IHDOE Ch 75

I thought he would gladly accept an annulment, so why drag me all the way here?

Satina grumbled silently as she walked toward the Crown Prince's palace.

Gilded in gold, the palace dazzled under the bright sunlight. Countless people dreamed of setting foot inside, yet coming here repulsed her. It held far too many painful memories.

The last time I came here was on my birthday.

Back then, Satina had not been in her right mind. Rumors that Lexion loved another woman had driven her to desperate measures to win him back. The memory of running down these corridors in tears soured her mood.

Let's just say what needs to be said and go home.

She followed the Chief Chamberlain down the corridor toward the Crown Prince's audience chamber.

The Chief Chamberlain cast a pitying glance back at her before opening the doors. She didn't understand his expression at first, but the scene inside made everything crystal clear.

For once, Lexion was already waiting for her. The problem was that he was not alone.

His lips were locked with Coraline's, but he raised his eyes toward Satina as the doors opened. Unbothered, he continued kissing her ostentatiously.

After Satina's birthday and the imperial ball, this marked the third time she had caught them. She clenched her fists.

Lexion's golden eyes narrowed as he locked his gaze onto hers. He was blatantly waiting for her reaction.

In the past, she would have grabbed Coraline by the hair and thrown a violent tantrum, but she no longer cared enough for such dramatics. Instead of exploding in fury, she calmly took a seat across from them.

She leaned back in her chair and observed them.

[Satina] "I understand Your Highness is busy, but if you possess basic human self-control, perhaps we could finish our discussion first?"

Their lips finally parted at her indifferent response. He wiped his lips with a thumb and issued a command.

[Lexion] "Step outside."

[Coraline] "Yes, Your Highness. I shall see you shortly."

Coraline offered a coy smile as she rose from her seat. She shot a triumphant smirk at Satina before exiting the room.

Satina had no desire to waste anger on Coraline's antics anymore. She wanted to annul the engagement quickly and sever ties with both of them completely.

Lexion stared intently at her face.

[Lexion] "You've grown boring."

[Satina] "What kind of entertainment were you expecting from me, Your Highness?"

[Lexion] "At least not a reaction like this."

[Satina] "Ah, so you intentionally put on that display knowing I would cry?"

[Lexion] "What if I did?"

A curse nearly escaped her lips, but she managed to suppress it. She spoke in a measured tone.

[Satina] "I already stated my intention in the letter. I wish to annul our engagement."

[Lexion] "This letter?"

He waved the letter she had sent.

[Lexion] "It was quite surprising. Someone who always sent thick love letters suddenly sends such a thin one, and an annulment request no less."

[Satina] "My business is clear, so why write lengthy fluff?"

[Lexion] "Why bring up an annulment all of a sudden?"

[Satina] "Is a reason necessary?"

[Lexion] "Let me hear it first."

[Satina] "Because I no longer love you, Your Highness."

[Lexion] "Ah, now this is somewhat fresh. A new pattern."

[Lexion's affection has increased by 2.]

A smirk played on his lips. He clearly treated her words as a joke.

[Satina] "No, I am serious. I wish to annul our engagement."

[Lexion] "Why?"

[Satina] "Because I don't wish to marry you, Your Highness."

[Lexion] "Are you saying you will forfeit the position of Empress?"

[Satina] "Yes. Should I marry someone I don't love merely to become Empress?"

Since she planned to seek asylum in the Free City-State anyway, whoever became Empress was completely irrelevant to her.

[Lexion] "Hm..."

He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

Just as she wondered why he hesitated over a request he should have gladly accepted, an unexpected answer came from his lips.

[Lexion] "I refuse."

[Satina] "Why? You don't love me either, Your Highness."

[Lexion] "Those are strange words. Satina, did you not know full well that I harbor no feelings for you?"

How could she not? She knew all too well that he had zero interest in her.

Even so, she had clung to him in the past, declaring her love and her desire to marry. She had loved him, believing it was her only escape from her family.

While others wondered why Lexion maintained his engagement with her, Satina understood the truth. Whatever illusions others harbored about the Crown Prince, she knew his real nature.

He was an immensely arrogant, self-centered man.

Even if he made someone an Empress while seeing other women or stirring up conflict within the Imperial Palace, he wouldn't care in the slightest. A sweet, loving marriage was never an option with him.

Few high-ranking noblewomen suitable for him would tolerate such treatment. Even if one agreed, her family would fiercely protest his disrespect.

Except for Satina. Her family didn't care how the Crown Prince treated her, so long as she remained his fiancée. Unless he abdicated the throne, Lexion had to marry eventually to produce an heir.

In that respect, no woman was as convenient or easy to control as Satina. No matter what Lexion did, she never dared cross him, faithfully waiting and loving him.

Now, however, she refused to play that role any longer.

[Satina] "I know full well that Your Highness harbors no feelings for me. So it would be better to break off our engagement and marry Coraline..."

[Lexion] "I wondered why you suddenly brought up an annulment, but was it because of Coraline?"

He had clearly fallen into a deep misunderstanding, believing Satina wanted an annulment out of jealousy toward Coraline.

[Satina] "No, as long as Your Highness grants the annulment, I don't care if you marry in secret."

She spoke quickly to clear up his misunderstanding, but her words fell on deaf ears.

[Lexion] "An annulment won't do. I have no desire to engage in the tedious task of searching for another marriage partner."

[Satina] "You can marry Coraline."

[Lexion] "She is not partner material for marriage."

Right, of course she isn't, you bastard.

Until her pent-up emotions exploded on her birthday, Satina had never uttered a single harsh word, no matter how many women he paraded around. She had been terrified of incurring his hatred and being abandoned.

Once, he had caught her secretly wiping away tears.

[Lexion] "Are you crying?"

He had cast a look of annoyance and disgust before walking right past her. Back then, his coldness had broken her heart and reduced her to tears. If she could return to that moment now, she would slap him across the cheek.

[Lexion] "At any rate, an annulment request was novel enough to be amusing. Now that we have met, however, refrain from drawing my attention with such tactics again."

[Satina] "I am not trying to draw attention. I am serious."

[Lexion] "Yes, I understand."

He replied in a tone that signaled complete disbelief.

[Lexion] "Now, will you step out? I have work to attend to."

---

Why won't he believe me? Why!

As she exited the audience chamber, Satina felt like she would burst from sheer frustration.

If possible, she wanted to show him her affection status window. It would undoubtedly display negative ninety-nine. Seeing that, Lexion would finally realize her desire for an annulment was genuine.

I need to send the annulment papers through my family quickly.

Her father had departed for the east a few days ago, so it wouldn't be long before Sharlan became the Acting Head. Once that happened, she would immediately send the annulment papers to the Crown Prince.

At that moment, Coraline, who had been waiting outside, approached her.

[Coraline] "When do you plan on learning your place, Miss Satina? You claim to be His Highness' fiancée, but have you ever even kissed him?"

Already dying of frustration because of Lexion, Satina found this added annoyance ridiculous. Unwilling to engage in a petty spat, she answered in a detached tone.

[Satina] "Indeed. I haven't."

Coraline spoke with smug confidence.

[Coraline] "As I thought. Why don't you stop obsessing over him and let him go? Do you have any idea how thoroughly sick of you he is?"

[Satina] "Ah, really? How wonderful. But why did he refuse when I asked for an annulment?"

Satina was completely sincere. She wished Lexion felt such utter revulsion toward her that he would jump at the chance to end the engagement.

[Coraline] "What? What did you just say?"

[Satina] "I said I asked His Highness for an annulment. I told him to annul our engagement and marry you, but he refused."

Given her mood, Satina wanted to demand why Coraline hadn't captivated Lexion's heart better.

Yet her reaction was bizarre.

[Coraline] "You asked His Highness for an annulment... Ha, that is so hilarious. I'm speechless."

Her face hardened at Satina's words.

[Coraline] "Do I look like a fool to you? Do you think I'll believe that? If not for you, I would have been the one marrying him!"

Satina felt a headache coming on. She couldn't fathom why Coraline, just like Lexion, refused to believe her. Still, she lacked the energy to persuade her.

[Satina] "So, are you saying that is my fault?"

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