Dum Spiro, Spero. As long as I'm breathing, I have hope.
No matter where you go, the atmosphere is bustling like a festival is exploding. On the faces of passersby, smiles bloomed like spring flowers. From high balconies, people threw up handfuls of confetti and flowers, then the sparkling colors fell like five-colored snow every time the wind swept past.
A good day, with more joy piling up. I was the only one holding my lonely chest, aching and soaked, then shedding tears in that jubilant scene.
“Bad thing.”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, then immediately looked down towards the bell tower. From afar, sand dust began to roll up. The knights approached the city gate. Even though the distance was so far, I still immediately recognized that the person riding in the vanguard position was him.
Cesar.
First Prince of the Asetria Empire. And it's my husband. No, now maybe it should be called ex-husband. After two years of expedition, Cesar returned.
The "Black Moon" knights under his command won every battle they fought, recording glorious undefeated achievements, and finally achieved great victory.
Emperor Guido was extremely happy, even promising to award him the imperial Cross, an honor equivalent to declaring him the next heir to the throne.
The capital immediately took that victory day as the new national day, and at the same time announced the week of welcoming the "Black Moon" group back as an informal festival week.
Everyone poured into the streets to admire the hero's face. Who doesn't want to see a Prince Cesar who was once considered a cursed man and a monster but is now hailed as the strongest and most beautiful knight in the empire?
In silver-white armor and a dark purple cape, Cesar's proud stance is like a reincarnated god from the pages of ancient mythology. At that moment, he took off his helmet.
The radiance of thousands of cheers, like thunder, exploded at that moment.
“Long live Prince Cesar!”
“Long live you!”
Her hair, darker than the sunset, fluttered in the wind. Sharp and elegant facial features. Her skin was as white and smooth as the first snow of the season, and above it, her eyes were as red as wild tangerines fallen in the dead of winter.
Compared to a young general returning from battle, he has the demeanor of a wandering poet holding a six-stringed violin by the side of the road.
It's been so long since I've seen his face... and that figure, today, is so beautiful.
Finally, tears rose to the corners of my eyes and could no longer be held back, rolling down to the bottom of the tower. Once they flow out, they don't bother to stop; I sobbed until I was out of breath. I was only allowed to watch him from a far away place like this, at the top of the towering bell tower.
Luckily the cheers drowned out my sobs. Crying like this, he could never hear it.
Suddenly, Cesar turned his head.
I was startled and bent down slightly. It was just a coincidence, but I felt like he was looking this way. No way. At such a distance, how could he see me?
Even when he was near me, he never understood my pain.
At that moment, a mayor approached.
“Miss, it's time to depart.”
“…I know.”
I gathered my confused expression and forced myself to stand up even though my legs felt heavy with each step.
Leaving the capital was so easy that it made people shudder. I sat in the carriage prepared by the royal family and went straight to the suburbs. Anyway, it was they who ordered my deportation, they had prepared everything for this.
My luggage was only in a small bag. There were only a few people accompanying them, said to be guards but clearly to keep watch.
Even though she had only been a prince for a while, this departure was still too simple. It was as if they were trying to show me how low and pitiful my status was now.
I vaguely knew this day would come. My life has always been like this with nothing in my hands, but the only things I held were taken away.
Remembering his splendid appearance just now. That's right... now he is no longer the poor "monster" he used to be. He has transformed from his scary shell, becoming a handsome man that makes people speechless.
After regaining his reason, he revealed a strangely peaceful and gentle personality. Already intelligent, now with dragon power, he becomes an outstanding person without comparison.
The Emperor, who favored Queen Cornelia, naturally always favored the Second Prince, her son. So no matter how Prince Cesar changed, the emperor never truly trusted him.
For someone who was once cursed and considered non-existent, testing him was too easy. In fact, this expedition was like throwing Cesar to death. For the emperor, whether he dies or lives is a win.
Everyone thought that Cesar would die. Even me. So… I tried to hold him back.
Cesar, if you leave, you will die. Don't go. Please don't go.
He always listens to me. As long as I ask, he will stop. I thought it would be the same this time. But he has changed, as has his new appearance.
He coldly pushed away the hand that was trying to hold his shirt.
I will definitely return.
Leaving only one sentence like that, with a determined and tragic expression.
He didn't comfort the crying me, didn't look back, just rushed into the dangerous expedition.
I know I'm selfish, but I hoped and hoped that he would at least be seriously injured. It's okay to be disabled like me. Then when he returns, he will hug me, cry and say that he should have listened to me, should have stayed.
We just need to live simply like that...
His voice was filled with resentment that spilled out with every breath. If he had continued to live with that curse, forever as weak as before, perhaps things would not have turned out like this.
He did not leave me for another woman, but for my half-sister.
Outside the car window, rain fell lightly. It had just been so sunny, but now it was suddenly as dark as my mood. Tears kept falling, wetting the front of his shirt.
You bastard.
He abandoned me.