“Episode 3”
“A Choice without Regret”
Finishing her reminiscence, Daphne untied the ribbon of her bonnet and entered the dining hall.
“It was a choice without regret.”
In the diplomatic era, where all seasons were summer in Sekradion, the Viscount’s estate was famous for its exquisite beauty. Though called a mansion, it was as luxurious as any summer palace, and the king would visit occasionally, staying for several nights with his close friend, Daphne’s father, enjoying whiskey and gambling time.
“Daphne’s Chamber” was located further back from the main building, nestled behind a vast rose garden. The spacious bedroom, created by boldly tearing down the ceiling to merge two floors, was brightened in the mornings by the sunlight reflected from the Angelle River.
The multiple layers of blue chiffon curtains hanging from the high ceiling shimmered like auroras when illuminated.
“Looks like a masterpiece.”
Her golden hair swayed in the river breeze streaming through the open window. He still sat lazily with his elbows on the table, chin resting on his hand, lazily blinking as if half-asleep while nibbling on his salad.
“How did he dare to plot against his uncle when he’s this lazy?”
Moreover, he had succeeded in “the original” storyline. Although, in the next scene, he willingly fell into the trap set by Psyche. But now, those things wouldn’t happen, and Daphne felt relieved.
Daphne had returned to the mansion briefly for their dinner appointment. They sat opposite each other at the long dining table.
“Boss, I don’t think I can support your new love affair.”
The secretary, Misha, sat boldly to Daphne’s left, openly expressing his discontent.
“When? What did he do? Who did he beat up? Keisha? Is she hurt?”
The secretary struggled not to curse in front of his employer. Daphne secretly hoped he had committed some crime.
“Unfortunately, he behaved quite well.”
After sleeping for three days straight and then waking up to single-handedly deal with a calf, the prince had, as the secretary said, behaved quite well. He had roamed around as if he owned the place in Daphne’s absence.
“I had a promise to keep.”
“What promise?”
Daphne smiled sinisterly.
“Indirect kiss with Psyche…?”
Misha grimaced at her expression and decided not to inquire further about that topic.
“As you know, Boss, the prince didn’t break up with the Crown Prince as you said. Romeo is someone who seeks peace, whether in the past, present, or future, he was quite a suitable partner.”
“What?”
Daphne doubted her ears at the mention of “seeking peace.”
Who was seeking peace? Was it the guy who tried to set fire to Daphne’s red hair when they were kids?
“Or the one who threw a messy party pretending to celebrate my hotel’s opening?”
Daphne couldn’t hide her disgust. The thought of her incompetent cousin made her feel even worse. The rabbit-like Psyche also came to mind, making her increasingly uncomfortable.
“As you know, treason is punishable by death. Think about it again.”
“Your words are correct, but the charges were wrong. So, the judgment should be different.”
Daphne rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Celestian.
“What do you mean?”
Misha was secretly hopeful.
“Excessive beauty is the crime. I think a beauty contest suits him better. Let the royal people admire Cele’s beauty.”
Would it make money if they charged admission to see him?
At the employer’s additional remarks, Misha’s complexion turned pale. He nervously took off his round glasses and stood up from his seat.
“I’ll quit for real this time. I’ve had enough.”
“I’ll see you later~”
With those words, Misha left the dining hall immediately. He would probably head back to the office through that path. Daphne waved her hand dryly to bid him farewell.
Then she looked at the prince struggling with his kale salad and smiled. He was concentrating so hard on picking up a corn kernel with his fork that he protruded his lower lip.
It was quite a peaceful afternoon, and Daphne was satisfied.
“Act pitiful in front of the defense attorney.”
“Am I pitiful?”
“If you think so, aren’t you?”
“If I survive alone, it might seem a bit pitiful.”
“Hey. You’ve already survived alone.”
“That’s true.”
A few days ago, in the royal court of Wangsong, Celestian hesitated for a moment and then nodded in agreement, acting according to the script Daphne had written.
“I don’t know why this happened. This time, it really wasn’t my doing.”
“He claims he has nothing to do with the rebellion and that he was unfairly accused while simply socializing with his close military friends,” fluttering her eyelashes downwards in a look of innocence, she explained, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes.
Daphne provided his alibi tearfully.
“We were together!”
“Terryosah, it’s just a false accusation, not rebellion…”
“Defending the innocence of Prince Celestian, the red rose of Vucater, she sobbed at the royal trial.”
Daphne’s love, the arrogant half-prince, acted like a trapped lizard, as if asking when he had ever plotted treason. With his pretty lips, he had metaphorically cut off his own limbs.
“Is she a villain who spared the traitor, or a love goddess riding the chariot of salvation?”
To redeem the prince, who had a royal bloodline running through him, from being labeled a “traitor,” Daphne bought a giant media company that spread news across continents. She even curated front-page headlines to her liking.
“How adorable.”
Even though she called him her “sub,” he was nothing but a little villain. From “when the hell is this guy going to die” to being the one in charge of “this guy.”
A few days ago, he was a rebel rolling in his prison cell. But after a good wash and a good night’s sleep, he quickly returned as the king’s marionette, roaming the ballroom.
“He’s so charming it’s dizzying…”
Interrupting Daphne, who was about to swoon with her hand on her forehead, Celestian spoke up.
“Come and fan me, Vucater.”
Daphne chuckled and stood up from her seat. Approaching him slowly, she looked down at him.
“I saved this man from death.”
Every time his pretty face smiled, she felt a sense of accomplishment.
This man had been her goal and trophy for the past two years, as she relentlessly amassed wealth and resources.
The man who claimed love but wiped out Psysche’s family and relatives, daringly plotted rebellion in the name of love.
The only target of hatred for the warm-hearted protagonist!
“Tell me your name.”
Still with his hand on his cheek, he reached out with the other hand and grabbed a handful of Daphne’s red hair. With an affectionate gaze, he made his intentions clear. Chuckling, Daphne replied.
“Is that your guess?”
“Youralba. It’s a pretty name.”
“No, Your Alba, I meant.”
Perhaps it was due to his performance of crying and fainting in the courtroom while professing his love, but he didn’t ask Daphne why she saved him.
Calling her “my love” and treating her like a wonderful prince, it seemed she truly believed that she loved him.
On this subject, Celestian still wrote romantic letters filled with passion and love to Psyche every day. Daphne was willing to personally deliver those letters if needed.
“Read it once in between.”
How eloquent it would be. Daphne suppressed the fluttering in her heart.
“Vucater.”
“Yes?”
“You have no intention of getting along with my sister again, do you?”
Daphne looked at Celestian with a hint of mockery in her eyes. Then she giggled inwardly.
“What a ridiculous thing to say.”
When he referred to his sister, he meant Romeo.
“We’re cousins.”
“Did you think I didn’t know that?”
“You didn’t know until last week.”
Since there was only Psyche in this man’s small mind, Daphne understood that he couldn’t match her name and face.
“But how could you not know my name? Am I not famous enough?”
Daphne could bet thirty million Lions that her name was plastered even on the shortest one-line newspaper articles spread throughout the kingdom.
“If you don’t know me in Secradion, you’re a fool, Prince.”
“I admit it.”
Celestian closed his eyes slightly, acknowledging his own folly.
“So you admit you’re a fool?”
Daphne almost burst out laughing.
“But I’m a foreigner, Miss Vucater. I wouldn’t know.”
With her red lips slightly protruding when she pronounced her surname, and her pretty features resembling a hibiscus flower, she thought, “Wow. Doesn’t he read newspapers?”
“Anyway, you harassed Denver, claiming you wanted to be Romeo’s bride.”
Daphne declined his teasing.
Supporting Daphne’s false love on stage wouldn’t yield anything for the abandoned prince!
“Vucater.”
His gaze kept falling on her lips. Daphne scratched her neck, looking out at the shimmering Angel River through the window.
“Yeah, Cele.”
“I think you would suit being the princess. Ambitious, kind, and smart. Shall we reconsider?”
He evaluated Daphne, resting his chin on his hand.
“Does he want to marry me, almost like his sister?”
Daphne looked back at the man who was seriously considering her.
“Why? Do you think if I marry Romeo, Psyche will come to you?”
He hesitated for a moment, then chuckled softly, lowered his head, and suddenly stabbed a dessert fork into a grape, popping it.
It seemed like he had hit the nail on the head.
“I’m not interested in queens or the like.”
Yesterday, when Daphne read in the newspaper that Celestian had not been executed and his death sentence had been indefinitely postponed, the protagonist, her face turning red, looked at Daphne with confusion.
She had never seen such an expression on the protagonist’s face while Daphne was acting as the villain. She promised to explain later, but instead, the protagonist kept repeating that she didn’t understand and left for the palace.
“Fool. You don’t deserve to eat. Starve.”
He overturned the plate he was eating from with his index finger. The plate flew lightly and made a sharp sound as it hit the floor.
“I was fed up anyway.”
Celestian looked sadly at the shattered pieces, then brushed his hand once and looked at the fragments.
“Then I’ll ask another question.”
It was just as Daphne was about to tell him to shut up.
“Why don’t you sleep with me?”
