The Duke immediately closed his eyes tightly and shook his head at the pitiful sight. How could a twenty-two-year-old cry like a two-year-old?
The incident began when Fabiana summoned Odelia to the palace without a word. Not only did she touch Odelia's cheek in front of the palace attendants, but she even scratched her cheek.
Even after the Crown Prince returned alive, power gradually gathered around Calix.
As his position became increasingly secure, the Duke of Devon's inner self began to waver uncomfortably. While outwardly respectful, a subtle tension, a mixture of restraint and fear, lingered within.
And yet, in the midst of all this, she treated Calix's people so carelessly. Even though she was his daughter, every time Duke Devon was in a situation like this, he couldn't help but sigh, wondering how she could be so foolish.
"Besides, the one who came here today without permission is that girl Odelia!"
Fabiana, who had been screaming and crying out that it was unfair, had lost her venomous face and was just like a reckless child throwing a tantrum.
The Duke of Devon closed his eyes and opened them again, then quickly cleared his throat.
"Don't ever act so recklessly again."
"Father...!"
"No matter how much you don't like it, she is Crown Prince Calix's person. Don't you know what that means?"
"That girl dares to have feelings for Calix! She doesn't even know the subject...!"
"Are you so angry that you're going to lose face? Since you showed such an ugly side, that woman Odelia will now look down on you."
"I can tolerate that girl's obsession with Calix without even knowing it. But, but Calix shouldn't be like that. Calix shouldn't be like that!"
"Please speak so I can understand."
"Calix is also interested in that woman! I can tell just by looking at her. His eyes and his actions. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"What?"
"What nonsense," the Duke of Devon scoffed at his ignorant daughter.
Fabiana, who had been mumbling and picking at her fingernails, soon shook her head in disgust.
"I can't take this anymore. I'm sick of merging with Liam, and I don't want an heir! Even when my father tried to persuade me to just endure for a few years, I didn't know it would turn out like this! I feel so sorry for myself. I'm so shallow!"
The Duke of Devon clenched his jaw and fell into deep thought at the sight of Fabiana sobbing and screaming.
Fabiana watched her father closely. No matter how much she shouted, she knew better than anyone that unless the Duke of Devon set the course, she had no choice or means. Her power could only be wielded with the help of others.
After a long silence, Duke Devon opened his mouth.
"If that is truly your will..."
Fabiana, who had been sitting quietly, tilted her head as she waited for the Duke of Devon to speak next.
"My only daughter. I will give you what you want, but promise me."
Fabiana looked up at her father with a tear-stained face, feeling uneasy. At the sight of his smiling face, a chill ran down her spine.
Anxiety washed over her. Whatever her father said would be a major turning point.
"This time, on the day you unite with the Emperor, you must have a child. No matter whose child it may be."
Fabiana's face instantly turned pale.
"You can get what you want just by getting pregnant."
The Duke of Devon's voice was mercilessly calm.
"I'll free you from incompetent Liam. If you want Calix, I'll let you have him."
Fabiana looked at him with trembling eyes, then bit her lip and opened her mouth carefully.
"If only I had a child... Is it going to be?"
***
Cedric's face hardened when he saw Odelia return to the mansion.
There was a thin scratch on her left cheek. No matter how much he tried to paint the ointment, it was not covered.
"What happened?"
He followed Odelia and asked her, but Odelia just calmly replied.
"Don't overdo it. I just fell slightly while walking through the garden."
"Speak sense!"
Moreover, Judith, who had been there for some time, joined in and began to question Odelia.
"No matter how you look at it. It's a scratch, right? It's like a fingernail mark, Odelia...!"
"Did she do that? Didn't she pretend to be nice on the outside, but in fact, she called you to say something to you?"
Cedric's voice was fierce. His eyes were sharp as if he were about to pounce on someone, and Odelia stopped him with a bloody smile. He was angry, and his expression was gentle and did not convey the seriousness.
"Don't worry, it's not real. It's exaggerated."
"Then why are you so listless?"
“When will I?”
Cedric grabbed Odelia's wrist as she was about to pass by.
Odelia groaned, "Ah," as he had grabbed the exact same spot that Calix had grabbed. Odelia quickly looked at Cedric, feeling a pang of regret.
Cedric, that guy, always had such an innocent face, but when he got really angry, his face became more ferocious than anyone else's. Sure enough, his face was completely different from before, looking fierce.
"What?"
"That's why..."
“Odelia.”
"..."
There was nothing more terrifying than seeing a child get angry. Especially, nothing was more troubling to Odelia than seeing Cedric, who always had a bright smile, get angry.
Having been friends for so long, she knew that she would really hold back until he got angry, and she also knew that once Cedric got angry, she would have to make excuses and apologize until he was convinced.
"Lady Judith, I'm truly sorry, but would you mind if we take our leave for today? I'm sorry I couldn't see you off, but I have something important to discuss with Odelia."
Judith, with her sharp gaze and her voice now subdued, glanced at Cedric. "Oh, yes! I'll be going now..." she said, and left.
Odelia, left behind, was now left to face Cedric all alone.
"Don't even think about making excuses. What the hell happened?"
"..."
"Aren't I your friend? You said we'd still be friends even if we died soon. Why didn't you explain when I was worried? Did that woman threaten you? Did the Emperor force you to quit everything? What the hell!'
Odelia had no choice but to begin telling the story of what had happened to the Empress that morning.
"It was a trivial provocation by Her Majesty the Empress. I got angry and said something disrespectful to her face, which made Her Majesty angry and slapped me. She was wearing a ring, which caused the wound."
She took a moment to catch her breath and then continued.
"After that, His Highness Calix appeared and stopped me. He was a bit strong as he was carrying me out, so I only got a bruise on my wrist. His Highness apologized and even applied ointment to me personally."
After saying that, Odelia shrugged and smiled.
"Look. I told you it's nothing. You don't have to worry so much."
She tapped Cedric's shoulder. Yet, Cedric's expression showed no sign of returning to its usual innocent state. She wondered if he still thought she was hiding something.
But Odelia was also having a hard day today, so she had to deal with him more.
"I'm sorry, but I'm a little tired and need to rest. Cedric, you should go back now."
Just as she was about to pass him and climb the stairs, Cedric came from behind and grabbed Odelia's unbruised hand once again.
"Why, I said that's really the end?"
Just as a look of fatigue was beginning to appear on Odelia's face, Cedric looked at her quietly but seriously.
"Just marry me, Odelia."
"..."
"I'm not joking when I say, 'Marry me.' I'm serious. Rather than dating guys you don't like, or rather, marrying them, why don't you just marry me?"
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