No. No, it can’t be.“Wow, Edgar, that vicious bastard. Isn’t he something? I honestly didn’t think he’d pull it off.”Tak-tak-tak.The annex of the Grace ducal estate, left unusually quiet, while the main house blazed with a glamorous party.Even the servants who normally attended this annex had all been called away.“Haa… haa… The second floor, the corner study… It should be here…”Angela stood before the door, one hand resting on the long brass handle, hesitating.“Apparently, Edgar was the one who offered patronage first. If you’re a patron, it’s not strange to request constant meetings, right? And then, it seems he completely made her his captive.”“Haha, that explains it. Edgar de Grace dating a woman like that? Absurd from the start. He’s a realist—he only ever sees women who benefit him financially.”“Oh-ho, and who do you think he is? He squeezed money out of her good and proper. Won over Baron Pierre’s favor with one of her dolls, secured the monopoly on the Oricto Mine, and then made a fortune off mini mannequins, exhibitions, sales, and even auctions.”It was shocking that she had never found any part of this strange until now.“It’s an honor to meet you like this. This is a bit personal, but—I truly love the dolls you make, Miss Angela.”The day she met Edgar de Grace—who approached her without contempt, without revulsion, gently and courteously—still remained vivid, as if it had been yesterday.The first prince of the kingdom, head of House Grace, the practical ruler of Portigios, and the representative leading the Signor Guild.He had always been shining, noble, a star placed far beyond anyone’s reach.“Where do you think you’re crawling out to, you creepy witch!”Completely unlike her, who could be pelted with eggs simply walking down the street.“A witch and a prince? Even in fairy tales, that’s impossible! Hahaha!”Born of a wooden doll, a half-breed, a witch who used cursed doll magic—an ominous, repulsive being.Those cruel labels had followed Angela all her life.Yet in truth, Angela was the descendant of Geppetto—the model for the fairy tale “Pinocchio”—and an exceptional dollmaker. But the fairy tale had twisted her into a bastard child born from wood, and her talent had branded her a witch—an ill omen.“Thank you for your help. I should offer you something in return…”“Not at all. Even I have a slight sense of justice. I simply intervened on impulse.”The noble, beautiful man—Edgar—had been the only one to ever offer her a hand.“Witch or not, a woman is still just a woman in the end, huh? I mean, if Edgar decides to seduce you, how could you not fall? Did you see the look in her eyes?”“I saw. Completely lovesick. Poor thing—once she’s no longer useful, he’ll toss her away. The way she blushes like she thinks she’ll really become a duchess—gods, it was hilarious.”“Well, with this, Edgar can start that gamble of a business without spending even a single coin of his own. Even if it fails, he loses nothing!”Only through overhearing them did Angela finally understand why Edgar had invested so much effort deceiving and manipulating her.Click.Even up until the moment before she stepped into the study, Angela prayed.Prayed that there would be no proof of his betrayal here.That everything she had heard was just a cruel rumor.But her hope was rendered meaningless when she saw it:A wardrobe—something completely out of place in a study.Her trembling hand opened the door.And the truth she had desperately tried to avoid was displayed right before her eyes.“…So it really was… all of it… a lie.”The words I just don’t want you to be lonely.The smile when he said I’m truly happy to have met you.The gentle murmurs of love, the promise of forever.All of it—strategy and pretense, designed to win a wager.Drip. Drip.Silent tears spilled down her face under the crushing weight of betrayal.Of course it was impossible from the start.A noble prince and a reviled witch—what kind of love was that supposed to be?“…Hh, huh…”She had dreamed too foolishly.She should simply return to the workshop deep in the forest, where no one ever came, and live quietly, as if she did not exist.Then perhaps today’s betrayal, the days of being toyed with, even the agony splitting her heart like shattered bisque porcelain—could all become things that never happened.Bang!“Haa—hah… Ah… Angela…”Just as /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ she turned to leave, Edgar burst into the study, breathless.The man who was always composed and elegant now showed unmasked panic.As though he felt guilt for all the deception he had orchestrated until now.“Ed—no… Eddy.”Her tears blurred her vision; she could hardly see his beautiful face.She had trusted him as deeply as she loved him.Every moment with him had been happiness.She had done everything she could to be of use to him.How laughable she must have seemed, saying things like:If only this happiness could last forever.Maybe the years of loneliness were so I could meet you.“Did you have fun playing with me? Are you satisfied with how your little wager turned out?”The time that had been the most dazzling joy of her life—had been for him, a tedious, dreadful task he had endured for the sake of a goal.Realizing that now—her own innocence and ignorance—made Angela feel indescribably wretched.

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