“You’re the only person I know who’d bawl her eyes out on a day like this. What’s with all the gloom?”
When I stepped back into my office, it wasn’t Celine waiting for me, but Violetta. She was sitting in a shockingly crooked posture for someone in an extravagant gown with her hair pinned up in an elegant updo. Normally, I would have snapped back and asked why she was picking a fight again, but I was still riding high on happiness, so I let her tone slide.
“I’m just happy, that’s all.”
“Happy enough to cry?”
“Oh, come on, a tear or two isn't a big deal.”
Embarrassment crept up on me, making my retort sharper than intended. A faint smile curled Violetta’s lips as she spoke.
“You did well, truly. His Majesty the King is thrilled.”
“Well, good. If His Majesty is pleased, that’s plenty.”
“The Lord of Sorel will be publicly executed the day after tomorrow. You know wartime treason is the ultimate crime, right? He’s heading straight for the guillotine.”
Terrifying.
I walked over and took my seat across from her. Violetta seemed genuinely thrilled to see me after so long.
“Take some time off. Want me to grant you royal leave with my authority as princess?”
“No, thanks. I’d rather just come to work.”
“What happened to the wound on your hand?”
“Didn’t the Lord of Sorel tell you?”
“Ah… that. Those lunatics from Sierra.”
Violetta muttered. She already knew. Well, of course she did. The Lord of Sorel had probably sung like a canary about every single thing that happened in his territory.
Now that the negotiations had concluded successfully, the royal family seemed inclined to bury the attempted assassination quietly. In truth, that had been the exact condition of my deal with Prince Collins. We had finalized the treaty on that basis. If the King turned around and threatened Sierra with the incident now, what would that make of me? I took pride in keeping my word.
“What about… the assassin?”
“Oh, him?”
I had spared the boy who sat in the Fifth Seat. It wasn't born of mercy or forgiveness, but simply because executing him lay outside my authority. Truthfully, when I descended into the dungeon and saw the sheer murderous fury burning in his eyes, part of me wanted to draw a blade and slaughter him on the spot. He had come for my life. That wasn't something easily forgiven, even if I was the one who knowingly stepped into that pit of fire.
“He’ll be dealt with alongside the Lord of Sorel. But… since we have to sweep your incident under the rug, a public execution won’t do.”
“Poison him.”
“That was the plan. I agree it’s better to end it quietly.”
“Still, from a patriot’s perspective, I must look like the villain.”
From our national standpoint, we were simply reclaiming what was stolen a hundred and seventy years ago, but in the eyes of their people, we were nothing short of plundering conquerors. The Sierra that seized Beliche belonged to a hundred and seventy years ago, not today. Then again, both sides still had to shoulder the consequences of what our ancestors had done.
As my mind drifted through the events in Sorel, the thought of Isabel’s name hardened my expression for an instant. Yet the memory of Khalid soon brought a pleased smile back to my face.
“What are you grinning about like an idiot?”
“Violetta.”
“Remember before I left, when I talked about Khal—I mean, Duke Prodiad?”
“Yeah. That bitch’s fiancé?”
Suddenly, I found myself intensely curious to see how she’d react once she learned Khalid and I were together. Would she laugh and tell me I’d done well, or would she snap, asking why I was stooping to the same tricks as Isabel? Knowing Violetta, anger wasn't her style. So I dropped the bomb.
“I decided to date him.”
“Pfft—cough! H-hack, cough, cough!”
Violetta erupted into a violent fit of coughing, making me feel instantly guilty for dropping the news at the worst possible time. She had spat tea all over the front of her gown and was practically choking through her nose. Wow, she really swallowed that the wrong way. Sorry.
Violetta hurriedly slammed her teacup onto the table. While she desperately dabbed at her mouth and nose between coughs, I waited with endless patience. She kept trying to stammer something through the hacking, but unfortunately, none of it was intelligible.
“Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right to you?!”
“Yeah, fair point.”
Only then did she stare at me with utter bewilderment. Her eyes held such an overwhelming cocktail of emotions that I couldn't begin to unpack what she was thinking.
“What on earth did you just say?”
Her voice trembled when she finally managed to speak. Seeing how utterly shaken she was, I casually offered my explanation.
“Exactly what it sounded like.”
“Good gods above! How could—are you out of your mind?!”
“Hey, isn't that a bit of an overreaction?”
“Heavens, Scarlett! You’ve finally lost your bloody mind!”
Violetta sounded so genuinely serious that I could only stare back at her in disbelief. I had been perfectly sane the whole time. Calling someone crazy in an instant felt a little harsh, didn't it?
Her golden eyes shimmered with frantic excitement. Oh, wonderful. I instantly regretted ever telling her.
“H-how did this even happen?”
“Did he say he likes you?”
“What kind of vague answer is that? Don’t tell me—!”
“Is this some kind of revenge against Isabel, or…?”
“No, it’s not!”
I slammed my hand against the desk and pushed myself up. My sudden intensity seemed to startle Violetta, who stared at me with wide eyes. A sneer formed on my lips as I held her gaze.
“Why would I do that?”
Of course, I couldn't deny that Isabel’s shove—no, that word wasn't quite right. Her provocation—no, that wasn't right either. Her sheer madness had certainly played a part in leading me and Khalid to this point. Because in that exact moment, I had genuinely wanted to hurt her.
Yet I truly liked Khalid. I had no intention of denying that. And he had feelings for me as well; I wouldn't deny that, either. Call it an excuse if you must. But reducing everything between Khalid and me to nothing more than Isabel felt cruel—to both him and me.
I despised having foreign elements contaminate a romantic relationship. I wanted only love and passion to exist between us. Not family name, not wealth, not social status—none of it. I wasn't searching for a business arrangement or a diplomatic alliance; I was looking for someone to love. I wanted a lover, not a business partner.
Yet noble romance rarely worked that way. Love and marriage were treated as separate affairs, and only if you were exceptionally lucky to share compatible bloodlines did marriage ever enter the picture. Just like Father and Mother.
So when I looked closely at our situation, other motives were indeed lingering between Khalid and me. Calculations of mutual interest. Some subtle, unspoken undercurrent separate from pure affection and fire. I didn't want to deny it, but I didn't want to embrace it either. It was a dilemma, a bitter conflict between cold reality and my own ideals.
Still, I didn't want to let him go. Even if someone asked why I was taking this so seriously when we had barely known each other, I refused to let him slip through my fingers. But whether that urge stemmed entirely from love, or whether Isabel had cast her shadow over it, was a question I couldn't definitively answer myself.
Ah, which was precisely why I hated impure things. I wasn't entirely confident I could keep from despising myself when self-interest wormed its way in like this.
Perhaps noticing the solemn look on my face, Violetta watched me in silence for a moment before letting out an amused laugh.
“I don't think I’ve ever seen you this serious.”
“Handle it yourself, then. I won’t butt in.”
Violetta stood up. Watching her lean over my desk, I frowned slightly.
“So, you’re coming to the banquet, right?”
“What banquet?”
“Ah, so you haven't seen Aunt yet?”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s a banquet in a few days. For you and everyone else who made significant contributions to the war effort.”
I buried my face in my hands. Gods above, another banquet? I despised those events. A small party was one thing, but mingling, dancing, and trading fake smiles among crowds of strangers had never been my idea of fun. Sure, I was good at it, but being capable of something and actually enjoying it were two very different matters.
Violetta patted my shoulder lightly before taking her leave, and I let out a heavy sigh. Fine, since it was a banquet, Khalid would be there, Olivia would come, Violetta too, and Celine… Plenty of people I knew would be there…
As I mentally ticked through the list of acquaintances, a particular face surfaced in my mind, making my brow furrow fiercely.
Damn it. If it was a banquet of that scale, Isabel would obviously be attending. And on Khalid’s arm, no less.
Imagining the two of them walking in linked arm-in-arm, all smiles and laughter—even if that wasn't realistically going to happen—instantly soured my mood, and a scowl washed over my face.
