Chapter 3 – The Emperor Summons You to the Palace

Leo seemed slightly angry, his hand resting on the doorframe trembling faintly with rage. Realizing that Seilia’s startled violet eyes had caught this sight, Leo quickly withdrew his hand. Seilia, too, averted her gaze. When she turned her eyes back to Leo, the flustered expression was gone, replaced by one of pure hatred.

‘Shouldn’t I be happy about this? I stepped aside just as you wanted, didn’t I?’

Stopping the endless thoughts running through her mind, she finally opened her mouth.

“You know the reason better than anyone, which is why I didn’t say it. It’s too filthy to even put into words. You even exchanged engagement rings with her, so why can’t you marry the Princess?”

When she thought about it, it was truly strange. Just two years ago, they had seemed like the happiest couple in the world. But now, the two of them were just strangers—an Emperor and a Duke’s daughter. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Ring?” 

Leo’s voice, questioning her, sounded as though he had never heard of such a thing before.

Still as shameless as ever.

The mention of the ring brought back vivid memories that tore at her heart, reopening old wounds she didn’t want to revisit. There was nothing to gain from dwelling on what was already broken and ruined—only more pain.

“I have nothing more to say to you. You said you couldn’t understand because I didn’t spell it out for you? Well, now you know.”

She would have the final word, even if it meant being selfish.

“My answer is ‘No.’”

She built a new, impenetrable wall against Leo, who had tried to cross the one she had already erected. Gripping the hem of her dress, she walked briskly toward the door. This time, Leo didn’t stop her. No, it was as if he couldn’t stop her. He simply stepped aside and watched her leave.

***

When she returned to the banquet hall, it was already wrapping up. The esteemed guests from other continents had all returned to their respective quarters, and the other nobles were beginning to leave for their homes.

In the carriage ride back, Seilia replayed Leo’s words over and over in her mind.

Marriage? What a joke.

She wanted to burst out laughing, but no sound came. Instead, her teeth clenched tightly.

Leo’s denial and mocking tone were unmistakable. That was all that remained between them now.

Lost in her thoughts, her face contorted in frustration, she barely noticed the carriage passing through the vast fields owned by the House of Ernian. About five minutes later, the coachman’s hesitant voice brought her back to reality.

“…My Lady? We’ve arrived.”

Seilia stepped out of the carriage and hurried into the grand hall of the mansion. For some reason, her pace was so quick that the maids trailing behind her struggled to keep up, panting heavily.

“My Lady, did something happen at the banquet?”

“No, nothing at all.”

That’s how it should be. He’s no longer someone who concerns me.

But why did her chest ache so terribly?

Puzzled by the unfamiliar emotion, she roughly removed her hair ornaments and let the maids change her clothes while she remained lost in thought. After a refreshing bath, Seilia collapsed onto her bed.

Sleep eluded her.

Though she had thoroughly washed, as if to erase any trace of Leo’s presence, her insides still felt unclean.

“…I should’ve said worse.”

The harsher words she had thought of during their conversation never made it past her lips. It was infuriating. Even in the midst of this mess, she had chosen not to be cruel.

“I must be out of my mind.”

***

The words she heard yesterday haunted her all night, filling her dreams with unsettling nightmares. As a result, Seilia woke up later than usual. She tried to hide it, but Leo’s words still echoed in her mind, refusing to fade.

As she hurriedly prepared for breakfast and descended the stairs, she stumbled several times. The maids’ worried cries of “Oh no!” echoed throughout the mansion.

This was a curse. It had to be. How else could his words linger so persistently?

“You’re late.” 

The Duchess remarked, placing a piece of salad into her mouth. She scolded Seilia for what everyone already knew.

“No matter how comfortable you are in front of your parents, you should show some decorum. At the very least, you could have fixed that messy hair of yours.”

Her usually soft, flowing hair was in disarray, a reflection of the nightmares that plagued her the night before. Not that the Duchess, with her stern demeanor, would understand even if Seilia tried to explain.

“Yes.” 

Seilia replied curtly, sitting down irritably to begin her meal. The food, meticulously prepared by the chef, was beautifully presented. But today, none of it seemed appetizing to her.

Using her knife and fork, she poked and prodded at the food, turning the neatly arranged dishes into a chaotic mess. Before long, the roasted fish on her plate was unrecognizable.

‘If only this were Leo, how satisfying it would be.’

Ruining the noble Emperor’s handsome face like this would surely cost her life. So instead, she vented her frustration on the innocent food before her.

The Duchess, who had been quietly eating her salad, finally noticed the scene unfolding before her. With a cold expression, she gestured to the servants.

“Clear the plates.”

Seilia hadn’t taken a single bite, but the older servants, who had raised her since she was a child, dared not disobey the Duchess. They silently carried the dishes away, though their disapproval was evident.

The Duchess spoke in a chilling tone.

“If you’re not going to eat, why ruin the food?”

“I thought you’d scold me even more if I didn’t at least pick up the utensils.”

“And you think your behavior is acceptable now?”

“I never said that.”

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The servants kept their eyes on the floor, while the Duke, who seemed ready to shrink into himself, focused solely on his meal.

After several minutes, the Duke finally broke the icy silence.

“Seilia.”

His voice, unusually gentle, carried the affectionate nickname from her childhood. It was a stark contrast to his usual strict demeanor, signaling that he had something up his sleeve.

Seilia, who had been gripping her knife tightly, set it down with a clatter and looked up at him.

“You’ve received many marriage proposals. What do you think? I believe now is the perfect time for you to marry.”

Of course.

At nineteen, Seilia wasn’t particularly old, but many of her peers had already married at their parents’ behest.

In noble marriages, unions based on love rather than political arrangements were exceedingly rare. Most noble families sought mutual benefits, aiming to share and consolidate their gains. However, the Duke and Duchess of Ernian were an exception. They were neither greedy enough to use their daughter as a bargaining chip nor lacking in resources to justify such ambitions. As a result, they allowed their daughter some freedom when it came to marriage.

But now, the situation was undeniably different.

Initially, they had thought, ‘She’s still young. Perhaps she’s just not ready yet,’ and waited patiently. However, their intelligent daughter seemed fully aware of how much they were fretting over her. Judging by her consistent attitude, it appeared she had no intention of marrying—perhaps not even until their faces were wrinkled with age.

“I’ve never given marriage any thought.”

Once again, the Duke and Duchess, who had been anxiously awaiting Seilia’s response, were met with a concise and resolute answer. Their hopes were dashed.

They had no intention of forcing her into a political marriage. With their wealth and status already overflowing, there was no practical reason to seek more. They simply wished to see their only daughter married to a good man and to welcome grandchildren into their lives. But Seilia seemed to have no interest in marriage at all.

She wasn’t seeing anyone, nor was she sabotaging the marriage proposals that came her way. Yet, every potential match seemed to fall apart.

Their worries piled up like a mountain.

She was perfect in every way, almost to the point of being too good for anyone.

In a somber tone, the Duke asked, 

“Not yet? Or is it that there’s no one at all?”

“May I speak honestly?”

As Seilia leaned toward him, the Duke waved his hand as if to block her.

“No, no! Don’t say it! Don’t!”

The Duchess, who had been gulping down water in disbelief, set her glass down and immediately turned to Seilia.

“So, are you planning to grow old and die alone?”

“Yes.”

When Seilia answered straightforwardly, the Duke’s temper flared, and his booming voice filled the dining hall.

“Seilia—!!”

Seilia, unwilling to back down, glared at him with cat-like defiance.

The tension in the room was palpable, as if an explosive argument was about to erupt. At that moment, the dining room door burst open, and a servant hurried in, whispering something into the Duke’s ear.

However, the Duke’s response to the news was anything but quiet.

“What? Did the Emperor truly say that?”

When the Duke asked again for confirmation, the servant nodded vigorously, his expression leaving no room for doubt.

A sense of unease settled over the room. The word “Emperor” rang in Seilia’s ears.

She hoped it wasn’t what she feared, but her suspicions quickly became reality.

“Seilia, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace.”