After the storm of the broken engagement, Viviana and Faust returned to their previous state—still inseparable, still busy.
It seemed as though nothing had changed; the engagement and its subsequent cancellation were merely a minor interlude.
But Viviana knew that nothing could ever go back.
What she had thought was mutual affection turned out to be her one-sided wish.
Faust was not her fiancé, he was not the supreme treasure belonging to her, and he was no longer... her inseparable soulmate.
When the old illusions were shattered, all that remained was the bitterness of cruel reality.
Faust would still place his utmost trust in her, viewing her as his confidant and right hand, even entrusting his life to her if necessary.
But he would not view Viviana as a lover... to put it bluntly, she wasn't treated as a member of the opposite sex, a woman.
The clearest proof of this was that Faust had never engaged in any intimacy with her.
In the past, the girl had been very tolerant of the Prince's philandering, calmly making space or even encouraging him to do so.
It was only natural for a prince to have several concubines, and His Highness had grand ambitions to encompass the universe. If I say His Highness's harem should expand, who are you to object?!
There was nothing wrong with it; at least it was lively.
Moreover, Viviana didn't mind the lack of physical contact with Faust; she was even enjoying the process.
I know we will be united, but I don't know when. This ambiguous atmosphere was as addictive as poison!
But now, as Viviana stood outside the door keeping watch, what grew in her heart was no longer sweet palpitations, but absolute humiliation, jealousy, and even self-loathing.
She knew very well that Faust had no love for those vulgar women, yet even so, it was never her turn.
There was no explanation for such behavior other than physiological revulsion.
Every time she served him, Viviana pressed her nails into her palms and bit her lips until they bled, questioning her heart over and over.
Why?
Which part of me has aroused Your Majesty's disgust?!
Today, my hands tremble... Today, my heart aches... Why is it like this? I gave everything, yet I cannot get even a sliver of the love I want. Why did heaven give me this pain? What did I do wrong...
Faust, Faust, Faust, Faust, FAUST!!
Viviana had long since prepared herself to be Faust's wife and partner. If she lost that goal, what meaning did her life have?
This agony tortured her. Since Viviana could never bring herself to hate Faust, she could only hate herself.
She hated herself for being unable to make His Highness like her; she hated herself for being so weak and pathetic... she hated her own face that made His Highness feel repulsed.
Under such extreme hatred, Viviana put on her hood to hide her "ugly face."
By sealing her excessive longing and possessiveness for His Highness deep in her heart, Viviana was able to act normally around Faust.
Only then could she endure the Prince's superficial, hot-and-cold control while pretending she noticed nothing.
But upon learning of the consort selection ball, the jealousy and resentment in Viviana's heart finally submerged her.
She heard a voice from deep within, as if it were the voice of another self.
"Do you really plan to remain indifferent?"
"After imprisoning me for so long, don't you understand? I can make His Highness fall in love with us. He must be ours. Faust must belong to us."
"At least during these three days, let me leave behind some beautiful memories."
Everything that followed felt like a dream to the spectating Viviana.
When the ball ended, Viviana finally understood a even more cruel truth.
Despite having the exact same face, the results were completely different.
"So that's it. He just doesn't like me."
"Anyone but me is fine, but Viviana Roselin is not!"
Because of this, Viviana, filled with helplessness and sourness, could only lean her head on the Prince's shoulder and tremble:
"Do you... hate me that much?"
"I see. So your meaning is that you have a split personality?"
After Viviana finished her quiet confession, Faust finally grasped the situation.
The pale-gold-haired girl nodded gently:
"Mhm..."
The Prince, blunt as ever, complained:
"But that doesn't sound like a second personality in the strict sense. It looks like a mask to me."
Viviana's flexible switching between forms didn't look like personality fragmentation; it looked more like a persona used to expose her true inner feelings.
"...."
The girl's face suddenly darkened.
Crap, I shouldn't have been so direct.
Faust sensed trouble. He watched as Viviana sighed and whispered to herself:
"I'll leave it to you..."
Planning to hide behind the mask and run? Viviana, you're truly a coward!
Faust said hurriedly:
"Wait, Vivian, calm down first..."
"There is no need to calm down. What I am doing now was deeply considered. I have no regrets."
Viviana—or rather, "Cinderella"—curled her lips slightly. She pressed down on Faust's shoulders and helped the bound Prince onto the soft daybed.
Faust was forced to look at Cinderella from a very short distance.
That soft, exquisite face was as beautiful as flowing moonlight; those clear violet eyes were like gems.
Her pale-gold hair and proud figure perfectly matched Faust's "XP."
"I must have been out of my mind."
The Prince licked his lips, sweating:
"How could I have been so blind to such a world-tilting beauty before?"
This wasn't just a self-justifying excuse. Honestly, given Faust's own history of indulgence, how could he have missed his childhood friend?!
Not only had he lacked desire, but he had been incredibly cold to Viviana.
Faust wasn't that much of a scumbag. Thinking it through, it had to be the "Script of Destiny" at work!
I was too naive. When did I get the illusion that I only started being affected by destiny recently? As early as ten years ago, he had stepped into the "script"! [Cinderella] had to be treated unfairly, even without cause!
Faust's brain worked rapidly. Within moments, he understood the cause and effect and desperately wanted to explain the whole thing to Viviana. But just as he gathered his thoughts to speak, Mephisto's voice rang in his mind:
[Please do not do that. Revealing Destiny to a Witch is an unforgivable act of rebellious sacrilege. The protagonist of the Supreme Destiny is not permitted to escape their fate.]
Faust fell silent instantly.
Cinderella rested her cheek on her hand, smiling as she looked at the Prince, slowly shaking her head:
"Please, continue with your sweet talk. I would be very happy to enjoy it."
"But I am not like that fool Vivian, a woman who is easy to manage, who is content even knowing it's a lie..."
The golden-haired, violet-eyed Cinderella leaned forward, rubbing her soft cheek against Faust. Her beautifully curved eyelashes fluttered, but Faust caught a glimpse of an incredibly intense fire in those violet eyes:
"It was you... you who seduced her first. Over and over again. Do you know? She intended to seal the memories of those few nights deep in her heart, but you... why did you give her such a task?"
"So it's your fault. Everything is your fault..."
At this point, Faust could only manage a bitter smile:
"Can you please not forcing me?"