Chapter 33
Deborah’s heart was in pieces. She was genuinely panicking–so much so, she’d begun to question everything, even herself.
But no. No–it wasn’t possible. There was no way the man she spent her wedding night with wasn’t Simon. He was Simon’s brother.
She thought, ‘Surely… he wouldn’t impersonate Simon and do something so despicable? That would be inhuman. Could someone please stop scaring me?‘
She was unraveling. From the moment she met Damian, she had been on edge–constantly second–guessing, constantly unsettled.
The problem was, he looked so much like Simon. One cold and ruthless, the other gentle and kind. But when Damian let himself smile–even a little–it was like seeing Simon’s face all over again.
“Your Highness, I know Simon is here in the residence. Please… let me see him!”
Deborah truly believed that if she could just see Simon, everything would start to make sense.
“You want to see him? Go find him yourself. Why are you asking me?” Damian sneered. “I’m not your husband. Why should I help you?”
“Your Highness…”
“It’s the middle of the night. Just the two of us, alone. If you’re not worried about rumors,
I am.”
With a flick of his wrist, the door swung open with a loud crack under the force of his palm. “Now get out.”
“I’m not leaving!” Deborah wasn’t trying to cause a scene–but she was at her breaking point.
She rushed toward him, eyes locked on his. “I know you can make it happen. You’re the only one who can. Please, Your Highness. I’m begging you. Help me!”
Damian didn’t even glance at her.
And that crushed her. Her heart tightened, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.
Damian shut his eyes. If he didn’t look at her, maybe he wouldn’t feel anything. “Go. I’m tired. I want to rest.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” All the emotions she’d been holding back for days finally cracked through her voice.
“He married me–then left me alone like I was nothing. If you didn’t want me, why bother coming to my family and proposing?
“It’s not like I can’t live without him! It’s not like I’m desperate to stay in the Damian’s estate!
“If he didn’t want me, why didn’t he just divorce me? Why marry me and then disappear? Why can’t he just end it properly?”
She was losing it. She thought, ‘Is there another bride in the world who has gone through what I have?‘
Other couples might be separated after marriage–due to war, duty, or circumstance. That, she could understand. She could accept it, even learn to live with it. But at least those couples knew where they stood. They were still united in heart.
And her? She didn’t even know what her husband was thinking—or if he ever thought of her at all.
“Is it because the Mother doesn’t like me?”
She stared at Damian, eyes misted, but still holding back her tears with sheer willpower.
“Your Highness… if this home has no place for me, then just tell him to let me go.
“But at least let him come out and face me. Let him tell me, clearly and directly. I know he’s close–I know he’s here—and yet I’m not allowed to see
him?
“Just let him speak to me. I’ll go back to the general’s manor. I’ll never bother him again. I mean it. I won’t cling to him.”
With that, she turned and walked away. And as she did, one hot tear finally slid down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly–no one was allowed to
see.
Damian remained seated on the edge of the bed, watching her leave with a blank expression. He didn’t speak. He didn’t stop her.
Time passed. It was hard to say how long before Thomas stepped in quietly from outside. “Your Highness,” he said softly, “Princess Deborah… has
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Chapter 33
gone back to her room.”
“She didn’t go anywhere else?” Damian asked.
Thomas shook his head. “I watched her return myself before coming back.”
Damian closed his eyes and said nothing. A heavy silence settled around him.
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Thomas stood quietly for a long moment before finally saying, in a low voice, “Your Highness… even I can feel how hopeless she is. If this continues, I fear she’ll break.”
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