He thought of what happened today.

Abella knew Cade would be here.

She had boldly used the emperor. But it didn’t seem too serious at all, as Cade seemed to be quite obsessed with Abella.

Cade laughed at himself and tousled his hair.

And Abella knew Cade would keep Enoch and Yuri out of sight of the public.

It was only natural for Cade that the invitation issued in Abella’s name could not be defiled.

If the rumors spread, Abella would become a woman who cheated on her fiancée and had an affair with another man.

In the end, Abella used Cade for everything.

Cade swept a hand over his face.

‘Nothing has changed.’

A bitter smile spread across his purple lips.

Both before and now.

Cade was the second.

Everything was second.

To endure the indescribable bitterness, Cade found a scapegoat.

Cade hurled a tell-off at Burke, who was sitting opposite him.

“So. Did you find the priest?”

“..I searched for him, but he went into seclusion and refused to see anyone..”

“Burke.”

“I’ll bring him in somehow.”

There was always only one answer Burke could give.

He was nothing more than Cade’s magic wand. A magic that made even the impossible possible.

As Burke lamented, Cade thought of Abella.

He had been taken advantage of, but he wasn’t upset at the fact. Rather, he hoped she got what she wanted with this.

‘Such a pushover.’

What would he do with something he was aware of but had no intention of fixing?

*

Enoch opened the door to the office and stumbled in. This was the first time he’d ever ridden such a fast horse.

He was also born as a prince and thought that he had been training his basic physical strength, but it was not comparable to the knights.

He was able to walk properly only after a few minutes of nausea.

Enoch said impatiently, “I’m here, Abella.”

“Enoch.” Abella smiled as if nothing had happened. However, Enoch saw the truth behind Abella’s laughter.

Yuri must have been here already.

Since the secrets that Enoch had confided with ease had reached Abella’s ears, it would be more accurate to say that the smile was close to a pretense.

The trust that had been built up between Enoch and Abella had collapsed to the bottom. And it was Enoch who brought this on himself.

It was stupid. He thought Abella wouldn’t notice it. Wasn’t this the same as deceiving himself because he was blinded by love?

He was ashamed of himself. When Abella gave him the invitation, he had accepted without any doubt. It was so sad that he had such a desperate heart.

He’d been deceiving herself and, at the same time, he’d deceiving himself, too.

Enoch managed to tear open a candy and put it in his mouth.

Abella watched Enoch’s series of actions silently. She pretended she was fine, but the thoughts in her head were complicated.

Had Cade accepted the marriage to the Princess of Clemington?

In fact, Clemington was a large kingdom, if not as large as Charope, and there were many benefits to be gained from this marriage alliance.

If Abella had been Cade, she would have accepted the marriage. However, if she made a more emotional choice rather than this rational choice, she hoped that Cade did not.

Indescribable vulgar emotions attracted Abella.

She knew she would look naive, so she couldn’t ask Enoch about it.

Abella hesitated a few times before opening her mouth. “You can leave whenever you want.”

Plop—

Enoch dropped the lollipop he had in his mouth.

These cruel words, which made all his efforts so far in vain, pierced Enoch.

“Abella!”

“The story of the First Prince of Clemington being ill is famous. And the story of the prince in the line of succession who wanders around is also famous. I never imagined that such a great person would be by my side.”

Enoch ruffled his hair recklessly. His heart was jumping like it was going to explode.

He felt completely pushed out of Abella’s life.

Now, Abella would no longer treat him as she used to.

“Don’t be like this,” Enoch whispered earnestly.

“I’m talking about reality, Enoch.”

“Please don’t, Abella.” Enoch was at a loss for what to do, and walked in front of Abella.

In front of Abella, who had a pale face, Enoch slowly knelt down.

“I was wrong.. So..” Don’t look at me with such cold eyes, Abella.

The reluctant, angry words that he couldn’t bear to say were stuck in his throat. Oh, he knew why.

It must have been his tears that were blocking his throat.

Tears welled up and they fell onto his knees.

It was the result of anxieties and fears that he suffered through the night. While Enoch was with Cade, he thought of Abella the whole time.

Abella should have known the entire truth about him, but his face went white as he thought about what to do with her.

Enoch wished Abella would know his heart, but he also knew that if she did, Abella would push him away.

For Enoch, who had been struggling day by day with contradictory minds, this incident was like a nightmare that was too hard to bear.

“Enoch?!” Abella’s surprised voice was heard. “Why, Enoch?”

Now she looked like Abella. The Abella that Enoch knew.

Enoch embarrassedly wiped the tears with his hands. Abella turned around her desk and she sat down in front of him.

“Enoch....”

“I was wrong.. Don’t tell me to go, Abella.”

Even though he felt Abella in trouble, Enoch couldn’t stop. If he missed out now, he would be completely pushed out of Abella’s life.

“Hmm?”

Abella sighed as Enoch wept and begged like a child.

Nothing was easy.

Enoch did his job well, so it was right to have him around.

But, was Enoch okay?

Emotional discomfort was one of the factors that was quite stressful.

Could Abella and Enoch handle the discomfort?

The answer to that was unknown.

Abella stared at Enoch with her curious eyes. It was funny that she wasn’t conscious of his feelings until his heart was in too deep.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t trust anyone recklessly, she ended up believing in Enoch.

She was at a loss for her own complacency.

“Enoch, are you okay?”

This was the only kindness Abella could bestow at this moment.

“I’m going to pretend I don’t know your feelings.”

It was also the last chance she would give.

A chance to escape from this muddy Timur.

An opportunity to leave this place as exhausting as a thick fog.

Enoch could have chosen a better life than he had now. He was the youngest prince, but was second in line to the throne.

Just by returning to Clemington, Enoch would be treated with dignity and would be able to lead a comfortable life.

Why did he have to go down this thorny path? Abella’s life had never been so easy and she couldn’t understand Enoch right now.

Why?

“It’s all right.”

What was love?

“It’s okay if I can be by your side.”

Enoch smiled fondly. He felt like crying for some reason.

How about pretending not to know about Enoch’s kindness?

The fact that he was a good person was a fact that she, who had been with him, knew very well. With Enoch, she would definitely be better off than she was now.

He would take care of Abella and would do everything for her.

Even if his love faded, he was still someone who would cherish Abella.

She would be happy if she had him in this temporary world.

However..

Abella had a lot of work she hadn’t done yet.

“I didn’t even expect it.”

It was a voice of resignation.

“It’s just my feelings. I have to bear my share. Just....” Enoch murmured in a watery voice. “I will be by your side. I won’t ask for anything, I won’t beg you.”

Really, what was love?

To be able to bring Enoch Clemington to his knees?

Abella nodded her head slightly.

Only then did Enoch, who looked so hurt, smiled.