
But her words were like icy blades that tore his heart apart.
Marquis Valandier, standing close enough to hear clearly, felt deeply unsettled — as if he had witnessed a wound that no one should see.
‘The Livia Arfin you’re looking for… doesn’t exist. She never did. I’m sure someone as brilliant as you understands what that means.’
‘…….’
‘So stop pestering me. I’m sick of it.’
She lightly tapped his cheek twice, then turned away without the slightest regret.
As if he no longer served any purpose to her at all.
‘His Highness is leaving.’
That day, the ball’s true protagonist was Livia Arfin.
Her followers flushed with excitement at her open dismissal, while Khalid’s retainers stood frozen, their faces red and pale with shame.
But Crown Prince Khalid himself remained rooted to the spot for a long time.
His crimson eyes were so sunken they looked almost black.
He did not move, even under the weight of countless mocking gazes.
He stood there, stunned, his face blank as if searching for emotions he couldn’t find.
Finally, much later, he left the ballroom — heavy footsteps echoing like when he had entered.
He shed not a single tear. No trace of sorrow was visible.
But to Marquis Valandier, he looked as if he was weeping in utter despair.
That was how fragile his back appeared.
Marquis Valandier finished his story with quiet sorrow.
Listening to him, it felt as if I had been there myself — my heart crumpled in pain.
“Ho-how could….”
How could such a thing happen?
“His Highness has not appeared in any official events since. I’ve seen him a few times in private gatherings, but… there were many rumors after that day.”
Even without him saying it, I could imagine.
Though their wedding ceremony had been interrupted by her sudden collapse, no one had thought their relationship would be severed completely.
I covered my face with both hands.
Imagining that scene made my hands tremble.
“I… I could never say such things to him.”
“I know.”
“I could never… hate Khalid like that.”
“Yes.”
“So… so…”
The endless grief flooding me was all directed at Khalid, who must have been hurt the most that day.
It pained me so deeply that my love for him had become a weapon that pierced his heart.
I could only shake my head, unable to speak the words I wanted to say. Tears poured down uncontrollably.
I bit my trembling lips over and over, trying to compose myself.
“Did… did His Highness… believe those words?”
