episode_0000

“Kyaaah!”

A piercing scream cut through the bustling banquet hall. It was a jarring, almost grating sound, as if nails were scraping against glass. The once lively melody suddenly fell silent.

Dancers, couples, and chattering ladies all turned their startled faces in one direction—toward me. I was there, dragging a man by his hair, a half-empty bottle of liquor in my other hand.

“That silvery hair…!”

“He’s… he’s the Crown Prince!”

“How did that madman find his way here?”

“Oh my, but isn’t the man being dragged Lord Lutheon’s eldest son?”

“Now he’s even meddling with nobles…”

Amidst the confusion, murmurs of fear and dismay erupted throughout the room. Yet no one dared to intervene. They simply parted like the Red Sea, hastily retreating to the sides.

It wasn’t just my striking appearance or noble status that kept them at bay. It was the fear that by stopping me from intervening with this despicable human, they might be inviting unnecessary trouble.

“Please… have mercy…”

I continued my stride for a while until finally coming to a halt beneath the largest and most resplendent of the three chandeliers hanging from the expansive ceiling.

“Why… why are you doing this to me? What have I done wrong…?”

The man, dragged here against his will, looked up tearfully, as if seeking an answer. But there was no reason to respond. I was merely curious.

“…”

Does he truly not know why I’m doing this?

This foolish man, the eldest son of Lord Lutheon, had insulted me in front of my fiancée, with everyone as witness. As a result, everyone present pretended not to notice and concealed their smirks.

His cowardly actions, his petty schemes, ignited a fire within me.

There was no reason to endure it.

Lately, there had been many who doubted my recent actions.

So, I intended to once again expose my recklessness and rashness by sacrificing this foolish man.

The more provocative the performance, the better.

All that was needed was ample blood and bold rhetoric.

Drip, drip, drip—

“Kkuk! Kkuhp! Even if you are a prince… ugh! Do you think you can treat me like this and get away with it…!”

Perhaps thinking my silence was due to fear, he spat out his words with a hint of strength, despite red wine splattered across his face.

“I, I haven’t said anything wrong…! Your fiancée is just a lowly maid from Baron Bart’s household-”

In a gesture mimicking a saint enduring lashes, I swiftly struck his head with the remaining bottle, without hesitation.

Crack!

Thud—

That should be enough of an answer.

However, as a warning to the onlookers, it seemed insufficient.

Glancing disdainfully at the trembling man, I casually remarked, eyes narrowed.

“Expect it. You’ll see me again soon.”

“……”

“When that time comes, you too will learn how terrifying someone with nothing to lose can be.”

At my softly spoken, chilling threat,

and the subsequent coldness in my gaze,

some reddened their eyes, while others let out small gasps and then quickly shut their mouths in surprise.

Each avoided my gaze with shadowed faces.

The warning had been sufficient by now.

Then suddenly, as I faced forward, feeling a chill,

the Crown Prince, Serbis Caldevrion, sat back, crossing his legs, and smiling at me as if quite satisfied with the situation.

The Crown Prince, my half-brother.

The most precious son of the current Empress, who poisoned our former Empress and took everything from me.

He was the worst villain in the novel itself.

And soon, the most dangerous person trying to kill me.

But I hadn’t idly twiddled my thumbs all this time.

Preparations are nearly complete now.

So, Serbis.

Just wait a little longer.

Your downfall is not far off.