The Fake Madam Disappeared

Step, step.

The hurried footsteps echoed through the silence. They stopped just before the door. The sound of someone frantically unlocking it was followed by the door bursting open.

“…Daphne.”

Edmund, about to enter the solitary cell, froze when he saw Daphne slumped in front of the door.

At the sound of his voice, Daphne blinked vacantly and slowly lifted her head.

Edmund involuntarily flinched at the sight of her. Her lips were dry and cracked, her eyes dark and hollow like someone who hadn't slept in days, and her body slumped weakly.

“Ed…mund.”

Her voice came out low and raspy, her mouth parched. She stumbled over her words, as if trying to force her long-stalled thoughts back into motion.

“…Edmund?”

“Why are you sitting out here?”

Edmund lifted Daphne into his arms. Her frail body was light. He set her gently on the bed, exhaling roughly as if he’d run all the way there.

Daphne, staring at him, glanced at the hand that had just touched her, then turned back to face him.

“Is it really you?”

“It is.”

Daphne reached out and gripped the hem of his coat tightly.

“Damian… how is he?”

Fear kept her from asking outright whether Damian had yet to wake up. She stared at Edmund, praying it wasn’t true.

“He’s alright… isn’t he?”

Her voice trembled uncontrollably with her second question. Daphne tried to suppress the anxiety rising within her, but the whiteness of her knuckles gripping his coat betrayed the strength of her desperation.

“Daphne.”

At the sound of her name, Daphne swallowed hard.

“Has the physician visited you?”

“…What?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Daphne stared blankly and asked again.

“Did the physician come to see you?”

Recalling the question she had asked earlier, she confirmed to herself that she had heard him correctly before responding.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“…Nothing happened.”

When Edmund didn’t respond, Daphne continued, her words rushed.

“I know what you're worried about. But nothing happened. The physician didn’t even lay a hand on me…”

Realizing what he truly wanted to know, she stopped mid-sentence.

“The baby is fine. So please… tell me.”

“…”

“Is Damian… is his body alright?”

Even though it wasn’t a complicated question, Edmund gave no reply.

“…He isn’t, is he?”

Daphne’s voice shook again.

“He isn’t, right?”

She’d tried to convince herself it was all a ruse, Sergei’s ploy to provoke her. She’d shouted countless times for him to come out, confident that his scheme had worked.

But seeing Edmund’s face, she had to admit the truth.

“Take me to him.”

“…”

“Please. Maybe it’s not too late if we act now. Please, let me see Damian. Please?”

Daphne whispered desperately.

“How did you find out? Did the princess tell you?”

“…Is that really what matters right now?”

Daphne’s voice was bitter as she tried to fight back the tears welling in her eyes. Her jaw quivered as she exhaled.

“W-what’s Damian’s condition? Has he shown any signs of waking? Any reaction at all?”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Even if this is a contractual marriage, I still have the right to know at least that much.”

Edmund spoke in a detached tone.

“Knowing won’t change anything, Daphne.”

“…So I’m not even allowed to know?”

Edmund said nothing, but the silence was answer enough. Daphne exhaled, the breath slipping through her parted lips like resignation.

“…Fine. I understand. But… can I just see him once? Just for a moment. I won’t even get close. Just from afar, for a second… that’s all.”

“The security has been strengthened, and there’s a magical barrier in place. It’s impossible.”

“But you can do it.”

Daphne was sure.

“You can, Edmund.”

“The risk of being discovered is too high.”

Then it struck her why this conversation felt so suffocating. It was as if she were speaking to a wall.

“Edmund. Do you… have any intention of getting me out of here?”

“…”

Ah.

Edmund has no intention of getting me out.

Only now realizing this, Daphne blinked, lost for words.

“That’s not it.”

“That’s not it?”

Daphne repeated his words, slightly dazed.

If that wasn’t it, then what was?

“I’ll explain everything… later.”

“Tell me now. Right now.”

As she demanded answers, Edmund’s lips parted when… 

“Edmund.”

A voice called out his name affectionately as someone entered the room.

“…Your Highness.”

“I told you. Just call me by name.”

Elizabeth beamed and slipped her arm through Edmund’s.

“I wondered where you rushed off to… Turns out it was to speak with your wife, wasn’t it?”

Daphne watched in silence as the scene unfolded before her. The way they were linked arm in arm. The casual use of names. The sparkle in the princess's eyes.

Leaning her head on Edmund’s shoulder, Elizabeth let out a soft ‘Ah,’ and brought a hand to her lips.

“Oh my, I suppose I should say ex-wife now?”

She turned to Daphne.

“I did tell you, didn’t I? That Edmund accepted my proposal. That he took the divorce papers with him. Oh, here they are!”

She plucked the slightly visible papers from Edmund’s coat.

Thud.

‘What was that?’

Daphne felt her heart sink in an instant. But before she could fully process the shock, Elizabeth continued.

“Edmund, enough of this. Let’s go back to my room. Shall we have some of that fruit wine I worked so hard to get? Once the sun rises, we’ll greet my father together.”

She tugged at his arm.

‘Ah, so that’s it.’

In that instant, everything clicked for Daphne.

The reason Edmund wouldn’t get her out… was because of Elizabeth. 

Because he intended to marry her smoothly, without complications.

Because he wanted a clean, respectable marriage.

She was nothing more than an obstacle.

“…Yes, let’s go.”

Edmund followed Elizabeth without once looking back. Daphne watched them walk away, helplessly, silently.

* * *

“So that’s where you rushed off to? To your ex-wife?”

Back in her room, Elizabeth settled into the sofa. She had been sipping the fruit wine alone before Edmund arrived and offered him a fresh glass, but he remained silent.

“Edmund?”

“…No, thank you.”

It took him a moment to respond, as if lost in thought. His cold demeanor made Elizabeth narrow her eyes.

“Can you do something about that attitude? We’re supposed to be in love, you know.”

Aren’t we?

She added the question with a tilt of her head, waiting for his answer.

“Why did you come?”

“I gave you ten minutes. That’s all. I just came because time was up.”

Elizabeth set the untouched glass down and spun her own in her hand.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to show up. You pushed me away so thoroughly.”

“You and I both know your intentions weren’t just to free me from that marriage.”

Edmund’s cold gaze turned to her.

“This is nothing but a contract.”

Elizabeth simply shrugged.

“So, what about the child? What are you planning to do about the one in her womb?”

No matter what Edmund chose, Elizabeth intended to get rid of both Daphne and the child. But if he showed too much concern, that plan might become complicated.

Faced with the question, Edmund remained silent.

“…I haven’t thought about it.”

“Well, you can always decide after the baby’s born.”

She answered casually, but her mind was already racing.

Was there a way to kill the child before it was born? Should she take care of it before they left the palace?

“And what about the woman?”

Referring to Daphne as that woman, Elizabeth poured more wine into her empty glass.

Still, no answer.

“You haven’t thought about that either?”

Elizabeth let out a quiet, mirthless laugh.

“So that’s why you came to me. Because you realized you really can’t get her out.”

She murmured the words, half to herself.

“Oh, it looks like dawn is breaking.”

Glancing out the window, Elizabeth called for a maid to send a message to the emperor.

“Let’s get ready. It’s time to tell my father about us.”

Edmund, who had remained deep in thought, finally stood.

On the way to the imperial palace, Elizabeth clung tightly to his arm, chatting away non-stop. Her radiant smile drew glances from all around them.

“Hmm. What’s going on this early in the morning?”

The emperor faced them, still not fully dressed.

“Duke? Why are you here with the princess…?”

“Father, I… have something to tell you.”

Elizabeth, her face flushed, looked to Edmund once before turning away.

Just as she was about to speak, the Chamberlain came running in, breathless. The emperor frowned.

“Chamberlain? What is the meaning of this interruption in the presence of the princess and the Duke?”

“Y-Your Majesty, it’s…”

Suddenly, a deep sense of dread overwhelmed Edmund.

The unease that had lingered since parting from Daphne now sank its claws into him, without warning, consuming him from head to toe.

“Duchess Winter has collapsed from a hemorrhage!”

T/N: My tears flooded my keyboard… I can’t continue any more for dear life… 😭😭😭