The Price of Love Was Only Despair and Hell

Jenaden glanced at the door where Sarubia had disappeared. It had been quite a while, and there was no sign of her returning. He spoke quietly to the driver standing next to him.

“Try to find out where the Empress went.”

The driver lowered his head respectfully and quickly left the banquet hall. Jenaden sighed quietly. In front of him, the Duke and Duchess of Bronar were seen surrounded by many nobles who were eagerly speaking to them, seemingly seeking their attention. Jenaden’s brow furrowed at the sight.

He muttered a small curse under his breath so that no one could hear. Turning to walk to the other side, he was interrupted by a knight who had hurriedly returned and knelt in front of him.

“Your Majesty!”

“What’s going on?”

Jenaden raised an eyebrow. The knight’s face was filled with urgency.

“…The Empress has collapsed!”

“What did you say?”

The queen collapsed?

Leaving behind the murmurs of the crowd, Jenaden hurried out of the banquet hall with the knight. At the end of the corridor, guards were gathered. As he approached, he saw Sarubia in the arms of a woman with a pale complexion.

“Sarubia! What happened?”

“I heard a scream from the hallway, so I went to check and found her lying unconscious. A man was with her.”

“A man?”

Jenaden’s eyes narrowed as he questioned the guard, who nodded in confirmation. Immediately, Jenaden turned to another guard.

“Bring him here.”

Two guards promptly dragged the man forward. The man kept his head bowed. Jenaden’s sharp gaze assessed him, trying to determine where he had come from. He was about to scold the guards when he decided to remain calm.

“Summon a coroner immediately,” Jenaden ordered the guard standing beside him.

Turning back, he addressed the man on his knees in a cold voice.

“Raise your head.”

The man flinched at Jenaden’s command. After a brief hesitation, he slowly lifted his head. Jenaden’s icy stare faltered, and his breath caught when he saw the man’s face.

Why was the face of his long-lost first love standing before him?

Jenaden’s fingertips trembled.

Golden wavy hair and emerald eyes—features sharp yet hauntingly familiar. Memories flashed back to the garden of the Countess, where he had first met his first love. She had smiled brightly and said,

“Hello, Your Majesty.”

The man smirked, seemingly amused by Jenaden’s shocked expression. He looked directly into Jenaden’s eyes and spoke.

The sound of the approaching doctor reached their ears. Jenaden remained frozen, staring at the man without uttering a word.

***

Elaine had always been by Jenaden’s side, though Sarubia couldn’t pinpoint when it had started. Sarubia didn’t know—or perhaps she had noticed but chose to ignore it. The glances they exchanged spoke of familiarity.

“What’s your name?” Sarubia had once asked.

Elaine smiled softly. “My name is Elaine, Your Majesty.”

“Elaine?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it just sounds like a boy’s name,” Sarubia said cautiously.

Elaine’s smile didn’t waver, but her eyes carried a hint of sadness. Sarubia wanted to ask why she looked that way but held back.

Shortly afterward, the Duke of Bronar was killed by Jenaden.

With the death of her parents, Sarubia discovered Jenaden’s betrayal. Her body and mind were shattered.

Before she was deposed, Elaine visited her room, dressed in unusually elaborate attire. Seeing her, Sarubia let out a bitter laugh and turned away.

“Have you come to gloat?”

“Your Majesty.”

“You must have laughed at me on the outside while mocking me inside! I was such a fool!”

“I wanted the Duke of Bronar to understand how it feels to lose everything you love.”

Sarubia’s eyes burned with unshed tears as Elaine spoke calmly. Biting her lower lip, she fought back her sobs.

“The Duke of Bronar destroyed my family. He killed them all.”

Sarubia turned to Elaine with cold eyes.

“You’re just like your father.”

Elaine’s expression remained composed.

“What you did wrong was being born into the bloodline of the Duke of Bronar.”

“And?”

“Just live quietly from now on, and you can be free.”

Sarubia, unable to bear it anymore, lay on her bed and turned away. Darkness greeted her as she closed her eyes tightly. She heard Elaine leave the room. Tears overflowed, soaking the quilt. Soon, quiet sobs filled the room.

***

Sarubia’s eyes fluttered open. Blinking, her blurred vision cleared, revealing a familiar ceiling.

What happened?

A low voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Are you awake?”

“Your Majesty…”

Sarubia sat up in bed. Jenaden gestured for the servants to leave the room. Once they were alone, Jenaden sighed softly, observing her pale complexion.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded weakly. Jenaden’s expression grew tense.

“The man who knocked you unconscious—”

Sarubia closed her eyes tightly.

“He look so much like Diana…”

“Diana…?”

Sarubia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Diana Costell,” Jenaden said, his voice distant. “Sarubia, that’s the name of my first love.”

“What?”

Elaine Costell, the woman who deposed Sarubia and stole Jenaden’s love, was not Elaine but Diana?

Sarubia was confused.

“So your first love wasn’t Elaine but Diana?”

“You didn’t know her name?”

“I did… It’s just that the man I saw looked exactly like her.”

“That’s why you fainted?”

Sarubia nodded. How did Elaine become Diana? And who was the man who looked just like her?

“Did Diana have any family members?”

“She always met me alone when she was young. The Counts never mentioned any family.”

“I see.”

Sarubia looked up at Jenaden.

“Where is the man?”

“I had him detained.”

“What?”

“He knocked you unconscious. That alone justifies it.”

Jenaden clearly had many questions for the man.

“What’s his name?”

“Duke Elaine Haydn. He inherited the title from his family.”

Sarubia’s voice trembled. “Elaine?”

Jenaden continued calmly. “He was supposed to formally visit the palace after my birthday but came early for the banquet. I didn’t know the family had such a son.”

The pieces didn’t fit. Sarubia resolved to release him.

“Your Majesty, let him go.”

“But he—”

“You promised to let me meet Diana first.”

Jenaden’s eyes wavered.

“If he meets you now, word will spread, and it will reach my father’s ears. We can’t risk that.”

After a tense moment, Jenaden sighed deeply.

“Let him go for now.”

Sarubia sighed in relief.

***

After Jenaden left, Sarubia walked to the window, the sun shining brightly outside. Her mind was in turmoil.

So the man named Elaine Haydn is the Duke’s son.

Yet he looked so much like Diana.

What had happened?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

“What’s the matter?”

“The Duke of Elaine Haydn wishes to apologize.”

“Elaine Haydn?”

Had Jenaden already released him?

“Tell him to wait. Send Asta in.”

Sarubia couldn’t greet him in her sleepwear. Asta quickly styled her hair and helped her into a dress.

“Thank you. Please send him in.”

Asta bowed and left. Sarubia sat nervously in her chair, watching the door. Slowly, it opened, revealing a tall figure with golden hair and emerald eyes.

“Welcome.”

Sarubia bit her lip as she looked at him.