RODH Chapter 2

2.

The place Bain led me to was an isolated area, far removed from the rest of the Ruben estate.

It made sense, of course; with something burning here every day, it was bound to be out of sight.

Soot scattered in every direction, and Bain draped his coat over my shoulders to shield me. In the smoke-filled air, Bain coughed as he spoke.

“H-hack! Y-young master, you really d-don’t have to come all the way here—cough, cough!”

Eyes tearing and nose running, Bain pleaded for me to turn back. But there was no point in going back now, not with smoke already clinging to my clothes.

Through my own coughing, I managed to ask him.

“Cough! So, are the clothes—cough!—even wearable?”

“The clothes—cough!—are packed in thick sacks, so they should be safe—cough!”

Together, we stood before the incinerator, where flames glowed an ominous red.

For a brief moment, I froze. Memories of my third death surged up, making my vision waver. The scorching flames licking at the frills on my sleeves, consuming me whole… the agony was indescribable. It took all my willpower to suppress the memory, so I told Bain I’d wait right here.

“Of course, young master—cough!—I’ll go fetch them!”

Ever loyal, Bain dove into the smoke and successfully retrieved the sack of plain clothes. Emerging from the smoke, he looked at me with a worried expression.

“Young master, are you all right? Your face….”

“I’m fine.”

It’s nothing.

The third death was already behind me, and I wouldn’t die like that again.

With a bit of self-assurance, courage the size of a fingernail bubbled up within me. I had withstood the incinerator’s flames; there was no need to fear Lucian’s inferno.

True, his flames would likely consume me if I touched them, but at least I could avoid provoking him in a drunken stupor.

‘Caution and more caution.’

Seated before a mirror, I blocked Bain’s attempt at applying his strange makeup.

The Crown Prince despised frivolity and excess, especially because Marchioness Dmitri, the emperor’s mistress, was obsessed with such things.

In the end, I was left with a simple, makeup-free face in the mirror.

“Young master, are you really going like this?”

“It’s perfect.”

The dark navy suit was elegant yet far more subdued than the silver suits I usually wore. I asked him to pin a plain handkerchief that bore the family crest rather than the usual loud floral ones.

Once everything was set, I left behind the flamboyant carriage I typically rode in, choosing instead the modest one favored by my father and mother.

Bain wore a constant expression of worry.

‘By now, young master would usually insist on returning to make himself as flamboyant and stunning as possible to win back the Crown Prince’s favor. What’s going on?’

I could practically read Bain’s thoughts with every change in his expression.

“Bain, keep calm.”

‘Young master, stay calm.’

Returning Bain’s own words, which he’d always say to me when I was anxious, made his eyes widen.

“I’m going to live properly from now on. My sisters are all married, and in two days, I’ll be an adult. I can’t keep going on like this forever, can I?”

“Y-young master….”

Bain’s face filled with intense emotion as he blinked away tears.

Was it really so moving?

I took out my handkerchief and offered it to Bain.

He reached out, then hesitated.

“Young master, this is….”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. If people see this, they’ll think I made you cry. Now, wipe your face, quickly.”

“Young master!”

Bain suddenly sprang up in the carriage and pulled me into a tight hug.

“Don’t overdo it.”

Though I said that, I couldn’t deny the warmth felt unexpectedly nice.

It took four miserable deaths to realize that most people didn’t genuinely love me. They only coveted the shell I came in.

As the Ruben heir, a beautiful dominant omega, I had been nothing more than a prize. How many times had I fallen for those cleverly laid traps?

Finally, I understood that the advice from my father, mother, and sisters had always been sincere, and the thought nearly brought a tear to my eye.

‘I won’t make the same mistake this time.’

I would find the spy within our house and quietly disappear from this madhouse of schemers. Perhaps a secluded life in the north wouldn’t be so bad.

But even with all my promises and resolve… life, as always, refused to go as planned.

---

Seor von Sain.

The empire’s little sun frowned at the attendant’s words.

“Who’s here?”

“Um… your fiancé, Lord Ian Pearl Ruben, has come to visit.”

“He must think the imperial palace is his personal playground.”

Seor was well aware of what went on in the Ruben household every night.

How could he not know? Nobles of all ranks—even wealthy commoners—were frequent guests at Ian’s infamous parties.

No matter how strong the Ruben family’s foundation, having a wastrel like that around was bound to tarnish their status in a few short years.

The mere thought of such a character potentially draining the royal treasury, seated as the imperial consort, was appalling. Marchioness Dmitri already bled the coffers dry with her endless excuses, and the notion of adding another leech to the mix filled him with disgust.

He would have broken off the engagement immediately if it were up to him, but the emperor had a long-standing bond with Duke Ruben, making a political marriage unavoidable.

“Shall I arrange for tea in the garden?”

The attendant’s eyes darted up to gauge Seor’s mood.

“No need. That kind of omega doesn’t deserve a welcome fit for a fiancé. Bring him in.”

Peter, who stood by the office door, gave a nod and swung the heavy door open.

How outrageous would Ian’s appearance be this time?

Yet, the figure that entered wasn’t the Ian he knew.

The only recognizable feature was the serene green eyes beneath his dark hair.

Almost without thinking, Seor murmured.

“Ian?”

“I greet the empire’s little sun.”

“…”

Broad yet modest shoulders, a plain white shirt unadorned by garish frills, and a deep navy suit that complemented Ian’s fair skin perfectly—all of it was stunningly out of character.

But… where was his handkerchief?

Seor’s eyes lingered on the empty spot, clearly unimpressed, as he slowly looked Ian up and down. At last, he spoke.

“What brings you here?”

---

What else would bring me here, you bastard? I came to break off our engagement.

I had half a mind to claw out the eyes of that arrogant Crown Prince, who sat behind his desk, supporting his chin with one hand, regarding me with utter disdain.

That bastard hadn’t lifted a finger to save me in any of my four lives. I was still his betrothed, after all. It wasn’t as though I’d cheated or anything, and just because I enjoyed a few parties, how could he ignore me so completely?

Certain that if I cut him open, I’d find blue blood coursing through his veins, I glanced around.

“This isn’t the place to discuss such matters, Your Highness. Perhaps if we could move somewhere more private…”

“Say it here.”

Are you serious?

I looked at him with a questioning glare, but Seor merely stared back with that look, as if whatever I said was bound to pass through one ear and out the other.

Fine, have it your way.

“I am here to ask for a breakup.”

“Marriage is… what?”

“I said I want to break off the engagement.”

For a brief moment, Seor’s golden eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise.

Was he actually surprised? Impossible. He must be pretending.

Determined to make my stance clear, I pressed on.

Forgive me, Father.

“My father has already approved. While His Majesty might object, if you handle it, it could be settled quietly between us.”

“Why?”

“Understood—I mean, excuse me?”

“Why do you want to end the engagement?”

Are you really asking me that?

The silent exchange failed again. How could the Crown Prince be so dense?

I fixed him with a disdainful stare, feeling my cheek prickling. Just as I was about to look away, my gaze snagged on another figure beside him—and I nearly fainted.

Peter El Hubert.

‘Off with his head.’

The same Peter who’d beheaded me without hesitation when Seor gave the order.

My limbs went weak in an instant.

With the stiff movement of a broken doll, I slowly turned my gaze back to Seor, who still seemed to be waiting for an explanation.

My mouth worked on its own. I mumbled that, unlike him, I enjoyed parties and couldn’t live without them, that I liked being around people, that I was too carefree to suit him.

“Is that all?”

His clipped question snapped me out of my daze.

Thinking back, it sounded like I’d called him uptight, antisocial, a miser, and a lonely recluse.

No, no! Please don’t chop my head off!

The memory of that cold, hard blade slicing into my neck, the way it crushed my bone in an instant, made the room spin.

“Ian Pearl Ruben!”

“…Huh?”

The floor and ceiling began to tilt, and Seor, who had abruptly stood up, appeared to blur and double before my eyes.

This wasn’t good. I looked around for something to steady myself, but aside from Peter, who stood like a toy soldier, and the far-off desk, there was nothing within reach.

So I swayed for a moment before collapsing completely.

…Huh?

Oddly enough, I found myself enveloped in warmth. I had expected to shatter against the marble floor, perhaps break an arm, but it was as soft as sinking into a bed.

“Ian Pearl Ruben!”

“Damn, you scared me.”

The sudden shout nearly made me curse.

As I blinked my eyes open, the ceiling came into sharp focus once more.

And my bed was none other than the empire’s little sun himself, Seor von Sain.