Chapter 5

I suddenly thought Edwin’s eyes looked unnaturally red. As I looked closer, I realized that the redness surrounding his pitch-black pupils wasn’t just on the surface—it was a dark, blood-like crimson, deeper than it seemed at first glance.

“Did my father really tell you to search my room?”

At my words, he stepped even closer—so close that his collar brushed mine. He looked down at me with that same fake smile he always wore.

The red aura surrounding his black pupils seemed to pulse—he was trying to use his ability, I could tell. His irises weren’t the only thing glowing red.

Was his ability truly telepathy?

“Lady Ivnes.”

“I’m listening, Edwin.”

“Why did you embezzle business funds?”

“I didn’t embezzle anything. I was planning to return it after telling Father.”

“Then why is the money still sitting in that fake account?”

“I was going to tell him today.”

Of course, it was a lie. I had planned to run away with those embezzled funds.

Now it seemed I’d have to find some other way to siphon off money.

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Because of what you did yesterday. I’ve hardly had a moment’s peace, Edwin.”

“Did it shock you?”

He smiled, folding his eyes into crescents before opening them slightly. He looked like a predator pretending to be harmless, and I reflexively mirrored his smile.

“It was… shocking how glad I was to see you again, Edwin.”

His fake smile froze in place.

“You… were glad to see me?”

“Yes.”

If he really had telepathy, he was probably reading my thoughts right now. I had to keep my mind completely blank. So I focused on studying his features, dissecting his face.

His beauty was as dazzling as ever, and it wasn’t hard to stare as though entranced.

Even the confusion in his expression only seemed to highlight his perfection, making his features appear unnervingly flawless.

“You’re lying.”

“Do I look like I am?”

His eyes were like blood, but also like rubies—they glittered like garnets submerged in water, especially when surprise flickered through them.

“Yes.”

His lips were a vivid red, and his eyes had a subtle flush to them, with dark, thick brows and no visible double eyelids. The corners of his eyes slanted upward.

“If your ability is telepathy, there’s no way you don’t know how I truly feel.”

I said that on purpose and reached out to him. As I looked straight into his face and stretched out my hand, he leaned into it—obediently, almost like a pet.

“My lady, I intend to take everything from you.”

In that moment, even his pupils shimmered red. He was definitely using his power now—the threatening aura he exuded was overwhelming at such close range.

“Everything you desire, the position you covet—I’ll take it all.”

He said it like he was testing me, almost as if he wanted me to reach for the dukedom.

I couldn’t understand why, but it felt that way.

“So, what conclusion have you come to?”

“My conclusion… is that I must make sure you can’t pull any tricks, my lady.”

He stepped back with a relaxed smile, trailing his fingers over the spot where my hand had touched him. With a smirk tugging at just one corner of his mouth, he added—

“I despise you more than anyone else in this world.”

His eyes remained brilliantly red, as if he was still using his ability.

At last, Edwin withdrew.

Only after that did I summon the maids and attendants to clean up the wreckage of my room—and finally, I was able to rest.

* * *

“You didn’t eat.”

Edwin was a problem, yes, but Sethna was another.

He hadn’t touched his food at all—the sweet potato salad was untouched, and the spoon lay discarded at his feet.

He glared at me the moment I stepped inside.

Bringing extra food had clearly been the right move.

“Untie me. Now.”

“…I’m too scared of you for that, Your Highness.”

“Hah.”

His eyes flared bright red again, but I wasn’t too frightened. I trusted the restraints’ ability to suppress his power—it wouldn’t reach me.

“If you keep using magic like that, you’ll suffer side effects.”

“…”

“I don’t have any stabilizers with me, either.”

All awakened had to live with the side effects of their powers.

If they held out without stabilizers, the magic around their heart would backlash and rupture it.

“I heard the stronger the power, the worse the side effects. Is that true?”

“…”

“What’s your side effect, Your Highness?”

“You think I’d tell you?”

“I heard your worst fear manifests as your side effect. Wouldn’t it help to know in advance—to be careful?”

I watched him closely. He glared, furious, but finally stopped using his power. His eyes faded to a pale blue, like the surface of a glacier.

“At least eat something.”

He glared again, so I sighed and picked up the spoon, showing him the potato salad.

“Yesterday it was sweet potato salad, today it’s potato salad?”

“Yes.”

That answer seemed to amuse him, softening his expression just a little.

Though still wary, he was sweating—struggling to maintain his strength.

“Shall I bring you water first?”

He nodded weakly. I placed the salad on the table, poured water into a crystal glass, and approached him.

“Lift your head.”

“You drink it first.”

“You want what I’ve already sipped from?”

“Don’t make me say it again.”

I took a small sip from the clear glass.

“More.”

“Yes.”

I drank over half. Only then did he lower his guard. I gently tilted the cup to his lips, letting him drink.

His lips were cracked from thirst, but as the water touched them, they became moist again. I watched his thick neck and prominent Adam’s apple move as he swallowed.

“Do you want more?”

“I’m fine.”

As I pulled the cup away, my pinky brushed his cheek. His expression was strange—like he was dazed, intoxicated.

Then suddenly, he glared again.

“Lady.”

Before I could react, his free left hand shot out and grabbed my neck.

“Untie me. Now. Or I’ll snap your neck.”

He was a Queen Beast—powerful, commanding, unpredictable.

As I looked at his muscular arms, I wondered how someone like him ended up entangled with Edwin.

“Even if you kill me, nothing changes.”

“Stop spouting nonsense.”

“I’m not of much use in this house.”

His hand wasn’t rough. He held my neck loosely, certain he could crush it anytime.

“You think I’d believe that? You’re dumber than I thought.”

“Think what you want.”

In the original, Sethna was cold and ruthless. But Edwin shattered him—and never let himself be defeated.

Sethna seemed to trust people who weren’t easy to manipulate. So I decided to push back.

“Even if I don’t die here, I’ll be sold off as the second wife to Marquis Renold.”

“Bullshit. Renold’s sixty, has five mistresses, and a son older than you.”

“Exactly. He’s rich, recently widowed, and I’m young. Father couldn’t dream of a better political marriage.”

Sethna’s face softened again.

“Let’s not make this harder for each other.”

“…”

“I want you to leave here safely, Your Highness.”

Because if Sethna escaped, I could also leave this mansion alive.

I’d always planned to use Sethna to escape.

“Why are you helping me?”

“I don’t want to be framed for kidnapping the Crown Prince.”

He sighed, nodded, and I scooped up a spoonful of salad, offering it to him. He accepted it—less defiant than before.

After he finished, I used a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

“More… clean it properly.”

“Yes.”

He looked exhausted—likely from using magic without stabilizers. His sweat-soaked face seemed pitiful, so I flipped the cloth and wiped his forehead and temples. Then he leaned into my hand.

“Keep touching me.”

“Like this?”

Suddenly, his expression twisted.

“Didn’t I tell you to get lost?”

Maybe he was bipolar. I gathered the dish and left.

Even as I exited, he continued to glare after me.

* * *

“Ah, my lady. Welcome.”

For the first time in a while, Father had summoned me. I went, wondering what it was about—only to find that he and Edwin were already seated in the drawing room.

“Sit.”

“Lady Ivnes, His Grace and I were just discussing your future.”

Edwin smiled, eyes folding into crescents, and without thinking, I spoke.

“I’ll give up everything related to the family, just like Father wanted.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes.”

At that, Duke Rosmond’s expression visibly brightened.

“And I’ll marry Marquis Renold.”

Of course, that was a lie. If the false accounts were blocked, I’d simply run away with my dowry instead. Surely they’d still give me a dowry—at the very least.

“Marquis Renold, you say?”

Edwin’s smile faltered. That name clearly bothered him, and his expression was no longer as relaxed as before.