- Hey, it's no secret that Baron Ambrose is going to sign a contract to sell his daughter! Didn’t you know and that’s why you approached Tilia! Then why only me...!
The nonsense Mackenzie Fitz spewed as he was being beaten by Ilex could not be ignored. A chill ran down his spine.
Come to think of it, even after Cecilia Clayton threatened him after hearing that he was in the same study group as Tilia, there wasn't much action. When she said something stupid at the lakeside, he broke the closet to silence her, but even then there was no significant reaction.
Sensing danger, Ilex quickly left the academy to assess the situation. He had long ago become convinced that Tilia had no feelings for her family other than disgust. If necessary, he is ready to get rid of both of them completely.
However, the very next day, having started an investigation, he learned the truth.
The crisis she faced was far worse than he had imagined.
While he was delusional about staying by her side, his enemies were methodically preparing to destroy her.
***
- Why do you have such a scary face, Ilex?
That day, Ilex learned the reason why Baron Ambrose found himself in insurmountable debt.
The largest investor in Ambrose's apparently fraudulent mining operation was the Clayton family. As a family with enormous influence in Acansis, their investment prompted countless others to follow suit, rushing to invest their funds.
When Baron Ambrose was desperate for collateral, Cecilia casually whispered to him that his family already had the perfect collateral. And the contract, which by law should never have been approved, was pushed through thanks to the Clayton name.
He didn't even need to see it to know exactly what was written out and offered as collateral for this ill-fated contract.
- Relax your expression, okay?
Once the contracts were finalized, the Claytons immediately withdrew from the business.
And that's when it happened. Rumors spread that the supposedly gold-rich mine was just a pile of stones.
If it had ended there, Ilex could have solved this problem. But the real problem was that the middlemen transporting the counterfeit gold were also involved in arms smuggling.
Akansis was a country bound by diplomatic marriages and peace treaties with various countries. Viewed another way, this meant that Acansis was an unstable state that could only ensure peace through strategic marriages.
Akansis's biggest fear lately has been Ontario. When it was discovered that Ontario had secretly sent an envoy to Ouna, a country that had not yet signed a peace treaty with Akansis, Parliament's vigilance increased dramatically.
It was during this increased scrutiny that a broker associated with Baron Ambrose was caught attempting to smuggle iron coated with a special compound to conceal its use as raw material for weapons.
Under normal circumstances, the matter would have resulted in a fine. Or, in the worst case, only the direct culprits would receive prison sentences, and the case would be hushed up.
-Aren't you afraid of your bride, Ilex? Cecilia is right, you should soften the angry look.
If only Gilbert Davenport hadn't deliberately blown the problem out of proportion.
Locked in the underground prison of his family's estate, Ilex looked at his brother coldly.
His mother, a member of the Ontaroan royal family, likely played a role. She was a woman who knew exactly what sacrifices were necessary to maintain harmony in the home.
If he had been a little more careful, he would have noticed the danger. But like a fool, he was too excited, too blind to the fact that it was right in front of him.
Pathetic idiot.
Grinding his teeth with self-loathing, Ilex muttered in an icy voice:
- Let me out.
In response to his demand, Cecilia Clayton and Gilbert Davenport, standing behind the iron bars, only grinned.
- For what? So you can go and save Tilia?
- Don't worry, Ilex. This girl you're so obsessed with will live happily ever after.
Gilbert, as if enjoying the drama of the moment, raised his eyebrows and joyfully whispered:
- She will have many wonderful husbands.
Cecilia laughed shrilly, and her harsh voice echoed terribly throughout the underground prison.
He felt sick from powerlessness. The rage that he had failed to protect his woman and allowed her to fall into ruins boiled within him.
- Tilia Ambrose... let her go.
But he knew. Now even anger was a luxury.
Ilex slowly knelt down and bowed his head in front of those people who ruined his life.
- What is this?
Cecilia, who was laughing hysterically, suddenly stopped and looked at him. By contrast, Gilbert watched with contented admiration, as if he were witnessing the climax of a grand play.
This was enough to understand that it was best to negotiate with Cecilia Clayton, and not with Gilbert. Because possessiveness is easier to exploit than an inferiority complex.
Quickly identifying his target, Ilex looked up at Cecilia and hurried to offer her a deal.
- You need me, don't you? I will be your groom. You won. Tilia is leaving for Ontario anyway. So...
- Ilex, it is inevitable that you will become mine.
Cecilia interrupted him irritably.
- And this mongrel who dared to covet what belongs to me. It is quite natural that it will be sold.
Grinning, she leaned forward, her painted lips curling into a grin.
- Oh, Ilex.
She whispered quietly, as if lamenting something.
-You really love her, don't you?
-……
- But what will you do? Just because you fell in love with her, she will now become the most insignificant creature.
Her red fingertips brushed his cheek teasingly.
- I knew this for a long time.
Gently stroking her tear-stained cheek, Cecilia whispered sweetly:
“She was always destined to be your greatest failure.”
With a short, mocking laugh, she straightened up.
The door slammed shut.
The fool who once considered himself a prince come to save his princess now clung to the prison bars, shaking them in vain, realizing the full essence of his situation.
***
-Are you really not going to eat?
Cecilia's self-control evaporated on the fourth day of the hunger strike, when he refused even a sip of water. Walking furiously in front of his cell, she kicked the iron bars in frustration.
“You think I’m going to let Tilia Ambrose go just because you do?” Don't be funny. The only thing you achieve is to make me even angrier!
Despite her annoyed outburst, the man inside the cell remained silent. Cecilia glared at his turned back before muttering darkly.
-...I will kill her.
Her voice, full of anger, oozed poison.
“If you keep this up, I won't just turn Tilia Ambrose into a prostitute, I'll actually kill her!”
Only then did Ilex, who had been silent for a long time, react.
- If you kill her.
His voice, hoarse and cracked, was still clear enough for Cecilia's keen ears to catch every word.
“I will love Tilia Ambrose for the rest of my life.”
-……
“Because I never have to see her grow old and wither, she will forever remain in my heart as a young first love.”
Lying on his side with his back turned, Ilex strained his ears, trying to detect any reaction behind him.
Not a sound was heard. But one silence was enough to understand that Cecilia Clayton was alarmed and hesitant.
A little more. Ilex narrowed his eyes and spoke his prepared words.
- I will never forget her, until the day I die. How can I? The woman who died because of me. The woman you said would be destroyed because of me.
There was no need to pretend to be weak in his voice. This was his absolute truth.
He will never forget the woman who was doomed because of his mistakes.
-...But if instead you send her far, far away.
The next words came out slowly, deliberately. The sound of Cecilia restlessly biting her nails ended abruptly.
“Then maybe, maybe I can forget.” If I believe that she has found another man and is living well somewhere far away, perhaps someday I can return to reality.
However, there was still no sound coming from behind the bars. But Ilex knew instinctively that she was considering his words.
-...Don't try to deceive me, Ilex Davenport. I know you're only saying this to manipulate me.
- It's a trick. So what?
At Cecilia's long-awaited answer, Ilex turned to her, as if he had been waiting for this moment. In the dim light, his blue-gray eyes pierced right through her.
“If Tilia Ambrose lives in misery as you wish, I will never forgive you.” Even if I pretend to be with you, deep down I will always be waiting for the moment to stab you in the back.
-……
- No, I guess I won’t even pretend. Marry the woman who killed my first love? It's better to die than to live like this.
Cecilia's sharp blue eyes fixed on him, just as cold and dangerous. And yet, despite her gaze, Ilex recognized a subtle tremor in her eyes.
That's when he softened his tone and spoke softly.
- However, if you let Tilia go. If you agree to send her far, far away and are satisfied with it.
-……
“If you allow me to end this relationship with my own hands... then perhaps I can recognize the woman who showed me this favor.”
-...“Recognize” me!?
- Yes. You didn’t expect to hear the word “love” from my lips, did you?
Bowing his head slightly, Ilex chuckled.
- That would be a real deception. The way I am now, I am completely incapable of loving you.
The job was done. The peak was close. Seeing that her eyes were trembling more than ever, Ilex slowly stood up and walked towards her.
Standing behind the iron bars, he reached out and stroked Cecilia's cheek.
The disgust that rose in his throat was enough to make him want to vomit, but if it was to save Tilia, he could endure anything. Even if the creature in front of him was not a woman, but a rotting corpse, he would lick the maggots from her feet if it meant saving Tilia.
- But who knows what time will bring? If Tilia Ambrose becomes just a memory of the past, and you, standing here so beautifully, will remain.
Cecilia, who had closed her eyes slightly in bliss at his touch, opened them again to look at him.
- Set me free, Cecelia Clayton.
Swallowing the bile of disgust, Ilex muttered sweetly.
- Let me finish this. Open the door so I can come back.
Cecilia looked down, hesitating, as if she couldn't bring herself to say no.
But Ilex already knew what choice she would make.
Because, like himself, those maddened by desire have only one choice.
***
- It's only a matter of time before you get caught. So you must come back quickly. It's obvious where you'll go, and Gilbert will definitely send people after you.
Cecilia, who escaped from prison, returned two days later.