“It’s truly tragic, Father,” Elaina said with an icy expression, a stark contrast to her earlier smile, as she gazed at Melvin. “You really have no effective evidence or witnesses, unlike Prince His Highness and myself.” “Elaina!” Sinclair's feeling of incredulity at her blatant betrayal, and the shamelessness of the ploy, was beyond comparison. How dare you! How dare you!

As they spoke, Sinclair chuckled, “Edenbell has some very interesting laws, especially concerning the royalty.” “Your Highness, it’s all a misunderstanding! I swear I had no such intention...!” “Should I order a beheading? For everyone.” The faces of the Aswelld family members turned deathly pale, all except Elaina. “Or perhaps a hanging?” Sinclair, towering over Melvin, suggested, “You seem to have some secretive hobbies. Disgustingly filthy ones.” “Yes…?” “You look the type.” “...” “Those who indulge in such perverted tastes, they say, feel tremendous euphoria even at the moment of being strangled by a noose.” “What...?” “I’ve always been curious. What kind of face must one make to say such things instead of screaming in their final moments?”

Sinclair, with a scholarly curiosity, his eyes sparkling, said, “But you, you might just satisfy my curiosity perfectly, wouldn’t you, dear Melvin?” His voice carried genuine mirth, and despite the continuous harsh words, the atmosphere didn’t turn heavy. The mix of fear and disgust was evident on the faces around Sinclair, while Elaina watched him silently with a serene expression.

“I am truly... wronged. There must be some misunderstanding... No... What I mean is...” “Are you going to believe every foolish word this half-witted girl says?!” Leila suddenly burst out. Despite her apparent fearlessness, the fear of Sinclair was undoubtedly there, but her unwillingness to admit that she had been outmaneuvered by Elaina Aswell was stronger. Her pride was the most important and inviolable thing to her—especially regarding Elaina.

“Leila!” Melissa screamed in horror, but Leila didn’t stop. “All she does is spout nonsense, and yet you believe her? She’s an uncultured peasant who doesn’t even know what she’s talking about!” “Enough, Leila!” “Father wanted to send this idiot to Duke Hank for the same reason! No one else would take such a crippled fool!” “Is that so?” Sinclair smirked. “If what you say is true, then Duke Hank is indeed a commendable man, isn’t he?”

“Indeed. Father knew that and was thus willing to send Elaina off to him! Not for a huge sum of money!” “That seems a bit off topic, but it’s a valid point.” Melvin’s fingertips trembled at Sinclair’s unexpected agreement. Sinclair Butler wasn’t the type to make idle comments without reason. “In that case, I shall send a carriage to Duke Hank myself this time.” Sinclair grinned. “Someone perfectly fits the criteria you just described, not Elaina Aswell.” “What...?” “You.” “...” “Leila Aswell.”

Leila, failing to grasp the meaning of his words, looked bewildered. “Stupid, vulgar, frivolous. Also, in my view, there’s something wrong here.” Sinclair tapped his forehead. “Since Duke Hank is so admirable, your father can send you off without worry.” “But... That’s...” “What do you think, Melvin? Isn’t that an interesting proposal?” “...” “And thinking it over, maybe executing you by beheading or hanging was a bit hasty of a decision.”

Melvin, unable to understand which way to react, looked at Sinclair with a confused and burdened gaze as he continued, “As I said earlier, such an execution would provide you the greatest delight, wouldn’t it? And all without any cost.” “Yes...?” “So, I’ve changed my mind.” A sinister silence fell. In that quiet, Sinclair slowly reached out his hand and grabbed Melvin by the collar. The pudgy, rodent-like Melvin couldn’t even flail properly as he was lifted into the air. Holding Melvin up with one hand, Sinclair spoke in an even tone, “To spare your life but make you suffer for a lifetime.” “Guh...” “It’s more fun that way, isn’t it?” Sinclair grinned with satisfaction. “And you needn’t worry too much about Leila Aswell. I’ve decided to show her a very special favor.”

Soon, Sinclair’s gaze turned to Leila. “You will become the seventh wife of the great Duke Hank, completely independent of your parents’ fate. I promise you that, quite firmly.” Leila, caught in her own cleverness, let out a short gasp. “This should be a happy ending for everyone, don’t you think, Melvin?” “Your Highness!” Melvin, overwhelmed, knelt down and burst into tears. “I apologize. I dared to act foolishly without knowing my place.” Melissa, like a fly swatting her hands pleadingly, said, “I will gladly take any punishment. But please... spare Leila...” “So you want Leila to be sent as a wife to Duke Hank?” “No! That’s not what I mean!” Tears pooled in Melissa’s overly large eyes. “I can’t send Leila... to such a place...” Her speech was slurred with emotion, almost unintelligible. “Please... forgive us... I will atone for this my whole life... with all my sincerity...”

But Sinclair’s response was cold. Melissa, realizing this, quickly changed her target. She crawled like a dog towards Elaina, who stood watching them. She grabbed Elaina’s damaged leg and began to beg, “Elaina... please... forgive us...” “...” “We must have disappointed you in many ways. No matter how long it takes... until you can accept our apology. I truly mean it...”

However, Melissa’s words were cut short by a sudden thud behind her. It was the sound of Sinclair slamming Melvin against the wall. “Uh...” Melvin, whose head had burst open on impact, groaned and clutched his head, but his pathetic gesture didn’t last long. Sinclair firmly gripped his hair. “You saw that, Melvin.” Sinclair glared at him murderously, the earlier smile nowhere to be found on his face. Only a razor-sharp murderous intent and anger were palpable. “That’s what you should be doing now. Crawling like a dog, begging like a fly.” “Huh...” “Before I completely run out of patience with your insane babble.” “...” “I could dismember all three of you and crush you to the point of being unrecognizable.” As you know, that’s something I’m very confident in. A golden glint flickered ominously in Sinclair’s eyes. And Melvin instinctively understood. There was only one thing left for him to do. “I apologize...” Melvin bowed his head, his voice breaking weakly as if uttering his last words. “I apologize, Your Highness...” “...” “Everything you said is correct... I dared, dared to do such things... knowing full well that Elaina had become the princess...” Melvin sobbed. “And Elaina. I’m really so... sorry...” As soon as Melvin’s words ended, Sinclair stood up. “From today, lock all of them up in the mansion, Schuler.” Then he turned to Schuler. “They can’t go anywhere or meet anyone until I allow it. If they disobey my orders, behead them all. You understand.” “Yes.” Schuler answered, and Sinclair approached Elaina, reaching out his hand to her. “Now let’s attend to our business.” [My knight will come to fetch you. Just be aware of that. You left some belongings at the mansion, didn’t you?] Sinclair mentioned the ‘business’ Elaina realized belatedly. She looked silently at his large hand, slightly splattered with Melvin’s blood. Mad Prince, Sinclair Butler. The disgrace of Edenbell. No matter how much he was cornered, he wouldn’t die, like some cursed demon. But whatever his intentions, he was the only person who had helped her, both when she had been abducted to the cursed House of Duke Hank and now. Sinclair’s blue eyes swirled like the sea. “Yes.” Elaina slowly extended her hand. “Let’s do that, Sinclair.” Then she took his hand. The subtle familiarity in her name made Sinclair smile. And together, they began walking toward the mansion. Elaina limped without hesitation, stepping on the bound Leila’s hand, crushing Melissa’s expensive dress hem, and trampling the blood puddle Melvin had spilled.