Chapter 52

52

“…….”

“Did you ignore and hate me because you thought I was in league with Everett’s demons? Or simply because you disliked me? Or was it both?”

“……I……”

Theodor moved his lips. Then, somewhat confused, he said,

“I have never disliked you……”

His words sounded like a ridiculous joke to me. After all, disliking and hating are different. The latter is far more intense.

And now, whether you dislike or hate me, or neither, it doesn’t matter anymore.

I slowly took my hand away. Then, pushing him away, I took a few steps back and stood there, looking at his confused face and declaring,

“I will dislike you.”

As I slowly blinked, moisture clung to the tips of my eyelashes.

“I…… resent you.”

Now, I hope that’s all I truly feel.

There was a time when I wanted to be loved. And I did love. The trembling of my heart, which I felt for the first time, might have been incredibly precious.

But now, I want to let it go.

Because the love I give only hurts.

For the time I have left, I don’t want to be hurt anymore.

* * *

In the capital of the kingdom, the air in the prison deep underground was cold. The walls and floor were covered in mold, emitting a musty smell.

The crude single bed was the only place to rest in this frigid solitary confinement, but it creaked every time someone sat or lay on it.

Florentine Elsner sat on the bed, wrapped in an old blanket. She couldn’t believe she was in such a place, in such a state.

Despite her family, the Elsners, making great efforts, she could not escape this place.

“Rape and murder are unforgivable crimes. If severe punishment is not imposed, social order will collapse. Similarly, the crime of conspiracy to commit rape and murder must be treated severely.”

One juror’s argument greatly influenced the others. In the end, she was found guilty in the final verdict, and her sentence was determined.

Six months of hard labor, followed by six months in solitary confinement in the capital’s underground prison, totaling twelve months.

After that, she could be released, but a three-year probation order was issued.

“……This can’t be, how could I…….”

Florentine muttered blankly, staring into space. An inner voice scolded her, saying she should have been more careful.

‘It was a perfect plan.’

How did Zen Delacruz get involved in this? It was so unbelievable that she couldn’t even laugh. Lily Everett might have been unexpectedly lucky. Or perhaps, she bewitched men wherever she went.

‘That’s why Zen Delacruz got involved. That woman bewitched the Delacruz Viscount too. Hahaha…….’

Although she found it distasteful that Lily was the daughter of a lowly maid, Florentine had quite liked her pretty face.

Since she and Owen would eventually become a family after their marriage, she had planned to treat Lily like a sister, with a generous heart.

‘……Disgusting. The disgusting Everett family!’

She found out on the day Owen broke off their engagement how he felt about Lily.

To him, Lily was more than just a half-sister. In fact, Owen’s feelings for Lily were something she still couldn’t fully understand. It seemed insane. The more she thought about it, the more it gave her chills.

‘Lily Everett is mine. I will be the one to break her and fix her again.’

From those words, Florentine sensed a deep obsession. She already knew Owen was a control freak, but she didn’t know to what extent. She finally realized, albeit vaguely.

That Owen’s desire for control was beyond imagination.

The one Owen wanted to keep in his hands, the one who harbored twisted desires, was none other than Lily Everett.

‘He’s insane. How could he feel that way about a half-sister.’

Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! Florentine rubbed her goosebumped arms and gritted her teeth. Owen’s engagement to her was a kind of test. Could she be a puppet that followed his will obediently?

When she failed the test, Owen mercilessly discarded her. When she caused a scene, even attempting self-harm in front of him, he suddenly told her a story about Lily Everett.

Florentine knew Owen’s way of speaking well. She immediately understood why he suddenly brought up Lily.

“……Haha…… crazy bastard…….”

She felt so nauseated and angry that she couldn’t bear it. Florentine had a nature that demanded she crush anyone she hated. But there was no clear way to attack Owen. So, she came up with the idea of ruining Lily, whom Owen was so obsessed with.

If her plan had worked, Lily would now be in Lennon Chester’s hands, utterly destroyed.

Florentine had noticed that Lennon was anxious due to the recent rumors that the Duke and Duchess of Valentino’s relationship had improved, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on Lily.

This made it easy to draw him in. Lennon seemed to plan to kidnap and imprison Lily, and Florentine was pleased with the terrible fate that awaited Lily Everett.

Seeing Lily so thoroughly ruined, Owen would rage in fury.

Not because ‘Lily was ruined,’ but because ‘Lily was ruined by someone else.’

Owen Everett was such a monster.

‘……Damn Owen…… I should have seen his face twist…….’

She hated both Owen and Lily. Most of all, it was unbearable to see Lily living happily with the Duke of Valentino.

I’m suffering like this, in this state…… and yet, a nobody like Lily Everett. Who do you think you are?

At that moment,

A soft sound of footsteps came from somewhere. Florentine, lost in her hatred and self-pity, lifted her head.

Clack, clack, the sound of low heels hitting the stone floor was brisk yet heavy. Florentine quickly realized it wasn’t the guard’s footsteps.

It was Owen.

Although it was too dark to see the intruder, Florentine was certain. The owner of these lazy yet forceful steps was definitely Owen Everett. He always had a unique presence, making him easily recognizable even in the darkness.

Thud, the intruder finally stopped in front of Florentine’s cell. In the darkness beyond the iron bars, a familiar silhouette trembled slightly. ……It seemed to be laughing.

The voice that followed was, indeed, Owen’s.

“What a sight.”

“…….”

Florentine glared at him fiercely. She couldn’t forgive Owen for treating her like a discarded object after she had been so sincere. She felt she needed to take everything he had and destroy it piece by piece to vent her anger.

But she could do nothing while imprisoned. Moreover, facing Owen in such a state was unbearably humiliating.

Florentine, trembling with anger, asked,

“Why are you here?”

The answer came quickly.

“I came to see my ex-fiancée, who is imprisoned like a beggar. I also wanted to see Lennon Chester, while I’m at it.”

Another soft laugh followed. He was mocking her. Unable to bear it, Florentine jumped up from her seat. The handcuffs and chains on her wrists and ankles clinked as they rubbed against each other.

“Bastard. Do you think I’ll just sit here? The moment I get out, I’ll take revenge on you! I’ll ruin Lily Everett too!”

At that moment, Owen’s eyes changed.

His icy blue eyes filled with a cold chill. The sudden coldness that enveloped the room began to frost the walls, floor, and iron bars white.

Florentine flinched and took a step back. Owen, mocking her fear, sneered and opened the cell door.

“How…… how did you……”

“Is that important now?”

Owen held a bunch of keys. He shook them in front of Florentine and then casually threw them into the corridor beyond the bars.

The sound of metal hitting the stone floor echoed loudly.

In the next moment, Owen quickly closed the distance and grabbed Florentine by the collar.

“Aah!”

Owen lifted Florentine high as she screamed and struggled. Florentine gasped for air.

“Listen well, ex-fiancée.”

“Gasp……!”

“Lily Everett is mine. My possession. I raised her and made her. I will be the one to save her or destroy her.”

After finishing his words, Owen roughly threw Florentine to the ground.

Florentine, rolling on the cold, hard stone floor, gasped for breath and lifted her head. Frost from the floor clung to her body and clothes. She glared fiercely at Owen standing in front of her.

Her eyes glowed with a wicked light in the thick darkness.

“Crazy bastard…….”

Florentine, sitting on the floor, intermittently laughed and shouted at Owen.

“That’s called ruining someone. Crazy bastard! Have you never thought that Lily might hate you?!”

Owen replied calmly.

“Well, she might hate me. But……”

He leaned close to Florentine’s ear and whispered with a smile, just as he had once drawn for his fiancée, very kindly.

“You’re right. I will ruin Lily and make her completely mine.”