Chapter 3
Ian.
Ian was a prince. And he was Cecenia’s only friend. It was no exaggeration to say that they had spent their entire lives together. Everyone naturally believed that they would become lovers and eventually marry.
However, when Cecenia got engaged to the crown prince, their relationship never progressed beyond friendship.
Even so, she kept Ian by her side because he cherished her more than anyone else. He gave her sincere advice. He was always on her side.
When her free-spirited older sister caused a scandal, when Cecenia had to take on the responsibilities of both their family and the role of empress because of that sister, it was Ian who criticized Elzer and their father.
And now, that same Ian said he loved her sister.
Cecenia was utterly dumbfounded.
“Love. Fine, whatever. You’re doing all this because of such a shallow feeling? I can understand that. But are you really okay with this, Ian? My sister shared a bed with my husband. How can you love a woman like that?”
“That’s why you’re an idiot. Boring people like you wouldn’t understand true love.”
“Are you saying I’m stupid because I don’t understand love?”
“That’s right.”
Cecenia barely held back a laugh at the absurdity of it all. This was utter madness. Yet Ian, completely entranced by his feelings, wore a blissful expression.
“Your sister always shines. She’s nothing like you, who’s always gloomy.”
“The woman who has slept with countless men, even taking her sister’s husband… You’re saying she’s different from me?”
“Yes.”
“So… love is for fools, then. If that’s what love is—falling for a woman who even had a child with my husband—then love is truly worthless.”
Such love, which discarded even the most basic morals, was disgusting. So repulsive it made her stomach churn.
And yet, Ian began to blame Cecenia.
“This is all your fault.”
“Now you’re saying it’s my fault?”
“If you hadn’t been so greedy, none of this would have happened.”
“Greedy? What greed are you talking about?”
Cecenia was too shocked to even speak. She had never once been greedy in her life. She had lived as a substitute for her sister, just as their father wanted. She had taken on all the responsibilities her sister refused. And yet, she was being accused of greed.
“Tell me, Ian. You, who have seen me up close for so long—how can you say that? What was my greed? Was it wrong of me to take over the family because my sister threw a tantrum, refusing to inherit it? Was it wrong of me to marry the crown prince in her place because she refused, saying he would never become emperor? Was it wrong to become empress?”
She had thought Ian was on her side.
Until she saw him now, she had believed he had his reasons, that he would never betray her.
Until the very last moment, Cecenia had trusted her friend. This betrayal hurt even more than the wounds inflicted by her unfaithful husband or her treacherous sister.
To Cecenia, Ian had been both a friend and the only person she truly trusted.
‘I’m the real fool here.’
She had never understood those who justified their affairs, believing they were experiencing some grand romance, the love of the century. And even now, she still couldn’t understand it.
Maybe it was because she had never been passionate about love, but to her, love was the worst thing. It was something that caused pain to others, something neither beautiful nor romantic.
Cecenia let out a small laugh.
“Speak, Ian. Why are you silent now? Or do you have nothing to say? You know I was never greedy. And love? It was never meant to be, was it? So what now? Stop thinking nonsense and—”
At that moment, Ian remained completely unfazed. Instead, he clicked his tongue at her.
“You’re so pathetic. Clinging to life like this.”
“……”
“Love will come true someday. If I stay by her side, she’ll eventually see me. That’s why I’m enduring everything now. After all, your husband is infamous for his affairs. In the end, your sister will be left alone.”
“And if she’s alone? What difference would that make?”
“People look to those beside them when they feel lonely. In the end, she will come to me. And I will become emperor. For her.”
“What a truly devoted lover you are.”
Realizing that Ian had been helping Elzer all this time while betraying her made her skin crawl. He had strengthened Elzer’s position while trampling on hers.
“Thanks for being so useful. Because of you, I got even closer to your sister.”
“Ha…”
If it had been her sister using her for her own gain, it would have been less painful. But a friend—an old friend who had once talked about marriage with her—had done this? That was something she could never understand.
“Why… why did I ever trust you?”
“Because you’re stupid.”
“You’re right. I was a fool. Falling for something so obvious.”
And then—
“Cecenia. My dear, beloved sister.”
The sound of heels clicking against the floor signaled the arrival of someone else.
It was Elzer.
“Ah.”
In her arms was a tiny baby.
“You’re going to die tomorrow. Shouldn’t you at least see your nephew before then? Oh, wait… not a nephew. This child is your husband’s, after all. What should he call you?”
Seeing Elzer’s smirk, Cecenia felt all the blood drain from her body.
“You’re saying this… right in front of me?”
“Of course. You should have controlled yourself better. Just because you were empress, you thought you could act however you wanted.”
“Act however I wanted? I showed you mercy by not killing you! If I had, at least I wouldn’t feel so wronged!!”
“Exactly. You did nothing. That’s why you lost. You should have killed me. What kind of saint sends her enemy away instead of finishing them off? How naive.”
“Did you ever feel even a little guilty? Were your apologies ever sincere?”
“How stupid. Did you really think I felt sorry for you?”
Cecenia trembled violently.
“What… did you say?”
“I approached the emperor on purpose. You know why? After handing him over to you, I regretted it. That position was mine… but you took it. So I took it back.”
“It was deliberate…? How… how could you all do this to me? My family… my friend…! How could you!”
“Cecenia.”
Elzer handed her baby to Ian and walked toward Cecenia.
Then, she gently stroked Cecenia’s bound hand through the prison bars.
“I’ll make good use of the family you built. And the empress’s seat. Thanks.”
“……”
“Good job, little sister.”
“Was that all you wanted?”
“Of course. Women shouldn’t be so ambitious. Everything belonged to me first. But you took it. That annoyed me. So I took it back.”
Cecenia’s whole body went numb as she realized—Elzer had poisoned her.
And as the paralysis spread, all she could do was weep.
