Chapter 2

It was right there, glittering around Judith’s neck—and Aileen didn’t know how she hadn’t noticed it sooner.

The necklace.

The very same one she had seen not long ago in Carlisle’s study.

She remembered thinking how the large amethyst at its center looked just like her own eyes. She’d even wondered—hoped—it might be a wedding gift for her.

How had she ever believed it was meant for her?
How had she been so certain—so sure—that it belonged to her?

Judith’s hair was just as deep a shade of violet as the jewel itself.

“Ah… this necklace. Carlisle gave it to me…”

Judith trailed off awkwardly, fingers brushing the pendant as she caught Aileen staring at it.

“That necklace—”

“Aileen,” Carlisle interrupted, raising a hand before she could speak. “Judy, wait for me outside. I’ll finish up here and join you soon.”

It happened so suddenly. His gesture—his words—cut her off. He stepped in front of Judith, shielding her, as if Aileen were about to attack her.

Ridiculous.

Aileen let out a hollow laugh.
Judith, sensing the tension, gave Carlisle a small nod and quickly left the room.

He watched her retreating figure—watched it for far too long, like he didn’t want to miss even the way her silhouette faded from view.

That look… that gaze… it was completely unfamiliar to Aileen.

Everything about this felt foreign.
All of this used to belong to her.

“If you’ve got something to say, say it now.”

Carlisle finally turned to her, his tone tinged with impatience. As if he was the one in a hurry.

Why?
Because the woman outside waiting for him was getting tired? Because he pitied her?

Aileen had felt as if she were drifting in a glass bubble, isolated from the world.
But now, reality was pressing down on her—cold, sharp, and painfully real.

She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again before leading him to the parlor.
She half-expected him to refuse, but surprisingly, Carlisle followed without protest.

Their butler, quick-witted as ever, had discreetly cleared the room. Still, too many of the servants had already witnessed what had happened.

She didn’t want to be the subject of more whispers.

“Sit down. Don’t even think about refusing. Not unless you’ve got a shred of conscience left.”

He didn’t answer.

They sat down across from each other in perfect sync, like they had done so many times before.

Under his pitch-black hair—dark as night—his sharply defined nose looked even more chiseled than usual. His deep blue eyes, always fathomless, looked colder than ever.

Was he thinner? There were dark circles under his eyes.
He looked worn, like he hadn’t been sleeping. Was he conflicted? Tormented by guilt?

Ridiculous.

She had once felt at peace just looking at him. But now, the air between them was heavy, brittle—like it would shatter at any moment.

It was Aileen who broke the silence first.

“When did it start?”

Her flushed cheeks and trembling lips, once always smiling and full of chatter, now trembled under Carlisle’s indifferent gaze.

“…About six months ago.”

“…Why.”

Her voice was soft, shaky—like it had hit a wall and simply fell silent.
Carlisle let out a shallow breath and answered plainly.

“I ran into Judith by chance. We had a drink to catch up. It brought back some feelings.”

“…”

“I tried to let it go. I really did. But then I found out she was pregnant. She told me she was going to disappear and raise the child alone. And that’s when I made up my mind.”

His voice remained calm from beginning to end. Steady. Almost proud.
He didn’t even flinch as he laid out the truth, looking her directly in the eye.

So—it wasn’t just physical. He’d given her his heart, too.

With every word he spoke, Aileen felt something inside her crack—fracture by fracture.

“…Why? Why did you deceive me? Why not just tell me the truth and end it then?!”

“…Because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“…What?”

“I thought… if I didn’t see you, the feelings would fade. If not for the pregnancy, I would’ve kept it buried.”

He would have married her anyway.
Even after sleeping with Judith. Even after giving his heart to someone else.
He was going to marry her like nothing had happened.

If Judith hadn’t gotten pregnant, Aileen would’ve spent the rest of her life with a man who loved another woman—clinging to the hollow shell of a husband she thought she knew.

Her hands, hidden beneath the table, clenched the fabric of her skirt so tightly they began to tremble.
Her mind was white with fury as she stared at the hollow of his neck, forcing her thoughts into order.

The silence between them lingered.

Carlisle, who had been quietly waiting for Aileen’s reaction, suddenly drew the conversation to a close—as if he had waited long enough.

His speech, slightly faster than usual, hinted at subtle impatience.

“I think that’s everything I needed to say. I should go now. She shouldn’t be left waiting too long, not in her condition.”

“……”

“I’ll send the annulment papers soon. Just sign them.”

“You—!”

She was about to shout, her voice rising with emotion—but just then, Carlisle coughed.

And, stupidly, for that brief instant, Aileen almost asked if he was all right.
Was he catching a cold?

But thankfully, she never got the chance to say it aloud.

“There’s nothing more to discuss. I’ll take my leave. If you have anything else to say, send it in a letter. I regret that things turned out this way, Aileen.”

With that, Carlisle left without a shred of hesitation.
He didn’t even wait for her reply—didn’t seem to want one.

Instinctively, Aileen reached out to stop him.
But all he did was glance at her, briefly, with an unreadable look.
Then he turned his back on her.

As if she had never existed at all.
As if he was leaving nothing behind.

She sat there for a long time, clinging to the foolish hope that maybe—just maybe—he might come back. That this was all some cruel joke, a twisted party meant to shock her.

But as the pitch-black night settled in, and dawn began to break over the horizon, Aileen finally left the drawing room—drained and hollow.

It was the day she lost a part of her future.

Two days had passed.

Sera knocked softly but urgently on the tightly shut door, her voice trembling.
At her feet sat a bowl of warm soup, steam still curling from the rim.

“My lady… you must eat something. Please open the door.”

“…I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.”

She’d lost count of how many times she’d said those words.
Every time Sera came, Aileen refused to eat.

She never opened the door either.
Sera had debated forcing it open more than once—but in the end, she told herself Aileen needed time. Alone.

She stood by the window, watching the sun climb past noon, worry clouding her gaze—then turned and quietly walked away.

Inside, Aileen once again closed her eyes.

The room was cloaked in darkness, the heavy curtains blocking every last trace of sunlight.
She sat on the bed, knees drawn to her chest, her head bowed low—curled up like a wilted flower.

She had stayed like that all night.
Through the darkness, through the early dawn, even after the sun rose fully into the sky.

“…It must be a lie.”

The quiet whisper slipped through strands of soft pink hair as it fell over her shoulders and arms, across the sheets.

She had spent the entire night thinking.
Why did this happen? What had she done wrong? Had she been too much? Was her love too heavy for him?

She went over it again and again—but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find the answer.
They had been happy. She knew they had.

Yes, in the past month, Carlisle had started pulling away, seeing her less and avoiding her touch, subtly but unmistakably…

But still.

Judith.
That name.

She hadn’t even spoken it aloud, but just the thought of it made her throat burn.
A single tear fell from between her long lashes.

She’d retraced everything, again and again.
The last six months. Every moment with Carlisle.

And still—nothing had stood out.

In that time, he’d lived his usual life. She knew his routine well.
Half of his days were spent with her. So, when…?

“…No way…”

A sudden thought struck her like lightning.

She lifted her head abruptly from her knees.

There had been one change in that otherwise predictable routine.

A few times, as usual, Carlisle had been dispatched to the northern border, under orders from the emperor—to deal with skirmishes against the northern tribes.

Those tribes, pushed to desperation by the harsh climate, often crossed into the empire’s lands seeking food and resources.
And the Sel Order of Knights, led by Carlisle, was often sent to reinforce struggling imperial troops in the region.

“Did he meet her then…?”

Carlisle always moved within a schedule she knew inside and out.
Could it be… that he had used that time at the border to meet her in secret?

But then Aileen slowly shook her head.

If he’d wanted to hide it, he could have met Judith anytime.
They didn’t live together—he could’ve gone after she fell asleep. He could have worn a disguise. Anything.

She had no excuse. And he… had no shame.

She laughed bitterly at herself.
So this is how easily a person can break down.

It was ridiculous how irrational her thoughts had become.
No… what was ridiculous was the situation itself.

She stared at the strands of hair scattered across her lap—pink waves that he used to gently run his fingers through when holding her.

That hand would never touch her again.

Her dried, reddened eyes began to tremble once more.
Aileen buried her face into her knees, rubbing at the tears that wouldn’t stop.

And then—

Bang.

The door suddenly slammed open.
Heavy, angry footsteps stormed into the room without warning.