At the door stood Theo—there for reasons unknown—and behind him was Gemma, fidgeting anxiously, clearly unsure of what to do.

Apparently, they had intended to take him to another reception room, but that dark Northern brute must’ve heard Kaiden’s voice and stormed in on his own.

“You’re here,” Liriope said.

She was annoyed that he had shown up without notice—just like the crown prince—but since she needed to keep up the act of liking him in front of Kaiden, she forced a smile and trotted over to him.

Instead of replying, Theo gave her a once-over, his eyebrows arching slightly.

“However…”

 He said as she came closer. His gaze was cool and sharp as it dropped to her attire.

“That doesn’t seem like something you should be wearing in front of another man.”

“Oh, well… you came without notice. And it’s just indoor wear, so…”

“Anyone who barges in without notice shouldn’t be allowed in the mansion. Even if it’s His Majesty the Emperor, it’s still a clear disrespect to my fiancée.”

“What?!” Kaiden instantly snapped in a sharp voice.

Theo looked at him with his usual stoic expression and said plainly:

“You shouldn’t be barging into my woman’s house either.”

‘My fiancée. My woman.’

Liriope found herself feeling conflicted again, watching Theo speak such words so casually.

Her heart raced in a way she couldn’t control—even though she knew he ultimately belonged to Rosearin. The contradiction was making her miserable.

“Liriope! Are you seriously going to get engaged to that guy?!”

Kaiden shouted. It was probably the first time he had called her by name instead of Lady.

“Oh dear, you’ve misunderstood something,” Theo said calmly. “We’re already engaged.”

Liriope, who had been watching Kaiden, turned back to Theo at his words.

“But you haven’t even had an engagement ceremony yet—stamping a piece of paper doesn’t make it—!”

“Actually, we came today to set the engagement ceremony date. And since you’re already here, why don’t you help us choose a date before you go?”

Theo interrupted Kaiden coolly, and the prince’s face began to drain of color.

“Don’t be ridiculous! You can’t be engaged to her! She loved me for years!”

Kaiden shouted, and Theo’s lip curled ever so slightly into a smirk.

He looked down at Liriope, who was now standing beside him, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Liriope blinked, startled by the unfamiliar warmth in his gaze. Theo, still looking at her with gentle affection, said:

“But now she likes me. A lot.”

“…”

“Isn’t that right, Riri?”

Theo flashed an attractive smile that made his cheeks sink in and called Liriope by a nickname she had never heard before.

“Wh-what?! Riri?!”

“You shouldn’t call her that. It’s a nickname only I should use.”

‘Since when?’

Liriope looked up at Theo with a bewildered expression, but Theo merely returned her gaze with the same gentle smile and repeated,

“Right, Riri?”

***

Theo then smoothly and expertly sent Kaiden on his way.

Watching Theo, Liriope began to understand why Kaiden could never win against him.

Theo Artein was inherently skilled at handling people. On the other hand, Kaiden, who had grown up smothered under his mother’s protection and never truly learned to assert himself, was naturally weak against someone like Theo.

‘But… why isn’t he leaving?’

After sending Kaiden away, Liriope sat on the sofa and looked at Theo, who was now leisurely sipping tea.

Sensing her gaze, Theo turned his eyes from his teacup to her. As their eyes met, Liriope instinctively flinched and gave him an awkward smile.

“So… why did you come? Without any notice, I mean.”

At her question, Theo raised one eyebrow and set his teacup down.

“I did notify you.”

‘He did…?’

“It seems Duke Steila didn’t pass on the message.”

‘Of course not. Father hasn’t returned from the Imperial Palace for the past two days.’

“You could’ve contacted me directly.”

Liriope smiled politely, and Theo gave a slight shrug.

“I thought you wouldn’t be too fond of hearing from me.”

Her eyes widened at that. Blinking in surprise, she looked at him as he offered a languid yet beautiful smile. The smile sent her heart into chaos again, and she quickly averted her gaze to avoid his eyes.

“Ah… haha… What made you think that…?”

Theo said nothing, simply watching her with that same serene smile.

“So then, why are you really here…?”

“Riri.”

At her question, Theo called her by that hastily made-up nickname again.

“You’d better think wisely. Kaiden came to you waving that scrap of paper for a reason. He clearly has something up his sleeve.”

Theo looked down at the engagement document Kaiden had left behind.

Liriope followed his gaze and responded flatly.

“I know.”

Whatever schemes Kaiden had in mind, they would soon become meaningless once he met the female lead during the upcoming hunting festival and inevitably fell deeper for her. This pointless fuss he was making now would amount to nothing.

So, there was no need to take his surprise visit too seriously.

Theo seemed slightly surprised by her reply and looked at her with a curious expression.

“…That’s a relief.”

Then, as if satisfied, the corner of his lips curled upward.

A slightly awkward silence settled between them.

Unable to bear the discomfort, Liriope finally spoke up.

“I’m sure that’s not the only reason you came…”

At that moment, a soft whoosh echoed through the room as Lynix flew straight toward Theo.

To be more precise, as the phoenix let out a mystical sound and flew into the reception room, Theo naturally raised his arm—and Lynix just as naturally perched on his wrist.

Liriope stared in confusion.

‘Didn’t Lynix have no connection to him at all?’

“That’s your graduation project, isn’t it?” Theo said, looking at Lynix.

From what Gemma had told him, Liriope’s phoenix was the first living graduation project in academy history. So it made sense that the story had reached even his ears.

‘But why is that bird so calmly sitting on a Northern guy like it’s no big deal?’

Liriope stared blankly as Lynix settled on Theo’s arm and began grooming its feathers.

“You certainly have talent. Though it seems Duke Steila isn’t too fond of you expressing it.”

“My father?”

“The fact that he hasn’t sent you to Ferran proves it.”

Ferran.

Liriope’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Ferran is where the Forest of Beasts is. Why would I go there?”

She glared at Theo with a serious expression, and he responded with a smirk tugging at his well-shaped lips.

“There’s no better place for you to showcase your talents.”

“Only someone like you, who’s obsessed with combat, would think that.”

The words slipped out of her mouth unfiltered, too stunned to stop herself.

Realizing what she’d just said, Liriope quickly pressed her lips together, regretting it—but Theo simply laughed, clearly amused.

His smile was so dazzling it nearly overwhelmed her, and Liriope had to consciously calm her racing heart.

“I’m not obsessed with combat,” Theo said, tilting his head slightly as he locked eyes with her, voice tinged with laughter. 

“I just can’t leave creatures that attack humans alone.”

Her heartbeat, which she had just started to control, surged again uncontrollably.

Unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze, Liriope mumbled under her breath, avoiding his eyes.

“But they say you’re always out on the battlefield like a madman.”

“Just rumors. Even if I were crazy, would I actually enjoy staying in a place swarming with monsters?”

“…”

“Well, once we’re married, I’ll stay at the Grand Duchy. So, you don’t need to worry about that.”

“…Worry about what?”

Not quite understanding what he meant, Liriope tilted her head in confusion. Theo’s lips curved into a slow, teasing smile.

And then came his next words—prompting Liriope to instantly cover her face with both hands.

“I mean, I won’t be leaving you to spend lonely nights alone. I have no intention of spending even a single day away from my beloved wife.”

As he looked at her, Theo stood up and approached Liriope, gently pulling her hands away from her face.

He then placed a piece of paper in her hand and continued speaking.

“I’m told these are the best dates—even among the good ones. Pick whichever one you like best.”

Liriope’s eyes dropped to the paper in her hand.

Theo stared intently at her.

Feeling his gaze, Liriope looked up and met his eyes.

Theo watched her with a subtle, unreadable expression—then shifted his gaze to the shawl draped loosely around her arms.

It had slipped off her shoulders and was now barely hanging on one side.

He stared at it for a moment, then reached out and carefully grasped the fabric.

“If you were going to regret it, you should’ve done so before using me.”

With that, he gently pulled the shawl back over her shoulders.

As he adjusted it, the back of his hand brushed against the nape of her neck.

The spot he touched began to feel increasingly warm, and Liriope swallowed dryly without even realizing it.

Theo continued looking at her with that same strange intensity.

Feeling uncomfortable under his overt gaze, Liriope lowered her head to avoid his eyes—and his gaze deepened even more.

In the next moment, the hand holding her shawl dropped it and moved toward her face.

Startled by his hand suddenly nearing her, Liriope instinctively flinched and dodged his touch. Theo’s hand froze mid-air.

He quickly withdrew it and stepped back from her.

If he’d stayed any longer, he might have ended up caressing her flushed cheek.

Theo clenched his fist tightly, his expression momentarily hardening—perhaps even he didn’t fully understand what he’d just tried to do.

He turned around—but after taking just one step, he paused again and looked back at her.

“I’ll say it again: you can’t take it back now. You chose me—and I chose you.”

“…”

“Even if that foolish Crown Prince cries and begs, our engagement can’t be undone.”