Chapter 0 : Breakup

I lost everything.

My family, once a prestigious magical household.

My parents, who cherished me more than anyone else.

In a single moment, I lost it all.

Click.

Because I, the only child of a renowned magical lineage, lacked magical talent, I was unable to protect anything.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, my breath grew ragged, and my gaze trembled with unease.

At the same time, despite my will, my entire body was shaking in fear.

Click.

However, the sound of footsteps continued, indifferent to my condition.

Finally, the footsteps came to a halt.

Without so much as a knock, the owner of those steps opened the door and entered.

Silver hair that shone brilliantly, blue eyes that gleamed like gemstones.

Skin paler than her hair, a high-bridged nose, large eyes, and lips as red as cherries.

Beauty alone was not enough to describe her.

She possessed a stunning, breathtaking appearance.

Just like the other men who had seen her, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of her.

But unlike them, I wasn’t enamored—I was terrified.

A meticulously planned accident.

A magical talent forsaken by the gods.

The malicious hands of those who sought to bring down our magical household.

All of it was too much for a mere fifteen-year-old boy to bear.

And so…

I wished that at least she would stay by my side.

Even though I knew there was nothing more I could offer her.

Even though I understood that staying with me would only bring her hardship.

I prayed that she wouldn’t leave me.

She was the only one I could rely on.

I wished, just as she always had, that she would support me with her gentle smile.

Because she had always been kind, beautiful, and compassionate.

Because even when I crumbled, I had hoped she would remain the same.

But…

“Let’s break off the engagement.”

From the moment I lost everything.

From the moment my family began to collapse.

That was the only thing she asked of me.

Emotionless eyes.

A cold expression.

A chilling voice I had never heard from her before.

Everything stabbed painfully at my heart, tore at my wounds, and pushed me further into the abyss.

“……That…”

I clenched my trembling hands, trying desperately to steady my shaking voice.

I asked as calmly as I could.

“Is that truly what you want?”

“……Yes.”

For one of us, it was a question so difficult to utter, so painfully dragged out.

But for the other, it was something answered all too easily.

I lifted my unstable gaze to meet hers.

Her eyes shone clearly, without the slightest hint of hesitation.

“I see.”

I reached into my coat and gripped the paper I had prepared beforehand.

The moment I pulled it out, I knew our relationship could never return to what it once was.

But I had no other choice.

“Take it.”

A document of annulment.

A paper that would officially sever the last ties between us.

My name was already scrawled across it.

How ridiculous.

Even in this moment, I must have still held onto a shred of hope.

Because when I handed her the document, and when she realized what it was—

She smiled.

Her eyes sparkled.

And at that moment, I sank even deeper into despair.

“Thank you.”

Sincerely, she thanked me for breaking off our engagement.

I stared at her for a brief moment before nodding and rising from my seat.

From the moment my parents passed away until now, the only times we met were for business like this.

And from now on, we wouldn’t even have that.

“I have to survive too. I hope you don’t hold too much resentment.”

Hearing her words, as if she saw me as someone aboard a sinking ship, I couldn’t suppress the bitter laugh that escaped me.

So that’s all I, all my family, had ever been—a mere tool.

She was no different from the others.

And once I reached that conclusion, I realized there was no reason to grieve any longer.

This relationship had never been built on love to begin with.

I didn’t respond.

Instead, I simply opened the door to the parlor.

But I didn’t leave.

I stepped back inside, collapsing onto the sofa.

Leaning back, I stared at the ceiling, then closed my eyes.

It was a clear dismissal, an outright gesture to leave, yet she said nothing.

She simply took the annulment papers and quietly walked out of the room.

How absurd.

How laughable.

That I had clung so desperately to something like this.

That even now, I despaired over its end.

I hated myself for it.

And I hated her for it too.

And so, with that, we placed a final period on our brief yet seemingly endless relationship.