Chapter 2 – Are You Out Of Your Mind?

From his long legs to his broad figure, which was evident even through the thick layers of clothing, the imposing figure stood before her. As her gaze finally lifted completely, she saw him. That same handsome face, staring down at her with an indifferent expression.

Seeing him up close only fueled her anger further, and Seilia tightly gripped the hem of her dress. The corner of her mind, which she had tried to mask with composure, tore open, and the fury within spilled out. 

She thought the same thing every time she saw him: the more she looked, the more repulsive his face became. 

Seilia’s cold eyes, glaring at him with such intensity that her face felt hot, accidentally met his dull green ones. Yet, he didn’t even think of looking away. That shamelessness was so astounding that she almost wanted to applaud him. 

Seilia, who had completely lost her self-control, lowered her head and muttered venomous words under her breath, words too quiet to be heard. It was the only way she could stop herself from lunging at him right then and there. 

Feeling a strange sense of satisfaction, her face brightened slightly. With renewed resolve, she raised her head sharply, as if to challenge him to a staring contest.

“……!”

But it wasn’t the fact that their eyes met again that surprised her. No, it was the faint smile playing at Leo’s lips that startled her. That smile carried a peculiar hint of mockery.

It seemed as though Leo had read her lips, catching the words she had whispered so quietly, words she hadn’t dared to speak aloud for fear of being accused of treason against the Imperial Family. 

Realizing this, Seilia’s face flushed with embarrassment. Leo, meanwhile, tilted his head slightly, his sharp jawline on display, and observed her as if she were some kind of spectacle.

What are you looking at?

As the Duke, who had approached at just the right moment, began speaking with Leo, Seilia took the opportunity to glance around, searching for an excuse to leave. She knew that no matter how much she begged to leave, the Duchess wouldn’t allow her to go home. If she couldn’t leave entirely, she at least wanted to escape for a little while.

A good idea struck her. Claiming that her health had suddenly deteriorated, she excused herself to the lounge. Once inside, she slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the sofa, her body feeling weak. 

Letting out a deep sigh, Seilia thought about how there was no way to avoid him unless she emigrated. Given her position, it was inevitable that they would cross paths. She knew she should have stayed and endured, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

The thought of running away, as if she were guilty of something, left a bitter taste in her mouth. 

The bad memories still lingered in the corners of her mind, gnawing at her. No matter how hard she tried to forget, they kept resurfacing, like a wound that wouldn’t heal. 

Those two people, who constantly haunted her thoughts, continued to torment her even now.

As she leaned against the sofa, trying to organize her thoughts, the lounge door suddenly opened. 

One of the faces she least wanted to see entered the room.

Ah, for heaven’s sake.

“Dismiss all the guards and keep an eye on the banquet hall while I’m gone.” 

He said over his shoulder, finishing his instructions before closing the door and leaning against it.

Even though she already knew who it was, she turned her head, hoping against hope that it wasn’t him. But when her suspicions were confirmed, her face twisted into a scowl, her expression betraying her inability to hide her disdain.

“Seilia.”

He called her name…

It had been a year since she last heard her name spoken in that voice. 

What’s wrong with everyone today? 

Until a few months ago, Leo had treated her like just another attendee at these banquets.

No, it didn’t matter what the reason was.

In a cold tone, Seilia retorted, 

“I don’t think we’re on terms to address each other like that, Your Majesty.”  

Her words, laced with thorns, caused Leo’s composed expression to falter slightly before hardening. 

Even now, he didn’t leave. It seemed a final blow was necessary.

“Please leave.”

The icy tension between them lingered as their dagger-like gazes clashed. 

Just being in the same room with him made her skin crawl. 

Seilia stood up and spoke coldly, 

“If you don’t leave, Your Majesty, then I will.”  

Out of consideration for whatever faint feelings might remain, she offered a polite bow before heading toward the door, doing her best not to look at him. 

She reached for the doorknob, but just as she was about to open it, he slammed it shut with a loud bang. The deafening noise shattered the fragile silence. 

Startled, she looked up at him with wide eyes, her expression demanding to know what he thought he was doing. Leo, too, seemed slightly agitated, his cold, piercing gaze fixed on her.

Seeing his face, which once looked at her with warmth, now overlapping with his current expression, made her feel sick.

“We’re not done talking yet, Seilia.”

There was no need to show respect to someone who didn’t respect her.

“Leo, do we even have anything left to talk about?”

“Yes, I guess dragging this out is unpleasant for both of us.”  

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Who was it that made this unpleasant in the first place?

Leo, who had been watching her with indifferent eyes, spoke without hesitation.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Marry me.”

It was the second proposal from the man who had abandoned her.

“……Are you out of your mind?”

His audacity was so shocking that the words slipped out before she could stop them. 

It wasn’t just an insult directed at Leo. She genuinely thought he must have lost his mind—or was on the verge of doing so.

Despite the shock in her expression, Leo’s gaze remained steady as he looked down at her.

“I’m not crazy.”

“If you’re not, then it’s even more baffling that you’d ask me to marry you.”

Her disbelief was so overwhelming that she couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

Leo, however, seemed ready to counter her reaction, smirking as if he had expected it.

“If you think I’m proposing to you out of love, you’re gravely mistaken. We’ve come too far to talk about love now, don’t you think?”

His words, which grated on her already frayed nerves, made her body tremble with anger. Leo, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.

“Thank you for clearing up that misunderstanding.”

Seilia raised her chin defiantly, refusing to let the slight tremble in her lips show.

“Since we’ve come this far, why don’t you stop with the pathetic nonsense? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

Her emphasis on the word “pathetic” seemed deliberate, and Leo responded with a dry laugh, unfolding his arms and straightening from his relaxed posture.

“Pathetic? Hah.”

“Yes, pathetic. Or am I wrong?”

“It’s a relief that you at least realize you’re wrong. You’re the one constantly picking fights. Look at this—you’re not even listening to what I have to say and just rambling on your own.”

As their argument dragged on, Seilia felt like she was wasting time just by being in the same room as him. Half-resigned, she gestured for him to continue.

So, what was his point?

Leo’s next words, however, were entirely unexpected.

“I’ll be selecting an Empress on the day of the imperial selection ceremony. To be honest, I already have a candidate in mind.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“The candidates are you and Princess Blair. So, of course, it has everything to do with you.”

It felt as though someone had pushed her from behind, startling her. 

What? Me?

“I hate this as much as you do. The only thing that makes it slightly bearable is that Princess Blair is also a candidate, so it’s not set in stone that it’ll be you.”

“Then why not just marry Princess Blair? Isn’t that the easier path? I don’t understand why you’d choose me over the simpler option.”

To propose marriage in the middle of what felt like a fight to the death? And to leave behind the lover he supposedly cherished?

However, Leo merely smirked at Seilia’s words, his expression calm and mocking.

“This option is easier for me. I have a rough idea why Princess Blair hasn’t returned to her homeland yet. No matter how much you detest this, it’s far better to seat you as Empress than to give that coveted position to Princess Blair, who’s been eyeing it for so long. You, at least, can sit on that throne without any ulterior motives, can’t you?”

From a logical standpoint, his reasoning was understandable. But these words weren’t something one would expect from someone still in a romantic relationship with Princess Blair.

Even so, as Leo explained his reasoning step by step, Seilia felt a whirlwind of emotions. 

The statement that she could sit on the throne without ulterior motives meant that everything—past relationships and any potential future ones—was definitively over.

Yes, yes, he was right. But her throat felt tight, and her eyes stung.

How could a person be made to feel so utterly humiliated with just a few words? If nothing else, Leo’s ability to deliver such words with a completely straight face was something to be admired.

During the hellish year since their breakup, she had crossed paths with him dozens of times. His face, which made her skin crawl, was a constant presence. Yet, not once until now had he spoken to her like this. And that had been the way it should’ve been.

Was he now fearless, or was this just a ploy to shamelessly push his agenda?

Her lips refused to move, and all she could do was sigh in exasperation. No words came out.

Seeing this, Leo frowned slightly, as if irritated.

“You’re the same as ever, expecting others to understand without saying anything. Back then, too, it was you who unilaterally decided to end things.”

Somehow, the conversation had shifted to the topic of their breakup—a subject he had previously claimed didn’t matter to him. His voice was filled with resentment over the way she had ended things.