Chapter 1

There was something very tangible about what he was feeling that moment. Not overly obvious, but felt quite clearly, and not to be ignored. His face was carefully blank, ignoring the angry looks he was getting, because for once, he was deathly silent. But still, even as Elizabeth came up to him to say goodbye, even though they had made up, he did not say anything in return.

Because how would she feel, to know that he hated her? Truly, undeniably, hated her with a deep passion. But even as he was prone to saying what he wanted without much care to what anyone else thought, he did not wish to hurt her.

Oh, he did, really wanted to in fact, but didn't, solely for the boy giving him an annoyed look. Yes, the only reason he did not shatter the girl in front of him to tiny little pieces was because of Yuri.

But wasn't everything he did just about, for Yuri? And everyone loved to call him selfish. He sneered inwardly at the thought, even while he watched in sick fascination the hurt that spread over Elizabeth's beautiful face.

One that Yuri had so obviously been attracted to. How did they think he felt? Coming home to find his fiancé sitting at the table, those black eyes alight with pleasure. Yuri never looked at him like that. But what hurt most was the fact that Yuri was actually considering Elizabeth as a perspective bride. What about him? Did he not matter? Was he not good enough because he wasn't a woman? The thought alone caused something hot and wretched to burn within him and his lips pulled back, green eyes narrowing in hatred. Elizabeth's eyes widened, tearing up, before a choked sob forced its way past her throat.

She shook her head as if in denial, but upon looking into that face she held so dear, saw the truth as plain as day. Yes, Wolfram knew just how that felt, to have the one you loved so dearly look at you with disdain.

"Elizabeth wait!" Yuri called to her as she bolted, jumping into the carriage that awaited her and could only watch with wide, stunned eyes as it moved off in a hurry. They all stood there in silence for a long time, before Yuri twirled around.

"What's wrong with you Wolfram! All she wanted was a goodbye!"

Which was more than she deserved the blonde snarled inwardly. Instead, he simply crossed his arms and looked his supposed fiancé straight in the eyes.

"Yuri-" Conrad tried to interject but Yuri was having none of it.

"No! That was really rude of him! She's a nice girl! She didn't deserve that!"

A nice girl that tried to break up their engagement with such a stupid little thing like a slap he didn't even really remember, and had tried to kill them both as well.

But as he looked into everyone's eyes, they clearly agreed with Yuri, and something, that not overly obvious but felt quite clearly feeling, broke, and with it, broke something deep inside of himself. Darkness seemed to settle over him then, and he felt nothing, not one single scrap of emotion for these people, his supposed family.

"I really don't give a damn how she feels." He said softly, coldly, and it stopped everyone in their tracks, surprised. But he didn't care. He was tired of being treated as something that had to be put up with.

So as he walked away from them, he smiled, because he didn't think his day could have been better.