Selina rose from her seat.
“What brings you here this time?”
Selina stood slightly taller than Flora. Whenever Flora barged in uninvited, the best approach had always been to maintain a cool expression, endure a few words, and look down on her with sufficient pressure to send her packing.
Today, however, Flora raised her eyes with open defiance.
“There is a limit to the disgrace you can bring upon this family!”
Her sheer confidence took Selina by surprise, leaving her momentarily off balance.
‘What is this about? Did she find out about the dress from the ball? No… that could not have spread this quickly.’
It was common courtesy that whatever happened in a drawing room remained private, shared only among those who had been present.
“I asked why you came. If you have nothing to say, then see yourself out, Flora.”
Despite the dismissal, Selina had no intention of throwing her out before learning what had happened, and she watched her closely.
Because Selina did not immediately summon the servants or maids to escort her out, Flora seemed to grow bolder.
“I see you finally realize the sheer scale of the damage you have brought upon the family this time.”
“Tell me what great damage you claim I have caused, Flora.”
“She really is…”
‘Flora, Flora… as if we were friends!’
Barely holding back her temper, Flora forced a smile as she continued.
“A moment ago, an envoy from the Patel family arrived at the head of the house's meeting hall. There is no need for me to tell you why they came.”
‘Ah, so that was it.’
Relief washed over Selina when she realized it had nothing to do with the dress.
If Flora or Brandon had caught wind of what happened with the foreign princess, they would have made an uproar demanding her immediate removal from the post of Acting Head of the Family.
Count Arsene, too, would have viewed an altercation with a foreign princess as a severe failing for whoever managed the household's affairs.
‘Indeed, if it were about that, she would never have come to my quarters so calmly. She would have marched straight before my father, screaming that Brandon should replace me as Acting Head of the Family at once.’
Seeing Selina lost in thought and shaking her head, completely ignoring her words, Flora grew angrier and sneered.
“Weren't you the one who insisted it was only natural for you to serve as Acting Head of the Family since you were to marry the Patel heir? And now, just as the joint trade agreement between our families is nearing completion, a broken betrothal? Do you honestly believe a girl like you, who inflicts such damage on her family, deserves such a post?”
Selina’s expression tightened slightly. Truth be told, Flora’s words struck at a real vulnerability.
‘If only the betrothal had fallen apart after the contract was signed, this wouldn't be nearly as worrisome.’
Following several trial trade runs, both families were on the verge of launching a formal partnership, with nothing left to finalize except a massive contract that promised immense profit for generations.
Because the ties between Selina and Morgan Patel served as the bedrock of that partnership, any collapse in the arrangement would be treated as an unforgivable blunder.
Sensing an opportunity to strike, Flora pressed on with open contempt.
“To be blunt, your standing in high society is scarcely better than refuse. The Patels endured you only because you were the daughter of a suitable family for business. Just imagine how much they suffered over the past three years.”
Flora smiled triumphantly.
“And with a broken engagement stacked on top of that, you will never secure a decent marriage. You would do well to win over Brandon and Sebastian instead. Apologize for all your past impudence and do whatever they tell you. Do you hear me?”
Flora delivered the spiteful remark with utter disdain written across her face.
‘What she says is not entirely wrong. Even if Eric and I were to explain later, who would believe it? A scandalous woman who remains unmarried, yet aims to become the head of the household? No one would accept that. If I break off my engagement with Morgan, I must marry someone this family cannot dare to look down upon.’
At that thought, words spoken by another man echoed in Selina’s mind.
“Shall I send a formal proposal to Count Arsene’s estate tomorrow?”
It had been that very man who had fervently proposed to her only three days ago.
‘No, no, that is impossible. Even if I am cornered… I cannot drag him into this…’
“I told you: I wish to marry you. Would you refuse?”
‘And the look in his eyes when he said that… Do all men look at women that way? Or is it only the Duke?’
“Hey!”
Flora let out an angry shriek when she realized Selina was lost in thought, completely deaf to her tirade.
“You dare ignore me even in this situation? Just you wait! Once the Count finishes his meeting with the Patels, you are finished! There will be no mercy this time, mark my words!”
Having shouted at the top of her lungs, Flora stomped out of the library.
“Cassie.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Bring some air freshener. And that woman… see that she never steps foot in this room again.”
“Right away.”
Once Cassie cleared away the lingering traces of Flora's perfume, Selina sat down at her desk, deep in contemplation.
“To prevent this broken engagement from undermining my position as Acting Head of the Family, any prospective groom would need to hold a rank higher than a count. But no family of marquis standing or above would send an immediate proposal.”
For a moment, she recalled a few sons of noble families she had met at the academy, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
‘This is not a matter where I can cling to just anyone to keep up appearances. Even so, if I simply accept the dissolution as it is, my standing in the family will crumble. It might even derail the joint trade venture entirely. A venture that took three whole years cannot be compromised now.’
As she furrowed her brow, searching for a solution, a question surfaced in her mind.
‘If I were to become the Grand Duchess… I wouldn't have to worry about any of this, would I? Being the sole Duchess of Savaya would earn me respect even across foreign empires.’
As the thought resurfaced, Selina shook her head to cast it aside.
‘No… that is truly impossible. The Duke must have misunderstood when he spoke those words to me. How could I exploit the very person who saved me? I cannot do that.’
No matter how long she brooded over it, the problem would not resolve itself.
Selina rose and made her way toward the meeting hall in the central wing, where a heated dispute was unfolding regarding the broken engagement that threatened her position as Acting Head of the Family.
Before stepping inside, she clenched her fist and slowly let it go.
‘Will my voice even carry any weight in there?’
A summit between the heads of two noble houses was a high-stakes affair, and its outcome would determine how hard Selina would have to fight to achieve her goals.
‘Really, choosing to break an engagement over petty rumors? No matter how poorly they know me… this is too much. And is that fool Morgan blind to his own advantage?’
He was an idiot, yet had he seen the marriage through in silence, both houses would have reaped massive fortunes without lifting a finger.
Instead, he was demanding the betrothal be broken simply because Selina was a ‘villainess’ with a tarnished reputation. It wasn't just short-sighted; it was sheer stupidity.
“Announce my entrance.”
At Selina's signal, the attendant informed the assembly of her arrival.
While the expressions of Count Arsene, Count Patel, and the remaining delegates froze for an instant, permission was given for Selina to enter.
With each step she took toward the conference table, the sound of the fierce argument inside grew clearer.
“Splendid! We can hear the justification straight from the person in question! Bring her in at once!”
“I have told you, it is nothing more than a misunderstanding! Our young lady is not that kind of person!”
The tension inside the meeting hall had already erupted.
“They say she recently attempted murder as well! Is that not enough of a scandal?”
“If those rumors were true, the aggrieved party would have brought charges before the Imperial Court! Why didn't she? Because they are baseless fabrications! Must we respond to every idle rumor?”
“And if they are mere fabrications… how have they spread so far? To the point that there is no one who hasn't heard them!”
“Lady Selina has arrived.”
