The Price of Love Was Only Despair and Hell

Dimon, the owner of the Herrington Store, sat on a chair behind the counter, resting his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand.

It was a boring and dull day. Maybe going outside and counting the petals falling could help speed up this slow time? He smirked at the thought of such trivialities.

At that moment, the doorbell rang in his ear. Dimon’s golden eyes shifted toward the door. A man clad in a robe entered. The long silvery hair spilling from beneath the robe made the figure appear almost feminine. The man looked around, spotted Dimon, and walked over to him.

“Welcome.”

Dimon greeted him with a professional smile. Sarubia, a woman wearing a black robe, stood before Dimon and slowly removed the robe from her head. Ruby earrings glistened between her long silver hair.

Dimon observed the earrings with interest.

‘She doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.’ Maybe this would lead to a profitable deal. He suppressed a laugh.

Sarubia opened her mouth to speak, looking directly at Dimon, the apparent store owner.

“Are you Dimon?”

When Sarubia asked, Dimon smiled broadly. His yellow eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Yes, that’s me. How can I assist you?”

Sarubia reached into her pocket, pulled out a small package, and placed it on the table. The dull sound as the package hit the surface surprised Dimon. Sarubia watched him keenly.

“Do you know the Duke of Bronar?”

“Of course, I do. Isn’t he the father of the current Empress?”

“Can you provide any information about the slave market on the Duke’s estate?”

Dimon stared at Sarubia in surprise at her unexpected request.

“There’s a slave market on the estate? It’s covert…”

Sarubia’s tone was casual. “I want you to look into it.”

“Isn’t the slave market illegal?” Dimon tilted his head, recalling rumors of such markets in the empire. While he knew of them, he had never involved himself with them. They were far too troublesome.

‘What a nuisance…’ Dimon thought. Then Sarubia shook the package in front of him.

The sound that came from it was heavy.

Dimon’s hesitation quickly faded as his ears perked up.

Sensing his uncertainty, Sarubia added more to the deal.

“I don’t mind how much I pay, as long as the job is done properly.”

Dimon’s eyes widened. “How much…?!”

How much was she offering?

Without hesitation, Dimon nodded. There was no such thing as a business that wasn’t worthwhile when money was involved. He was, after all, a slave to money. Sarubia’s smile widened as she noticed Dimon’s immediate acceptance.

“Oh, and…”

“Yes, just say it!” Dimon replied eagerly, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

Sarubia restrained a laugh at the sight of Dimon, who looked like a large puppy wagging its tail.

“Make sure this information doesn’t leak.”

“I’m a man of trust and secrecy. Don’t worry about that.” Dimon nodded confidently.

“Well, if you don’t mind, may I ask your name?”

Dimon inquired, cautious not to offend her. He wanted to know who his potential big client was in case they became a regular. Sarubia paused before answering.

“Just call me Ruby.”

She gave him an alias, aware of how Dimon would react if he learned her true name.

Dimon, perceptive as always, realized it wasn’t her real name but didn’t press the matter, understanding the common nature of such situations. He nodded.

“Can we complete the investigation in two weeks?”

“Of course. It could be even faster.”

“Faster?”

Dimon’s confident smile returned. “Nothing is impossible for me. I’ll work quickly so I can rest quickly. That’s my motto.” He looked at Sarubia with his business smile.

‘Welcome, big customer.’ All he saw was a large package of money. Today was a lucky day.

He thought to himself.

* * *

The Duke of Bronar paced rapidly. His angry footsteps echoed in the hallway, signaling his displeasure.

‘The emperor of the devil,’ he cursed inwardly. He hadn’t expected this. The emperor, who had fallen in love with Sarubia, seemed like he wouldn’t let any empress come in, but something unexpected had happened.

Diana Haydn.

All of a sudden, Jenaden had selected a woman—Diana, a member of a family whose name was barely known, from the edges of the empire. When had he shown interest in anyone but Sarubia? A woman from a barely significant family?

As the Duke of Bronar reached the conference hall at the center of the palace, he forcefully opened the door. The room was already filled with nobles summoned by Jenaden. Among them was a blonde young man who appeared to be attending his first meeting.

The Duke of Elaine Haydn.

Diana’s twin brother, who was supposed to be empress. The Duke of Bronar’s eyes narrowed in anger. Elaine met his gaze briefly before returning his attention to the other nobles.

“You’re here, Duke Bronar,” Count Hillen remarked nervously, beads of sweat forming on his round face.

The Duke of Bronar, grinding his teeth, walked up to Elaine.

“Is it you?” He glared at Elaine, clearly irked.

Elaine rose from his seat and bowed.

“Nice to meet you. I am Duke Elaine Haydn.”

A smile graced his beautiful face.

The Duke of Bronar’s face twisted with anger. To him, Elaine was nothing more than a hyena threatening his position. He had to stop this at all costs. He had already decided: the use of the yellow corvina had to be ended immediately.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

Suddenly, a loud noise from outside the door caught everyone’s attention.

“Pfft!”

The Duke of Bronar clicked his tongue and quickly returned to his seat, his cold eyes fixed on Elaine as he passed by.

Elaine locked eyes with him before turning his attention back to the door.

Jenaden slowly entered the room, his usual stiff expression unsettling the nobles.

As Jenaden came to the center of the room, he observed the faces of the nobles, who were all bowing in reverence. His gaze stopped at one man, the Duke of Haydn, Elaine.

‘…Your Majesty could just announce Diana as the Empress,’ Jenaden thought, remembering what Elaine had said earlier. Elaine had spoken with the kind of confidence that made him seem more authoritative than anyone else.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

Jenaden’s deep voice rang through the conference hall. The nobles complied, lifting their heads. Jenaden took his seat, and the nobles followed suit.

Jenaden, having made sure everyone was seated, spoke.

“I invited you here today…”

Jenaden paused, drawing the attention of the room.

“I’m going to put a new Empress.”

A chill silence enveloped the room. The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. The Duke of Bronar’s expression darkened.

“Your Majesty, I think it’s too early,” he said coldly.

Jenaden raised an eyebrow. Before he could respond, an unexpected voice interjected.

“It’s not too early, is it? Duke Bronar.”

The Marquis of Fontaine, a plump noble with a balding head, spoke up. He smoothed his hair with one hand.

“It’s been some time since the Empress and Her Majesty married, and they still don’t have a child…”

The Duke of Bronar’s face twitched at the Marquis’s words. Other nobles nodded in agreement, supporting the statement.

“It will happen soon. And the one who will be His Majesty’s Wasteland…”

The Duke of Bronar spoke with a mocking tone, glancing at Elaine.

“Isn’t he the Duke of Haydn, who’s always existed?”

The derision was clear.

“Duke Bronar!”

Before Jenaden could scold him, Elaine spoke up.

“I understand your concern. I’m only a duke now. However, I’ve already spoken with many people about leading the empire, and I’d like to help. In the meantime, my sister Diana’s brilliance caught His Majesty’s eye and she was blessed. I am deeply grateful and will do my best to fulfill my duties.”

Elaine’s words caught the attention of the other nobles, who looked at him with quiet admiration.

“You little rat!”

The Duke of Bronar seethed, glaring at Elaine, who merely smiled in response.

“But I don’t think it’s quite right for Duke Bronar to contradict His Majesty, the sun of the empire.”

Elaine’s words made the nearby nobles recoil. For the first time, none of them stood up for the Duke of Bronar. The aristocrats were stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

A vein throbbed on the Duke of Bronar’s forehead, his face flushed with anger.

“I am speaking to you as the father of Her Majesty,” he said, his voice strained.

“Yes, I understand your concern as a father, but in the history of the empire, no emperor has been spared. Is there a problem?”

Elaine smiled gently, his confidence unwavering. There was no issue with elevating a new empress, but for the Duke of Bronar, it was a significant problem.

His plans to use Sarubia for more power were quickly unraveling, and he couldn’t stand still. He glared at Elaine, who had become an obstacle in his path.

“Stop.”

Jenaden’s low voice rang out, cutting through the tension.

“The Duke of Bronar. No matter what I say, I’m going to put a new Empress. So be aware of that…”

Jenaden stood and, as he left, glanced briefly at Elaine. Elaine avoided Jenaden’s gaze.

After Jenaden’s departure, the nobles began to murmur among themselves. Several approached Elaine to speak privately. The Duke of Bronar, watching the scene unfold, muttered bitterly.

“What a cheeky fellow!”

His loud voice clearly reached Elaine, but the younger man remained unfazed, responding with a smile.

“I look forward to working with you, Duke Bronar.”

The Duke of Bronar gritted his teeth, feeling as though his carefully laid plans were being swept away, leaving nothing but ashes in his wake.