You are at the End of the Downfall

Peon’s life, whether bound by the taboo or not, had been extremely monotonous.

Survival, his mother, and Beatrice due to the taboo – these three were everything. Anger, resentment, misery, and the desperate need for survival that couldn’t even be contemplated were the primary emotions. He had to endure.

In the midst of this, Beatrice’s presence, forcibly inserted by the taboo, was an absurdly foreign element. He was brainwashed with a kind of ‘love.’ The main content of the brainwashing was that she was someone who held important meaning to Peon for a long time, based on loyalty and friendship.

Therefore, Peon never felt any joy or delight in that relationship. He only felt relief at barely maintaining it and completing his duty, thinking “so that’s how it is.”

Naturally, there was no jealousy either.

“Just being the Princess of Ostein’s lover is hitting the jackpot.”

“Wonder who that lucky bastard is?”

The whispers around them still haven’t stopped. Lover, they say. What if Kaela actually finds a lover she truly likes?

What would happen? The answer was already determined. Just as Kaela couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t say anything either. He should be grateful if he was even treated as a person.

When he came to his senses, he realized there were too many reasons why Kaela wouldn’t choose him, what was done couldn’t be undone, and he was in a position where he could only cling to Kaela’s skirts and beg for sympathy.

So this was an anxiety he had never felt toward Beatrice, who had so many followers. Furthermore, the urge to throw his left glove in the faces of those guys currently looking at Kaela was a jealousy he had never experienced before.

He thought death was his only rival, but there were others – tangible beings trying to get close to Kaela.

“It’s quiet now,” Kaela said after enjoying some dessert and fresh air by the river. No more men were approaching her. The area around Kaela was quiet. But true silence hadn’t really arrived.

“Because I’m here. If I weren’t, it would be overflowing with guys trying to talk to you again.”

“What? No, I meant it’s quieter because it’s afternoon…”

“Oh.”

That’s what she meant. Peon nodded, acknowledging that was also true.

“It’s really not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m telling you, it won’t last long. Trust me.”

Watching Kaela speak so stubbornly, Peon muttered, “Strange.”

“What is?”

“You, why do you speak with such certainty?”

It was strange how she could definitively say ‘it’s just a phase’ when four men had just walked by in a line. While Peon wasn’t well-versed in social circles, Kaela seemed rather displeased about having such persistent male followers.

“You know why.”

Know what?

“Before I was married, hardly any men would approach me or talk to me. They said I was stiff and ugly. They even gossiped behind my back that I rode horses alone because no men would accompany me. But now that I’m a married wealthy heiress, these guys trying to get my money…”

Kaela muttered cynically, dropping her shoulders.

“How long could it last?”

“Seems I’m the only one who took the Marquis Heihar’s words to heart.”

Peon raised his body that had been reclining as he looked at Kaela’s face.

“You were hard to approach, he said.”

“You believe that? That was just making fun of me.”

When she put down her sherbet abruptly, Peon flinched.

“I have an easy-going, approachable personality, I’m not someone who’s difficult to talk to. They might as well directly say I’m ugly, rather than make excuses like that…”

“You are difficult to talk to.”

The man who had been listening to her outpouring of words stated firmly.

“I know you’ll respond to greetings because you’re kind and polite. If someone’s lucky, you might even greet them first and ask how they’re doing.”

These were words Kaela had never expected nor could have known. It wasn’t something that came out suddenly, but rather a heartfelt feeling from long personal experience.

“But that’s it. After greetings and pleasantries, it ends there. Even if someone wants to continue the conversation, you’re too busy receiving greetings from others. It might make you uncomfortable. You’re surrounded by women, especially intimidating elderly ladies. I understand. A precious princess can’t meet just anyone.”

He spoke as if he had viewed Kaela this way on some day before her marriage, when they were just ordinary big brother and sister.

“I at least had the privilege of having you call me oppa since we were young.”

Back then, she had liked him. Whether it was affection or puppy love that Beatrice had mocked, it was a privilege that the current Peon could never obtain no matter what he did, even if he offered his soul and life.

“For other guys who weren’t me, it must have been difficult to break through the wall of noble ladies densely surrounding you and think of conversation topics you might find interesting. Even I struggled to figure out what to say when trying to talk to you again after regaining my senses after regressing.”

It was surprising enough that he had struggled, but even more surprising that it was because of her. After his regression, Peon was known for his skilled speech and excellent eloquence, enough to handle even the notoriously sensitive and capricious emperor appropriately.

Looking back, it wasn’t that he couldn’t do it before the regression; rather, due to his upright personality, he clearly chose not to do things he knew how to do. For such a person to find it difficult to converse with Kaela – that was something hard to understand.

“When we met again after the regression, didn’t you know I was being careful around you?”

Kaela, with wide eyes, instinctively shook her head. Peon smiled bitterly, as if he had expected this. For Kaela, such a thing would be unimaginable. He knew well what kind of existence he was to her.

“Back then, when I hadn’t fully come to my senses, I just wanted things to end nicely with you, as former acquaintances. Even then, I was just watching your mood because I didn’t know what to say – imagine how it must be for those guys desperate to get in your good graces.”

Peon, who had been muttering, suddenly frowned.

“I don’t want to speak for them, but that’s how it turned out.”

After all, he was in the same position as a suitor. As always, he watched Kaela tensely. He kept studying her expression, wondering if these words would displease her, what she might be thinking. Then he laughed dejectedly.

“I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

It was exactly the same thought Kaela had whenever she looked at Peon. Not knowing what he was thinking. That’s why she was afraid.

“You’re very well-educated and intelligent. Most men are probably afraid their lack of knowledge will be exposed while talking with you.”

As the heir to the Ostein duchy, born and raised in the famous Lanpalar Palace, Kaela had received complete education in everything from duchy management to asset administration – she was a formidable person.

As soon as she came to Lusenford, she worked flawlessly as the Grand Duchess, lacking nothing whether in scholarship or refinement.

She wasn’t someone who could be approached with a casual or lighthearted attitude. Gentlemen couldn’t help but be on edge in her presence.

“That’s why some people started spouting nonsense about you being ugly and such.”

The kind and good princess must have been hurt because of that.

“Don’t worry about it – it must have been Beatrice’s followers or the Duchess of Monde. Most words from that side are lies.”

Just like the words Beatrice had whispered before Kaela’s death.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I have four years of memories too. Though I have limited social experience, I have enough basis for judgment. Usually, the same people who belittle others’ appearances out of jealousy, and those who spread gossip, are predictable.”

For Peon, it was Beatrice who placed the taboo using complaints about Kaela being ugly and arrogant as a spell, and the Duchess of Monde who was the gossip.

“It’s obvious.”

It was so obvious it didn’t need thinking about, and because it was so obvious, it wouldn’t change in the future. He had nothing to say, having not known such an obvious thing before. His voice ultimately turned bitter.

It was also maddening that because the precious princess happened to marry someone beneath her station, now every man thought they had a chance. No matter where he looked, it was all his fault.

“Still… still, it’s not something to worry about. Once they see I have no intention of taking a lover and throwing money around…”

Kaela wanted to settle this topic and be done with it. This unfamiliar situation was very uncomfortable. She tried to somehow conclude her words while shaking her head, but Peon cut her off.

“Those guys aren’t coming to you for money. Rather, they’ll prepare special and expensive gifts to catch your eye. Even if they bring flowers, they’d have to be very special flowers. Because you don’t seem like someone who would be pleased with just any flowers.”

As he spoke, Peon extended his hand. Suddenly there appeared several stems of mysteriously colored roses that only grow on the southern coast, tied with a white satin ribbon. Kaela’s eyes widened at the fresh, dewy bouquet.

“But I… I do like them! Just flowers are fine!”

Kaela put down her parasol and hugged the large bouquet. These were flowers she often saw in Ostein. She smiled brightly without realizing it.

Peon knew well that Kaela wouldn’t smile like that for just any flowers.

She would usually just give a slight smile with thanks and smell the fragrance a few times. To make her smile so brightly, it had to be dozens of the most luscious and largest roses freshly cut from Ostein.

And specifically cream-colored ones with just the tips of the petals tinged red.

“It’s troublesome if you’re pleased with just flowers. All sorts of gifts will come your way, and if you say you like them all, how many lovers will you end up with?”

Peon’s fingertips continued to produce amazing magic. Kaela forgot to even object as she stared wide-eyed at the box he pulled from thin air. What could that be?

“I’ll have to try even harder.”

Click – as soon as the box opened, diamond reflections shone brilliantly on Kaela’s face.

“Oh my!”

Even people nearby who belatedly looked over gasped at the reflection. Diamonds, nothing but diamonds everywhere.

“The pearls are taking a while as the divers are slow in retrieving them, but your father sent these first, and I’ll get you sapphires separately. I think they’ll match your eye color well.”

After making such an outrageous statement so casually, he deliberately kissed Kaela’s cheek while she was left speechless.

“This, this…”

“Don’t you like it? Should I change it? You can separately use them as necklaces or earrings. I heard that’s useful.”

“These diamonds…”

“Ah, what about them? Yes. The Kervan series. Slightly larger than your ring.”

The Kervan diamonds, now brazenly set in rings, necklaces, and even a tiara, faced her as shamelessly as Peon himself.

“Wear it to the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony.”

“No, not then. I can’t wear something this large then.”

“It’s fine to wear it.”

While others would wear tiaras placed on top of their heads at engagement and wedding ceremonies, the tiara Peon had custom-ordered was worn like a headband. And how tall it was – diamonds formed a fan-like halo from ears to crown, with a massive Kervan diamond gleaming in the center.

The diamonds that had gone to Beatrice had all fallen into Kaela’s hands.

“Are you determined to bankrupt the duchy?”

Peon raised one eyebrow and smiled.

“You’re laughing? This is funny to you?”

Kaela almost sobbed as she pressed him. Thoughts of the Lusenford Castle’s ledger and their unnecessary spirit of frugality that they had cherished so much flashed before her eyes. Ah, it really made her cry. The Kervan diamond was Lusenford’s precious military fund, wasn’t it?

“No, I’m sorry. I’m a bit disappointed, but I’m happy because this is something only married couples can talk about. We share our assets, don’t we?”

“That’s not it, if you give this to me…”

“As your husband, I should offer something better than other men. Otherwise, how will you occasionally remember that you’re married?”

It was a gift he had been preparing for a long time. It was perfect for clearly drawing the line that ‘this much should be done for the Princess of Ostein and Grand Duchess of Lusenford’ in front of many people. This way, he could cleanly deal with any dubious people trying to approach inappropriately.

“And this diamond, we can replace it with other jewels. I’ll give you different ones each year.”

Even when he promised to give her large red spinels, green emeralds, blue sapphires, and sky-blue aquamarines of each variety, Kaela couldn’t smile.

“Don’t like jewels? What should I do, since as a dragon, I’ll pile up mountains of jewels.”

“It-it’s not that I don’t like them, but if I wear these, His Majesty the Emperor might notice…”

“Why do you think I presented that senile old man with golden boxes and flowers made of jewels? Don’t worry about that old man – I just casually threw those at him beforehand so you could wear big ones.”

Only Peon would refer to delicately crafted flower decorations made with precious jewels selected by color as something “casually thrown” as a preventive measure.

“So, don’t hesitate and accept it as if it’s natural. No, you should throw it back at me and demand something better.”

Between the thick rose fragrance, river wind, and sparkling light, a memory known only to the two of them passed by.

“You can get angry now and say you don’t like what I’m giving you. I can try until you’re satisfied.”

“Why, why go this far?”

The man who had held his head high even before the Emperor was completely humble before Kaela.

“There’s no need to go this far.”

“Yes, there is. Do you think I’m doing this just to make up for what I did?”

Unexpected words kept pouring out.

“Don’t you think there’s personal interest involved?”

There was no answer. He, who hadn’t expected one anyway, let out a quiet sigh. Kaela always remains silent. She seems to know well that her silence makes him anxious, drains his blood, and makes his heart ache.

“Fine, then let’s say it’s because you’re pretty.”

He was grateful that she at least widened her eyes in response.

“Because it’s true.”

If only she would smile just once, or at least look at him.