Chapter 00

“Ted, I don’t believe in love.” 

‘Even so, I ended up loving you. Is that really okay? Can I… can I love you?’ 

Silver hair softly brushed against Cecenia’s fingertips. The man knelt before her, pressing his cheek into her hand. It wasn’t just the touch that made her fingers tingle. His tear-filled eyes. His large frame, which didn’t match the desperate longing in his gaze. 

“Then don’t love me—own me instead. I can do anything for you. So, my master, please, take me completely.” 

“No. I’ve used you enough.” 

“No, use me more. Break me. Make me fall apart, so that the only place I have left to go is to you.”

“No…” 

“Are you throwing me away? After saving me, are you going to abandon me now? Why? Why?” 

Cecenia slowly withdrew her hand. But his long fingers clung to hers, intertwining like vines. His scarred hands wrapping around her pale ones made her heart waver. 

“I’m not abandoning you. I’m just realizing where we stand. Ted, I only raised you to the throne so I could use you.” 

“Then… does that mean you don’t need me anymore?” 

“No.” 

“You said you’d be my empress. You said you’d stay by my side. I endured everything because of that. So why… why do you only think about leaving? I’ll become emperor. I’ll place this kingdom at your feet. So please… just don’t leave me.” 

She couldn’t let go. Cecenia looked at him with a troubled expression. 

He was the emperor’s blood, yet an abandoned child. Cecenia had saved him—not for some grand cause, but simply to use him as a tool. A tool to take revenge on the friend who stole her husband and deceived her… a tool for herself, the one they had left to die. 

“I only meant to use you. You already know that. Then why…” 

“Because I can’t live without you.” 

Cecenia sighed and looked at him. Ted slowly stood and pulled her into a tight embrace.  

“So please… don’t go. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll even bring you the emperor’s head…” 

“Alright, Ted.” 

“Stay here… as my master. I’ll come back. Just don’t leave, okay?” 

“…Okay.” 

“Praise me. Tell me I did well.” 

Stepping back from his arms, Cecenia rose on her toes and gently stroked his head. 

“You did well.” 

“Stay… stay here with me…” 

“Yes. I’ll stay here.” 

She never expected him to become so obsessed. Had it been because she let him live like a human when he had never known how? Or was it because she kept him close for her own needs? Whatever the reason, Ted’s obsession only grew stronger with time. Cecenia silently watched him. 

It was only after hearing her promise that he seemed at ease. Slowly, Ted stepped back. 

“If I go where I’m supposed to be… my master won’t be angry, right?” 

“Yes. Go ahead. I’ll find you.” 

“…You have to come. Promise me you won’t hate me.” 

“Yes.” 

Only after reassuring himself multiple times did Ted finally disappear through the window. 

“Hah…” 

Two figures, who had been watching all along, stepped forward. 

“Why do you keep that pathetic guy around? Other than his royal blood, he’s just a loser.” 

“You used to acknowledge Teddy.” 

“Now that I’m back as king, it’s frustrating. Why do you still care about that guy when I’m here? I like you, Nia.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous. Teddy is better than you, brother.” 

They were twins, eerily identical. So beautiful that they barely looked human—if fairies existed, they might look just like them. Their light sky-blue hair and pale faces made them seem otherworldly. The only difference was the length of their hair. Without hesitation, they clung to Cecenia. 

They were twins—Cillian and Pepe. 

“Just choose me instead. To help with your revenge, I even went back to that wretched place and killed everyone in the way. Stay by my side, Nia. If you want revenge, I’ll do it for you.” 

“Sister, we’ll do it for you. So, don’t rely on anyone else. Just look at us. No, just look at me. You don’t need men. I’ll save you. So obey me. I’ll be your everything.” 

As the two of them smiled sweetly, Cecenia shook her head. 

Twins, rejected by their homeland simply because they were born together. This kingdom had been the only place where they had managed to survive—until they were discovered and nearly cast out again. Cecenia had saved them. 

She had thought they might be useful. 

But perhaps, once again, she had made the wrong choice. 

Because now, not just Ted, but these two were obsessing over her as well. 

“No. I’ll handle my revenge myself.” 

“If you say so, then fine. Do it your way. But, Nia, I don’t think I can stand watching you get close to other people anymore.” 

“Hah…” 

Cecenia sighed deeply as she looked at the clingy twins. 

She had only raised them to serve her revenge… 

— 

**Nine months ago.** 

For Cecenia, that day was no different from any other. 

‘Once again, my husband is cheating. I’m so tired of this. Why did I ever marry him? I wanted a happy marriage, but I’m not happy at all.’ 

She looked completely emotionless, as if she had already given up. Even as she headed toward the emperor’s chamber, her only intention was to drive out the woman he had brought in for the night. There wasn’t even a trace of feeling left. 

If only it had been someone else. 

Then today would have been just like any other day. 

“My little bird, you’re as beautiful as ever. Every moment I see you, my heart races.” 

“Oh, you… you always say such things.” 

“It feels like a dream. To have you beside me… You should have always been mine from the start.” 

Inside the room, the voices of a man and woman intertwined sweetly, just as they did every night. Cecenia stared at the door, unmoved. 

“This is exhausting.” 

She had long lost count of how many women there had been. Every night, the emperor brought someone new. And every night, Cecenia opened the door to witness it—because there was nothing she could do to him. The least she could do was drive the women away. 

So, once again, she opened the door— 

“…Why do you smell so sweet? Like ripe peaches.” 

The emperor had his face buried in the woman’s chest. And she, giggling, ran her fingers through his hair. Normally, Cecenia would have barged in and thrown the woman out. But this time, her feet wouldn’t move. 

Because the woman stroking the emperor’s hair was someone she knew all too well. 

“…Sister?” 

Only then did the emperor realize someone had entered. 

“Ah, Empress… Haha. What brings you here? No matter how much you are the empress, you shouldn’t just barge into the emperor’s chambers!” 

“Hah… Ha. How… How could you? Sister, you too…? How… how could you…” 

She had always known he was trash. Affairs were forbidden here. But as emperor, there was nothing Cecenia could do to him. 

“Oh. We got caught.” 

Her sister, Elzer, spoke shamelessly. 

And the emperor… he pitied her. 

“Elzer, are you alright?” 

“I’m fine. But what do we do now?” 

“Hm?” 

“That.” 

Elzer pointed at Cecenia, standing in the doorway. 

As if she were the one in the wrong. 

Cecenia’s chest tightened. 

What was she even doing here? Had she endured all this just to see this scene? 

Her own sister. Her own flesh and blood. How could she…? 

“Elzer… Sister.”