The Price of Love Was Only Despair and Hell

“You said Duke Elaine Haydn.”

Sarubia sat on a chair at the table and stared at the man in front of her. His straight emerald eyes met hers. It felt like he was seeing through her. He lowered his eyes slightly and avoided eye contact.

Elaine Haydn. The man with the same face and name as the woman who had bothered her so much. He bowed his head before Sarubia, kneeling on one knee.

“I apologize for the inconvenience I have caused Her Majesty.”

“I fell down all of a sudden. Prince Haydn shouldn’t apologize.”

Sarubia was right. If she hadn’t collapsed at the sight of him, he wouldn’t have been put in jail. She felt sorry for him. After all, the victim was Elaine, not herself. Sarubia shook her head and opened her mouth.

“Get up. It’s uncomfortable to bow like that. I’m the reason you’re in jail…”

“It’s because I’m not good enough.”

Elaine rose from his seat. Sarubia looked up at him straight. Elaine’s face looked a little emaciated. His emerald eyes were full of exhaustion.

Are you sure he’s not the Elaine Jenaden loved?

Even though they looked alike, there was something different. Still, the possibility that Elaine in front of her was the “girl” Jenaden remembered seemed almost zero.

‘But still, don’t tell me…’

Sarubia asked him.

“Do you have any blood relatives? A brother or…”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

When Sarubia asked, Elaine smiled politely. Sarubia laughed and spoke as though nothing had happened.

“I think I’ve seen someone like Prince Haydn.”

A younger sister?

Her heart dropped suddenly. Sarubia’s heart began to pound. Could the younger sister be the “Elaine” she knew?

No, it can’t be.

The former Elaine had no family. Her family had been killed by the Duke of Bronar. Left alone, she came to the palace and met Jenaden.

Now, unexpectedly, he appeared as the Duke of Haydn. And he has a sister?

It didn’t feel right. Sarubia hid her uneasiness and smiled.

“If you’re the younger brother of Prince Haydn, you must be very beautiful.”

“Yes, he’s a very lovely brother.”

Elaine smiled after Sarubia’s comment. Elaine’s green eyes calmly stared at Sarubia. Sarubia flinched slightly at the firmness in his gaze.

‘This person… I don’t think he’s a normal person.’

She had an unknown hunch. It was her gut feeling.

Sarubia made an apologetic face and apologized to Elaine.

“I think I’ve taken up a lot of your time. It must be difficult.”

“No, thank you for accepting my apology.”

Elaine bowed again.

“Yes… when you receive a formal title, please stop by. I’d like to treat you to tea.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I think I’ve been disrespectful to Haydn. Is there anything you want?”

It wasn’t good to put an aristocrat in prison, even though he was said to be a duke in name only. Maybe Haydn could use this opportunity to stand up. Sarubia glanced at Elaine and spoke softly.

“No, I’m fine. Her Majesty the Empress.”

Elaine nodded and shook his head. Sarubia, who had nothing to say at his refusal, smiled softly.

Elaine would bow politely and then turn and leave the room. Sarubia, left behind, sighed deeply.

Elaine Haydn.

In Sarubia’s memory, the Haydn family was a family of only dukes. A family with no distinctive features that she couldn’t even remember, despite trying to recall any related content.

She remembered her father mentioning them once, and even then, it was only to say that the Duchess was simply following the family’s affairs.

It was unexpected.

She didn’t know there would be such a grown son. It was a man who looked just like her… What should she do now? There was only one way. Elaine Haydn. She had to run into him often and gather information about his sister.

If that little brother was the Elaine before the regression, or now Dina…

…

“Really, I don’t feel comfortable every day.”

Sarubia closed her eyes tightly. Would it be better to get some fresh air?

She rose from her seat, slipped on her cloak, and went out of the room. Asta stood outside. As soon as she saw Sarubia, she hurried over.

“Your Majesty, where are you going?”

“Just, I’m going for a walk.”

Asta tried to dissuade her, worried about her health, but Sarubia refused to listen. As she walked down the hall, she saw something glinting on the floor. When she approached it, she saw that it was a cuff button someone had dropped.

“Oh, it wasn’t there before.”

“Is it Haydn’s?”

She reached out and grabbed the cuff button.

“Your Majesty, give it to me. I’ll go deliver it to him.”

“No, I want to walk anyway, so I’ll go give it to him.”

Sarubia smiled at the worried Asta, saying, “It’s okay.” If she went to the main gate of the palace, she would meet him. Sarubia moved slowly.

“Whoa…”

A sigh escaped Jenaden’s lips. Lenin, who was sitting on a sofa in the office, reviewing documents, turned to look at him.

“Is it bothering you?”

Jenaden nodded softly to Lenin’s question.

“It’s a lie if I say it doesn’t bother me.”

“Why didn’t you just ask me right away? Do you know a man named Diana?”

“Sarubia said she’d let me meet Diana, so I have to wait…”

Lenin tilted his head. Had he ever heard of Sarubia? It was Jenaden who never listened to her and acted on his own, but now he believed her?

Well, Her Majesty’s reputation had improved these days.

Lenin nodded. He didn’t know what was going on, but it was true that Sarubia’s position had been growing in the palace. Originally, she had the reputation of being kind and gentle, but there were many who felt sorry for her because she didn’t take action as an empress. But now? She had stepped forward and worked as empress, and her position was gradually rising.

“Come to think of it, what happened to the railway company I mentioned earlier?”

Lenin, who had been thinking about Sarubia, was surprised by Jenaden’s voice and asked back, “What?”

Jenaden spoke with a slight lisp.

“About the railroad company.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve done everything you asked. I even bought some of the bullies and told them in advance that the story would go in there.”

“Hmm.”

Jenaden rubbed his chin with his finger. What if the Duke of Bronar falls into this trap?

He would be able to finish his work faster than expected.

He needed to discuss this with Sarubia in more detail… And what about Diana…

Jenaden rose from his seat. Lenin looked up at him and asked.

“I’ll be back with Sarubia, so you can finish reviewing the documents and leave them on my desk.”

Before Lenin could respond, Jenaden opened the door and walked out. Lenin sighed deeply and placed his chin in his hand.

“No, it hasn’t been long since Her Majesty woke up…”

I’d be glad if I didn’t get slapped.

He shook his head.

***

The gentle wind touched Sarubia’s hair, and it felt nice. Sarubia felt a little better after stepping outside. A lot had happened to her in such a short time. Unlike before, now she had to handle everything on her own, and it was true that her thoughts were becoming more and more complicated.

Had she ever lived with such a goal? She asked herself.

If I ever get out of here, I’ll live harder.

She hadn’t decided what she would do with her freedom. The moment she stepped outside the palace and shook everything off, she felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t fear about the future—it was more like the relief of being free. She couldn’t wait to feel it.

“By the way, are you quick on your feet? Where is he?”

Sarubia looked around as she walked along the flower path toward the main gate of the Imperial Palace. There wasn’t much time between, but Elaine wasn’t visible yet.

“…Old man.”

A voice came from somewhere. Sarubia’s body flinched. The voice of a young woman. Sarubia turned her head in the direction of the voice. Elaine’s back was visible in front of a large, beautiful tree planted along the flower path.

He was with someone.

This voice… It sounds familiar…

Sarubia walked slowly toward Elaine as though something was pulling her forward. She could see golden hair beyond Elaine’s back. Sarubia’s lips went dry.

“The Prince of Haydn…?”

Elaine’s shoulders flinched at Sarubia’s voice. Then he slowly turned and looked at her.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

Beyond Elaine, who asked with a smile, Sarubia saw a face that was so familiar to her.

‘You’re lying…’

Her eyes shook.

A woman who looked just like Elaine. No, it was Jenaden’s first love, the one who had bothered her so much before the regression, standing right before her eyes.

Sarubia’s face twisted in confusion. Elaine and she were so alike.

Like twins…

“Your Majesty? Oh, I think I should introduce you.”

Elaine grinned.

“My name is Diana Haydn, my twin sister.”

Elaine moved slightly aside, allowing Diana to stand in front of Sarubia. At Elaine’s introduction, Diana held the hem of her dress in her hands and slightly leaned forward to greet Sarubia.

“Hello, Your Majesty.”

Their emerald eyes met. Sarubia had to smile, but she couldn’t. Her mouth trembled.

“Hello…” Haydn and Young-ae…

She forced a smile. Looking at Sarubia’s smile, Diana smiled broadly and responded.

How could this happen?

She wanted to scream. What was going on? How could this happen?

“…Diana…?”

The low voice of Jenaden was heard. Sarubia looked back in surprise. Behind her, Jenaden was looking toward her with a shocked expression. Jenaden’s eyes shook. He walked slowly toward her, still in disbelief.

She felt like crying.

People who shouldn’t have met recognized each other and met.

“…Jenaden.”

The trembling voice of Diana was heard.

It’s really the worst.

She clasped the hem of her dress in her hand. Sarubia’s hand, holding the hem of the dress, trembled.