Viktor’s mother, Princess Marina, had moved from a psychiatric ward to a monastery.

Her husband’s mother grew up loved, as the king’s famous daughter. She had the child of a young nobleman who she met and spent the night with, at a party. At that time she was engaged to the Crown Prince of Vestina, a neighbouring country. This broke her engagement and angered him, thus she was expelled from the royal family.

She blamed her downfall on her son, who she had become pregnant with overnight. His mother had said that she was kicked out of the royal family because of him.

-Recognition as royalty.

For Viktor Dumfelt, who grew up with anger as a substitute for his mother, this was his only goal in life.

He did anything for honour. He did not waste his life in clearing the pirates.

As his plan grew in popularity among the people of Salantier, the Irenè Royal family considered recognising the king’s grandson, Viktor Dumfelt, as royalty.

Finally, an investigation by the people around him began to verify that he had no moral flaws in becoming a member of the royal family. It was only natural that those around him included Viktor Dumfelt’s wife, Scarlett Dumfelt.

Before the investigation, Viktor warned her not to say anything, and Scarlett believed she would not have done so, too. But there, she’d confessed all of Viktor’s faults. Still, she could not remember the whole process. She was going crazy.

Was it really a problem with her head? She had her own doubts. Thus, Viktor’s words of sending her to the monastery became even more terrifying.

“No. Don’t send me to the monastery,” Scarlett quivered, terrified.

They were words he spat out of anger. Even though she knew, she still spoke firmly, as if she truly feared they weren’t.

After acting so hazy the whole time, when she suddenly answered with firmness, surprise flitted across Viktor’s face. He then turned around and left the room with his men.

When he left, Scarlett drew her last shred of stamina and spread the newspaper on the table, pushing her bottle away. The front page was full of reasons as to why Viktor could not be a member of the royal family. And the affidavit she wrote herself was printed on the next page.

It was her handwriting; her signature.

Scarlett, who had confirmed it with her own eyes, collapsed under the table.

“This can’t be true…”

Viktor would no longer be recognised as royalty, because of the very words that had come out of her mouth. He would even be branded as cold-blooded for putting his own mother into a psychiatric ward. And it would be a bruise on his honour, which Viktor Dumfelt valued more than his life.

Even though the evidence was still there, she couldn’t remember at all that she had responded to the investigation. Insane, she must be insane.

Feeling the pressure, her breathing became heavier, and her mind clouded in a shroud of darkness. Even the scene where she drank the remaining tea was erased from her mind, as time passed.

♔♔♔

After she returned to her mansion that evening, the only thing Scarlett could do was apologise whenever she saw her husband.

Viktor did not respond to Scarlett’s apology, nor did he mention it again. Rather, it was her father-in-law, Gregory Dumfelt, who, in trying to mock her, told her he was angry.

He ridiculed his daughter-in-law. He stated she blocked his son’s path, making Scarlett even more stressed out. This caused an argument between them on multiple occasions.

Fortunately, she had been planning a luncheon for a while, which was scheduled for New Year’s Eve. Thus, she killed time preparing for it. It was a luncheon to celebrate Viktor’s becoming royalty, but Viktor did not cancel it.

On the day of the luncheon, Scarlett, dressed in a red velvet dress, tried to leave the dressing room. But one of Viktor’s subordinates, Pallin Redford, blocked her.

“You can’t leave because there’s a luncheon today.”

At his words, Scarlett tilted her head.

“What do you mean I can’t leave?”

“The captain doesn’t want his wife to attend the luncheon.”

Only the elite of the elites was part of the Rubied, where Viktor was the captain. All of them excelled in physique and grades.

They even had sons from prestigious families. Among them, Pallin was known to be the second most skilled at fighting after Viktor.

Scarlett stopped at Pallin’s blunt words. He stood behind her back and blocked the door. Slowly, she opened her mouth.

“Viktor doesn’t want me to appear in front of others?” 

“Yes, that’s right,” Pallin answered after thinking for a while.

“Is it because I’m shy?”

“Yes, that’s… yes.”

Pallin frowned, feeling a little uncomfortable, but immediately released the door.

Scarlett, who was watching Pallin silently, nodded.

“Okay.”

“Yes, then.”

Pallin bowed his head, and tried to close the door, but stopped moving.

Scarlett was walking to the chair by the window of the dressing room with a bitter expression.

Pallin hardened.

“Please stay away from the window. Madame is not supposed to be present today,” he said.

Although Scarlett didn’t say anything, Pallin felt her remorse and turned his head.

“I’ll move the chair.”

“Ah…thank you.”

He immediately moved the window chair and table to the wall.

Scarlett walked over there and sat down in her chair, leaning her upper body on the table.

Pallin took off his jacket first, worried for her body leaning over the table. Then he draped it over her shoulder and then said goodbye, rubbing the nape of his neck in discomfort.

“Well… I’ll tell you again after the luncheon.”