Chapter 14
Beneath the dim moonlight seeping through the darkness, His Highness still looked beautiful.
The more beautiful he was, the more wretched I felt, and I was overwhelmed with shame.
To show the most miserable side of myself to the one I only ever wanted to show my best—how humiliating.
I couldn’t bear to look at him directly because I was ashamed of how I looked.
‘Why… why does it have to be like this…’
My dirt-stained fingernails clung to the edge of my tattered clothes. I glanced up. His deep blue eyes were staring straight at me.
“Ah…”
Even in this pathetic state, seeing him again made me gasp in joy and relief.
His radiant silver hair and clear blue eyes made my heart tremble.
He was once my fiancé—and even now, he’s someone I love.
“Your Highness…”
My voice, rough like metal scraping, made my face burn with embarrassment. Loud snoring from the other prisoners echoed around us.
“What brings you here…?”
I had to steady my voice to keep it from shaking. But His Highness said nothing. His face was blank, expressionless.
He showed no reaction, no movement—just stared at me.
He had always been unreadable, but today, I couldn’t even begin to guess what he was thinking or feeling.
‘Am I disgusting to him…?’
Is he ashamed that someone like me was once his fiancée? It’s certainly possible.
His Highness valued honor above all, a proud and noble man.
Hearing through the count’s family that I was the daughter of a swindler—how could he not feel angry and disgusted?
“……”
Still, no answer. He remained silent, eyes locked on me.
The longer he stared, the lower I hung my head in shame.
I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Or vanish from this world altogether—if that would get me out of this humiliation.
“…You…”
His voice, cold as a wintry wind, finally broke the silence.
“You’re the same as ever.”
The same…? What did he mean?
His gaze dropped to my hand. Ashamed of my filthy nails, I instinctively curled my fingers.
There was so much I wanted to say, but in this pitiful state, I couldn’t bring myself to say a word.
“…That’s a relief.”
“…Pardon?”
Just as I tried to interpret his words, His Highness turned away.
‘No—wait!’
Panicking, I called out to him.
“Your Highness!”
I didn’t want to be seen like this by him. But even more than that—I didn’t want him to walk away. This might be the last time I ever see him.
I was no longer the noble daughter of a count. My chance to ever meet him again was gone.
‘He’ll remember me like this… forever…’
To be remembered only in this miserable state—it crushed me.
His Highness turned back. Meeting his cold, radiant eyes, I carefully opened my mouth.
Just once, I wanted to tell him my truth—that I truly, deeply loved him.
“I… I didn’t want to show you this—”
“If nothing else, I can consider a few requests. After all, we’ve known each other for a long time.”
He cut me off. His voice, listless and soft, floated like moonlight.
“Selena.”
He called my name.
“Are you… suffering?”
“Ah…”
Yes, I’m suffering. The cold and hunger feel like death. Grief over my lost family shreds my heart.
He stepped closer to the iron bars. His shadow stretched long under the moonlight.
“This might be your only chance.”
The last chance to ask him to help me escape from here.
I trembled. I had to choose—confess my love, or beg him to save me.
‘I want to get out… but…’
Begging for help, then confessing—it would sound so laughable. But if I miss this chance, who knows what horrors await me?
I was torn. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t keep him waiting forever.
‘I really do love you…’
If I’d known saying this would be so hard, I would’ve told him over and over before. A tear rolled down from one eye.
“…Please… help me.”
“……”
I want to say I love you. But being trapped here is unbearable.
The cold, the hunger, the loneliness and abandonment… everything tormented me.
I was alone now. Abandoned by my father and brother, who threw me into this hell.
I hated them. And I hated myself—for still loving them, even a little.
That last bit of love clung weakly to my heart, but soon it too would vanish like smoke.
Just like my withering body in this prison, my heart was drying out as well.
“Please… Your Highness.”
Drip. A teardrop fell onto my sleeve. His lips curved faintly into a smile.
And then—
“I refuse.”
“…What?”
His smile twisted, mocking.
He chuckled coldly, his voice sharper than any blade.
“To see you fall like this… I suppose that day had to come. Well then, good luck.”
Without giving me a chance to stop him, His Highness turned and left.
The slam of the door echoed loud, reminding me I’d been abandoned.
He never had any intention of helping me.
‘He came to mock me…’
Was he always like this? Or did hatred twist his heart that much?
Whatever the truth, I missed my chance to confess—and all I got in return was ridicule.
I hated myself. I felt pathetic, laughable, miserable beyond reason.
“Ughhhh…”
A beast-like sob escaped my lips. The cold that pierced my bones couldn’t compare to this humiliation.
So I laughed. And I cried.
It was the only thing I could do.
As soon as the morning sun rose, another visitor came.
This time, it was Amelia. A girl I once considered a friend.
‘Are you here to mock me too?’
A tide of sorrow surged through me. My chest ached, my breath caught.
What kind of life had I lived to end up with family and friends like this? Would I ever trust anyone again? Would I even survive?
“Well, don’t you look lovely.”
Amelia scanned me from head to toe. I clenched my teeth to stop the tears threatening to fall.
“Just say what you came to say, Amelia. Why are you here?”
“Oh, nothing major. Just about the artisan perfume exhibition we were supposed to co-host.”
“And?”
“I received all the documents from the count’s estate, except for the most important one—the import quality certificate for the core ingredient. I couldn’t find it anywhere.”
“…Ha.”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
So this is the kind of person you really are, Amelia. How did I never see it until now?
“You came here for that?”
“You might think it’s trivial, but it’s important to me. Though, I guess that’s not all I came for.”
Her eyes swept over my tangled hair, the shackles on my wrists.
She came to look at me.
My pride burned with shame. After His Highness, now Amelia too…
Rage boiled inside me like a volcano. If it weren’t for these bars, I might have slapped her.
“Leave.”
“If I don’t have that certificate, I can’t get administrative approval. Just tell me where you kept it so I don’t have to request a reissue.”
“You think I should help you in this situation?”
“Selena, if you have any conscience, you’ll cooperate at least a little.”
“What?”
Amelia brushed her hair back with an annoyed gesture.
She lightly kicked the bars with her shoe. A dull thud vibrated through them.
“Do you know how much trouble I’m in because of you? My best friend turned out to be a swindler! Now I have to act like a tragic woman for a while.”
“…Ha…”
My eyelids trembled. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
You can’t see me at all, can you? I was never really your friend, was I?
Your reputation mattered more than the ruin I’ve fallen into.
To think I believed someone like you was my best friend. I want to gouge out the eyes that were so blind.
“Can’t you see me?”
“You’re just getting the punishment you deserve.”
“Amelia Rophen!”
“How many times do I have to say it? It’s Miss. Are you too stupid to get that? Miss Amelia. Say it!”
I couldn’t help but let out a scoff. Her gaze turned cold.
“…It must have been hard for you.”
“What?”
“Hiding your true self and pretending to be my friend must’ve been tough.”
“Are you serious? If you weren’t Selena Estarion, why would I have stayed around?”
Her tone was calm, but her words were honest.
She lowered herself, meeting my eyes.
Her lips curled slightly, but her sunken eyes held real emotion.
“I put up with you because someday, as your friend, I could be the Empress’s lady-in-waiting. I hated you from the start.”
“…Why? Why did you hate me?”
Her elegant lips twisted.
“Everything was Selena this, Selena that. Be more like Selena. Learn her manners. Match her intelligence. And that wasn’t all—Edgar liked you!”
Edgar—her fiancé.
“He liked his fiancée’s best friend. Even knowing you were promised to the Crown Prince, he still…”
I had no idea. Edgar was kind, but I thought it was out of respect for his fiancée’s friend.
“You walked around clueless, always smiling like an angel. Acting graceful and noble.”
“I never acted like that. Stop with the nonsense.”
“You were the worst.”
“……”
I couldn’t breathe.
“You acted like you were better than everyone else. Pretended to be a saint. It was awful—absolutely suffocating.”
“I didn’t know you were like this… I really was an idiot for not seeing it.”
“You were just too naïve. But seeing you like this… I think it’s better. You look more human now than you ever did with all your elegance and pride.”
A single tear slipped down my cheek. The truth of who my “friend” was—like a dagger to the heart.
“The documents… forget it. I’ll just request them again. Seeing you like this is enough.”
