Xenos was drying his wet hair after a bath when he let out a long sigh. The image of Selina’s face from two days ago rushed back into his mind.
“I’ve written down all the details here, so read it carefully. If you agree, sign it and return it to me.”
She had asked him not to seek to dissolve the engagement until two years had passed, even bringing a written contract demanding his signature.
She had not shown a shred of tenderness, treating him with nothing but formal detachment, yet his heart continued to throb violently.
He had never felt anything like this before—neither with the False Partner the imperial palace had pushed upon him, nor at any other point in his life.
Xenos felt an inexplicable force pulling him toward Selina, and though she knew nothing of his feelings, she was intent on breaking the engagement. It was torturous.
‘I thought everything would fall into place once I found the real one… but it seems there’s no riddle harder to solve than this.’
Just then, the scent he constantly missed brushed past his nose once again.
Xenos snapped his head up. The fragrance was growing unmistakably clearer.
Selina was visibly flustered; this was her first time visiting another family’s residence at such an ungodly hour without prior notice.
‘All I said was, “I am Selina Arsene. I have come to see the Duke.” And yet… they let me in immediately?’
She could not stride into the imperial palace unprepared, so she had rushed to the ducal manor first, though she had hesitated for a long while outside, unsure of how to get in.
Steeling her nerves, she had spoken those words, and the servants had reacted as though they had been waiting for her all along.
“This way, please.”
As the head butler guided her toward the reception room, the wide brim of her hat still concealing her face, a voice called out behind them.
“Miss Arsene.”
Xenos was pinching his own cheeks as if he could not believe his eyes, then winced in pain before looking at her once more, drawing a soft laugh from Selina.
“Greetings, Your Grace. I know the hour is late, but this is quite urgent. Could you spare me a few moments? Mr. Philip as well.”
Xenos could not comprehend what was happening, but the sheer joy of seeing her again left him dazed. The head butler quickly stepped up to jar him back to his senses.
“I shall fetch the master. Please go ahead and speak with her for a moment until I return.”
“Very well.”
Gathering his wits, Xenos quickly washed his face before stepping into the reception room.
Selina had taken off her hat and was smoothing her dress. Catching Xenos unable to tear his eyes away from her, she teased lightly,
“Am I so pretty that you never tire of looking at me?”
She expected him to turn flustered and look away, but he held her gaze.
“It is something akin to a force of nature.”
Selina’s face flushed hotter than his.
‘How can he say something like that so casually?’
She studied the man sitting before her, dressed in comfortable loungewear.
‘He looks like he just stepped out of the bath.’
Her eyes caught the outline of his physique beneath the loungewear shirt, and she hastily averted her gaze.
‘Wait… that drop of water at the ends of his hair…’
Selina quickly raised a handkerchief to stop the water droplet from rolling down the nape of his neck. Rather than asking why she was leaning in, Xenos quietly closed his eyes.
‘What? Why… why is he closing his eyes?’
Her confusion only deepened when his long eyelashes slowly lifted again.
The sound of her racing pulse seemed loud enough to reach her ears, but she fought to keep her composure.
“There… there was a drop of water about to fall from your hair, Your Grace.”
“I know. You wiped it away, didn’t you?”
“Yes… and I’ve just finished…”
Without breaking his gaze, Xenos spoke.
“I feared I would lose my sight if your lovely face drew any closer, so I closed my eyes without thinking. But…”
Xenos leaned toward her, and in one sudden motion, Selina found herself pulled onto his lap.
“Even if I were to lose my sight, I want to look at your face from this close…”
Selina could not help but swallow dryly as his hand brushed against her cheek.
‘What… what is wrong with this man? Now is hardly the time for this…’
As his face drew nearer, it was her turn to shut her eyes.
Knock, knock—
The knocking seemed to serve as a prompt for both of them to pull apart abruptly.
Philip appeared alongside Hans. Entirely ignoring the strange tension lingering between the two, he spoke in an even voice.
“I hope we haven’t kept you waiting, Miss Arsene. You mentioned an urgent matter?”
“Greetings, Mr. Philip.”
“Make yourself comfortable. Though, if possible, I’d much prefer you call me ‘Father’ instead of Mr. Philip. Can’t you address me like that?”
Philip was once again subtly hinting at his desire to have her as his daughter-in-law. Selina managed an awkward smile and took a sip from the teacup the servant had placed before her.
Once the quick-witted head butler slipped out of the reception room, Philip broke the silence.
“Now then, Miss, tell us what’s the matter.”
Seeing Selina’s expression darken as she set her teacup down quietly, Philip and Xenos instantly realized something was amiss.
“There is something I must confirm. This is the contract I had handed over to the Duke.”
Selina drew the familiar envelope from her bodice as she spoke.
“Did you bring it back already with revisions?”
Selina offered a faint smile at Philip’s words, then ripped the contract in two before them and tossed it behind her.
“Now, would you kindly tell me the real reason you proposed to me?”
The following morning, Selina entered the imperial palace adorned in her finest attire.
Erik, who had been summoned without being told why, sat across from his father wearing an expression like a man being forced to swallow bitter medicine.
“I merely called the two of you to share breakfast together.”
“Father… no, Your Majesty, when have you ever known me to eat breakfast at all? And why so early in the morning…”
“The Crown Prince should mind his tongue and his conduct.”
Erik flinched slightly at the Emperor’s reprimand, straightening his posture as he decided it was best to humor him for now.
“Serve the meal.”
The Emperor remained silent from the appetizers through the main course and dessert, and the two followed suit, eating in silence.
Once the meal concluded and tea was served, the Emperor finally smiled warmly, turning his gaze toward Selina.
“Little one, did the meal suit your palate?”
Erik choked, spewing the tea he had just sipped.
“Crown Prince, no sooner do I ask you to mind your manners than you display such behavior?”
Erik thought fast.
“They cannot even regulate the temperature of the tea properly. The maid who prepared my tea today is to be replaced at once.”
‘Seriously? And you want to pair me off with someone like this?’
Maintaining a polite smile, Selina addressed the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, am I really at an age to be called a little one? His Highness the Crown Prince and I are the same age. I am old enough that it would hardly be surprising if I were married with a child of my own.”
The relationship between the Emperor and Selina was not hostile, but it was far from pure paternal affection either.
Her father, Count Arsene, had always insisted that she maintain a proper distance from the imperial family.
“Yes, well said. You have reached an age where such things would not seem strange at all.”
The Emperor nodded in agreement.
‘What has gotten into him today? Didn’t we eat the exact same thing? Why is he looking at Selina like that? No way… that’s impossible!’
Erik stared at Selina in sheer bewilderment, but she simply maintained a serene smile.
“Your Majesty, could it possibly be…”
“I see you are not entirely slow-witted, Crown Prince. Yes, this gathering is an arranged meeting for the two of you. What do you think? Would Selina not make you a fitting wife?”
Erik’s face went pale, and he cried out,
“Your Majesty! This cannot be. If you have any regard for the precious friendship between us, please take back your words!”
He immediately pushed back his chair and dropped to one knee, shooting a desperate glance at Selina.
‘What are you doing? Come on, kneel with me and beg!’
Selina did not spare him so much as a glance, continuing to sip her tea in silence.
The Emperor clicked his tongue in displeasure and made a sharp gesture with his hand.
“Your Highness, stand up. You must leave now.”
“I will not rise unless you take back your words, Your Majesty!”
“Your Highness, if you do not leave this instant, you will face far worse in front of Miss Arsene. Are you prepared for that?”
“Luce… I… this cannot be…”
“It is the Emperor’s will, Your Highness. Stand up.”
Erik cast a wary glance toward the Emperor, then hesitantly rose and took his leave.
